Best of 2013

The web is currently inundated with the “Best of 2013” lists. I always find myself looking through the different book lists to see which ones I have read and agree with. I don’t often agree with the books that the critics have chosen. Usually I feel like there are more worthy books that were overlooked.

This year, I found that I had considerably less time to read. I am sure that is the product of having a small child to run after and keep an eye on. I’m looking forward to the days when we can enjoy family reading time.

For now, here are some of my favorite books that I was actually able to squeeze in time to read during 2013.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell has to be my favorite book of 2013. I can't even begin to express how this book stuck with me long after I finished reading it. I finished reading it and immediately wanted to start it again. I couldn't believe that it was over and I wasn't going to be living with the characters anymore. It has been a long time since a book had affected me like that. I lent it to a friend after I read it and felt physically sad that the book was not in my house and the characters were not around for me to check in on. I ended up buying a second copy, just to have them close again. Read this book, you won't be disappointed.

I don't know if I was joining the party too late by reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I really enjoyed the book and have to say I have not yet seen the movie. I feel like the movie will probably ruin it for me (most movies do) so I will just stick with the book.

I will admit it took some coaxing for me to read The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen. I initially read about a third of this book and returned it to our library. I couldn't get into it and frankly, I didn't really care what happened. My librarian told me to take it again and give it another chance. It definitely got better the second time I tried to read it and it turned out to be one of the better books of the year for me. 

I waited and waited for Allegiant by Veronica Roth to come out. I bought it the day it came out but refused to read it until I had time to devote to the whole book. I knew that once I started, I wouldn't be able to put it down until I knew how it all ended. I had to wait three weeks after it came out to actually read it (Veterans Day) when I had a day to myself and the girl was in daycare. I sat on my couch with a blanket and read from the moment she left for daycare until I was done. I think the trilogy was wrapped up nicely. Divergent was still my favorite of all the three books, but I think Roth did a great job extending the story across all three books.