Jayne’s Best of 2012 List
When Jane asked for our Best of 2012 lists, I knew mine would probably be short but I had no idea how short. I started with 3 books. Three. Books. Total. “WTF?,” I thought. Had I turned into that much of a h8ter? Well, it turns out that I had plenty of B grade reads but I like my Best of lists to be B+ or preferably higher. Luckily I read two more books that made my cut and Jane agreed that I could list the Stevenson book which is a reissue of one from the 1930s. So my list didn’t end up looking quite so much like Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. Here in the order in which I read them are my best reads of 2012.
- I’ve Got Your Number – Sophie Kinsella B+ (review)
- Crucible of Gold – Naomi Novik B+ (review)
- Code Name Verity – Elizabeth Wein A- (review)
- Miss Buncle’s Book – D.E. Stevenson B+ (review)
- Her Outback Rescuer – Marion Lennox B+ (review)
- Galileo’s Holiday (novella) – Sasha Summers A- (review)
Code Name Verity was SUCH a good book! Thank you for the rec! The kind of book that will stay with me for a long, long time. If you read nothing else, READ THIS!
@Mari: You’re welcome. And my thanks to Estara for first mentioning it here. The book definitely stuck with me and turned out to be the most unpredictable one I read all year.
@Jayne: Agreed. Still thinking about that book.
I’m so glad you had more than three good reads this year. That would suck. Here’s to a good reading year in 2013!
@Jayne: Do I have to go back and read the last two Novik books to enjoy this one? After the treason business and her scrambling of Napoleonic history I baled on the series, but I really liked the first two books.
It was your Codename Verity review that got me to read the book finally (after hearing good things about it in other places)
OMG it was such an EXCELLENT book, so glad I followed your advice and read it
@Jayne: Awww, thank YOU for giving it a chance, and writing about it here. I love the fact that you ladies will review books (and movies) that fall outside a romance review site’s usual area of comfort, when you care for them enough.
The food scenes in Galileo’s Holiday are fun!
@leslie: No, I don’t think so. And definitely skip the first book using Australia. Parts of it are pretty boring.
@Jenny Schwartz: I was wimpering for some biscuits and love the way the hero is so fascinated (and turned on) watching her enjoy the fresh, homemade food.
Jayne! Have you read “The Silver Metal Lover” by Tanith Lee? You really really should. I think you’ll love it!
@Aly: No, I’ve never read it but I’ve heard such great things about it. I might even have a copy somewhere…in a pile of books, under something, or behind something, or up in the attic, or in a closet…..will have to search. Thanks for the reminder.
Thank you Jayne! I’ll undoubtedly be grinning like an idiot for the next day or so. It means so much that Riley and Leo (and the food) struck a chord with you!