Welcome to Smugglivus 2013! Throughout this month, we will have daily guests – authors and bloggers alike – looking back at their favorite reads of 2013, and looking forward to events and upcoming books in 2014.
Who: Ann Leckie Science Fiction writer whose debut novel Ancillary Justice has basically blew everybody’s socks off this year, earning rave reviews everywhere. In fact, Ancillary Justice has the very (VERY) rare honor of being both Thea and Ana’s top 1 book of the year (seriously, it got a ten from both of us). Because of that, we couldn’t think of anyone else who’d be better suited to start this year’s Smugglivus celebrations.
Please give a warm welcome to Ann, everyone!
Happy Smugglivus! And happy upcoming anniversary to the Book Smugglers! Six years is an incredibly long stretch in internet time, and for all of those six years they’ve been keeping us informed about the books we want or need to read. I’m incredibly honored to have been asked to participate, and not only participate, but start things off.
I’m a big fan of winter holidays. As many as you can get, I say! In the Leckie household, for instance, along with Christmas we celebrate Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, with steaks for dinner and bloody bulls to drink. Though we’ve lost track of my daughter’s origami tauroctony, I’ll have to ask her to recreate it this year. And on each of the eight nights of Squidmas, Cthulhu leaves gifts for the children in the tentacles of the Christmas Squid.
Yeah, we like to mix it up! And I love being able to add books to that mix. In fact, I’m kind of jealous that I didn’t think up a Bookmas like this. It’s a perfect idea for a winter holiday.
So, the sad fact is, I don’t always read the books that came out in a given year, and the last few years even less than usual. The past few years, the most current books I’ve read have either been installments in C.J. Cherryh’s Foreigner series (OMG I love those books so hard) or else nominees for awards I’m eligible to vote for. And I’ve been noveling pretty hard, so a lot of my reading has been nonfiction–and fairly specialized nonfiction at that.
And up until very recently, I’ve been editor of the webzine GigaNotoSaurus. Which has been a tremendous amount of fun, and I (very selfishly, certainly) would highly recommend perusing the archives, because there’s some fabulous longish short fiction there. But it has absorbed a lot of my reading time. (Which is one of the reasons I’ve turned over editorial duties to Rashida J. Smith, and I’m really looking forward to reading the stories she brings us!)
So a list of the best books I read this year is going to be…a little odd. But so is putting candy in the tentacles of a felt squid while the kids are asleep, so.
Foreigner by C.J. Cherryh
Like I said, usually the only new book I’m going to grab as soon as it comes out is going to be an installment in this series. But I can’t really recommend the latest, much as I enjoyed it, because the latest will basically make no sense if you haven’t started from book one, and if you’re already a fan you won’t need me to tell you about it. So, for starters, Foreigner by C. J. Cherryh.
The debt I owe to this book is vast. And if you read Ancillary Justice and enjoyed it, there’s a really good chance you’ll enjoy Foreigner.
Embassytown by China Mieville
Okay, I didn’t read this last year. Still. I thought I was allergic to Mieville–I tried Perdido Street Station, which a lot of people really loved, and I just couldn’t finish it. But then I got The City and the City in the Hugo voter’s packet and it was amazing with an extra side of awesome sauce. And when I heard a description of Embassytown it was like, now Mieville knew he’d gotten my attention, he was gonna write something just for me. I pre-ordered that puppy and I picked it up from the local bookshop the day it came out, and it was read through by the next evening.
Language! Political maneuvering! More language! People who are living metaphors! Just read it if you haven’t already!
The Left Hand of Darkness Ursula K. Leguin
I did not read this for the first time this year, but I did re-read it this year. This is a book that is probably sufficiently famous that I don’t need to explain why it’s worthy of multiple reads–if you haven’t read it yet, I strongly suggest that you find a copy and give it a go. It’s a classic for a reason.
And the nonfiction. Nearly all of it research for the novel I’ve just turned in to my editors, and the one I’m going to be starting soon.
Veiled Sentiments: Honor and Poetry in a Bedouin Society by Lila Abu-Lughod
This book is absolutely fascinating. A very young Abu-Lughod did fieldwork in a Bedouin household in Egypt. She spent much of her time with the women in the household, and became fascinated with the way the community valued a sort of stoicism in the face of emotion or adversity but at the same time produced (and valued very highly) very emotional, expressive poetry. It looks like a contradiction–but people, and families, and cultures, are endlessly complicated and nuanced–something worth remembering the next time you hear about how some huge group of people can be reduced to a couple sentences about how they think or what they believe. I highly recommend reading this–though you may have to get it through inter library loan, if you don’t have access to a university library that has it.
Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo by Mary Douglas
Pretty much what it says in the title. It’s a bit old-fashioned, and that shows in some of the assumptions the author makes, just little offhand comments that made me go, “Oh, really?” but noticing those can be kind of enlightening in itself.
Domination and the Arts of Resistance: Hidden Transcripts by James C. Scott
I wrote a blog post about this book, it impressed me so much. Like the last two, it may only be available through a university library. But it’s never a bad idea to find out what your local library can do for you in the area of inter library loan. Mine will let me make ILL requests on the website–it’s incredibly convenient.
And the books I’m looking forward to? Well, I know I’ll be reading what turns up in the Hugo and Nebula voter’s packets, that’s for certain. And I’ve got some anthologies that have been waiting and waiting for me to have the time to read them–like We See a Different Frontier, edited by Fabio Fernandes and Djibril al-Ayad, which has stories by some of my favorite short fiction writers in it. And I’m really, really looking forward to Hild by Nicola Griffith, which I’ve been hearing the most amazing things about. But I pretty much assume there will be more amazing books to discover in the next year than I can possibly find time to read.
Thanks for sharing your favorites, Ann!
And now for the giveaway!
Giveaway details:
We have one signed copy of Ancillary Justice to give away. The contest is open to EVERYBODY, ANYWHERE and will run until Sunday, December 8 at 12:01AM EST. In order to enter, use the form below. GOOD LUCK!
105 Comments
Carl
December 1, 2013 at 12:12 amThat’s an incredibly hard question. If I had to pick just one I’d choose I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai. Even if it’s not the most well-written it’s one of the most important stories of our time.
Cynthia Dix Porter
December 1, 2013 at 12:23 amBronze Gods by A.A. Aguirre. I read a lot of really good books this year, but Bronze Gods stands out because it out-flanked me on the ending. I am really, really good at figuring plots out, and endings. I knew certain things were important but only put two and two together as events came together for the characters. I respect authors who keep me on my toes! Also, lovely characters, scrumptious world-building and a need to read the next one NOW!
Justine
December 1, 2013 at 12:54 amTangled by Emma Chase is a memorable book for me because it’s narrated in first person by the hero, which is a rare POV in romance.
Brenda C
December 1, 2013 at 1:34 amThe Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black.
Rae
December 1, 2013 at 2:27 amMy favourite book would have to be Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews. There’s a lot of competition though!
Dina
December 1, 2013 at 4:13 amThat IS a hard question. Ann Leckie definitely made my top 3 and it was easily the best book published in 2013 that I’ve read this year.
But I have to go with my perpetual favorite, Catherynne M. Valente.
I read the two Orphan’s Tales books this year and the third volume of her Fairyland series – and all of those books left me happy and sad at the same time. So I’ll go with In the Night Garden by Cat Valente.
Gerd D.
December 1, 2013 at 7:22 amDifficult to say overall, but if I only count the ones published in 2013 it narrows down considerably.
I think I would have to go with “Darkmoon”, by S. M. Reine then.
She’s a favourite in the indie corner, writes my current fictional crush, and I think delivered a well written conclusion to her “Chronicles of Cain” series which showed that she has considerably grown as a writer.
Natalia
December 1, 2013 at 7:25 amWell “Ancillary Justice” is up there also I really loved Weber’s “In Fury Born”.”Coldest Girl in Cold Town”, “The Ocean at the End of the Lane”,Lish Mcbride’s “Necromancing the Stone”, Emma Bull’s “War for the Oaks” and Jo Walton’s “Tooth and Claw” also the Kerry Greenwood mysteries are very fun and I reread them as comfort fare all the time. I double Leckie’s shout out to inter library loans I get 98% of my books that way and I get to do it all on-line. I have 20 requests going at all times.
Natalia
December 1, 2013 at 7:27 amI could not come up with just one and I had to stop myself. Also I went with stuff I read this year not just stuff published this year.
Alix Heintzman
December 1, 2013 at 7:41 amAlif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson–I know it came out in 2012, but it just won the World Fantasy Award and good lord jesus in a manger, it was GOOD.
Nicole Ramcharan
December 1, 2013 at 8:00 amI think my favorite would be The Ocean at The End of The Lane; it’s just unforgettable.
