Favorite books from 2014

I really liked Sarah's post on this topic and have adopted for myself.


Letting Ana Go by Anonymous
This is a story about a teenage girl's struggle with Anorexia Nervosa. It is her very powerful journal, which starts out as a food journal for class and turns into an obsession. Having struggled with eating disorders myself, I found this to be a novel that lead me to dark places internally, but I do not regret reading it.
Looking for Alaska by John Green
This is one of my favorite novels. I have read it so many times. I love the characters immensely. I think that one of John Green's successes as an author is that he can illustrate the heart and soul of what it truly means to be a young adult without trivializing the experience.
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
I attempted to read this novel several times and was successful in 2014. While the books in this series are very dense and long, the characters are fascinating. This novel had me feeling a myriad of emotions. The series is very dark, however. I also read the second novel in the series and started the third, but had to take a break. My goal is to finish the next three books before the seventh come out. (!)
Sway by Kat Spears
Another YAL novel. I guess I can't get enough of them. I was really taken with the main character, Jesse (Sway). He tries to keep himself so emotionally shut off, but events in his life lead him to open up about many of the emotions he has kept shut out. He is very troubled and some might consider him a bad guy. I found him to be good with all the beautiful and ugly flaws that come with humanity.
The Fault in our Stars by John Green
Another favorite that I reread for the movie release. I found the novel to still be my favorite of the two mediums, but I think they did a fabulous job with the movie. Once again, John Green covers a troubling issue (this time, cancer) that young adults may deal with honest and beautiful words.
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
This novel is set in the 1970's. A daughter goes missing from a family of five. As you read and get closer to resolving the mystery of the missing daughter, many other family secrets are uncovered.
Margot by Jillian Cantor
This is a fiction novel that focuses on Margot Frank, sister of Anne Frank. The novel follows Margot's life after the war, as if she had survived.
Graveminder by Melissa Marr
This is a gothic novel. The main character, Bek, discovers that she has taken over as the town Graveminder. This is a role her now-deceased grandmother held. A role that Bek thought to be just a personality quirk on the part of grandmother. This brought up a lot of interesting points about life and death, good and evil, afterlife, etc.
Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
I LOVED this novel. I did not love the movie. I think that the main character, Pat, is illustrated so much better in the novel. I also found his relationships to be so my richer in the novel.
The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri
I think I have read everything that Jhumpa Lahiri has written and this novel only served to further my belief that she is one of the richest authors of this century. She primarily writes about the experiences of Indians immigrating into the United States. Lahiri has great talent in helping the reader feel what the characters are feeling. It is so easy to get attached.
The Collector by Nora Roberts
I read an awful lot of romance novels. I love them because they are mostly predictable and when I am in a bad place emotionally, they perk me right up. Nora Roberts is one of my favorite romance authors. This novel follows Lila, a professional house-sitter, who witnesses a murder. As I have an equal love for the mystery genre, this novel covers all the right bases to turn a depressed mood into a happier and more relaxed mood.

2014 Books Read

Last year wasn't devoid of any reading. I was just forgetful and lazy in blogging about them. Of course I didn't read as much as I would have liked. Since finding out that I am walking distance from a Half Price Books my collection of old science fiction books and Steinbeck books have expanded. It is fun to search for the old books that aren't in circulation anymore or have been forgotten for the new bestsellers. Plus when they are half price they are dirt cheap! Since I am putting a bunch of books together I will section them out in very brief write ups.

Robert A. Heinlein: I really enjoy reading his stories. I picked up The green hills of earth and The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag both of which are collections of short stories. It's nice because you can read a story in a short sitting. They are catchy and thought provoking. Of course I do still love Bradbury. But it is interesting to read some of the others Bradbury has pointed out to be influential on his writing.

Isaac Asimov: The movie version of I, Robot with Will Smith is one of my favorite movies. I found the book and decided to see what else there is to the story. The book is of course more in depth. However, the entire story line of Smith's character is not in the book. The movie takes some of the characters and adds to them. This makes both book and movie great on their own standing. The book has so many more characters and spans a long period of time. It is very interesting. I will definitely read more by Asimov.

Jules Verne: In all honesty I am still trying to finish Journey to the Center of the Earth. I feel like it could have ended a long time ago. Sadly I have come to where I needed something new and haven't picked it up again. However, I did read Master of the World and this book (shorter in length) had me turning the page. I wanted to understand how one man thought he could outsmart everyone and his belief system of why he should be "master" of the world.

Peter Benchley: Jaws. If you don't know about the movie then you need to rent it. I came upon the book at Half Price and didn't realize the movie was based on a book. The book is so much better! Usually is the case. The movie and the soundtrack to it are of course great. But you get to see so much more into the lives and minds of the characters in the small town of Amity.

So there is the nut shell of reading last year for me. I know there were probably more that I read. But these are the ones that stand out in my mind while looking back.