What are the BEST BOOKS you've read in 2016?

[scarletwoman]

This is a thread for you to list the most outstanding books you've read during the year of 2016. They don't have to be books that were published in 2016, just whatever books you've read in 2016 that struck you as particularly noteworthy - the kind of book that will stick in your mind for a long time to come.

The first book for my own 2016 list is Ian Rankin's Even Dogs in the Wild, his 20th Rebus book - and very possibly his best yet. Rankin is a brilliant writer, and he's absolutely in top form here.

Please be aware that any genre is welcome in this thread!

[OffWithTheirHeads]

1. Well, I've read about 8 books so far this year but nothing especially outstanding.

Did you maybe mean 2015?

[scarletwoman]

3. This thread will be open all year. If you eventually read something outstanding, post about it here.

I've read over a dozen books since the start of this year, but the only one I thought merited mention in a "Best Books" thread was the new Ian Rankin book. I'm hoping that in the months ahead, I'll come across some other books that impress me enough to merit a post in this thread. We'll see.

Likewise, as other participants in this group read something this year that they find particularly worthy of special mention, I hope they'll add it to this thread!

There already is a 2015 BEST BOOKS thread, and you are certainly welcome to add to that one if you wish: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1193&pid=7417

[shenmue]

2. My January reading has been slow

Lot of stress at work and home.

Hoping to get to the new Chris Ewan mystery later this week.

[scarletwoman]

4. Wishing you less stress!

There's no rush to post on this thread - it's intended to keep going for 12 months. Plenty of time!

[hibbing]

5. All the Light We Cannot See

I know it is from last year, but I enjoyed this one a lot. The story and characters were compelling.


Peace

[nilesobek]

6. The Ridgerunner, by Richard Ripley.

The true story of a man who gave up normal life and became a loner living in the woods. His exploits and escapes from law enforcement are nearly mythological.

[hermetic]

7. Ooooh,

That sounds good!

[hermetic]

8. After your heck of a rec

I'll for sure buy this one. Glad Rankin got his Rebus chops back.

[womanofthehills]

9. "The Round House" by Louise Erdrich

The story is told first person by a 13 yr old boy - about the rape of his mother on an Indian Res in North Dakota. When a native women is raped by a white man on pueblo land, she usually has no recourse because of jurisdiction problems. Because of this sad state of affairs, a child is forced to take control. (A new law passed by Obama, but severely limited by the Republicans in 2014, now allows for Indian tribes to prosecute white rapists who live on the pueblo but not white rapists who live outside of the pueblo.)

You really get the feeling of reservation life in this novel as the boy and his friends travel around the res trying to solve the crime.

There is a sex obsessed foul mouthed Grandma Ignatia Thunder who is quite a character. The boys say religion never took with her.

I love Louise Erdrich's book and feel this is one of her best. Another good book of hers to check out is "The Last Report on the Miracle at Little No Horse".

[japple]

11. A beautiful book indeed. Louise Erdrich has long been a favorite of mine and

I agree with you about The Last Report on the Miracle at Little No Horse. The Anelope Wife is wonderful as well.

[Enthusiast]

12. womanofthehills, is this part of series? Can they be read out of order?

They sound interesting to me.

Thanks.

[womanofthehills]

16. Some of her earlier books are in a sort of series

Many of her books are interconnected. The Round House is not in a series but it does mention some characters from her previous books.

The Last Report on the Miracle at Little NoHorse. has many characters from her previous books, but it definitely stands alone. This is an interesting book because a nun becomes Father Damian Modeste (in1912) . The nun, Agnes, comes across a dead priest who was on his way to the reservation - she puts on his habit and goes to the reservation to be their priest for many years.

Both of these books take place on the same Indian reservation in North Dakota where many of her previous books take place.

[Enthusiast]

17. Thanks for the information.

[mainstreetonce]

10. All the Light We Cannot See. Anthony Doerr

Pullitzer prize winner

Beautiful writing. Historical fiction
WWII

Memorable book

[Enthusiast]

13. I agree.

[mainstreetonce]

14. I could save it to read again

Not to go through the story again,just to get wrapped up in the writing again.

