YOUR Book of The Year 2012?

Chi Cygni · 12-20-2012, 07:02 AM

If you have to choose 1 book out of those you read this year, which one would win? The most captivating, thought provoking, thrilling etc...?
For me it was "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. I felt strongly for the characters like for living people, pitied them, kept my fingers crossed for them, couldn't put it down and re-read it a few months after. It will stay in my memory. Isn't that what makes a good book among other features?
What about you?

Yapyap · 12-20-2012, 07:15 AM

I'm trying very hard to decide, but my two absolute top reads this year are so different, plus one of them was the latest in a favourite series and the other was a stand-alone, that it would be unfair for me to pit them against each other.

So, for me, it's a draw between Skulduggery Pleasant: Kingdom of the Wicked by Derek Landy, for the sheer joy and giddy delight and awesomeness, and The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling, which I'd expected to be disappointed by and which turned out to be an incredible read, one that will certainly stay with me for a while.

It was a good year, all in all - I've had eight five star reads among the 167 books I've read this year so far. But even among the five star reads, some just stand out more than others.

spindlegirl · 12-20-2012, 07:33 AM

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

mewmartigan · 12-20-2012, 07:45 AM

Although it didnt' come out this year, I would have to say my favorite read of the year was The Baroque Cycle (Quicksilver, The Confusion, The System of the World) by Neal Stephenson. Some great characters, fun history and ridiculous, weirdly entertaining infodumps. Reading all 3 books back to back, the scale of the story was huge!

Chi Cygni · 12-20-2012, 08:07 AM

It doesn't need to come out this year. Just the best you read in 2012.

Gazella · 12-20-2012, 08:16 AM

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

mediax · 12-20-2012, 08:31 AM

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

HomeInMyShoes · 12-20-2012, 08:51 AM

Of what I read in 2012:

It's a close one between a few, but Cannery Row by John Steinbeck is my winner.

Honorable mentions to Halting State by Charles Stross and Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk.

Quake1028 · 12-20-2012, 09:11 AM

Non-fiction: I Suck at Girls by Justin Halpern
Fiction: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Ninjalawyer · 12-20-2012, 09:42 AM

I have to go with Stephen Pinker's The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence has Declined

The book encompasses much of human history to arrive at its conclusion that we're living in the most peaceful time in history. The statistics and arguments Pinker relies on are extremely convincing, and the author isn't shy about noting shortcomings in the data; I just love how Pinker structures his arguments and the depth of his research.

Non-fiction and a subject that could be dry, but totally uplifting and a wonderful read.

sun surfer · 12-20-2012, 10:07 AM

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman, first edition. I read it way back in January and nothing's beat it since.

Apache · 12-20-2012, 11:11 AM

Mine was a reread. The Walking Drum by Louis L'Amour.
A departure from his usual westerns. This one was set in 12Th century Europe and Middle East.
Apache

paulsalter · 12-20-2012, 11:40 AM

11.22.63 by Stephen King

I read this at the beginning of the year and has been my favourite

jersysman · 12-20-2012, 11:56 AM

My favorite read of this year is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I put off reading this book for years, but finally decided to read it. I was so glad that I did.

Synamon · 12-20-2012, 11:58 AM

It wasn't really a wow year for me, but I'd say The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey was the best I read this year. My re-read of Life of Pi by Yann Martel for a bookclub comes in a close second.

12-20-2012, 07:02 AM	#1
Chi Cygni Addict Posts: 540 Karma: 4458321 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Europe Device: iPad, black Cybook Opus, Kindle 3 3G, Novo 7 Fire	YOUR Book of The Year 2012? If you have to choose 1 book out of those you read this year, which one would win? The most captivating, thought provoking, thrilling etc...? For me it was "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. I felt strongly for the characters like for living people, pitied them, kept my fingers crossed for them, couldn't put it down and re-read it a few months after. It will stay in my memory. Isn't that what makes a good book among other features? What about you? __________________ Midnight Snacker http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Cygni

12-20-2012, 07:15 AM	#2
Yapyap Addict Posts: 315 Karma: 1012117 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Estonia Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle 3, Sony PRS-505, iPad, Samsung Galaxy S II	I'm trying very hard to decide, but my two absolute top reads this year are so different, plus one of them was the latest in a favourite series and the other was a stand-alone, that it would be unfair for me to pit them against each other. So, for me, it's a draw between Skulduggery Pleasant: Kingdom of the Wicked by Derek Landy, for the sheer joy and giddy delight and awesomeness, and The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling, which I'd expected to be disappointed by and which turned out to be an incredible read, one that will certainly stay with me for a while. It was a good year, all in all - I've had eight five star reads among the 167 books I've read this year so far. But even among the five star reads, some just stand out more than others. __________________

