Best Books | Litsy

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

Personally, I find the NYT to be rather snobby about books. Anyhoo, I've read 9. Out of the 9 I bailed on 3, loved 3, and found the others ok.
There are 4 I want to read. The rest I either never heard of or purposely ignored.
BUT! I was shocked and pleasantly surprised to see Random Family on the list. I loved this book, it's such an unknown gem. I've never seen this book mentioned anywhere nor heard anyone talk about it. I highly recommend it!

Ruthiella That‘s one that I‘d never heard of! I‘ll put it on my TBR. 6mo

Cathythoughts Stacking Random Family 👍🏻❤️ 6mo

bookandbedandtea I feel the same way about NYT and their snobbishness. 🙄 Random Family does sound good; I'll add it to my virtual TBR. 6mo

TheBookgeekFrau @Ruthiella @Cathythoughts Oh good 😊 Hope you like it! 6mo

TheBookgeekFrau @bookandbedandtea It might be a good one to get you out of your slump. 6mo

37 likes5 comments

robinb

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

I read 13 books in July and 5 were 5⭐️ reads in my humble opinion. 😊

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), I couldn‘t pick just one favorite…so I‘m picturing all 5. Sorry, Andrew! 😂😂

There‘s a YA generational, a next-in-series historical mystery, a humorous romance, a generational sisters‘ tale of trials/triumphs in the brewery business and a wonderful dysfunctional family story with lovable characters.

#12Booksof2022 #July

Andrew65

DogEaredBooks I love Lager Queens! Did you see the author has a new one coming out in Spring 2023? It looks really good too!

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club

Andrew65 I need to get back to the Anna Lee Huber Series. 2y

robinb @Andrew65 Do you read both of her series? 2y

See All 6 Comments

Andrew65 @robinb Only discovered the Verity Kent series so far. 2y

robinb @Andrew65 Her other Lady Darby series is also good! It‘s how I started with her. 😊 2y

Andrew65 @robinb Thanks, I‘ll have a look at it. 😊 2y

35 likes6 comments

BookishMarginalia

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

The year‘s 10 best books, according to #TheWashingtonPost: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/entertainment/books/best-books-of-2...

suvata And I haven‘t read any of them. Shame on me. 5y

Penny_LiteraryHoarders I've only read one from this list. 😬 5y

Rissreads I haven't read any yet either. 5y

See All 11 Comments

Rissreads The picture in your post is gorgeous! 💚 5y

SoapboxEdits I‘ve only heard of one of those 😬. A few look really amazing though! 5y

CarolynM I keep looking at The Topeka School and deciding against it. Maybe I should give it a try 5y

BennettBookworm Where is this embroidery from?? Gorgeous! 5y

BennettBookworm Found her! https://sarahkbenning.com 5y

BarbaraBB Thanks for sharing! I feel that way about Black Leopard, @CarolynM 5y

BookishMarginalia @BennettBookworm Thanks for finding the artist! 💜 5y

BennettBookworm You‘re so welcome! Now I‘m obsessed haha 5y

82 likes11 comments

BookishMarginalia

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

For our already overloaded #TBR piles! https://apple.news/AdJo5IyQCQ-KmNYEPLbAwDw

71 likes

TheNerdyProfessor

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

Here are my Top 6 Reads for 2019. I had such an awesome reading year, it was hard to choose favorites.

BookBelle84 I loved Miracle Creek and A Woman is No Man! 5y

Scochrane26 Me, too @BookBelle84 5y

sblbooks I couldn't narrow my list down that much. I'm going to do the 19in19 but have 2 different Editions. 5y

71 likes3 comments

Amiable

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

Every year when the winners are announced I‘m reminded again of how out of step I am with the rest of the Goodreads readers. 🙄

julesG You're not alone. 5y

Naj I'm the same. Sometimes it's hard to find even one book on the list which I've read 5y

Emilymdxn Yeah exactly the same for me. Not a single book I voted for won I think?? I was so underwhelmed by a lot of the selections 5y

See All 22 Comments

Jaimelire Me too! I am an “eclectic” reader😉. I go from space sci-fi, to cozy mystery to historical fiction - all depending on my mood. (edited) 5y

