Favorites of 2014

It’s the last day of 2014 and time to share my favorite books of the year. Earlier this month I counted down my choices on Twitter for the #libfaves14 campaign. Every year librarians choose their favorite books using this hashtag and they are then compiled into a big, glorious list with the top choices highlighted. If you’re interested, here’s an article about the list with a link to all of the picks. My tweets are captured below with a little blurb about each book. These were my best of the best with one missing: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. I read it after the choices were due, but it is near the top of my favorites this year. I really loved each of these titles and hope that I find more wonderful books like them in 2015.

#libfaves14 No. 10 is I Remember You by Yrsa Sigurdardottir – scary, eerie and so good.

— Anbolyn Potter (@anbolynp) December 8, 2014

#libfaves14 No.9 is A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki – the best book my book club read this year.

— Anbolyn Potter (@anbolynp) December 8, 2014

#libfaves14 No.8 is Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth Von Arnim – utterly delightful and deliciously funny.

— Anbolyn Potter (@anbolynp) December 8, 2014

#libfaves14 No. 7 is The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin. I love Goodwin's historical novels. She is a new 'must read' author for me.

— Anbolyn Potter (@anbolynp) December 8, 2014

#libfaves14 No.6 is Us by David Nicholls – hilarious and heartfelt.

— Anbolyn Potter (@anbolynp) December 8, 2014

#libfaves14 No. 5 is Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel – a book I learned about from the #ewgc crowd.

— Anbolyn Potter (@anbolynp) December 8, 2014

#libfaves14 No. 4 is Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor – a devastating and brilliant novel about loneliness and aging.

— Anbolyn Potter (@anbolynp) December 8, 2014

#libfaves14 No.3 is Good Evening, Mrs. Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes – honest stories about ordinary folk during WWII.

— Anbolyn Potter (@anbolynp) December 8, 2014

#libfaves14 No.2 is Old Filth by Jane Gardam – a ferocious tale about love and death and survival, told with humorous panache.

— Anbolyn Potter (@anbolynp) December 10, 2014

#libfaves14 No. 1 is Frances & Bernard by Carlene Bauer. Stylish, sexy, spiritual and so smart. I loved every bit of this epistolary novel.

— Anbolyn Potter (@anbolynp) December 10, 2014

Were any of these your favorites too?

Anbolyn

December 31, 2014

Best Books, Reading, Uncategorized

28 responses to “Favorites of 2014”

Erin @ Quixotic Magpie

December 31, 2014 at 6:54 am

I am reading Station Eleven right now, and I am really enjoying it! I wasn’t sure if I would, but it has sucked me in!

I am on the waiting list at the library for Us, hopefully it comes in soon. It’s so hard to wait! 😦 Lol.

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1. Anbolyn
  
  January 2, 2015 at 4:21 pm
  
  I’m glad you’re liking Station Eleven – I thought it was such a unique take on the post-apocalyptic novel. Us is very different, but also really thought provoking. Happy New Year!
  
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jessicabookworm

December 31, 2014 at 7:25 am

Sadly I haven’t read any of these books but I am pleased to see you have been enjoying your reading. I wish you more happy reading in 2015 🙂

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1. Anbolyn
  
  January 2, 2015 at 4:21 pm
  
  Thanks, Jessica, I wish you the same!
  
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lakesidemusing

December 31, 2014 at 7:38 am

I just got Station Eleven and All the Light We Cannot See from the library… hope I can read the both before they’re due! Happy New Year!

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1. Anbolyn
  
  December 31, 2014 at 9:06 pm
  
  They are both wonderful reading experiences so I hope you can read at least one before they’re due back. Happy New Year to you!
  
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Claire (The Captive Reader)

December 31, 2014 at 7:51 am

What a wonderful list, full of some of my favourite books! I’ve read most of these and would definitely put the von Arnim, the Gardam, and Panter-Downes on a “Best of” list. I have A Tale for the Time Being sitting next to me now, waiting to be read, and I can’t wait to start. I hope your 2015 reading year is full of just as many exciting and engaging books!

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1. Anbolyn
  
  December 31, 2014 at 9:07 pm
  
  Thanks, Claire, I wish the same for you!
  
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Lory @ Emerald City Book Review

December 31, 2014 at 7:58 am

I reread Old Filth this year — so good! Thanks for sharing all your favorites. I definitely want to check out All the Light We Cannot See.

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1. Anbolyn
  
  December 31, 2014 at 9:12 pm
  
  Old Filth was such a highlight! I do recommend All the Light…it is an engrossing and beautiful book.
  
