marcycarmena

A friend recently asked me what my favorite books from last year were, and although I always think about my all time faves (Hello, Lolita! Fire of my loins), I hadn’t thought of my all-stars from 2013. So I went through my Goodreads shelves and ranked ‘em one by one. I picked my top five because 10 seemed like too much, three wasn’t enough and six would have just been weird.

And the winners are:

#5 If I Stay // Gayle Forman – Yes, it’s a YA novel, but wonderful all the same. I flat out cried at the end. Plus, in true form, they’re in the middle of turning it into a film starring Chloe Grace Moretz. You know, if you’re into that kind of thing.

#4 The Devil’s Star // Jo Nesbo – I just discovered Nesbo earlier this year, and am totally digging him. Set in Norway and starring bad-boy detective Harry Hole, the crime novels are super dark but so, so good. Not all of the books have been translated into English but I highly suggest starting with The Redbreast and working your way up…they just get better.

#3 Sharp Objects // Gillian Flynn – Forget Gone Girl. Seriously, don’t even bother. But you must read Sharp Objects. Probably the most twisted book I’ve ever read. Viscerally visual, it’s just so fantastic. And you thought your family was crazy…

#2 Ghana Must Go // Taiye Selasi – The first-time novelist is simply amazing. And she’s young. And beautiful. I would hate her if I didn’t love her so much. Half set in modern-day Ghana, the novel tells the story of a family torn apart by tragedy and their path to find one another again.

#1 The Goldfinch // Donna Tartt – Maybe it’s because it’s still so fresh in my mind but, to me, this is her best work yet. She truly is a masterful storyteller. A teeny bit daunting because it is a giant, sweeping beast of a novel, but I loved every minute of it. I hope you do, too.