Hebe
December 1, 2013 at 9:29 amOf the books published this year, I really loved Wool by Hugh Howey. I’m trying to hold off buying the sequels because TOO MANY BOOKS!
mary anne
December 1, 2013 at 9:31 amNow I know why people relesae Oscar contenders at the end of the year…. I can’t remember what I read more than a month ago. But Here’s a blind stab – I really liked The Slivered by Tanya Huff. And some of the middle and young adult books – Winger by Andrew Smith, Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubio-Bradway (OK I just checked and I think that was last year, but I read it this year), Rebecca Barnhouse’s Legacy Of Beowulf books (also older, but I read or re-read ’em this year). I liked the Edie Spence series – mostly because she is a nurse and works night shifts and it actually rang somewhat true. And Andrea Host’s Hunting (anything she writes is great) and the last books in Martha Wells Raksura series. Were any of the books I listed published this year? Sorry…. time kind of blurs on me. I think it’s a night shift effect.
Vanessa C.
December 1, 2013 at 9:42 amMy favourite reads of 2013 include:
The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta
Brendan
December 1, 2013 at 10:28 amMy favourite reads of 2013:
The Ocean at the end of the Lane – Neil Gaiman
Chimes at Midnight – Seanan Mcguire
Ancillary Justice – Ann Leckie
Young Miles – Lois Bujold McMaster
Among Others – Jo Walton
Katrina
December 1, 2013 at 10:45 amGoing with the anthropological ethnography theme of the post (!!!), I’d have to say The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures by Anne Fadiman. I’m also looking forward to reading Nuer Dilemmas by Sharon Hutchinson over the winter break!
Melanie Goldmund
December 1, 2013 at 10:45 amI really loved Wool, by Hugh Howey, and I am definitely looking forward to the sequels. I also rank Blue Remembered Earth, by Alastair Reynolds, The Six-Gun Tarot, by R. S. Belcher, and The Rithmatist, by Brandon Sanderson, among my favourites for this year.
Benjamin Blattberg
December 1, 2013 at 11:25 amOne of my favorite books I read this year was Emma Donoghue’s Room, which was disturbing and amazing: the story of a woman kept in a hidden room for years and her son who was born there, narrated by the son. Torn from the headlines (about women kept prisoner), the idea of the son coming from this alien world has a very science fictional bent.
Stephanie
December 1, 2013 at 12:03 pmI’ve encountered lots of Ann Leckie’s great short fiction on the escape pod podcasts and am excited that her novel is such a success. Can’t wait to read it!
Allison
December 1, 2013 at 12:08 pmIt’s gotta be The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Fantastic book
C. Parrella
December 1, 2013 at 12:31 pmI’m reading The Night Circus right now and it is absolutely amazing. it’s one of my top five favorite books of the entire year.
Kailana
December 1, 2013 at 12:31 pmI haven’t really given a lot of thought to my favourites from 2013 because I had such a slow reading year… And the best part of it was I didn’t really hate anything that I read. I discovered James S.A. Corey this year, though, and would have to say I love him and his books.
Rylie
December 1, 2013 at 1:05 pmMy favorite is Ancillary Justice.
Rachel G
December 1, 2013 at 1:56 pmThe first that comes to mind is Right Behind You, by Gail Giles. I bought it on a whim, and it turned out to be so, so much better than I was expecting.
Kelsey
December 1, 2013 at 2:01 pmThat Veiled Sentiments really made me sit up and pay attention. Great list.
This is a year in which I mainly played catch-up. Code Name Verity, the Mistborn series, Elantris, the Protector of the Small quartet, and Gotham Central all made my favorites list, but Seraphina and the Emperor’s Soul are my 2 Favorite Reads published before 2013.
My 2 favorite books published this year were Steelheart and the Rithmatist (this is the year I discovered Brandon Sanderson). I’m sure many books published this year will wind up on my Best Of list next year.
srs
December 1, 2013 at 2:16 pmIt’s hard to think of my favourite book as I had a very busy year and mostly read very light, escapist fiction. But I did read and love Code Name Verity this summer, so I’ll pick that.