Scochrane26 I voted for several that didn‘t win. In a lot of categories, I‘ve only read 1 or2 (thanks to my book club). I just don‘t always read the latest books, sometimes I‘m a few years behind. I‘m glad Pumpkinheads won though. 5y

Bookwormjillk Same! 5y

ljuliel I never seem to read many off their lists. I must not be a big fan of the bestsellers. 5y

Amiable @julesG @bookwormjillk @jaimerlire It's good to know that others feel the same way. Sometimes I wonder if there's something odd about my reading tastes. (edited) 5y

Amiable @Naj @emilymdxn Not only have I not read most of these books, I'm not even tempted by the descriptions of many of them. 5y

Amiable @Scochrane26 @ljuliel I think it's the same for me -- I tend not to read the bestsellers in the year in which they were released. I never buy a book in hardcover -- I always wait until the paperback if I'm going to buy it. Or I put my name on the waitlist at the library. Although I have so many books in my own stacks at home, I'm still trying to get through stuff that was published 10 years ago! 5y

Scochrane26 @Amiable I very rarely buy a hardcover—it‘s usually only when I‘m getting it signed by the author. I also think the books on the GR list are the most hyped this year, not necessarily the best. Many people have read them or recognize the name because of publicity. That‘s not a bad thing-I loved the ones I read. But, there are also plenty of books that are amazing that didn‘t get the same publicity. 5y

Scochrane26 For example, one of my fave authors, Silas House, posted his favorites this yr on fb & none of them are on the GR list. 5y

ljuliel @amiable @Scochrane26 I must be an odd reader, as I‘ve never heard anyone else say this, but I think the fiction choices 20 years ago are better than today‘s. The older I get, the more I feel like I‘m living on the wrong planet. I don‘t connect much with the young authors. I‘m way past the things they write about. I‘m not interested in dating, newlyweds, having babies, raising kids. Where are the Lonesome Dove, Owen Meany, Poisowood, Thornbirds? 5y

ljuliel I just don‘t see that level of writing now. 5y

Amiable @ljuliel I wonder if it's the quality of the writing that's changed, or your expectation and enjoyment of it? I agree that as I get older I have no time or patience for books with “young“ characters and themes -- in fact, I avoid YA and romance entirely. I too want to read books with characters and narratives and scenarios that are more in line with my stage of life. But I also do wonder if I would enjoy those books if I WERE the suitable age? 5y

Amiable But I'll never know because I'm too old now. LOL 5y

ljuliel @Amiable I‘m not sure what it is. It seems the trend now is for thrillers , I guess you‘d call them. A lot of them don‘t have much meat to the story. I like books that detail the lives of people , and you come out at the end feeling as though you‘ve learned something useful or been enriched by a story , or gotten so involved with the characters. I don‘t see that happening as much anymore. I have to search hard for those. 5y

Amiable @julesG @naj @emilymdxn @Jaimelire @Scochrane26 @Bookwormjillk @ljuliel I also feel like this list every year should not be named “Best Books.“ It's a list of “GR Reader Favorites.“ Those two distinctions are very different things. 5y

Amiable @ljuliel That could indeed be a trend -- it seems that many people nowadays don't have the time or the attention span for longer books or ones that require a higher level of critical thinking. But a thriller where the plot moves fast and wraps everything in a tidy bow? Easier to get through. 5y

Bookwormjillk @Amiable yes! Very true! 5y

ljuliel Also, I‘m not an Amazon- basher like some folks are. I get most of my purchases through them , mostly because they‘re the handiest for me. I do think that Amazon could sorta toss in those that THEY thought were best. Who would ever know ? The new Olive Kitteridge for example. It came out like the same week the awards started. How could it make this list ? 🧐 @Amiable @julesg @naj @Emilymdxn @Jaimelire @Scochrane26 @Bookwormjillk (edited) 5y

julesG @ljuliel I think that's exactly what Amazon does. It's promotion. 5y

43 likes22 comments

Hooked_on_books

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

Ok guys, here‘s my #Top10oftheDecade #Nonfiction. This was SO hard. I love me some nonfiction and narrowing the list was painful. Six of these would be on the list any day I made it: Just Mercy, Evicted, The Fire This Time, Quiet, The Sixth Extinction, and Dreamland, in no particular order. I could have just as easily had four different books in the other slots.

