I’ve read or listened to almost 30 books already this year. I’m about five books ahead of my normal reading pace, which I attribute to the fact that I finally added audio books to the mix.
My only complaint about audio books is that on the occasion I want to “highlight” a few lines, I have to stop the audio and try to say the lines into the Siri function on my iPhone since I tend to listen to audio books when I’m either driving or exercising. Usually it’s not worth the hassle to capture the line, which means it’s gone forever. For a book nerd like me, that’s a shame. But missing the chance to highlight is worth the upside of sailing through books this way AND of making some of my drives back and forth to school or camp less tedious.
But let’s get on with the point of this post. All 30 books I’ve read so far this year are listed and briefly described on my booklist page. What you see below is my selection of the best books of 2014 so far in no particular order except that Eleanor & Park really is my #1 pick. I limited myself to nine more.
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
My full and detailed review is at Greatnewbooks.org this week. I hope you’ll read why this book about young love set in 1986 has taken the reading world by storm. Often I feel that popular books are overhyped. This one deserves the good attention. And no surprise, a movie is in the works.
This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett
Patchett is beloved for her novels Bel Canto and State of Wonder, but her essays are what draw me in the most. This is the Story of a Happy Marriage is a selection of her best pieces of nonfiction of the past few decades. I’ve read several of these essays twice by now, which is saying something. My favorite is “The Paris Match.”
When it Happens to You by Molly Ringwald
Yes, I’m referring to Molly Ringwald the actress from those movies we loved in the 80s. This book of linked short stories is so well done. The writing is crisp and the plot moves along. Her observations about people are compelling and insightful, and the characters have stayed with me month after month.
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom (audio version)
Excellent work of historical fiction that takes place in the South in the mid 1800s. This book is a few years old, but for some reason I just got to it this year. I loved everything about it. The narrators were excellent.
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (audio version)
Loosely based on the real life of two Southern abolitionist sisters in the early 1800s, this historical novel does not disappoint.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (audio version)
Loved the very original story and all the book references due to the main character’s job as the owner of a bookshop. I didn’t love the narrator’s voice. In hindsight, wish I had read this one instead of listened. I still recommend the book highly as I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like it.
An Untamed State by Roxane Gay
Despite the gruesome backdrop of a kidnapping of a grown woman in Haiti, this novel kept me up for three nights. I read almost everything Roxane Gay writes whether its fiction or nonfiction and will continue to do so. I’m a super fan. Her cultural commentary in Salon and elsewhere is top notch.
The Here and Now by Ann Brashares
I really loved this young adult novel about time travel and doing what you think is right even against all odds. I found myself sneaking away to grab my Kindle and read a few more pages whenever I could. The premise was very clever, and I’m not surprised the movie rights sold, too. I’d see that movie in a heartbeat. I love time travel stories of almost every variety, including those last few weird episodes in the final season of Felicity.
Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen
I’m reading this collection of essays now, and I can already say that it’s a top favorite of 2014. No question.
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48 Responses
The only book I’ve read on your list is The Invention of Wings, and I loved it. Going to look the rest up and hopefully plonk some into the Kindle!
Alison recently posted..Through The Lens Thursday #29: Cozy
First—Eleanor and Park!
Just started ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE (print) and really enjoying it. I’ve added your other best books to my list. Thank you! Best book for me so far this year is THE BLIND CORRAL…one of my favorite ever.
p.s. just voted. Loved your story!
Julia Munroe Martin recently posted..“On little cat feet…”
Thank you for voting! And I’m going to look into Blind Corral. Thanks for the suggestion.
I love book lists:)! I loved E&P, too – and Lots of Candles made my 2013 best of list. Love Anna Quindlen. I received The Ann Pachett book as a gift, it just moved to the top of my pile:)!. My favorites so far: The Stories We Tell by Patti Callahan Henry, The Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison, After I DO by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Love Life by Rob Lowe, The Aviators Wife by Melanie Benjamin, The Language of Flowers & Carry On Warrior. Sorry – there are so many! Right now I’m reading The Secret Life of Violet Grant, and I’m sure it’ll make the list! It’s by Beatriz Williams (A Hundred Summers) and I think you’d really enjoy it.
As for highlighting favorite quotes/audio – this happens to me, too! Often, Audible will offer the e-version of the book for free or a huge discount. I’ve also made note of what chapter it’s in and run to Barnes & Noble to look it up in the book.
That’s a good idea to just take note of the chapter! And I really enjoyed some from your list. I read Language of Flowers and Carry On Warrior last year. Loved them both! I saw on Bloglovin that you have a review of Glennon’s. Will check that out shortly.
I so value your book recommendations, Nina. Keep them coming.
I’ve read Eleanor and Park, The Kitchen House, and Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake. The rest are going on my “to read” list right now. Every one of them. Thanks!
Shannon recently posted..Favorite Finds in Moab
Oh fun! I like knowing people have enjoyed some of the same ones. Feels like a virtual book club sometimes.
Oh dear. Now I have a ton more books to add to my already overwhelmed reading list. These look wonderful, and I think I will start with Eleanor & Park. Thanks for this, Nina.
