Dubuque Virtual Book Club discussion

Let's face it, we all have TBR lists miles long, so we don't always get to read the great books the week, month, or even year they came out. Share your favorite reads from 2014 that were published in 2013 or earlier here.

Limiting myself to four "new to me in 2014" books was even harder because that's the bulk of what I read in any given year, but there's no point in just listing everything I read ;)

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie: Some of the best space opera I've read in years. I also read the 2014 sequel, Ancillary Sword, and I will definitely be reading book three whenever it's available.

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson: Becky told me to read this, and she was right. I've been wanting to take a road trip ever since.

The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt: After seeing this near the top of several "favorite ever historical romance" lists, I had to read it. Now it's near the top of my "favorite ever historical romance" list.

Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole: This was one of my favorite audiobooks of the year, and not just because of the Scottish accents. A wonderful work of character-driven historical fiction.

This is of limited use because Carnegie-Stout doesn't own it and it does not appear to be in print, but: The New Mutants: The Demon Bear Saga! So much fun!

Other old comics we *do* own:
She-Hulk by Dan Slott: The Complete Collection Volume 1 - Let this give you hope that the Demon Bear Saga will come into print someday. I'd heard for years that Dan Slott's She-Hulk was great, but could never find a physical copy. And then a new edition came out! It's funny, exciting, metatextual, self-referential, super-good.

Another re-released Marvel gem, Thor by Walter Simonson - Volume 1! I've heard Simonson's work on Thor referred to as the best superhero comic run ever. Those are strong words, but the book did not disappoint.

The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History was a long one, but full of information about World War II. I preferred the book over the movie.

Sergeant Rex: The Unbreakable Bond Between a Marine and His Military Working Dog by Mike Dowling showed the amazing skill of military dogs and the people who work with them.

Anything by Spencer Quinn who writes about man and dog and it's told from the perspective of the dog, Chet. It's always a fun one!

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline was by far the best pre-2014 book I read (or listened to) in 2014. Marvelously entertaining, full of '80s pop culture references and video game minutia (fun even when I didn't know the games), it drew me along so I never wanted to hit Pause. And Wil Wheaton was the ideal narrator.

I loved Ready Player One! I reread it this year or I should say I listened to it to this time because Ernest Cline came to University of Northern Iowa this fall and I wanted it fresh in my mind. I agree Wil Wheaton was the ideal narrator.

My nomination is
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
This book is a good combination of humor and sadness. I found it fascinating. Alexie does a good job describing what it would be like to grow up on an Indian reservation and go to an all-white high school.

I enjoyed The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd--it was actually published in Jan of 2014, but close enough. If you have never read The Secret Lives of Bees which she wrote many years ago, you should read that also--parts of it made me sob.

In a completely different vein, I really enjoyed Stephen King's Doctor Sleep--its one of the best sequels (The Shining be the original) I have read. Some really good characters.

One more among so many--Me Before You by JoJo Moyes is a wonderful book--I like pretty much everything by this author but this has been my favorite by far. She writes about regular people facing big moral issues--in this one she tackles assisted suicide and tackles it very well.

I've read so many great books this year, most of which were published pre-2014, but right now I'm still reeling from Stephen King's 11/22/63. I'll come back and add more once I put together my "best of" list later this month.

I read everything by Rainbow Rowell this year and Attachments was my favorite. It was her first book and, I believe, her best.

I also read some more John Green and liked An Abundance of Katherines.

Ancillary Justice was going to be my contribution, but I see Sarah already got it! I love the genderless dimension that really turns conventional science fiction on its head. I also read Ready Player One and enjoyed it! I read that it's being made into a movie?

I posted my favorite books I read this year on my blog: Cheap Thrills

If you don't feel like clicking over, some of my pre-2014 highlights were Into the Darkest Corner, And the Mountains Echoed, and Heart-Shaped Box.

And I second all the comments for Ready Player One, Doctor Sleep, and Attachments. I didn't read them this year, but they were all great. (And I agree, Emily... of all Rainbow Rowell's books, I like Attachments the best.)

Susan wrote: "Ancillary Justice was going to be my contribution, but I see Sarah already got it! I love the genderless dimension that really turns conventional science fiction on its head. I also read Ready Play..."

I just stumbled across a short story by Ann Leckie set in the same universe that's free to read online! http://www.tor.com/stories/2014/06/ni...