de Grom’s Top Ten Fiction of 2012
Book Reviews
By – Sheri de Grom
Sheri de Grom’s Top Ten Fiction Novels for 2012
Please note that not all of the novels listed in my top ten for the year 2012 were published in 2012.
The number one criteria I look for in any read is purpose. If the purpose of any novel is absent or even faint, I’ll not read beyond the first fifty pages.
The novels I’ve listed are not in any particular order. I selected the ten books from the 172 fiction novels I’ve read since January of 2012. Each book contributed equally to my passion for excellence in storytelling.
- The Unfinished Work Of Elizabeth D – Nichole Bernier
- Yes, My Darling Daughter – Margaret Leroy
- One Thousand White Women – Jim Fergus
- The Weird Sisters – Eleanor Brown
- The Snow Child – Eowyn Ivey
- Her Sister’s Shadow – Katharine Britton
- Bridge of Scarlet Leaves – Kristina McMorris
- The Reason Is You – Sharla Lovelace
- The Postmistress – Sarah Blake
- Evening – Susan Minot
Sheri, thank you so much for your “Top Ten”. It will help me out a lot for selecting what novels I’m buying for my Kindle.
Patti
Patti – Thanks for checking out my list. I had to consider each novel carefully. I find that I expect a lot more from an author the more I read. My criteria will never be the same as The New York Times or any of the other major ‘list makers’ but that’s not my intent anyway. I’m not a critic. I’m looking for a good novel that will stay with me long after I’ve finished reading.
What a handy list to have — I love that some of these I still haven’t read; more to look forward to for 2013. Thanks!
Hi Laurie – Nice to see you again. Every novel, IMO, has what it takes to pass muster to guarantee a great read from beginning to end. I hope you’ll find it a no fail list.
You’ve sure been busy reading! Thanks for the new list and Happy New Year!
Denise – Happy New Year to you. Yes, I love to read and never take a chance that I’ll be somewhere waiting and don’t have something with me to read. I see so many people texting and doing whatever on their I-Phones, not me–I’m reading. There’s a book in the car, one by my nightstand, one next to my favorite chair and my trusty Kindle is always in my purse.
Sheri, that’s so funny! I usually have more than one book going at a time, too! Hubby thinks I’m crazy and wonders how I can keep them straight. I like to have options depending on my mood! Haven’t bought a Kindle yet…
Thank you for the list! How do you do it though? There is only one book I can recall “not” finishing. I just keep thinking it will improve! Good. For. You. May I learn more! paula
Paula – There’s a method to my madness I developed during the years I worked 80+ hours a week and my husband was in the hospital more often than not. I learned to have a book in the car, one in my briefcase, one on my nightstand, and that was before e-readers so I always had one in my purse. Of course, back then, I always carried my work with me as well so I didn’t read as much but I still found reading to be therapeutic. It was the only way I could turn my mind off. My career was high stress, my husband was so very ill and I had his two daughters (teens) to raise (and they didn’t want a step-mother). I’m convinced reading is what saved my sanity. I’ll confess, I’ve had more time to read this year due to my own physical limitations–but am excited to get the next hand and arm surgery out of the way in Feb and back into my garden and other passions such as my legislative work on Capitol Hill (I tell my husband someone needs to whip them into shape) however it’s going to take someone more powerful than me. Additionally, if a book doesn’t have me by the first 50 pages – my philosophy is that it’ll never have me and I’ll not spend another penny on it. I pass it on.
Sheri ~ I wish you well on your surgeries in Feb. It will be great to have that behind you soon. That arm will need to be bionic to whip Capitol Hill into shape…so you go girl!
I began to love reading when I was a child. Summertimes in a small town could get boring during the heat of the day. My bff and I would ride bikes to each other’s house and read Trixie Beldon. I’ve been hooked since!
My attitude towards movies, lecturers and sermons are similar to yours and books. They get aprx five minutes. Then I either change the channel or leave (depending on the circumstances). Our time is so valuable!
Read on!
You are an avid reader! Wow! I thought I was doing well at 2 a month back when I had time to read!
Thanks for the list!
Susie – I think we all have different times in our lives when circumstances present themselves wherein we are unable to do all the activities we normally participate in and then look for other ways to fill the hours constructively. For me, my favorite past-time has always been reading. My normal rate for fiction reading is about 1 a week and 1 a month on the non-fiction side. This was an unusual year for me. I don’t want to repeat all the healthcare stuff – but hand and arm surgery coming up in Feb. Gurr.
Wow, you did a lot of reading in 2012
That I did, Mae. Remember you contributed to my numbers:) My numbers are unusually high this year due to my curtailed activities while recovering from health issues. I still have an elbow and hand with surgery in Feb but after that, I want to be in the garden looking for dancing fairies and making sure everything survived the deep snow we’ve had and the unusually low temperatures.
Happy to report I’ve read only three of these. Therefore, I will get a great deal of pleasure reading the other seven. So happy to be back from off-line isolation. Happy New Year to you and all your readers and thanks for continuing to wow us with your great book selections
Hi Florence – It’s terrible to be off-line isn’t it? The four days Tom and I were down due to the hacking – we were like a couple kids without our toys. I’m glad you are back on line. I hope you were able to recover all of your work.
Wow, I’m impressed. I only got through a few novels in 2012–though many of the books that I read were non-fiction. Happy New Year!
Sheryl – I consider non-fiction to be an equally important part of my reading journey. I only logged 44 non-fiction this year. My list is normally more balanced – I used to have the rule that for every 3 fiction I read, I had to read 1 non-fiction – but decided that was a ridiculous rule to impose upon myself. This was an unusual year for me in terms of the number of books I read. My numbers have never been this high before.
I never thought about having an informal rule about the the ratio of fiction to non-fiction that I read–but I really like the idea. I tend to gravitate to non-fiction but think that it would be good if I read more fiction. A rule might help me be more balanced.
Thanks for liking my blog! I haven’t read any of the books you listed (or heard of them) as I think perhaps our reading tastes are very different
Happy New Year!
What a fine list! I look forward to finding time to read as much as you do, Sheri! Good luck with the surgery. I didn’t realize you had more in store and wish you a very speedy recovery. The good news is you will have lots of time to read!
Patricia – 2012 was an unusual year for reading in terms of volume. However, I’ve finished a novel that may very well make the list for 2013. It always scares me when I read a novel that I can’t put down. I’m afraid the next one won’t be as good. Then, I’m amazed by another writer’s technique, style, voice, etc. Reading and writing – what an amazing world.
I am always on the lookout for good books, thanks for listing you top 10. Continued prayers for your recovery.
Patty – Hello and thanks for stopping in. Also thanks for the continued prayers. I’m looking forward to getting the hand, et.al. taken care of and back to doing everything I was before and maybe more.