Best of 2013 and Year-End Summary

I'm a bit behind, but I have finally put together my Best of 2013 List - whew, it was a hard choice! I read so many great books this past year.

All together, I read 79 books last year (that's 15 more than in 2013!). Here's the break-down:

• 32 were adult fiction
• 23 were teen/YA fiction 
• 16 were middle-grade fiction
• 4 were memoirs
• 4 were nonfiction but not memoirs

Of the 79 books, I listened to 12 of them on audio.

As always, I had a hard time choosing my favorites! In no particular order, here are my Top Ten of 2013  (you can check out my top ten list of kids/teen/YA books read in 2013 at Great Books for Kids and Teens).

• The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
• Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver  
• The Invisible Wall and The Dream by Harry Bernstein (memoirs)
• The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey 
• The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker 
• The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson 
• Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain 
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou 
• City of Women by David Gillham 
• TheHousekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Agawa  

 And I couldn't resist a few Runners Up! I just didn't want to leave these out: The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom, Redfield Farm by Judith Redline Coopey, Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple, and The Yokota Officer's Club by Sarah Bird

And, for a little extra fun, here are a few superlatives:

Best Book of the Year and Best Book by a New-to-Me Author:

The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

(I agree completely with the Pulitzer committee - it blew me away - I am still thinking about it 8 months later!)

Best Book from an Old Favorite Author:

Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver

(just LOVED it and also The Bean Trees, read in 2012)

Best Audio Book of the Year: 

-->

  The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne  

(I counted it as best audio for both adults and teen/YA)

 Best Memoir of the Year:

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou  

(can't wait to read the rest of her memoirs!)

 

Best Nonfiction Book of the Year:

In Other Worlds by Margaret Atwood 

You can also check out how I did on my 2013 Reading Challenges.

What were YOUR favorite books read in 2013?