My favourite novels of 2014
Everyone’s doing it so naturally I decided I must as well. This list was to be my ten favourite novels of 2014 (given I don’t read non-fiction). However… I actually struggled. I came up with my first six easily. But the remaining four were far more difficult. And in the end I had to stop at eight because those that came after were too close to call.
Interestingly most of the novels on my list probably fall into the ‘L’ for literature field rather than my beloved crime fiction / thriller / mystery genre. And my final decision was based on a combination of my Goodreads ratings AND those that have ‘stayed’ with me since.
So, without further ado – my favourite novels of 2014 – in alphabetical order (via author’s name)*:
1. The Missing One – Lucy Atkins
After Kali’s mother Elena dies she sets off to learn why her mother was so secretive about her past. Kali soon learns Elena once had a great passion for whales and had committed her life to studying them and their behaviour. This of course leads Kali to ask why her mother left that life and never spoke about it again. This melancholy and beautiful novel just reeled me in and kept me enchanted until the very end.
2. Found by Harlan Coben
This young-adult novel – the third in the Mickey Bolitar series – was HUGELY entertaining. I hadn’t read its predecessors but it was like donning my favourite (and most comfortable) sweatshirt. I absolutely loved the characters and likened it to the TV show Veronica Mars as the novel features a small team of high school kids who investigate a series of ‘cases’ some of which centre around Mickey’s own family.
3. Lost and Found by Brooke Davis
‘Voice’ (the voice of the narrator/s or story teller/s) is all-important to me and in Davis’s debut novel she nails that of all three of her characters. Millie Bird’s father has just died. Her mother wasn’t coping so abandoned Millie in a department store where the 7 year old remained for several days awaiting her mother’s return. There she befriends 87 year old Karl on the run from his aged care facility and with her neighbour, the grumpy 82 year old Agatha, the unlikely trio embark on a cross-country trip to track down Millie’s mother. The informal and conversational style of prose would have easily won me over – if the characters hadn’t already done so.
4. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
A novel about the Cooke family and Rosemary, who’s now at University coming to terms with her family’s history and the loss of her sister and disappearance of her brother. Beautifully written, this is a novel about family, relationships, love and – very importantly – regret. Deservedly short-listed for this year’s Man Booker Prize. And it made me cry.
5. Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey
This is arguably my favourite book of the year. We spend the novel in the head of 82 year old Maud who’s suffering from dementia and obsessed with the disappearance of her friend (Elizabeth). She’s also reminded of the disappearance of her older sister 70 years before. Healey really nails Maud’s voice. She’s beautifully written; charismatic, frustrating, sympathetic and quite hilarious. Maud has an awareness of her condition but isn’t overwhelmed by it. I found comfort in this novel as my father suffered from dementia and – like Maud – had no ability to retain new information. I like to think that he too was unable to mull on his own misfortune for any length of time.
6. You by Caroline Kepnes
A well-received novel about love and obsession. Joe’s a bookshop manager and becomes immediately smitten when Beck enters his store. This is a very cleverly written novel and Kepnes (through Joe) casually unfurls details about Joe’s obsessive behaviour when he starts stalking Beck. You offers readers something very different and (for me) was borderline excellent.
7. Shirley by Susan Scarf Merrell
My infatuation with this semi-fictional novel (fictional account about a time in the life of American (horror) author Shirley Jackson) surprised the hell out of me. Not a lot actually happens in this book but Merrell provides insight into Jackson’s life and her writing. She touches on love and fidelity and examines the role we play (and the role we believe we play) in the lives of others. To partially quote my review, it’s stylistically written and quietly addictive.
8. When the Night Comes by Favel Parrett
Subtle and seductively written, Parrett’s language is almost lyrical. This is the story of a Danish seaman working on board a vessel bound for the Antarctic who enters the life of a young girl and the kindred spirit they share. In my review I said this book is about people coming into our lives when we most need them.
If you check out my Goodreads’ reviews you’ll see I have a lot of other 4 star (and the occasional 5 star) books. There were a lot of runners-up but if I really have to choose those books which touched me most…it’d be these.
What have been your favourite books of the year? Any of these interest you?
* The link to the full review is in the title of each.
UPDATE – DECEMBER 2015… my favourite read of this year is Sofie Laguna’s The Eye of the Sheep, which was published in 2014 and, as I’m a stickler for truth, justice and the… ummm.. Australian way, I feel I need to add it in!
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Irene McKenna (@MysteryLover66)
December 12, 2014Wow … all of these sound terrific. I am heading to Goodreads to add some of these titles to my list.
Debbish
December 12, 2014Enjoy!
shelleyrae @ Book'd Out
December 12, 2014Great choices Deborah, I hate picking favourites!
Debbish
December 12, 2014Oh yes, the next grouping was much harder…. Lisa Unger, Michael Robotham, Inga Simpson and so many more.
Jo
December 12, 2014If I had a favourite this year, it would be Analogue Men by Nick Earls. There’s some great ideas on this list for Xmas reading. Thanks Deb.
Debbish
December 12, 2014You’re welcome Jo. I have only read 2-3 novels by Earls. I usually struggle with the familiarity of his settings etc. I’ve heard him speak on a couple of occasions though and he’s fabulously witty.
nickearls
February 11, 2015Thanks Jo. It’s very good to see this (even if it’s a couple of months after you wrote it). Thanks for spreading the word. It can make a real difference.
Debbish
February 11, 2015Thanks Nick. I just said to someone the other day that my two faves of the year were Lost & Found and When the Night Comes. Both Australian books, which was fabulous.
Deb
Lydia C. Lee
December 12, 2014I have to read the We are all completely beside ourselves for bookclub over the holidays…I’m loving the Amy Poelher, Yes Please. Hilarious
Debbish
December 12, 2014I hope you enjoy WAACBO!