Estellel recently posted..Blogger Bash Coffee Talk
I hope you love it!
I’m bringing this list with me to my next book club meeting – which I’m hosting. Hooray?!
This month, we’re reading Galveston, by the guy who writes the show True Detective. It’s well-written but very dark. I read it in one sitting (although, truth be told, I sat at Six Flags for ten hours chaperoning my son and his girlfriend for his birthday so that’s not automatically an endorsement…)
Thanks for the recommendations – I find my tastes are closely aligned with yours so this is really helpful!
I’ll say we did Ann Patchett’s for my book club and it wasn’t the best for a group discussion. I think that’s generally true of nonfiction, in my experience. By the way, the setting you describe of six flags for ten hours while chaperoning your son and his girlfriend would make a great backdrop for a short story.
Always looking for a good read but a recommendation from a book-compatible friend is the best! Thanks! Gonna share this!
Thank you!
Oh… I love seeing what you’ve been reading. In fact, three of the books on your list are ones I REALLY want to read: ALL THE LIGHT, INVENTION & AJ FIRKY!
For me this year, personal favorites are MUSEUM OF EXTRAORDINARY THINGS, WILDERNESS, and THE WIFE, THE MAID & THE MISTRESS. I am just about done with THE SLEEPWALKER’S GUIDE TO DANCING, and it’s sure to be a favorite as well! So good (it’s one I think you’d really enjoy, Nina)!
Melissa Crytzer Fry recently posted..Rooftop Reading
Oh! I haven’t read any of those. Thanks for the suggestions.
I hadn’t even heard of the new Ann Brashares book, but it’s going straight on to my list. I absolutely love her and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants remains one of my all-time favorite series. Thanks for the list 🙂
Samantha Brinn Merel recently posted..A Friendship Forged In Big Law
You will for sure like this one then!
Okay, there are multiple things that I love about this post. First, your graphic. WTH? Are you getting techy on me? I must know how you do these things, my Badina. Second, I love that you are getting into audio books! I have sort of a rule with what I choose to listen to on audio. The books I choose are usually my “B” list books, books that I’m interested in reading but aren’t on the top of the list. That way I keep my top books as read only and I don’t have to worry that the story won’t be ruined by a bad narrator. My “B” list has no expectations. Third, I love your list and always enjoy learning about what you are reading. Thanks for sharing!
Hallie Sawyer (@Hallie_Sawyer) recently posted..Camp Memories
Hallie, I so appreciate you noticing that the graphic up there is the single most techy thing I have EVER accomplished. I’m serious. Thank you! I used canva.com. It was fairly easy and intuitive after playing around for a bit. There are some areas that would require payment, but enough is free. I made this one for free. Good enough for me!
I like your system for audio vs. reading.
Nina:
Ann Patchett is one of my favorite authors and I loved that she compiled her essays in one book. I adore The Getaway Car essay – so much wisdom packed in those words.
I read Quindlen’s Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake for one of my book clubs and this work did not resonate as much as Thinking Out Loud & Living Out Loud. I do plan to read Still Life With Bread Crumbs.
The books on my list: Euphoria by Lily King, The Light You Cannot See and Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
One question: How do you balance your reading and writing commitments? You have read so many books already. Definitely impressed. Maybe this topic deserves a post? 🙂
Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being Rudri recently posted..The Power in These Four Agreements
Hi Rudri! That’s a great question about how I read so much. Remember that I’ve listened to some too while driving or working out. But I have read most. I read every night for about thirty minutes before I fall asleep. I never ever ever ever bring my phone or computer into my bedroom. I swear that is the key. I also read a good chunk on Saturdays in the afternoon when my youngest is napping and the other three usually are playing here or around the neighborhood. The Jewish Sabbath is on Saturdays so no running around to bday parties or activities is really nice.
I have some of Quindlen’s other nonfiction books on reserve at the library!
Thanks for the book recommendations! I just added a bunch to my list. The only one I read here was Invention of Wings, and I agree—fantastic story, and especially love its historical theme.
I’ve read a ton of books but these are the ones I’d give 5 stars to so far this year:
Fiction: Wonder by R.J. Palacio, Americanah by Chimamanda Adichie and The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri.
Nonfiction: The International Bank of Bob, David and Goliath, All Joy and No Fun, The Smartest Kids in the World and Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids.
Nina recently posted..How to Stop Your Kids from Talking Back
I have All Joy No Fun on my tbr list. 🙂 Thanks for sharing the ones you’ve loved!
love this list. You are inspiring me to write one of my own maybe. We have many common beloved books. xoxox
Heading over before Shabbat!
Thank you for this list. After a long break from reading and writing due to an exhausting third pregnancy and some emotional bumps along the way, I read The Storied Life of A.J Fifkry in two days. My third baby is six months old and I finally started writing again last week. I perused your blog and find your story inspiring and similar to mine, law school, Spanish / International Studies major, but I’ve always been most happy writing. I don’t know how I let it slide from my life this last year. I WILL attempt to keep writing regardless of success or what others think, hopefully, one day I will get a story published. 🙂 I just bought my domain name last night. 🙂 I will also catch up on the books on your list. Thanks again.
