While I know that the month has only begun and I still have 4 more weeks to read and to add books to my list, my Top Ten list for the year is already way beyond 10 books, so I am stopping with my annual goal of 52 books and will make my Top Ten list based on what I have read so far. And, with my annual Christmas Card letter having been mailed today, if anyone is so inclined to check my blog after reading the letter, I'd like to have this list ready for those who want to cut down 52 books to a more manageable one book per month (or thereabouts) list of potential reads.
So, after much thought, here's this year's list of my Top Ten Favorite Reads for 2014.
1. The One and Only by Emily Giffin. By far this is my favorite book of the entire year, perhaps decade. It's a good reminder of what's really important in life. This one is a must-read! It is very much about football, so keep that in mind.
2. Tender by Mark Childress. The Elvis fan in me couldn't resist putting this one on the list.
3. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Crazy clever--a brilliant novel. And scary.
4. Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman. Just a reminder that those orange jumpsuits are one more reason for me to be terrified of prison.
5. The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach. Yet another sports book appears on my list this year. This book, however, is about a lot more than baseball and yet it was baseball that drew me to this book at first. I love baseball!
6. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. This book appealed to the mom in me, stuck in the Far West End of Richmond, wanting desperately to fall off the grid and move far away from the drama. Drama can get you killed. And be careful...apples don't fall far from trees.
7. The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg. A beautiful tribute to the women who kept America going during WW2.
8. The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble. A book about a book club. Enough said!
9. Somerset/Roses by Leila Meacham. These are two separate books but should be read one after the other in order to get the full story. Don't be scared by the size of these books. The stories told within the covers are well worth the weight of the books.
10. American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield. A beautiful story about (Laura Bush?) what really goes on behind the closed doors of political marriages.
I left off several of my other favorites: Calling Me Home, Walking on Water, and One Plus One. If the list went to 13, those would be my last three additions.
I have intentionally left off children's books/young adult novels from my list this year in order to keep my list to 10. However, this list is NOT to be missed...even by adults:
1. Wonder by RJ Palacio
2. The Fault in our Stars by John Green
3. If I Stay/Where I Went by Gayle Forman
4. Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick
So, if you do the math, I really have a list of 19 favorite books this year, which is pretty good considering that I began with 52 possibilities. For me, narrowing this list down to 10 is like trying to pick your favorite child. Although for this year, my favorite child is definitely The One and Only. If you have time to read only one amazing book this year, read that one. Seriously, you will love it. I didn't want the story to end.
Happy reading everyone!
:) Dodie
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