12-20-2012, 07:45 AM	#4
mewmartigan Addict Posts: 386 Karma: 1107212 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Kindle PaperWhite	Although it didnt' come out this year, I would have to say my favorite read of the year was The Baroque Cycle (Quicksilver, The Confusion, The System of the World) by Neal Stephenson. Some great characters, fun history and ridiculous, weirdly entertaining infodumps. Reading all 3 books back to back, the scale of the story was huge! __________________ __________ Marcus

12-20-2012, 08:07 AM	#5
Chi Cygni Addict Posts: 540 Karma: 4458321 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Europe Device: iPad, black Cybook Opus, Kindle 3 3G, Novo 7 Fire	It doesn't need to come out this year. Just the best you read in 2012. __________________ Midnight Snacker http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Cygni

12-20-2012, 08:16 AM	#6
Gazella Diavazophile Posts: 495 Karma: 1316230 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand __________________ “Throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

12-20-2012, 07:33 AM	#3
spindlegirl Grand Scheme of Things Posts: 1,222 Karma: 9840441 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Near a Tim Hortons, most likely. Device: Sony PRS-T2 (Black), K4	The Fault in our Stars by John Green

12-20-2012, 08:31 AM	#7
mediax Readaholic Posts: 234 Karma: 708454 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Swindon, UK Device: Sony Reader PRS-505 and PRS-650	The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

12-20-2012, 08:51 AM	#8
HomeInMyShoes Ginormous Intergalactic Posts: 10,404 Karma: 34151574 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: junkyard Device: Kindle3	Of what I read in 2012: It's a close one between a few, but Cannery Row by John Steinbeck is my winner. Honorable mentions to Halting State by Charles Stross and Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. __________________ Reading Lists: 2011 \| 2012 \| 2013 “Reading one book is like eating one potato chip.” - Diane Duane

12-20-2012, 09:11 AM	#9
Quake1028 Guru Posts: 818 Karma: 8798808 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Device: See signature	Non-fiction: I Suck at Girls by Justin Halpern Fiction: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien __________________ Current iPad 3 32GB White Wi-Fi Past Kindle Fire - returned \| iPad 2 16GB White Wi-Fi - sold \| Kindle 3 Wi-Fi - Wife \| nook - Brother \| Kindle 2 - Mother in Law

12-20-2012, 09:42 AM	#10
Ninjalawyer Guru Posts: 626 Karma: 15291362 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Blackberry Playbook	I have to go with Stephen Pinker's The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence has Declined The book encompasses much of human history to arrive at its conclusion that we're living in the most peaceful time in history. The statistics and arguments Pinker relies on are extremely convincing, and the author isn't shy about noting shortcomings in the data; I just love how Pinker structures his arguments and the depth of his research. Non-fiction and a subject that could be dry, but totally uplifting and a wonderful read.

12-20-2012, 10:07 AM	#11
sun surfer keep calm and carry on Posts: 1,283 Karma: 7685930 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: the shade of the morning sun Device: ipad mini & sony 950	Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman, first edition. I read it way back in January and nothing's beat it since.

12-20-2012, 11:11 AM	#12
Apache Readaholic Posts: 1,667 Karma: 26165998 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Nook Color / Nook HD+	Mine was a reread. The Walking Drum by Louis L'Amour. A departure from his usual westerns. This one was set in 12Th century Europe and Middle East. Apache

12-20-2012, 11:40 AM	#13
paulsalter Fanatic Posts: 525 Karma: 1109999 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK Device: Nexus 7, Kobo Vox, Samsung Galaxy SII	11.22.63 by Stephen King I read this at the beginning of the year and has been my favourite

12-20-2012, 11:56 AM	#14
jersysman Guru Posts: 954 Karma: 1757040 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: Nook Color, Sony PRS-T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW	My favorite read of this year is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I put off reading this book for years, but finally decided to read it. I was so glad that I did. __________________

12-20-2012, 11:58 AM	#15
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,317 Karma: 3206320 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Keyboard 3G, iPad mini, iPod Touch	It wasn't really a wow year for me, but I'd say The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey was the best I read this year. My re-read of *Life of Pi* by Yann Martel for a bookclub comes in a close second.


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