Justine Solot recently posted..I Know a Guy …
This note completely made my day, Justine, and I can’t wait to poke around your site after the weekend as I saw you have one. Your story does sound a lot like mine. Congrats on securing the domain name, which is a real investment in doing what you love. Since your baby is still so young and likely waking a lot still, my advice is to take this year nice and slow. Once things feel more in control, you might consider the schedule that has changed my life for the better in so many ways . . . I wake up at 5AM five days a week to write. During other pockets of the day is when I’ll putz around on the social media stuff, which is something I really enjoy and would eat at every minute to write if I let it. Waking up at 5AM to work when you have a baby sounds like a nightmare, so like I said, forget it for now, but it’s worth revisiting later!
Thank you for this – looking for some decent reads right now and struggling (just finished Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and want something a little easier in the immediate). Who knew on the Molly Ringwald!?
Allison recently posted..When to Move, with Kids
I know, right? It was very literary. I could have seen many of the stories in a high brow lit mag.
I love Ann Brashares and I love time travel. I will need to check that out. I read Eleanor and Park last month. I didn’t have a very strong feeling towards it until intense feelings of sadness at the end!
Tamara recently posted..Food, Folks & Summer Fun.
If you love time travel than The Here and Now will be the perfect summer read.
I’m saving this list for when I visit the library again. I’m done blogging for a while but I will keep coming back to your site, Nina! So many great book recommendations and great ideas! Xo
I am excited to check out some of these titles, Nina! Thanks for sharing!
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Great list, Nina. As you know, I loved Eleanor & Park. It’s one of my favorites this year as well. I have The Invention of Wings and All the Light You Cannot See coming up next. I’m particularly excited about the latter given the amazing reviews I’ve read.
Way to go in getting through 30 books so far. What’s up next on your list?
Jackie Cangro recently posted..The One With A Cappella
I’m listening to What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty and reading Still Alice by Lisa Genova. It’s an Alice week I guess!
Some great books here. I loved Patchett’s essays too, and the language in All the Light We Cannot See was stunning. And I loved Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake. So wise and funny and warm.
This year I’ve loved Delancey by Molly Wizenberg (foodie memoir), The Sun and Other Stars by Brigid Pasulka (fiction), and the entire Mrs. Pollifax mystery series. (Think Miss Marple during the Cold War. So fun.)
Katie Noah Gibson recently posted..July reading roundup #2
I always admire how varied your list is, Katie!
Ooooh bookmarking this and rushing out to find Elanor and Park and This Here and Now (love, love, love time travel!). I haven’t read any fiction yet this year, which is odd. But my favorite so far in non fiction is Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan! Or maybe Surprised by Motherhood by Lisa Jo Baker.
Tricia recently posted..Do you know how your clothes were made?
I’ve heard so many great things about Glitter and Glue!
Ok.. I’m with Hallie. The graphic is super impressive! I can’t wait to get out the site you used. I have loved many of the books you mention here-espeically Eleanor and Park and All the Light We Cannot See and am anxious to read others. Thanks so much for sharing your list!
Stacey recently posted..A Backyard Photo Walk
Yeah, I impressed myself with that. I’ve never made anything like it before. Not sure if you saw my response to Hallie, but I used canva.com.
I found my way here via Lindsey at A Design So Vast. There is nothing I love more than feedback from other readers. I have loved many of the books you mentioned. In fact, The Kitchen House was a a favorite of mine when I listened to it last year. I was disappointed that no one I recommended it to seemed to share my affinity, and then I realized that the rich narration was crucial to get the full experience of the story. There are simply books that lend themselves better to being heard, and that was one of them. I’m listening to The Poisonwood Bible right now and it is better than either time I read it despite the fact that I do get rather strange looks when I’m laughing out loud as I pound the pavement.
Evie recently posted..Orphan Train
Evie, thanks so much for visiting me here. I agree that The Kitchen House was extra special as an audio book. Those two narrators did a phenomenal job. I’ve heard other books where I thought the storytelling would have benefitted from two narrators instead of one. And I have been there with the laughing while listening in public. David Sedaris makes me cause a scene.
So glad you stopped by! Nina 🙂
Great list. Many of these are on my “to read” list. I read Eleanor & Park earlier this year and devoured it. I didn’t know a movie is in the works but I’m not surprised. I’ve been hearing good things about Molly Ringwald’s book but I didn’t quite believe them. I’ll definitely have to check it out now that you’ve recommended it.
Lara recently posted..To feel the dash and dance of the thing
Lara, Ringwald’s is definitely in the linked stories category, but I love that sort of thing. I think you’ll be impressed by her ability to tell a story and also her use of language.
Thanks so much for the book recommendations. I had already read some of these and agree. Just ordered Eleanor and Park–can’t wait to read it. I loved reading your story and I voted. Good luck!
I need to put some of these on my reading list but I’m already in the middle of two books and have two more waiting! 😉 Thanks for the recs!