Vicki @ Knocked Up and Abroad
December 12, 2014I wish i had more time to read this year. This looks like a good list. I was wondering what Lost and Found was like. Did you see the writer on Australian Story recently? It was a great episode.
Debbish
December 12, 2014Vicki I didn’t see Australian Story but met Brooke at a local book-signing and heard her story. I really enjoyed Lost & Found!
Char
December 12, 2014I’ve added some of these to my ‘Books to Buy’ list.
Debbish
December 12, 2014🙂
Pinky Poinker
December 12, 2014We are all completely beside ourselves- that sounds like one for me. I’m just reading The Bloggess’s book at the moment. It’s funnier than I imagined and that’s saying something. There seems to be a ‘missing’ theme in this book list Deb 🙂
Debbish
December 12, 2014Ah yes… a sense of loss or something!
As I was going through my Goodreads list I was also reminded how many mystery type books I read which involve some past secret / lost time etc!
Blah Blah Magazine
December 12, 2014Thank you for the great list. When the night comes has been intriguing me. Think I might need to put it on my xmas list for holiday reading.
Debbish
December 12, 2014Oh yes, it’s a lovely book.
Dani from Sand Has No Home
December 12, 2014Am reading the Favel Parrett. I loved her first book, Past the Shallows, tragic though it was. I like the sound of Elizabeth is Missing. I have such a huge to read pile, if course it never stops growing.
Debbish
December 12, 2014I’m the same – my ‘to-read’ pile remains rather large!!!
Bec @ The Plumbette
December 12, 2014Okay I’m bookmarking this list for new reads to read next year. I need to read more and this list will be a great start!
Debbish
December 12, 2014Ha! Good luck!
Kylie Purtell - A Study in Contradictions
December 12, 2014I really wanna read Lost & Found, it sounds fabulous! I am going to pin this so I remember it! I spent most of the year reading the A Song of Ice & Fire series (Game of Thrones) and then I read a young adult trilogy by Hugh Howey called Wool, which wasn’t too bad, if a little slow in parts, and I’ve just started reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon which so many people have recommended to me over the years that I figured it was time to finally take the plunge. I’m not even a quarter of the way through yet but I am definitely hooked and intrigued by Clare’s circumstances and I find myself looking forward to my pre-bed reading session each night, which is always a good sign!
Debbish
December 12, 2014I haven’t read the Outlander (or GoT) series but recently watched S1 of The Outlander. It grew on me. Eventually!
CARLA
December 12, 2014AHHH NOT MY BEST READING YEAR!!
Ive missed all all all these….so thank you.
Debbish
December 12, 2014It’s probably not the best cross-section given that I don’t really read romance or fantasy, but still….
Tegan Churchill
December 15, 2014Lost and Found sounds really interesting. I finished You yesterday and it’s one that is going to stay with me. It was chilling seeing him descend into obsession. I love that it was all systems go from the start too. It was one of those books that I wanted to finish and saviour all at the same time.
Debbish
December 15, 2014Glad you enjoyed You. Being in Joe’s head was interesting wasn’t it? You almost couldn’t help but bond with him and make sense of the way his mind worked!
JodiGibson (@JFGibsonWriter)
December 15, 2014I haven’t read as much as I would have liked this year, so am bookmarking this page. All sound like great reads. 🙂
Debbish
December 15, 2014Thanks Jodi.
Jess
December 15, 2014I am looking forward to testing a few of these out! I have been reading more this year and loving it!
Debbish
December 15, 2014Good to hear!
Michael @ Literary Exploration
December 16, 2014While I’ve read a few of these books and really enjoyed them, I’m not sure they will make my best of 2014 list
Debbish
December 16, 2014🙂
Suzie
December 16, 2014Elizabeth is Missing sounds a fascinating book. I’ll have to add it to my TBR pile…as if it isn’t big enough already.
Debbish
December 17, 2014I saw it on NetGalley this week and think it’s only coming out in Oz shortly. I hadn’t realised that and must have previewed it via UK publisher!
jennyandstephenmilan
January 22, 2015‘We are completely beside ourselves’ was one of my top two reads this year. ‘Long road to the deep north’ was my other best read of 2014 so I was in agreement with the Booker prize judges for a change. Just one question as a new reader to your blog, how do you fund your reading habit? Library memberships? Professional reviewer for publishers? Bookshop sales?
Debbish
January 22, 2015Jenny
Once upon a time I bought books but then reined in my spending and relied on the library (only buying books on holidays or special occasions). Now however I do receive free electronic copies (or occasionally hard-copies) for review. The eBooks are usually just provided for a limited time – for review purposes.
I feel very unpatriotic in that I haven’t read “Long Road…” Someone recently asked me to pick my top 3 and I chose: Lost & Found; Elizabeth is Missing; and When the Night Comes! Interestingly in all three cases it was because of the writing! (And yet I say I’m usually a plot-focussed genre-fan!) 😉
Deb
Debbish
January 22, 2015Once upon a time I bought books but then reined in my spending and relied on the library (only buying books on holidays or special occasions). Now however I do receive free electronic copies (or occasionally hard-copies) for review. The eBooks are usually just provided for a limited time – for review purposes.
I feel very unpatriotic in that I haven’t read “Long Road…” Someone recently asked me to pick my top 3 and I chose: Lost & Found; Elizabeth is Missing; and When the Night Comes! Interestingly in all three cases it was because of the writing! (And yet I say I’m usually a plot-focussed genre-fan!) 😉
Deb
Kooky Chic
December 15, 2015Perfect timing, thanks.
Debbish
December 16, 2015You’re welcome. Still finalising my 2015 post!