What is the best book you read this year?

[Tina]

I want your book recommendations. Feed me.

[Misty]

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Hush, Hush & Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

I'm still waiting for THE ONE though. So far, everything I've read has been good and not great.

[Tina]

Thanks Misty! I did enjoy The Help and I am very excited it has been turned into a movie. I am off to check out your other two recommendations.

[Pepca]

This is a hard question, I read several great books. Having to choose, I'd say Labyrinth by Kate Mosse (and her other books - Sepulchre, The Winter Ghosts)

[Tina]

Pepca, I am looking up Labyrinth now. *thanks* I have added your recommendation to the group bookshelf. Please feel free to add more if you like.

[Andrea]

What kind of books do you usually like to read? I can give you a TON of ideas based on that simple bit of info. ;)

[Tina]

I personally love thoughtful Women's Fiction but any recommendation you want to share with the group is welcome. (You can also add it to the club bookshelf.)

[Michelle]

This summer, I read Water for Elephants, The Hunger Games series, and Generation Loss. All of them were excellent.

And I agree with everyone who liked "The Help". It was an outstanding book as well.

[Tina]

Michelle, I also enjoyed Water for Elephants and I keep hearing good things about The Hunger Games. I am off to check out Generation Loss. Sounds interesting.

[Rachel]

Tough question! The best books I've read lately are The Meaning of Isolated Objects, Remix, and at the fantasy end of the market, the The Way of Shadows & sequels. I'm really not sure I could pick a single favourite...

[Tina]

Rachel, thank you for sharing your fav reads. I am adding 'The Meaning of Isolated objects' to our group bookshelf. I look forward to exploring your other recommendations.

[Andrea]

OK, how did I miss coming back to this one?

My list of top reads for the year (so far!):

The Bird House, Kelly Simmons
The Hundred Secret Senses, Amy Tan
Jerusalem Maiden, Talia Carner

Hmmn, I really haven't had that ONE incredible read yet this year. :( Maybe I'm reading too many books, I don't know.

Oh! I know. Probably my fave read of the year so far:

Hello, Goodbye ... Emily Chenoweth (I'll post my review in the other thread, to this and a few others!)

[Tina]

Thanks for the picks, ladies. I will be looking into them very soon.

[Andrea]

Ratz wrote: "The Chosen by Chaim Potok

This is on my to-read pile for way too long. It's one of my father's favorite movies!

[Marie Paz]

Hi! First of all, thanks for inviting me to be a part of this group :)

Surprisingly, the best books I have read so far are from the YA genre:
Looking for Alaska
The Hunger Games
Thirteen Reasons Why

PS: yes, I am currently in touch with my inner "young adult":) happy reading!

[Tina]

Love these picks. I am adding a few to our bookshelf.

[RD]

Two of my favorites I've read this year were Jean Kwok's Girl in Translation and Big Girl Small: A Novel by Rachel DeWoskin.

[Tina]

Girl in Translation sounds wonderful. Thank you for your picks.

[Tina]

Please feel free to add your favs to our group bookshelf.

[Andrea]

Girl in Translation is on my to-read list, as well, but I don't have a copy just yet!

[Tina]

Her Fearful Symmetry. It has topped my list.Her Fearful Symmetry

[Tina]

Rathi wrote: "Icy Sparks was a good read. It was interesting and at the same time poignant. The Godfather has been a page turner."

Rathi, thanks for the recommendation. I have added Icy Sparks to my reading list.

[Elizabeth]

Rules of Civility was excellent.

[Tina]

I am looking up your picks now, ladies.

[Tina]

Elizabeth wrote: "Rules of Civility was excellent."

Thank you for the recommend Elizabeth. I am adding this one to our group bookshelf.

[Tina]

Jen wrote: "I would have to say
The Help
Hunger Games
And
Juliet"

Jen, thank you for the recommend. I am adding Juliet to our group bookshelf. I believe the others are already there.

[Tracy]

I think the books I've most enjoyed this year were The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly and The Winter Rose. I just picked up The Wild Rose so I don't know how it is yet but I expect it will be as good as the others.

[Tina]

Tracy, I am off to look up these reads now. Thanks for the recommendations.

