This Top Ten topic is perfect for the end of the year – Top Ten Favorite Books of 2012. I’ve read about 110 books so far this year and it’s a little tough choosing which ones to highlight, but here’s my list. They are not necessarily in any order.
The Tempest by William Shakespeare
I actually read four of Shakespeare’s plays this year: The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsumer Night’s Dream, and The Taming of the Shrew. All could legitimately be included on this list, but The Tempest was my favorite of the lot.
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
Another author I read several of this year: Bury Your Dead, A Trick of the Light, The Beautiful Mystery, and The Hangman. This is my currently my favorite mystery series and I especially liked Bury Your Dead because it settled some issues from the previous installment that I really hadn’t been happy with. It also gave us some wonderful insights into the main characters.
Whiplash River by Lou Berney
I love a good caper. Exotic locales, a larger than life cast of characters, a fast-paced plot and snappy dialogue made this one of my faves this year. It made me laugh and cringe, a good combo.
Harold’s Fairy Tale by Crockett Johnson
Yes, I’ve read this many, many times since we bought it when Amber was little, but I still love Harold and his purple crayon and it is one I re-read this year. I love his imagination and the way this one in particular plays with the standard fairy tale figures.
Henry Wood Detective Agency by Brian Meeks
This one was just so odd and orginal I loved it. It was kind of a 1950s detecitve story, but with several odds twists that made it stand out. It’s not perfect, but it was kind of a surprise favorite.
The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
I love the original Sherlock Holmes stories and Horowitz did a great job giving his story the same feel as the originals.
The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality by Gahan Hanmer
This is another one I was surprised by. The premise is a rich man has set up a medieval kingdom in the wilds of Canada and more or less kidnaps an old friend to come live there. Doesn’t sounds like it’ll be very good, but I ended up loving it. There’s romance and adventure, betrayals, sexual trysts and violence. It’s a magical story, but without any actual magic.
Why Mosquitos Buzz in People’s Ears by Verna Aardema
This is another one I’ve read over and over since Amber was little. It’s just such a great book to read aloud and the colorful sharp illustrations are perfect.
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
It’s quite deservedly a classic of detective fiction. Characters, plot, dialogue, it all works.
Artist in Crime by Ngaio Marsh
I do love vintage mysteries and this is one takes a favorite character, Inspector Alleyn, and introduces him to the woman he will eventually marry, artist Agatha Troy. But Marsh doesn’t let the budding romance take over the book; it’s still all about the mystery.
What books made your top ten list this year?
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish.
Nice list….unfortunately I have not read one of these books. 🙁
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Blog
I think I have read Louise Penny…o you read more mysteries than any other genre?
At least this year I’ve read mostly mysteries. Other years I’ve read more romances or fantasy. It just varies.
I love Louise Penny’s Gamache series! I read Bury Your Dead last year and loved it as well. 🙂
Happy reading!
The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality sounds really good. I’m not ready to start my best of list. I’m hoping to read a few more before 2012 is over.
I just wrote on another that I must start Louise Penny’s series, sounds so good and it is my genre of choice.
Great top ten 😀 I have not thought about my list yet
What a varied list! I have The Maltese Falcon on my shelf- must get around to reading it soon!
A great list. Two of the authors (Brian Meeks and Lou Berney) are new to me and sound interesting.
I’ve only read Bury Your Dead, but liked it. I haven’t done my top 10 list. Next week when I’m off. Happy Holidays.
Who doesn’t love Harold? Great list.
I read The Kingdom on the Edge of Reality too as well this year.
And gotta love Shakespeare 🙂
I haven’t read any of these, but the Harold book looks cute. My daughter loved the cartoon when she was little. I guess I need to start thinking about my “best reads” list. 🙂
I love people’s end of year lists. I’ve not read any Shakespeare – how bad is that! I do like a Midsummer’s Night (from films and plays that is) and I keep saying I will read some (in fact I have his complete works)!
I’ve read The House of Silk – I thought it was really good and was happy to be in the world of Holme’s and Watson again for a short spell. I wonder if Horrowitz will do any more?
Lynn 😀
I haven’t read a Shakespeare play in years, but I do remember enjoying The Tempest. I was thinking of reading Titus Andronicus next year. I love the movie with Anthony Hopkins, but I’ve never read the play.
I really want to read The Maltese Falcon. I enjoyed The Thin Man, so I’m thinking I will like this books as well.
Great list overall! Now I just need to get my top list of the year done.
The Thin Man is on my shelf. I think it’s on my list for this coming year.
Well, I haven’t read any of these but thanks to you a few are on my wish list!