Sarah Zane Kellar
December 1, 2013 at 3:36 pmUnravel Me. I ship Warner and Juliette so much
Will Bryan
December 1, 2013 at 3:56 pmOcean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Jenna O
December 1, 2013 at 4:43 pmIt´s pretty hard to name just one book! But the one I liked was Christmas at Carringtons by Alexandra Brown 🙂
Clau
December 1, 2013 at 5:18 pmRose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
Alison C
December 1, 2013 at 5:22 pmI would have to say a Memory of Light by Brandon Sanderson/Robert Jordan. Or Silver Linings Playbook
Thomas L Walcher
December 1, 2013 at 6:00 pmAt this point, I would pick Limits of Power by Elizabeth Moon.
Amalia
December 1, 2013 at 6:33 pmI’d have to say Chime by Franny Billingsley, with Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus a close second.
Greg
December 1, 2013 at 6:36 pmBoth easy and hard… Its NOS4A2 by Joe Hill this book both connected to me and hurt me very deeply and keeps coming back to be on a regular basis….
rissatoo
December 1, 2013 at 6:38 pmI read SO many “favorite” books this year! But the first title to spring to mind was John Scalzi’s Redshirts.
Jana
December 1, 2013 at 6:43 pmMy favorite book of 2013 is “The Bitter Kingdom,” by Rae Carson. It’s a stunningly good conclusion to a wonderful trilogy, and really, it’s the only book that I read (as an ARC) which I was genuinely excited to read from beginning to end. I can’t begin to say enough to recommend it.
Genevieve
December 1, 2013 at 7:02 pmHard question but I’m going to have to go with Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane. I absolutely adored this book and seeing Neil speak about it during his book tour was fantastic.
scribe k.
December 1, 2013 at 8:18 pm5th wave =)
Stephanie
December 1, 2013 at 8:20 pmMy favorite was the Night Circus.
LisaC
December 1, 2013 at 8:42 pmMy list includes Ancillary Justice, The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord, Saga by Brian Vaughn and Fiona Staples, and The Time Fetch by Amy Herrick. Thanks for the giveaway and post on the offbeat winter celebrations.
Toks W.
December 1, 2013 at 8:53 pmThis is a really tough question. I’ve read more books this year than in the past (157 at current count!). It is either the Human Division by John Scalzi, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, Angelfall by Susan Ee (best indie hands down) or Omens by Kelley Armstrong.
Summer
December 1, 2013 at 9:03 pmOff the top of my head:
Non-Fiction: “Far From the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity” by Andrew Solomon or “Shopcraft As Soulcraft” by Matthew Crawford
Mystery: “The Anatomist’s Wife” by Anna Lee Huber
YA: “Hero” by Perry Moore
I can’t choose with the rest!
Alyssa
December 1, 2013 at 9:43 pmThough it didn’t come out this year, I just got around to reading The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making this summer and ADORED it!
Kelley
December 1, 2013 at 9:43 pmthe coldest girl in coldtown, I think
Victoria Zumbrum
December 1, 2013 at 9:59 pmThere are too many to pick. Thanks for the awesome giveaway.
DebraG
December 1, 2013 at 9:59 pmNOt sure if I had a favorite but I did enjoy Brenda JAckson’s A MAdaris Bride for Christmas.
Trey
December 1, 2013 at 10:10 pmThat’s tough. Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch is one.
Crux by Ramez Naam is another.
Does The Fractal Prince count? I only got around to reading it this year.
Llehn
December 1, 2013 at 10:21 pmThe Bitter Kingdom
Lexi
December 1, 2013 at 11:50 pmI cannot remember back to this summer, which was when I last had time to read multiple books. (Is that sad?)
However, I recently enjoyed Frost Burned and Ocean at the End of the Lane.
Kate & Zena
December 2, 2013 at 12:28 amOh crap, just ONE? Um, I loved September Girls by Bennett Madison, Pure by Julianna Baggott, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, Bitterblue by Kristen Cashore….SERIOUSLY?! ONE! I can’t pick.
Hannah H
December 2, 2013 at 12:50 amGeez, I don’t remember what I read this year and what I read last! I was really impressed by Lois McMaster Bujold’s Chalion series, and I know I read that recently, so I’ve got to go with that.
Barbara Elness
December 2, 2013 at 1:47 amMy favorite book in 2013 is Romulus Buckle and the City of the Founders by Richard Ellis Preston Jr.
Anonymous
December 2, 2013 at 1:50 amthe book sounds awesome – cannot wait reading it!
carlam
December 2, 2013 at 2:44 amMy favorite book was Wool by Hugh Howey, but it was a close thing, I loved The Human Division by John Scalzi too.
