Elise’s Books of 2012

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December 20, 2012 // Miscellaneous Book Nerdery

 I love lists, especially end-of-year lists and end-of-year lists about books are like pure heaven to me. I’m usually terrible about keeping track of what I read throughout the year, but this year happened to be different for two reasons. 1) I’ve officially run out of shelf space for my books so they all congregated in a pile and 2) my list is embarrassingly telling of my personal life. If you know me there’s such an obvious pattern to what I’ve read. I was torn between trying to keep it in order of when I read them and keeping books by the same author together, It’s a weird mishmash of the two, so bear with me. There are a few embarrassing titles in there, but for the most part I think this is a good representation of the fact that I will read anything.

Pink Smog by Francesca Lia Block: I read Weetzie Bat somewhere around the age of 11 or 12 and my life hasn’t been the same since. Despite the fact that I’m a fully grown adult, I still love Francesca Lia Block. I was a little wary of her writing a prequel to Weetzie Bat, especially so many years later, but I think she stayed true to the character.

The Elementals by Francesca Lia Block: Not so much a fan of this one, but I think it’s because FLB accomplished what she wanted. This book was disturbing and I think that was the point. It was well written, but it left me feeling uneasy.

Nymmph by Francesca Lia Block

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris

Bite Me by Christopher Moore: There’s a distinct possibility I read this last year and not this one, but it was mixed in with the rest of the books I read in 2012, so I’m including it.

The Thorn and the Blossom by Theodora Goss: Interesting concept, but I think the story got overshadowed by the idea.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman: Again, I may have read this one last year.

Clockwork Angel By Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins: A reread in preparation for the movie.

Talking to Girls about Duran Duran by Rob Sheffield: A reread, but I love Rob Sheffiield and his take on music and life.

The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure

Stories for Nighttime and Some for the Day by Ben Loory

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan: I loved this so much that I made Amy read it, forgetting completely that I underlined something horribly embarrassing in it. She didn’t tease me too much…

The Whisperers by John Connolly

The Undead by John Connolly

Rebel Bookseller by Andrew Laties

Operation Mincemeat by Ben Macintyre

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: A reread. I hadn’t read it since high school and felt the need to remedy that.

Very Fond of Food by Sophie Dahl: I don’t really cook, but I love cookbooks and will read them front to back like a novel. A delicious novel.

I Am an Executioner by Rajesh Parameswaran

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery: I didn’t finish this one. It was just too dry and uninteresting to me.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabakov

Unforgettable You by Daisy Fuentes: Mildy embarrassing, but I really will read anything.

The Likeness by Tana French: Many people recommended Tana French to me and I finally gave in and read this one. It made me mad at myself for waiting so long to read her books.

Faithfull Place by Tana French: My favorite of the three.

 In the Woods by Tana French

 The Killing Floor by Lee Child

 Redbreast by Jo Nesbo

Nemesis by Jo Nesbo

The Devil’s Star by Jo Nesbo

This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper: So, so good. I cried reading the end of this.

Plan B by Jonathan Tropper 

The Book of Joe by Jonathan Tropper

Everything Changes by Jonathan Tropper

One Last Thing Before I Go by Jonathan Tropper

The Jewish Book of Why by Alfred J Kolatch: I’ve been thinking about converting and have been trying to educate myself.

Stars of David by Abigail Pagreen

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami: I mentioned before that this book makes the rounds amongst my friends and this year was my turn. I was a little intimidated by the size and the violent subject matter, but I loved it. So much so, I went out and bought the movie as soon as I finished it.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline: Another one that people kept trying to get me to read that I put off for whatever reason. I ended up loving it, which proves I should listen to my friends more often.  

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby: Another one that made me cry.

Imagine by Jonah Lehrer: I started reading this two weeks before it came out that Jonah Lehrer fabricated some of his facts. I didn’t finish it, not because of the controversy, but because it was boring.

The Cat’s Table by Michael Ondaatje: My introduction to Michael Ondaatje and I completely fell in love with him.

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje: The end of this one was read through a haze of tears. I can’t even begin to express how much I loved this story.

The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht

A Disobedient Girl by Ru Freeman

Joseph Anton by Salman Rushdie

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

Then Again by Diane Keaton: I didn’t finish this one. I really want to like Diane Keaton, but for whatever reason she annoys the crap out of me. This book didn’t help matters.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: Reread for book club.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger : Another reread for book club.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Dodger by Terry Pratchett: I love Terry Pratchett and this book proves that he can do no wrong.

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett: The Tiffany Aching books are my favorite of all of Terry Pratchett’s books and this one might be the best of them.

 Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

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Elise just can't quit you.

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