I read just under sixty books this year, counting novels and short story collections and graphic novels and audiobooks (but not counting lit journals or other magazines). I enjoyed many of those books. Below are the books that I really enjoyed, in no particular order except in which I read/listened to them (I've also specified whether they were ebook or hardcover or paperback, for those who care about such things). Novels:
- 11/22/63 by Stephen King (hardcover)
- THE ODDS by Stewart O’Nan (hardcover)
- TELL NO ONE by Harlan Coben (ebook)
- GONE FOR GOOD by Harlan Coben (ebook)
- CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins (ebook)
- THE SISTERS BROTHERS by Patrick deWitt (ebook)
- WESTLAKE SOUL by Rio Youers (ebook)
- MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins (ebook)
- SAMSON AND DENIAL by Robert Ford (ebook)
- PINES by Blake Crouch (ebook)
- THE LAST KIND WORDS by Tom Piccirilli (ebook)
- CLOUD ATLAS by David Mitchell (ebook)
- BIG MARIA by Johnny Shaw (ebook)
Stories:
- THE WEATHER STATIONS by Ryan Call (ebook)
- 8 POUNDS: EIGHT TALES OF CRIME, HORROR & SUSPENSE by Chris F. Holm (ebook)
- FULLY LOADED: The Complete and Collected Stories of Blake Crouch (ebook)
- SUDDENLY, A KNOCK AT THE DOOR by Etgar Keret (ebook)
- THROTTLE by Joe Hill and Stephen King (ebook)
- SCAR TISSUE by Marcus Sakey (ebook)
Nonfiction:
- SH*T MY DAD SAYS by Justin Halpern (ebook)
Audiobooks:
- THE AFFAIR by Lee Child, read by Dick Hill
- CREOLE BELLE by James Lee Burke, read by Will Patton
- BOSSYPANTS by Tina Fey, read by Tina Fey
- THE DETACHMENT by Barry Eisler, read by Barry Eisler
- GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn, read by Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne
As you can see, the majority of the books I enjoyed were read digitally. I don't think the ereading experience swayed my opinion one way or the other when it came to each individual work, but I do find myself preferring digital more and more. Maybe that's why it's been taking me a few weeks so far to get through THE TWELVE by Justin Cronin and I'm not even 200 pages into it yet -- I'm reading the hardcover, instead of the ebook, which would be much more convenient as I would pretty much have it with me wherever I go. As I'm not about to take the hardcover around with me everywhere, the only chance I have to read it is at home, and when I'm at home, I find myself concentrating on other things ... like reading on my Kindle. Or, who knows, maybe the book itself just isn't as good as THE PASSAGE.
As is usually the case, there aren't a lot of women on the list, which reflects poorly on my reading selections. (I've got Jennifer Egan and Ann Patchett and Tana French, as well as many others, on my TBR pile, so don't crucify me!)
So anyway, that's what I read and enjoyed this year. How about you?