I’m back with another 5 Best Books list to help wind down the year. The following is a list of the 5 books that I found myself recommending to other readers (or reluctant readers) more often than any others. That does not mean that they are, necessarily, the 5 best that I read, but they are the ones that I thought other people would enjoy, too.
The Last Brother
by Nathacha Appanah (Graywolf Press)
This is a novel that I recommended to teachers, students, and anyone who enjoys novels that take place during World War II. I actually taught this novel with a developmental reading class this past semester, because, even though it is in translation, it is a very accessible read. Students are interested, engaged, and they actually ask questions. They have opinions. Too often these days, that just does not happen. It is a beautiful (and sad) story.
Here is my review from earlier this year.
The Bird Sisters
by Rebecca Rasmussen (Crown)
This was one of my favorite debut novels of the year. I found myself recommending it to readers who like good, solid stories about real people. The story of Milly and Twiss is one that I am sure a lot of people have lurking in their family histories. It has the family drama (at perfectly reasonable levels) and the small town feel that so many people find appealing. I know I did.
Here’s my review from earlier in the year.
The Coffins of Little Hope
by Timothy Schaffert (Unbridled Books)
If I were handing out a superlative for most endearing narrator this year, it might just have to go to Essie Myles. She is an older lady, long charged with writing the obituaries for the small-town newspaper that her family has run for generations. She is who I want to be when I grow up. I think a lot of readers will enjoy her wit, identify with her insecurities, and admire her resilience. She’s a lady that every reader should get to know.
Here’s my review from earlier in the year.
The Borrower
By Rebecca Makai (Viking)
Many people found this book to be flawed, and I think that they were over-thinking things a bit. I cannot dislike a book that has so much love for books contained within its pages. It is an odd story with an odd outcome. This is true, but it is a story with a lot of heart. I gained a whole new appreciation for librarians. And I picked up a few titles for my personal reading list, too. It is not often that I find one book recommending another. It is worth taking a look at.
Here’s my review from earlier this year.
Ready Player One
by Ernest Cline (Crown)
This is a book that I almost did not read. I am so glad that I did. This is the perfect book for the reluctant reader. It is fast-paced, funny, and good triumphs over evil. It is full of the types of pop-culture references that make the reader feel smart because he is able to recognize them. I have been recommending this to students, several of which actually went out and bought a copy. A few even downloaded the audio when I told them that it might even be cooler than the book because Wil Wheaton is the narrator. I had to explain who he was to a few people , but then they were impressed. As they should be.
Here’s my review from earlier in the year.
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