What was the last 5-star book you read?

[ficbot]

Just curious! What was the last memorable book you read to which you'd give your highest rating?

For me, the last non-fiction standout was 'The Winter of our Disconnect' by Susan Maushart. It's a memoir of an experiment she did where she 'unplugged' her household (including three teenagers) from all things electronic for six months. She does present some researchy stuff on the internet, technology etc. But for the most part, the book errs on the memoir side, and she's funny, and witty and smart. It was a pleasure to read and a very thought-provoking book.

For fiction, I have to admit, I have been reading a lot of trashy genre stuff lately Most of my more edifying reads this year have been non-fiction. For literature that was truly worth recommending, I'd have to go back to 'Room' by Emma Donoghue, way back in September Very creative idea, and well pulled off.

Anyone else?

[rhadin]

I'm assuming you are referring to ebooks only, so I'll have to limit myself to fiction (I buy nonfiction in hardcover).

It has been a real struggle lately to find 5-star fiction ebooks. But there are some. I would give all of Vicki Tyley's mystery ebooks 5 stars. I would give all of Shayne Parkinson's historical fiction ebooks 5+ stars.

In fantasy, I really like Richard Tuttle. I would give most of his ebooks 5 stars, and none less than 4 stars.

Also worth 5 stars are Lee Goldberg's The Man With the Iron On Badge and Jana DeLeon's Mudbug trilogy.

[astrangerhere]

Banana Yoshimoto's Kitchen was phenomenal for me. I have been reading alot of Japanese literature lately, and that one really struck a chord with me.

[caleb72]

The last one was The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Exquisite!

Regards
Caleb

[Catlady]

I just discovered Megan Abbott and zipped through her four noir novels. All five-stars; they just blew me away.

[perilous]

I just finished "The Blind Assassin", by Margaret Atwood. It is a superb piece of writing! By far the best book I've read in many years.

[queentess]

Originally Posted by caleb72

The last one was The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Exquisite!

This is my answer also. I also recently gave 5 stars to Catching Fire (second in the Hunger Games trilogy, but unfortunately the rest of the trilogy wasn't nearly as good), Hero of Ages (third in Mistborn trilogy), and Ghost Brigades (second in the Old Man's War series).

Originally Posted by perilous

I just finished "The Blind Assassin", by Margaret Atwood. It is a superb piece of writing! By far the best book I've read in many years.

This one's been on my tbr list for quite a while... I may have to read this one next. I've been suffering from decision paralysis lately, so thanks for helping me make a decision

[caleb72]

I really should read The Blind Assassin. I bought it for my mother as a gift a while ago. Been buying her a few Margaret Atwood books but reading none of them myself. I got her The Year of the Flood and have Oryx and Crake on order. I am a very good son what can I say.

I have read The Handmaid's Tale and was very impressed.

Regards
Caleb

[SlowRain]

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, about 5 years ago now.

[SlowRain]

Originally Posted by perilous

I just finished "The Blind Assassin", by Margaret Atwood. It is a superb piece of writing! By far the best book I've read in many years.

I enjoyed that one a great deal, too.

[Asawi]

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

(And a couple of Scandinavian books that are not, and probably never will be, available in English)

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by SlowRain

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, about 5 years ago now.

Have you read Never Let Me Go?

[Nexutix]

I read His Robot Wife, a sequal of His Robot Girlfriend. New SciFi is always tasty.

[CWatkinsNash]

I'm having a good run right now, so there's a few. As already mentioned, Shayne Parkinson - I'm almost finished with the second book of her Promises to Keep trilogy, and this one and the first are definitely 5-star. I suspect the third will be as well. The first book is free, the 2nd and 3rd are $1.99 (Smashwords). She also has a sequel to the trilogy, and I imagine that will end up on my virtual shelf soon.

Also very recently - The Black Garden by Joe Bright. Excellent 5-star novel I got from BeWrite.

[mayoi]

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.

The bad: Her constant use of "he" to refer to Thomas Cromwell was irritating because I often wasn't sure which character the pronoun referred to. Having to re-read paragraphs just to be sure I understood who said what was annoying. She also uses quotations inconsistently for direct speech.

The good: Everything else! The characterizations, the rich descriptions of environment, clothing, memories, often lyrical. Once I got into the flow of it, I couldn't put it down.