One of the things I’m grateful for this year is the fact that I managed to get the time to read. A lot. I started off trying to record the books that I’ve been reading, but I quickly lost track.
I found new book series. Discovered some great nonfiction reads. And, I finally finished books that have been on my “To Read” list for some time.
A few days ago, I decided to ask friends and contacts online the question:: “What’s the best fiction and/or nonfiction book you read this year?”
And, I got a few interesting book recommendations that are now going on my new “To Read” list. So, I thought I’d share those responses as a way for me to refer to in the future, as well as to give you all some ideas too, just in case you’re looking for books to read.
If you ask me the same question, my favourite books this year are:
Fiction: A Song of Fire & Ice Series by George RR Martin (Book 1: Game of Thrones + Book 2: A Clash of Kings)
Nonfiction: Career Compass by Grove Consultants – Although this is more of a workbook than a complete nonfiction read.
Here are others’ recommendations…
Kari (14)
Connie (12)
Kharen (5)
Mel W (5)
Christina @ The H... (4)
Sasha (4)
Jen (3)
Diana Bletter (2)
Em Dy (2)
ibyang (2)
Oh, we have that Usborne doodling book, too! But it’s from 2 years ago, I think. Lovely book. So much fun to work on.
My book for the year: A Game of Thrones!
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Yay for another GoT fan, Connie!
And, how’re you doing with the Usborne doodling book? Finished yet?
The Usborne doodling book is probably 85% done. There’s a few more pages to work on but the 5 y.o. has moved on to other projects. My 2 y.o. is the one finishing up the pages with lots of scrawls and yes, doodles.
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Woohoo! Hooray for creative kids.
Lots of books I’m not familiar with. I will have to take a closer look when I’m not so sleepy and look a few up on Goodreads. Happy reading!
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That’s great, Kari! I love discovering new books. I hope you also find some you enjoy from this list. I can’t wait to check out some of the recommendations for my 2013 reading list.
I really enjoyed the Hunger Games trilogy, even though it is considered ‘young adult’ literature. I also read the first three Game of Thrones books this year too, although I ran out of steam at the end and just got Chris to summarise the following two books for me.
And at the beginning of the year I finally got around to reading Stieg Larson’s trilogy (seeing a theme here?) and was thoroughly disappointed in the third book. In 2013 I intend to stick to the ‘three books a month’ plan I had this year (for the National Year of Reading) and have been filling up my ‘to be read’ book list on Goodreads.
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I love your “three books a month” theme, Mel! I’m too chicken to get rid of my one book a month target. But, maybe I should.
Looking forward to learning more about your 2013 reading discoveries. Looks like we share some similar interests in reading, so we can even share notes. 
I didn’t participate, because I was too busy at the time you posted the question, but had wanted to. I have been loving reading the Kerry Greenwood Phryne Fisher Murder Mystery series. Good fun to read, set in the 1920s Melbourne, Australia. Also read a couple of Matthew Reilly’s books. Always good value. And discovered a new author at the end of last year, CJ Sansom, who writes the Matthew Shardlake series of historical thrillers. Only read two, have been waiting on the others through the library. Also received a kindle for Mother’s Day and have been reading several ebooks, but nothing to rave about yet.
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I appreciate your belated contributions, Heather! You’re the second person who mentioned CJ Sansom, so it looks like I’d have too check the books out. And lucky for you for getting a Kindle. I’ve become converted to reading ebooks, due to ease of purchase and storage. So, hopefully, you’ll get to love your Kindle more!
Awesome, got a few new additions to my Goodreads list! I’m especially looking forward to trying a Tony Park book, I really like Wilbur Smith’s Africa books, so I’m hoping the Tony Park collection will be just as good. They seem less historical, so will be interesting to read from the perspective of a different era. I also read, and largely enjoyed, the hunger games trilogy, and started the Song of Ice and Fire series. The third book, A Storm of Swords, was by far the best. The fourth was, unfortunately, a let down. I’m now taking a break, but will pick up series again after a few different books. Currently reading the latest Bryce Courtenay. It’s early days, but it’s shaping up pretty well so far.
Ooooh, thanks for putting your two cents’ in too, Nicola! Now you’re making me look forward to reading A Storm of Swords.
Since I’ve been insanely busy with work and travels, I haven’t found the time to read as much as I want to. Though I bought a lot of books this year, started reading a few of them but only finished even fewer (one is even a re-read!), they’re all sadly gathering dust in my bookshelf back home. The new books that I did get to read aren’t favourites, the re-read was (Persuasion, Jane Austen)! Currently reading Sputnik Sweetheart, a Haruki Murakami book but I reckon I’ll finish that one next year, haha.
So. No book of the year for me, unfortunately. But lots of candidates had I gotten around reading them. Hoping for more reading time in 2013!
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Great re-reads, sis Sasha!
Sorry to hear you didn’t get a lot of reading time in 2012. But, hopefully, you’ll get more time in 2013!
I spent Christmas re-reading Harry Potter. How I love those books – such tools for imagination! I’m moving onto the Game of Thrones series after this. Let’s see if it’s really that awesome!
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You’re definitely a girl after my own heart, Celeste! I <3 Harry Potter too. I haven’t done a re-read lately, but one day…
I look forward to hearing what you think of GoT! So, when shall we start our Book Club meetings? 
Thanks, Kay! So glad you got inspired to blog about your reads for 2012 too.