Cinfhen

Cinfhen Great list, Holly!! I obviously have to screenshot and add the books that I haven‘t read!!!! And there‘s one I never heard of

Ten Years in the Tub: A Decade Soaking in Great Books

Cinfhen But it sounds wonderful 👆🏽 5y

Hooked_on_books @Cinfhen Thanks! And that one is so good—perfect for Littens. 5y

See All 6 Comments

alisiakae Quiet was one that that would have been on my Top 15, but didn‘t make top 10. This was REALLY hard! 5y

alisiakae And 3 of these: Evicted, Dreamland and Sixth Extinction, are on my TBR list for next year! 5y

Megabooks Dreamland and Thick almost made my list! 5y

48 likes6 comments

Abailliekaras

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

Books on The Go is 100! (Episodes not years 😜). New episode is up now. 🙌🏼🎧 Our best books of 2019. 💫

(Mine were : We That Are Young, The Overstory and Ducks, Newburyport).

mr_annie

27 likes

Chrissyreadit

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

The Litsy Awards Nominations link is Live! Share your favorite releases from 2019!
Thanks @LibrarianRyan for this awesome undertaking!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjKWA8bvT1TgA5xeGW1oXP7JsiP6_jOo0KllKx...

LibrarianRyan Yeah. Thank You 5y

49 likes1 comment

abookishbutterfly

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

Reposting from @LibrarianRyan ‘s original post: It is time to submit your nominations for the #LitsyAwards. The books have to be published in the US between Jan 1, 2019 and Dec 31, 2019. YOU MUST HAVE READ THE BOOK TO NOMINATE IT.

The full rules are in the form. The nomination form will be live for the MONTH. Happy nominating.

https://forms.gle/FhV62SipsUwd5kzp6

Please feel free to share link and graphic!

LibrarianRyan Yeah. Thanks. 5y

36 likes1 comment

Hooked_on_books

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

The Guardian has decided to put together a list of the top 100 books since 2000. Always dangerous! It‘s an interesting read.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/sep/21/best-books-of-the-21st-century?utm...

39 likes

Hestapleton

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

2018 was a busy year—graduated with my masters, moved out of state, started my first full-time job, and got married—but I still managed to read 157 (according to Goodreads) books! I highlight my top ten on my blog. What were your favorite reads of 2018?
https://talkbookswithme.home.blog/2018/12/31/best-books-of-2018/

Reviewsbylola Amazing. Also, what an exciting year for you! 🎉🎉 6y

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Very impressive! 6y

40 likes2 comments

wellreadredhead

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

Drop a comment below and tell me what your favorite book you read in 2018 was! I‘m hoping to grow my TBR even more 📚

KarenUK The Heart‘s Invisible Furies by John Boyne, & This Must be the Place by Maggie O‘Farrell... 6y

CouronneDhiver

The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao

CouronneDhiver

Convenience Store Woman

See All 39 Comments

CouronneDhiver

River of Ink

wellreadredhead @KarenUK The Boyne is one that I‘m going to read for #booked2019 so I‘m looking forward to that! 6y

Aloisi_tribe

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Something Missing: A Novel

LazyDays .

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry (Bound for Schools & Libraries)

Hammer Head: The Making of a Carpenter

Alfoster

Ghostwriter

Melissa_J

The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party

Melissa_J

The Song of Achilles

Cubanmommy95

The Heart's Invisible Furies

Melissa_J

Bellewether

Bookwormjillk

Calling Major Tom: The Feel-Good Novel of 2017

Schuhbox Hard decision!

