Literary Exploration discussion

We have had Best of 2011 and Best of 2012 thread and I think we will need a best of 2013 thread for the group read (next year). I find it interesting to start a Best of... thread early and see what people thing have been great books (that have been released in 2013) through out the entire year.

All 2013 books will go into the poll next year.

I love these threads because they keep my queue up to date on what to read the next two years.

Daddy Love was fantastic!!!

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini from a literary standpoint would be my "best of" so far.

For fun, art perspective, and great setting & plot standpoint loved Inferno, by Dan Brown.

Also read The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

Th best book of 2013 may be a book named "1913". It is by Florian Illies and I can highly recommend it to all literature and arts lovers. It's witty, intelligent entertainment (shall we say), it's wonderfull. I LOVE THIS BOOK!1913: The Year Before the Storm

I want to read the latest Gaiman but find it to be prohibitively expensive. Perhaps I'll feel more expansive when the festival season comes in October and gift it to myself.

Jutta, I took a look at the book, it IS interesting, I would definitely want to read it.

Sonali wrote: "Jutta, I took a look at the book, it IS interesting, I would definitely want to read it."
BUT may be it's only that intriguing for a German / Austrian reader, hope you won't be dissapointed. For me it's THE book of the year.

Well I'm interested in German literature and culture. I intend to start learning the language from the next term beginning in January. So.... what more can I say? :-)

Can you get it through your local library Sonali? I have Khaled Hosseini's book on loan now with Neil Gaiman's latest reserved to pick up when I have finished this one.... Works out much cheaper than buying books :)

Kathlyn you're right. I might get it at a local lending library.Hosseini will be easily available, but Gaiman I'm not sure.

If they don't have it in stock it's worth asking if they will buy it in. My library has bought a few books that I have requested.

Two of the best books I've read so far this year are;

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena and The Machine

I am new to this group and hope I am doing this correctly.

My best reads for 2013 are as follows:

The Light Between Oceans
Wonder - a Young Adult books which is truly wonderful
The Invisible Bridge
The Glass Room
Have a Little Faith: a True Story
The Art of Hearing Heartbeats
Joyland

Note - at the end of the year I always keep a list of my top ten reads for that year. I have been doing this since first signing on to America Online almost 20 years ago. As you can see from the above, it is really hard for me to select just 10 titles and especially my number 1 read.

Nancy wrote: "I am new to this group and hope I am doing this correctly.

My best reads for 2013 are as follows:"

Joyland is the only one released in 2013

Nancy wrote: "I am new to this group and hope I am doing this correctly.

My best reads for 2013 are as follows:


Hi Nancy and welcome to the group. The thread "Best of 2013' refers to books that were published in 2013. But I do agree with you that The Invisible Bridge was a terrific book :)

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is my top 2013--but then I'm a big Neil Gaiman fan.

Same with me Julia.

From the ruins of empire by Pankaj Mishra I enjoyed very much too.

THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS by M> L. Stedman was the best book I read in 2013.

Reminder all books mentioned here (and released in 2013) will be used in a Best of 2013 poll to pick Feburary's group read. This poll will be live in a few days. So nominate now.

So Far;
Daddy Love
And the Mountains Echoed
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Inferno
1913: The Year Before the Storm
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
Joyland

The Ocean at the End of the Lane - just fabulous

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King was a limp disappointment, but no where near as disappointing as the staggeringly banal The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

I have a feeling, though I am yet to read it, that Chauin Saw Confidential by Gunner Hansen will be my book of the year

I hear great things about the new Richard Flanagan but won't get to it until next year

The Narrow Road to the Deep North is already out

My top 5 reads of 2013 releases are:

Elianne by Judy Nunn
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
The Shadow Year by Hannah Richell
A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley
Darkening Skies by Bronwyn Parry

you really want to skew that nominations with all your picks

Sorry!

lol, I'm only stirring you Brenda

Haha!! OK then;)

Michael wrote: "The Narrow Road to the Deep North is already out"

i know, but i won't get to it until next year

My favourite books released this year would be :

Touch & Go and The Love Song of Jonny Valentine

My two top reads that fit this criteria would be

The Wild Girl by Kate Forsyth

and

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Leaving this open for a little longer, last chance to nominate for the February group read.

Daddy Love
And the Mountains Echoed
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Inferno
1913: The Year Before the Storm
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
Joyland
Chain Saw Confidential: How We Made the World's Most Notorious Horror Movie
Elianne
Burial Rites
The Shadow Year
A Long Way Home
Darkening Skies
Touch & Go
The Love Song of Jonny Valentine
The Wild Girl
The Rosie Project

Some great choices there Michael!

Poll created now, any new books miss out on being in the poll and this is just a Best of 2013 thread now.