Tünde
December 2, 2013 at 3:05 amNeil Gaiman: Ocean at the End of the Lane
Bart
December 2, 2013 at 3:24 amMy favorite book is Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch.
Helle
December 2, 2013 at 4:48 amI think it’s a tie between The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman and The Rook by Daniel O’Malley. 🙂
Becky C.
December 2, 2013 at 7:06 amThis is difficult for me, several of my favorite series ended this year. But I am going to go with The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson. Loved this series.
Mia
December 2, 2013 at 8:20 amFar From the Tree
Giada M.
December 2, 2013 at 8:22 amOne of my favorite of 2013 is The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson. Thank you for posting and for the awesome giveaway! 😀
Eric
December 2, 2013 at 9:01 amI enjoyed the most: Gaiman’s Ocean at the End of the Lane and Brandon Sanderson’s Steelheart.
Lan
December 2, 2013 at 9:19 amIt would have to be Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two by Catherynne Valente.
Val
December 2, 2013 at 10:35 amThis looks like Ancillary Justice is one of those must read books of 2013. Of course I missed it completely 😛
Paul Weimer
December 2, 2013 at 10:41 amTough to figure what my favorite read of 2013 is. Ancillary Justice is high on the list.Right now, going with Steles of the Sky by Elizabeth Bear–although that is coming out in 2014.
mamajoan
December 2, 2013 at 10:48 amMy favorite book read this year (though not written/published this year) was the Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon. I’ve heard so many great things about Ancillary Justice — look forward to reading it!
janicu
December 2, 2013 at 10:49 amI am definitely going to have to read Ancillary Justice. Unfortunately this was a limited reading year for me, but I really enjoyed TIGER LILY by Jodi Lynn Anderson. That might be my favorite read so far.
Jasmine Stairs
December 2, 2013 at 10:57 amJust in an attempt to narrow the list, I restricted my choices to books I read this year that were published in 2013. (I read a lot of good books this year.)
And I’d say my favourite book I read this year is The Madness Underneath, by Maureen Johnson, for its humour and amazing treatment of PTSD-suffering teen ghost hunters. And a follow-up is the Rithmatist, by Brandon Sanderson, because i love School stories and characters who want so much to LEARN.
Ade Couper
December 2, 2013 at 11:34 amSo much good stuff this year- am going to go for Emma Newman’s “Split Worlds” trilogy
Paul Cutler
December 2, 2013 at 11:36 amMy favorite book of the year was Ancillary Justice – it was the best sci-fi I’ve read in some time.
superbwg
December 2, 2013 at 12:16 pmToo many to choose from…I can’t even start I’ll never stop
Mishel
December 2, 2013 at 1:14 pmLol how fun it must be to live in the Leckie household during the Holiday Season.
As for my favorite read – I haven’t read too many 2013 releases but as I look back on the books I have read this year I have to say that most of the Psy-Changeling books (Yes, I’m still catching up with the series lol, I just started a few months ago) were my favorite reads. I just love the world Nalini has created (as a lot of readers do) and I look forward to her 2013 release that came out and her other series as well =)
Halley
December 2, 2013 at 2:09 pmMy two favorite books this year are Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore and Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta.
Anita Yancey
December 2, 2013 at 3:46 pmMy favorite book of 2013 so far is Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich. Thanks for having this giveaway.
Jenni Halpin
December 2, 2013 at 4:52 pmJust finished The Magic of Saida; still haunted by it.
Devon
December 2, 2013 at 6:56 pmFavorite book of 2013 is probably Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo. But I’m hoping to get my hands on a lot more of this year’s releases come Christmas!
Joel
December 2, 2013 at 7:37 pmI really enjoyed Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews.
Jennifer
December 2, 2013 at 9:15 pmMy favourite book of 2013 is The Rithmatist by Sanderson.
Graham
December 3, 2013 at 6:00 amStill got Ancillary Justice in my immediate to be read list, but favourite book of the year is definitely The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton. Genius
Mieneke
December 3, 2013 at 6:49 amThis is the one book I’m really sad about missing out on this year. I was planning to get when we got to book-splurge in Brighton, but unfortunately I couldn’t find a copy anywhere!
As far as my favourite book of 2013? I don’t know yet! I’ve read so many good books this year that it’s hard to pin it down at the moment. I need to sit down soon and gather my thoughts 😀
Malin Patterson
December 3, 2013 at 8:02 amI couldn’t possibly just pick one favourite book of 2013. The first ones that spring to mind: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black, Fangirl AND Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (woman can do no wrong), The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.
