I thought I’d read quite a few books this year, and a lot of newly-published ones, too, and yet the best-of lists remain full of titles I haven’t got around to, or have never even heard of. So while my wish list takes a battering, here’s my chance to return the favour. I know I ought to wait until the end of the month but something about this time of year just provokes the urge to tot up the balance sheet. It’s been an excellent reading year, as what follows will show.
Best literary fiction of 2014
Alice McDermott – Someone
Jill Dawson – The Tell-Tale Heart
Naomi Wood – Mrs Hemingway
Jane Smiley – Some Luck
Heather O’Neill – The Girl who was Saturday Night
Best literary fiction of 2013 I only got around to reading in 2014
Eleanor Catton – The Luminaries
Curtis Sittenfeld – Sisterland
Best fiction recommendation I gave Mr Litlove
Monique Roffey – Archipelago
Best literary fiction in translation
Magda Szabo – Iza’s Ballad
Best general fiction
Liane Moriarty – Little Lies
Patricia Ferguson – Aren’t We Sisters
Best historical fiction
Laurie Graham – The Grand Duchess of Nowhere
Elizabeth Fremantle – Queen’s Gambit
Best books that made me laugh
Graeme Simsion – The Rosie Project
Rebecca Harrington – Penelope
Best short stories
Tom Barbash – Stay Up With Me
Best crime fiction
Eva Dolan – Long Way Home
Frances Brody – Death of an Avid Reader
Best memoirs of 2014
Joanna Rakoff – My Salinger Year
Barbara Taylor – The Last Asylum
Best memoir of any year
Hilary Mantel – Giving Up the Ghost
Best non-fiction about mental health issues
Christine Montross – Falling into the Fire
Best general non-fiction
Richard Benson – The Valley
Margalit Fox – The Riddle of the Labyrinth
What a year for the women! Only two male authors made it onto the list this year. But a formidable year overall. Before Christmas I might mention a few stinkers too, and the books I liked least this year. You have been warned.
Tales from the Reading Room 
What a lovely selection! But I shall look forward to hearing about the ones you hated, too! 🙂
interested to know what you hated. Whilst I totally agree about The Last Asylum and Falling in the Fire, I loathed Mrs Hemingway – dull, badly written and no image of Hemingway, which may make sense stylistically but means you just CANNOT see why all the women hung around him.
What a great reading year you’ve had! I know what you mean about feeling that the other ‘best-of’ lists are full of books I’ve not read or not even heard of!
Well, I didn’t make it beyond the first few days of the month as you know. Delighted to see some familiar titles here and even more so to see some to explore. Looking forward to your stinkers!
From your list to my wish list!
This should keep me nicely busy for 2015.
Wonderful selection, there are definitely a couple there I want to read.
I really enjoy browsing through these best-of lists. I haven’t read many newly-published books this year, but I must get around to Mrs Hemingway. Your post is a timely reminder.
I haven’t read many of these, though I did enjoy Queen’s Gambit (and Elizabeth Fremantle’s second book, Sisters of Treason). I’m still working on my own list!
Reblogged this on DAILYBOOKS.ORG and commented:
Tales from the Reading Room has a brief post on some of the Best Books of 2014. The list includes Alice McDermott’s Someone and Heather O’Neill’s The Girl who was Saturday Night.
I haven’t read any of these, so you know that three went straight onto my wishlist: the Hilary Mantel, Last Asylum and Falling into the Fire. Starting my own journey into psychotherapy has me curious and interested in how the mind works. You read some interesting books this year, and delighted to see that The Luminaries lives up to it’s billing. It is on my radar as one I’d like to read soon.
Yes I’d like to know the books you didn’t like, too! 🙂
Susan – You Can Never Have Too Many Books blog
Amazing. I’ve read hardly any of these though I enjoyed The Luminaries and Mrs Hemingway. I’ve read hardly any of anybody else’s Best Books either, which is kind of bizarre as like you I’ve read a great deal this year. Oh well. Just goes to show what a lot of books get published, I suppose — we can’t expect to read them all.
An interesting list as always. And I’m glad it’s so early. It’s nice to get one like this every other day/week. 🙂
Pingback: On-line “Greatest Books of 2014″ Lists Updates – December eleventh | TiaMart Blog
Wonderful list. 2014 has been a great year for women writers, that or I’ve just made the effort to read more by female authors. Mrs Hemingway is one of my favourite books this year, definitely.
Ah, your list wasn’t so bad for my TBR pile since they were books you’ve read and have talked about already so you’ve already done your damage over time instead of all at once 😉
I look forward to these lists of yours all year. I can always look at my TBR list and see when you must have put them out!
just dared to read your list. So pleased! And what good company. Thankyou
I so loved “Someone”–the first Alice McDermott book I read that I went to the library and got “Charming Billy.” As wonderful as Someone, if that’s possible.
also loved Little Lies, also a first for me of a Moriarty book. Have to pick up another. thanks for your list of reminders of good books yet to read.