I read a total of 55 books this year and some of them were absolutely remarkable so in line with tradition and without any further delay, presenting my top ten titles for 2014. These are not in any specific order, so here goes!
Oh! One more thing: These have not necessarily published this year just the ones I read this year.
My book year certainly started on a high note, and one of my first books has made it to my top list: The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken by Tarquin Hall. A Vish Puri mystery number three packed with references from PCB, BCCI, IPL, Pakistani and Indian Cricket players etc which made it all the more interesting for me as I work in the Athlete Management Industry. And please, who would not want to read a book with Butter Chicken in the title, I mean, right? This was an accidental find and I am so glad I did. If you know me at all then you know mystery is my favorite genre to read. I would love to read the remaining Vish Puri mysteries and hopefully soon.
Paper Towns by John Green gained the status of my favorite Green Novel this year. Did I mention the movie adaption production just got complete? I know, I know, TFiOS fans are going mad at the moment, well to be honest, it was a wonderfully heart-wrenching book but for me, Paper Towns did it. And don’t worry; nobody dies in this book, well not technically. And no, I did not spoil the book for you!
Fans of Cormoran Strike will surely include The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike, #2) by Robert Galbraith (J. K. Rowling) in their top favorite books from this year and I am no different. I thoroughly enjoyed The Cuckoo’s Calling but this one tops it all. A much more hard-core murder mystery with Rowling’s impeccable writing style made this one a definite keeper.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn was a psychological roller-coaster and deserves all the acclaim it received. You will not be able to put this one done. And I am glad, Flynn penned the screenplay for the movie adaption, it made all the right difference. The book is surely going to take you to your ‘dark places’ (which by the way is another novel by the same author). If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller to curl up on New Year’s Eve, make it this one.
The next three books make up the Charlie Hardie Trilogy by Duane Swierczynski and can I just say, Wow!!! Fun and Games, Hell and Gone, and Point and Shoot together make up this pulp-fiction extravaganza, perfect if you are into cult-crime fiction. I was lucky enough to marathon through the three books back-to-back over a long holiday here in Pakistan and boy did Mr. Swierczynski sweep me off my feet or what! *fans herself* He now sits comfortably with my other favorite authors (Orwell, Coelho and James). You must, must get your hands on these books and you must, must like them or you and I can have some serious problems. Also each chapter starts with a quote from a movie, you must have grown up watching and it will surely set the tone for the entire chapter.
I know there are many fans of The Bastard of Istanbul and Forty Rule of Love by Elif Shafak out there and I also praise these works of literature but Shafak never connected to me until this year. I was not planning to read The Architect’s Apprentice, I picked it up because my late brother wanted to be an Architect and the book reminded of me him. I was delightfully surprised; the book totally spoke to me. If you are into the whole loyalty-business then this book is for you. It also comes with these magnificent epigraphs that took my breath away. Lots of exotic characters and a spell-binding plot will make this for a warm-read this and many future winters.
Mad Women: The Other Side of Life on Madison Avenue in the ’60s and Beyond by Jane Maas certainly knew how to get me emotional and laugh-out-loud at the same time. This book is special to me professionally as well, as it reminds me of many anecdotes of my life as a Copy Writer. If you are a fan of the popular TV show, Mad Men and if you are a Woman then this book is for you. If you are into advertising then this book is for you. In a nut shell, if you are working woman in this wicked world of men then this book is for you!
Hold on a second, folks!
Are you under the impression that my list will not be containing a book by Paulo Coelho?
Silly. That is so silly. (Pardon my FRIENDS reference. Some of you will not find this funny at all).
Adultery by Paulo Coelho continued to augment my love for his writing. It was like by some strange, magical miracle, Coelho understood what women want and how they feel about love. As a woman, you will not deny a single word in this book and you will be forced to reconsider your ways. This book has managed to enchant millions worldwide, don’t hold back, let it go, enter this realm and stay.
I hope my list gave you a few suggestions for the New Year. I am not at all into conventional book reviews and serious, literary type of articles, pardon me if my nonsense humor did not tickle your funny bone.
Wait. I take that back.
Am not actually sorry. =P
I hope my ‘silly’ review was able to make you at least read one of the 10. I’ll consider my job, done.