Katy
December 3, 2013 at 8:44 amI’m going to represent the romance readers and go with The Last Hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith
Emilia
December 3, 2013 at 9:51 amI don’t know if I really have a favorite book this year. I haven’t read as much as I should! I’m finally into the Game of Thrones series, though.
Meghan M.
December 3, 2013 at 10:13 amThat is the hardest question! I absolutely loved Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell, as well as all of Catherynne M. Valente’s books, which I marathoned through in a couple of weeks!
Meghan Shaffer
December 3, 2013 at 11:13 amMy favorite fiction book that I read in 2013 is The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente. My favorite non-fiction would be Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin.
Ben Lorber
December 3, 2013 at 12:42 pmMy favorite book I read this year is probably The Etched City by KJ Bishop. My favorite that was published this year is The Ocean at the End of the Lane.
Dawn Emry
December 3, 2013 at 1:27 pmSo many, but The Dream Thieves, Maggie Stiefvater was a favorite!
Joe
December 3, 2013 at 2:10 pmRead the amazing Twelve Years a Slave this year.
Michelle
December 3, 2013 at 2:51 pmMy favorite book this year is probably A Turn of Light by Julie Czerneda. It’s huge, but so satisfying.
Emma
December 3, 2013 at 6:50 pmI never can pick just one! I can however join in the appreciation for the Left Hand of Darkness which I finally got around to reading this year and loved accordingly, and I also really enjoyed Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff. Oh, and Redemption in Indigo was stellar as well!
Amanda
December 3, 2013 at 7:40 pmI know this wasn’t published in 2013 but I just read Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson and was completely stunned and can’t get it out of my head. She’s such a talented, versatile author!
Mary Preston
December 3, 2013 at 9:27 pmOCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE by Neil Gaiman
Kellie aka Selwyn
December 4, 2013 at 12:18 amTough, but by a whisker I’d have to say Poor Man’s War by Marko Kloos(only just booting out Matt Haig’s The Humans).
Can’t wait to read AJ!
Lauren
December 4, 2013 at 8:15 amImpossible to narrow down, especially given that I have the poorest memory in the world for books read! I loved, loved Eleanor & Park (and Fangirl), and The Girl with Borrowed Wings, which was just lovely. I was most excited for Ocean at the End of the Lane, and thoroughly enjoyed that, as well!
SO MUCH AWESOME!
Ashley
December 4, 2013 at 9:37 amIt’s so difficult to pick, but The Fault In Our Stars was definitely one of my favorites. Watching the author’s instagram feed of photos during the film shooting for the movie was fun as well.
Amanda W
December 4, 2013 at 10:11 amAlways a tough question! But two of my 2013 favorites were For Darkness Shows the Stars, by Diana Peterfreund and Dream Thieves, by Maggie Stiefvater.
Annie
December 4, 2013 at 10:45 amSo far, my favorite book has probably been Eleanor and Park (it hit me right in the emotions). But the year’s not over yet… =)
Ancillary justice looks awesome!
Katharine
December 4, 2013 at 8:38 pmI’m more like Ann Leckie, I don’t get to the books until they’ve been out for a while – but I’m looking forward to Night Film.
ms.c
December 5, 2013 at 12:46 pmLife As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer.
Jennifer @ Live to Read, Love to Read
December 5, 2013 at 4:11 pmI think my favourite book of 2013 would have to be Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. It completely took me by surprise and blew my socks off! I loved every minute of it and thought it had one of the best romances I’ve ever read about.
Laurence
December 5, 2013 at 5:05 pmWool by Hugh Howey. Just couldn’t put it down!!!
Dana
December 5, 2013 at 9:27 pmMy favorite book of the year “Unsouled” by Neal Shusterman (part of the “Unwind” triology).
Emily
December 6, 2013 at 4:13 pmBecause of your review, I got “Ancillary Justice” from the library, and what do you know, it ended up being my favorite read of the year as well!
Ray Pratt
December 6, 2013 at 6:49 pmI’ve been mostly reading older books this year, so I’ll go with a toss-up between “Bridge of Birds” and “War for the Oaks”.
Michael
December 7, 2013 at 12:31 pmMy favorite book this year has been Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch.
Anna Wing
December 7, 2013 at 2:21 pmI haven’t been reading to many recently published books, but I recently read Feed by Mira Grant and absolutely loved it.