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 秋子 permanently lurking Posts: 839 Karma: 6587575 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Europe Device: Oasis 3, Pocketbook Era	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?

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12-20-2012, 07:15 AM	#2
Yapyap Guru Posts: 861 Karma: 3543721 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Estonia Device: Kindle Paperwhite, iPad 3, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge	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, 07:33 AM	#3
spindlegirl Wizard Posts: 1,594 Karma: 21245891 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra h20, Paperwhite 2017, Phone & Tablet w Moonreader	The Fault in our Stars by John Green

12-20-2012, 07:45 AM	#4
mewmartigan Guru Posts: 852 Karma: 8242060 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Kindle Oasis (2019)	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!

12-20-2012, 08:07 AM	#5
Chi Cygni 秋子 permanently lurking Posts: 839 Karma: 6587575 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Europe Device: Oasis 3, Pocketbook Era	It doesn't need to come out this year. Just the best you read in 2012.

12-20-2012, 08:16 AM	#6
Gazella Wizard Posts: 1,694 Karma: 4601218 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle Oasis	Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

12-20-2012, 08:31 AM	#7
mediax Readaholic Posts: 255 Karma: 1058454 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Swindon, UK Device: Sony PRS-T2 (previously 505 and 650)	The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

12-20-2012, 08:51 AM	#8
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	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.

12-20-2012, 09:11 AM	#9
Quake1028 Guru Posts: 917 Karma: 9155462 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

12-20-2012, 09:42 AM	#10
Ninjalawyer Guru Posts: 826 Karma: 18573626 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Nexus 7 (2013)	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 languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44637926 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	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: 5,132 Karma: 89858112 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	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: 579 Karma: 3243761 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Fire HD8	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 Wizard Posts: 1,747 Karma: 3761220 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD	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: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, 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.