Book of the Year for 2012
Happy New Year to you!
Thank you to those of you who commented on the list of contenders for this year’s Book of the Year. Bear in mind, these are not necessarily books written or published in 2012, but books I read in 2012. And I read some really good books last year. Choosing one from those contenders was harder than trying to explain Rihanna’s song “S & M” to my teenage daughter. But I made my choice. When a decision is this close, I look for something–perhaps even something small–that gives one book the edge over the others. In this case, what gave my choice the edge was the voice. I found it unique and very readable. It got me inside the main character’s head in a way I hadn’t encountered before. So, without further ado, the best novel I read last year is…
SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi. Well done, Tahereh, for writing such an awesome book. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. The novella, DESTROY ME is out already, and the second installment of the series, UNRAVEL ME comes out in February. Both are on my TBR list. (Click here for my Goodreads review of the novel.)
If you haven’t read SHATTER ME, or perhaps you did, but it was borrowed from a friend or the library, and would like to own this wonderful book for your very self, I am giving away a copy. Yes, you can win a copy of this book! I have added a page to the blog (look at the tabs above, next to “Awards”, and you’ll see one that says “Book of the Year 2012 Giveaway”). Click on that, or click on this link, to go to the Rafflecopter widget to enter the giveaway. You don’t have to jump through a lot of hoops to enter. The giveaway is about the book, not me and my blog, so you get a point simply for wanting to enter, and a point if you Tweet about the giveaway. The raffle is open from Noon today until Midnight, January 20th (i.e., the minute after 11:59 pm on January 19th), US Eastern Time.
Thank you to everyone who has read my blog over the past year, whether it’s because you subscribed, or because you stumbled across it one lonely night when you were looking for pictures of the Harry Potter books. I hope this little corner of the internet has been helpful, or at least entertaining for you, and you’ll come back and visit again. Often.
Great choice. I’m reading this now actually and it is so good.
How timely! I hope you continue to enjoy it as much as I did.
Happy New Year! I love “Shatter Me”. I’m actually really crushed that “Destroy Me” isn’t available in the UK.
DESTROY ME isn’t available in the UK?? What’s the deal with that? It’s an e-book! You have Kindles, Nooks, and iPads in the UK, so what gives? Colour me baffled with a cherry on top! At least it’s not critical for the main story arc (so I’ve heard), and you should be able to get UNRAVEL ME in Feb.
Happy New Year to you too, Emma!
I loved loved loved SHATTER ME. So glad you enjoyed it as well….Happy New Year to you Colin, wishing you all the very best for 2013!
Thank you, Elodie! And a very Happy New Year to you too!
Happy New Year, Colin! I’m afraid I haven’t read this yet so I’m crossing my fingers for the giveaway.
Thanks, Susan! Happy New Year to you too.
I wish I could give everyone a copy of SHATTER ME–maybe one day when the million dollar advance comes in (ha ha)–but I can only afford to give one. Whether or not you win, I hope you get to read it soon. 
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Happy New Year! I’ve been conflicted about reading SHATTER ME because I keep hearing conflicted things about it. Perhaps I should just go for it and see for myself.
Happy New Year to you too, Rachael! I will admit, it seems either you love the voice or you don’t. Clearly, I loved it. It’s very different, and perhaps for that reason alone you should give it a try. If nothing else, if gives confidence to aspiring writers to try something different to see if it works. Borrow a copy from the library or a friend, or enter the giveaway. And if you love it, you can buy a copy!