I'm a WWII baby. My father was in France fighting when I was born. This book was an experience.

[japple]

18. One of the best books I have ever read and certainly the best so

Last edited Fri Apr 1, 2016, 01:13 PM - Edit history (2)

far this year: Thomas Savage's The Power of the Dog.

Robert Bausch, Far As The Eye Can See Thanks Enthusiast for reminding me to add this one. I don't remember if I read it this year or last.

Kim Zupan's The Ploughmen

[Enthusiast]

19. Thank you for the thread, scarletwoman.

I'm limiting this to only the very best books that I have read in 2016. Of course we all have our individual tastes.

Far As The Eye Can See by Robert Bausch.

The Lewis Man by Peter May.

I certainly hope to add to this very short list as the year goes by.

The other books I have read in 2016 don't quite meet the mark, in my opinion. Some are close, however.

[scarletwoman]

21. "I'm limiting this to only the very best books that I have read in 2016." And that's exactly how

this thread is intended to be used!

I've totally lost track of how many books I've read since the first of the year, but I have no problem in picking out the best two, so far.

[Enthusiast]

22. I hope to add to my list by the year's end.

[scarletwoman]

20. It's time I added Peter May's "Runaway" to this list.

I loved that book - I was drawn so deeply into the story and the characters, and it somehow struck a chord deep in my soul. For me, it was an unforgettable piece of writing, and there's no question that it merits a place in my own personal "best" list.

[mainstreetonce]

23. The Light Between The Oceans

Just finished it and heard that the movie is coming out in .Sept.

Great story about a couple in a light house who find a baby washed up on shore and decide to keep her.

[japple]

24. I loved that book. Didn't know it was being made into a movie. It will

be interesting to see how that turns out.

Need to check and see if M. L. Stedman has another book in the works.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

33. I found that book spectaculary unsatisfying.

I did go back to my book list, because I usually write a comment on what I've read, and unfortunately I didn't comment on this one. But I do recall being a bit puzzled as to why it was so well received. What I recall is that there was a lot that didn't make sense to me about the events of the book.

I doubt I'll bother to watch the movie.

[Mz Pip]

25. One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

The characters are quirky and the relationships out of the ordinary. It was funny, sad, heartwarming tale about what makes a family.

[applegrove]

26. Stranger Than You Can Imagine by John Higgs. About perspectives

and thought and how it changed in the 20th century. Love, love, loved it.

[HuckleB]

27. "The Sympathizer" by Viet Thanh Nguyen

It's absolutely incredible!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

34. I just checked it out of the library.

Looking forward to reading it.

[Dr. Strange]

28. Just started the Expanse series.

Good stuff so far!

[FreeWheatForever]

29. Classic

I read Gone with the Wind for the third time in 10 years. I return to it because Mitchell 's command of character and time is so fundamentally perfect. Anyone who has not read GWTW must consider themselves missing a small piece of literary genius. Like Rhett being unable to resist Scarlett's charm, the story won't let go of you, ever.

[RobinA]

36. I Totally Agree

I read this book over and over and over again as a young adult. Characters - excellent. Well done.

[japple]

30. Carson McCullers - The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter

is a timeless classic, beautifully written, published when she was only 23 years old. Amazing.

[hermetic]

31. Sweetland by Michael Crummey

Quite unforgettable; the ending haunts me. Fortunately, I've known some Newfies IRL and they are all wonderful, generous and fun-loving folks, who didn't mind being called Newfies. Crummey really captures their dialect and some readers might find it confusing.

Another book that is staying with me is LaRose by Louise Erdrich.

These two have been particularly noteworthy to me this year.

Gosh, I just realized this discussion only has 2 more months to live at the top of the column. Wherever did the time go?

[BigDemVoter]

32. Purity by Jonathan Franzen

[FigTree]

35. That

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LS6MOZY

[Angry Dragon]

37. CJ BOX ......... William Kent Krueger

[Little Star]

38. I really like CJ Box's......

Joe Pickett Series about a Wyoming game warden.

[Angry Dragon]

39. It is good

[NoWheyJose]

40. Collateral Crimes

It's a crime thriller with three strong female characters.