Curious to see what the Lemmings are reading this year.
I’ll say my favorite this year was “The People of the Deer” by Farley Mowat, a novelization of the authors time spent in the Canadian North.
An incredible read with some wonderful prose.
Unexpectedly, it’s Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. I’ve always loved the movie and the book adds to it. A real joy to read.
One is my all time favorite books. The second one is also much better than the movie.
Oh yes, it’s been years since I read the book. I really enjoyed all the industrial espionage and corporate scumbaggery added in.
My favorite book I read this year was “The Fifth Season” by N.K. Jemisin and the rest of her Broken Earth Trilogy was fantastic as well. It’s such a uniquely dangerous and i I’mnteresting world full of mystery and horror. It really grounded with fantastic characters and a compelling plot. Plus it deals with issues like systemic oppression and climate change in a way that just doesn’t just feel like it is copying real world but slapping fantasy/sci Fi paint over it.
I really loved A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers.
It hit me right at a time when I needed it, and made me feel that change might actually be ok.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern!
I’ll remember that book like a treasured gourmet meal forever.
Even if I later forget the details, the silken blessing of her prose and how close I grew to her characters while living in their world will linger.
I really enjoyed **The Kaiju Preservation Society ** by John Scalzi. Very fun read and how a group of scientists would interact on an everyday basis is very on point.
“The Phoenix Project” by Gene Kim. It’s been a revelation. The second book, “The Unicorn Project”, is not as good, but still definitely worth a read.
Oh The Phoenix Project sounds really interesting, fictional devops and IT what an interesting idea!
It’s only fictional as a full story. All the little events, substories, incodents - they’re all real.
“Little Eyes” by Samanta Schweblin, a story about how a new technology connects people around the world, and the varied happy and horrific consequences. Samanta Schweblin is my new favorite author. Her best work (imo) is Fever Dream, a hallucinatory novel that feels like a fever dream, about the negative impact of some environmental issues in Argentina.
Sounds right up my alley, thank you!
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery did grab my attention with its themes of class conflict and gender. Its most unique feature is prioritising philosophical and intellectual discussions through the protagonists’ journals; the plot comes in second.
Thank you, I’ll be checking this out!
Published this year: Looking Glass Sound (Catriona Ward)
Read this year: Wolf Hall trilogy (Hilary Mantel)
The Wizard of the Crow is a book I picked up randomly at a used bookstore and it ended up being an all time favorite. It gets into some pretty heavy topics but some well placed humor keeps it from being overwhelming.
Lonesome Dove was beautiful and brutal; a window through time.
River of Gods by Ian McDonald. I’ve read a lot of books this year but River really stood out. The world building, prose and characters were all top notch.
I read The Locked Tomb series this year and I got really into it. I’m currently listening to the audio books now. I’m also reading the first book in the Wayfarers series at the recommendation of my husband and so far it’s really fun too.
Ann Patchett continues to impress, both Bel Canto and The Dutch House were excellent. Loved Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel. Also discovered T. Kingfisher; read Thornhedge and Nettle & Bone, and definitely want to read more of her stuff.
@WanderingCrow best novel I’ve read that was written this year, or best novel I’ve read this year?
Best novel you’ve read this year, no need to cap it by publishing date!
@WanderingCrow Then I think I’d say The Eighth Life (For Brilka). By Haratischwili. A Georgian family saga, spanning the 20th century