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Helen

December 31, 2014 at 8:04 am

I enjoyed The Fortune Hunter too and nearly included it on my own list. I really want to read more Elizabeth von Arnim next year. I’ve only read The Enchanted April so far, but I loved it. Happy New Year!

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1. Anbolyn
  
  December 31, 2014 at 9:13 pm
  
  I love Daisy Goodwin – can’t wait for her next book. Happy New Year!
  
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Fleur in her World

December 31, 2014 at 8:06 am

What a lovely, diverse list of books. I have plans to re-read Elizabeth Von Arnim and to read Jane Gardam (for the first time) in 2015. I hope it will be a great year for you, filled with lovely books.

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1. Anbolyn
  
  December 31, 2014 at 9:13 pm
  
  Thanks, Jane, I hope you have a great year as well. I think you’ll like Jane Gardam.
  
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Sam (Tiny Library)

December 31, 2014 at 12:15 pm

I’ve not read any of these 😦
I loved David Nicholl’s Starter for Ten though, so I’m sure I would enjoy his book, and I’m keen to try Elizabeth Von Arnim too. Happy reading in 2015!

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1. Anbolyn
  
  December 31, 2014 at 9:15 pm
  
  Us was the first David Nicholls that I read and I loved the humor and great characters. I’d like to read more of him. Elizabeth Von Arnim is just fantastic – I hope you do give her a try. Happy reading to you!
  
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Lisa

December 31, 2014 at 4:49 pm

I saw your tweeets, but I hadn’t understood about the campaign – what a neat idea. I am looking forward to meeting Jane Gardam’s books this year! A very happy New Year! I know yours is starting with a long weekend & lots of reading.

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1. Anbolyn
  
  January 2, 2015 at 4:23 pm
  
  Sadly, I haven’t done much reading yet! I think I need new glasses and my eyes are bothering me so I haven’t felt like reading very much. 😦 Happy New Year!
  
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vicki (skiourophile / bibliolathas)

December 31, 2014 at 9:18 pm

I’ve only read the von Arnim and the Panter-Downes, but I have had Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont on my wishlist for ages, so I have added it to my MUST READS of 2015. Happy New Year, Anbolyn – may it bring you many delights.

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1. Anbolyn
  
  January 2, 2015 at 4:25 pm
  
  Happy New Year to you, Vicki! May wonderful books come your way. Mrs. Palfrey IS a must-read in my opinion.
  
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Jenny @ Reading the End

January 1, 2015 at 1:05 pm

Oh, Station Eleven was one of my favorites of the year too. Such an excellent book. And ditto to A Tale for the Time Being — I read it last year, and it was one of my favorites of 2013.

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1. Anbolyn
  
  January 2, 2015 at 4:27 pm
  
  Station Eleven seems to be quite the dark horse – not very hyped yet loved by so many. I hope you find more wonderful books in 2015!
  
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Cosy Books

January 1, 2015 at 1:42 pm

Oh, both Mrs Palfrey and Mrs Craven…such good books! I enjoyed so many books this past year but The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters stood out for being the book that made me rush through my day so I could spend time with it.
Happy New Year!

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Anbolyn

January 2, 2015 at 4:44 pm

I bought a copy of The Paying Guests in England intending to read it on the flight home, but it didn’t happen. I hope to make it one of my first books in 2015. Happy New Year!

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Jo

January 3, 2015 at 1:20 am

Happy New Year. Mrs Palfrey is a wonderful book isn’t it. I hope to read more Taylor this year. Daisy Goodwin has been on my radar thanks to blogging but I have yet to read one of her books.

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1. Anbolyn
  
  January 4, 2015 at 4:50 pm
  
  I hope to read more Elizabeth Taylor this year also. I now own all of her novels and just need to decide which one to read next. Daisy Goodwin is a wonderful creator of historical, aristocratic worlds. I love her luxurious romanticism.
  
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Alex

January 5, 2015 at 5:12 am

Elizabeth von Arnim has became one of my favorite author after reading Elizabeth and her German Garden and The Pastor’s Wife. Have you tried any of her other books? I’m determined to read anything she ever wrote! “Good Evening, Mrs. Craven” is patiently waiting in the TBR, this this will be its year because I’ll be dedicating some time to short-stories.

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1. Anbolyn
  
  January 5, 2015 at 10:53 pm
  
  Isn’t von Arnim fabulous? I’m also determined to read her entire works! I’m currently reading The Benefactress and it is hilarious.
  I hope you do get to Mrs.Craven this year. Her stories were fantastic enough to distract me from my 13 hour plane ride home from London!
  
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