Books of 2012

It's the last day of the year, which means I can post my annual book list. I read 85 books this year. Many were young adult, which can be a bit slimmer, but I'm proud to say there were a few hefty books on the list, including Les Miserables, Stephen King's 11/22/63, Gone with the Wind, etc.

I've got a list of recommendations at the end, so make sure you scroll all the way through (I know it's a long list!).

I'm always on the hunt for new books. Do you have any favorite books from this year that you can recommend to me? 

1. Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan
2. Caldera by Matt Cousineau
3. Triathlons for Women by Sally Edwards
4. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
5. The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
6. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
7. Vienna Prelude by Bodie Thoene
8. Prague Counterpoint by Bodie Thoene
9. Munich Signature by Bodie Thoene
10. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
11. Jerusalem Interlude by Bodie Thoene
12. Danzig Passage by Bodie Thoene
13. Washington Square by Henry James
14. The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua
15. Warsaw Requiem by Bodie Thoene
16. I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
17. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
18. The Always War by Margaret Peterson Haddix
19. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
20. Turnabout by Margaret Peterson Haddix
21. Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
22. Among the Impostors by Margaret Peterson Haddix
23. Among the Betrayed by Margaret Peterson Haddix
24. Among the Barons by Margaret Peterson Haddix
25. Among the Brave by Margaret Peterson Haddix
26. Among the Enemy by Margaret Peterson Haddix
27. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins*
28. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins*
29. MockingJay by Suzanne Collins*
30. Among the Free by Margaret Peterson Haddix
31. Crossed by Ally Conde
32. Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
33. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
34. 11/22/63 by Stephen King
35. Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
36. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
37. A Girl Named ZIppy by Haven Kimmel
38. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
39. Homecoming by Cynthia Voight
40. I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron
41. Children of God by Mary Doria Russell
42. I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron
43. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
44. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald*
45. Bossypants by Tina Fey*
46. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
47. I’m Not Myself These Days by Josh Kilmer-Purcel
48. Where Am I Wearing?: A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories and People that Make Our Clothes by Kelsey Timmerman
49. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
50. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
51. The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner
52. Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner
53. Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot
54. Gone GIrl by Gillian Flynn
55. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
56. Dark Places by GIllian Flynn
57. Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley
58. An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison
59. Uglies by Scott Westerfield
60. Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
61. Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
62. Pretties by Rick Riordan
63. Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
64. Ender’s Game by Scott Orson Card
65. Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
66. Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
67. The List by Siobhan Vivian
68. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
69. The Red House by Mark Haddon
70. The Giver by Lois Lowry
71. Flirting with Monasticism: Finding God on Ancient Paths by Karen Sloan
72. The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
73. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
74. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
75. The Four Agreements
76. The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
77. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
78. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
79. The Messenger by Lois Lowry
80. Son by Lois Lowry
81. Dicey’s Song by Lois Lowry
82. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
83. The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James
84. Different Seasons by Stephen King
85. Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

*Denotes a re-read

Top Recommendations on the Year: (in this order)
Tell the Wolves I’m Home
The Fault in Our Stars
Silver Linings Playbook
11/22/63
The Giver Series by Lois Lowry
Dicey’s Song
The Great Divorce
The Magician’s Elephant (great for kids)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

If you don’t mind slightly disturbing crime dramas, all three of Gillian Flynn’s books (Gone Girl, Dark Places, Sharp Objects) are page turners. Just not recommended for everyone because of the content.