[Mary]

I loved The Invisible Circus by Jennifer Egan. It's a story about sisters, love, grief, and coming-of-age. The 1960s/1970s setting is really cool, too.

[Tina]

Mary, I have added this one to our group bookshelf. It sounds amazing.

[Andrea]

Tina, have you read Room yet? OMG. It was quite possibly the best book I read in 2011. And I only read it late in December, so I just got in under the wire. :)

[Meg]

Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan was my #1 read in 2011. Engrossing, character-driven story about 3 generations of women...set at my favorite place: the beach. Can't recommend highly enough!

[EShay]

I really liked "Unbroken" by Lauren Hillebrand. It is a great WWII story, but difficult to read at parts for the brutality used against American prisoners of war.

[Tina]

Love these recommendations. I have added them to the Smart Chicks bookshelf. Andrea, your pick was already on the bookshelf and I hear nothing but good things. I will have to read it.

[Tamarin]

I have read so many books lately that I REALLY enjoyed but if I had to pick one to re-read it would be The Silence of Trees by Valya Dudycz Lupescu.

I also agree The Help was good, I enjoy the movie as well...

[Tamarin]

Andrea wrote: "Tina, have you read Room yet? OMG. It was quite possibly the best book I read in 2011. And I only read it late in December, so I just got in under the wire. :)"

Yip, I enjoyed that one - very clever how the author approached it.

[Tina]

Thank you, Andrea. I have added The Silence of Trees to our group bookshelf. It looks intriguing.

[Tina]

The Snow Child. I got it in under the wire, but it might be the best book I read all year.

[Tracy]

A Discovery of Witches and Mistborn: The Final Empire were my favorite books I read in 2012. So far I've read a lot of good ones in 2013.

[Tina]

Tracy wrote: "A Discovery of Witches and Mistborn: The Final Empire were my favorite books I read in 2012. So far I've read a lot of good ones in 2013."

I'm excited that one of those was inspired here as a Smart Chicks Group read.

[Jasmine]

I have Snobs on my bedside - after I finish the Lifeboat and am really excited to read the only book by the creator of Downton. Also Gone Girl was good too!

[Tina]

Jasmine wrote: "I have Snobs on my bedside - after I finish the Lifeboat and am really excited to read the only book by the creator of Downton. Also Gone Girl was good too!"

Jasmine, we've got discussion questions waiting in our "Gone Girl" - March thru April Group Read folder if you want to answer any.

[Linda]

I'm with you, Erin: Unbroken was amazing. I've been recommending it to everyone, male and female alike. If only I could meet Mr. Zamperini and shake his hand...

[Pearl]

Reading Les Miserables for the first time. I work full time and have a toddler so it's taken about a year off and on. It has really humorous turns of phrase which I enjoy. For lighter reading, I have enjoyed The Judy Bolton mystery series from the 1930s and onward. An interesting alternative to Nancy Drew.

[Colleen]

and

[Mikki]

It's a delightful read, nothing profound yet there was just something in the story that somehow spoke to me at this point in my life. It's one of those books that came at just the right time, otherwise, it probably wouldn't have touched me as much as it did.

I have been on a fluffy chicklit mood this year so most have been forgetable (sorry!) but I'm leaning towards "smarter" reads lately. I'm starting to crave for more substance in my books.

[Jasmine]

Pearl, I really enjoyed Hugo's writing when I read Les Mis last Nov - Jan - it did take a while - (same here work f/t + kids). Haven't started another one of his for this year. I think my dip into classic lit will be the Count of Monte Cristo.

This summer I enjoyedThe Language of Flowers, Where'd You Go, Bernadette, The Night Circus , Olive Kitteridge, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and am currently zipping through The Last Letter from Your Lover. Looking forward for a bit more teeth for my fall reading.

[Jessica]

I think my 2013 favorite would have to be The Snow Child.

[Tina]

Jessica wrote: "I think my 2013 favorite would have to be The Snow Child."

Perhaps this is kismet, but I just mentioned this book on your blog. My favorite too. Hands down.

[Tina]

Beverly, sent me hers so I'll add them here on her behalf.

The Art Forger (Barbara Shapiro), with The Language of Flowers (Vanessa Diffenbaugh)a close second. Also loved a small book called Ghostwriter (Lissa Bryan)