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My top reads for 2012

Well, its nearing the end of the year, and a couple of readers have been asking about my top books for 2012. This year has been another one of wide-ranging reading for me, with most genres represented. Early in the year I went on a bit of a middle grade kick, while these past few months Ive been craving literary fiction, so these books may be overrepresented on the list. I should also note that the books on this list werent necessarily published in 2012.

Below are the books I awarded a rating of 4 stars (meaning excellent) and above this year'the obvious caveat being that this list is limited to those books I actually read, and of course is in no way comprehensive! I still plan to get through another ten to fifteen books by the end of the year, so I may make some additions accordingly.

Next year I plan to decline most review copies so that I can work through the backlog of books Ive been wanting to get through. As such, I expect that with most of the books being of my own choosing, therell probably be a chunkier best of list by the time the end of 2013 rolls around. After all, I know my own tastes better than anyone else!

For interest, you can view last years list'of best books here'and 2010s list'here.

Read in a Single Sitting's top books for 2012:

 My top reads for 2012

General fiction:

A Stranger in my Street by Deborah Burroughs'Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

Talking to the Dead by Helen Dunmore Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

The Millstone by Margaret Drabble Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides'Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012halfstar My top reads for 2012

My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

The Bay of Noon by Shirley Hazzard Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012halfstar My top reads for 2012

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012

How Many Miles to Babylon by Jennifer Johnston Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

Warm Bodies'by Isaac Marion'Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

Life! Death! Prizes!'by Stephen May Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

The Glamour by Christopher Priest Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012

Secrets of the Tides by Hannah Richell Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012

The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

Alison Wonderland by Helen Smith Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

 My top reads for 2012

Nonfiction/memoir

Shakespeare on Toast by Ben Crystal Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

Your Voice in My Head by Emma Forrest Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

Macrobertsonland by Jill Robertson Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

 My top reads for 2012

Young Adult/Middle Grade:

Unearthly Asylum by PJ Bracegirdle Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

The Puzzle Ring by Kate Forsyth Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

Seriously Sassy: Crazy Days by Maggi Gibson Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012halfstar My top reads for 2012

Games by Robin Klein Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

Verdigris Deep by Frances Hardinge Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012halfstar My top reads for 2012

Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

Preloved by Shirley Marr Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

Ondine: the Autumn Palace by Ebony McKenna Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

Trash by Andy Mulligan Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

Pearl Versus the World by Sally Murphy'Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012halfstar My top reads for 2012

A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012halfstar My top reads for 2012

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012halfstar My top reads for 2012

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber Rating: star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012star My top reads for 2012blankstar My top reads for 2012

 

Your turn: what were your top reads for the year?

15 comments

  1. I too was late to We Need to Talk About Kevin. What a brilliant book it totally blew me away and is now in my all time favourites list. I will keep note of your other recommendations.

    • Stephanie /

      Thanks, Benison! It was such a remarkable book, and Im so glad that I did get to it, even if it took me a while!

  2. Its nice to see that The Graveyard Book was one of your favorites. It is one of my favorites and worth a reread every few years.

    • Stephanie /

      Its a wonderful book. I havent connected with much of Gaimans work (although there are a few newer titles Id like to read), but I really enjoyed this one. :)

  3. Great list; even if Ive only read 2 of them

  4. A much anticipated list and great to read. Because Im new to your work, it was nice to go back and look at reviews Ive missed. Kevin is also one of faves (as you would know, I think). Ive put The Marriage Plot on my list for next year. I was intrigued by The Graveyard Book. Not being someone who is huge on YA, I think Ill have a go at that one. Nothing like a recommendation, right?!

    • Stephanie /

      Thanks, Sonia! I hope you enjoy The Marriage Plot. Its such a smart, funny book, and the characters feel so real.

      The Graveyard Book is lovely and whimsical, with an old-fashioned vibe to it. If that sounds like your sort of thing (its certainly mine!) you should enjoy it. :)

  5. What a great list Stephanie we have a few in common!

    • Stephanie /

      Thanks, Shelleyrae! Our tastes do tend to be quite similar, so Im not surprised. :)

  6. I also read Remains of the Day this year and it will also make my top of the year list. Im always curious, though, what were the worst books of the year? The disappointments? The disasters?

    • Stephanie /

      Vernon God Little, without a doubt! I loathed that book. I also started an appallingly bad chick lit called Killer Heels that I just couldnt manage. Christian Jacqs Manhunt and Dan Elconins Never After were both pretty abysmal. Generally, though, if somethings clearly not to my taste, I try to skip on to something a bit better. Im definitely going to do that more next yearlifes too short for awful books!

  7. My top reads for 2012 http://t.co/UHJmdbrv Thanks so much Stephanie.

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