Nine Perfect Strangers

CaitZ

I Was Anastasia: A Novel

CaitZ

The Cottingley Secret: A Novel

BookBelle84

The Heart's Invisible Furies

BarbaraJean So many!! Sci-fi:

Record of a Spaceborn Few: Wayfarers 3

BarbaraJean Contemporary fiction:

Life After Life: A Novel

BarbaraJean Nonfiction (letters/bookish):

84 Charing Cross Road

BarbaraJean Fantasy:

The Name of the Wind: The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day One

ravenlee

Girl Made of Stars

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Really loved

Meet Me at the Museum

Jas16 Seconding @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled and picking

Meet Me at the Museum

hes7 One of mine

The Wrath and the Dawn

HOTPock3tt A treacherous curse. It‘s book #3 in the Veronica Speedwell series... 6y

93 likes39 comments

Moray_Reads

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

Such a good list @batsy! I have read some of them already (green) but since we agree of almost all of them I'm really looking forward to reading the rest. #NewYearWhoDis Thanks for the great match @monalyisha

saresmoore Aaand screenshot again! 6y

Moray_Reads @saresmoore this virtual swap is terrible (amazing) for the tbr! 6y

jenniferw88 You may want to leave #9 as it will be coming to you for #lmpbc in February! 6y

See All 8 Comments

Moray_Reads @jenniferw88 I did note that, a fortunate coincidence! 6y

saresmoore Even just seeing what others have posted has made me rethink my reading challenge selections for next year! 6y

LeahBergen I like this list! 👍🏻 6y

batsy Hope you have some good reading :) My reading was rather unbalanced this year; almost all fiction. 6y

Moray_Reads @batsy mine too. It always is. But I LOVED the NF books I put on your list 6y

40 likes8 comments

LikelyLibrarian

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

Settling in to watch The Great American Read on PBS 🤗

21 likes

Ericmanciniwriter

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

Welp I've fallen in love. Two floors of great books, little hidden fairy doors, and wrapped up "blind date" books marked up like your high school notebooks. Savoy books in Westerly RI was so so good. #getindie

Dragon Fairy doors! Such a cool bookstore! 7y

Texreader That‘s wonderful!! 7y

Quasifesto @Crowcrumbs Fairy 🧚‍♀️ Doors! 7y

71 likes3 comments

abbiereadsbooks

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

I'm stuck at the vet this morning waiting to get some test results back for my kitty Gus (he's been pretty sick lately so we're hoping today helps us figure out why) but I forgot my book at home! Anyone have any recommendations (book or otherwise) to help keep me entertained?

Cinfhen Hope your fur baby feels better soon 7y

GrilledCheeseSamurai Awww. Feel better Gus! I'm rooting for ya. 7y

7 likes2 comments

Loric

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

My favorites from 2017 #bestbooks #topreads2017 #fiction

Andrew65 Some great books! 🙌 7y

Texreader Oooh! A few faves of mine are on there! 7y

robinb Welcome to Litsy! 😊 7y

Cinfhen Love seeing people's choices!! I'm looking forward to trying

November 9: A Novel

9 likes4 comments

Well-ReadNeck

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

https://quartzy.qz.com/1143800/the-best-books-of-2017-if-you-combine-21-best-boo...

Here‘s a fun best-books-of-2017 list!!!

BarbaraTheBibliophage Thanks - this saves me a TON of time! 7y

annahenke Yes, me too! Appreciate the share! 7y

Pamwurtzler Thanks! That‘s a good list. 7y

tysephine This is the most meta list I've ever seen. I love it! 7y

minkyb Good one! 7y

101 likes5 comments

UglyOldBat

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

#goodreads #2017

18 likes

Bookzombie

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

@LibrarianRyan has put together our first Litsy Awards! Please visit the link below to nominate your favorites of 2017. Nominations open until Saturday, December 9th. #litsyawards

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfe8IQswWmhgK90CWXPPobWIiCwv5rqe2qJDqeB...

I learned that out of 135 read this year only 13 were published in 2017 and 7 of those were comics. 🤓

OSChamberlain This is so cool! 7y

Cinfhen Fun!!! 7y

58 likes2 comments

eraderneely

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

I nominated some books for the #LitsyAwards have you?
Go over to @LibrarianRyan for the link.

14 likes

Cinfhen

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

LA Times Book editors best NF books of 2017...again, I‘m not familiar with some titles...I‘ve read 3/17 with Hunger being my favorite from this list 🙌🏻

Cinfhen @Booksandcooks have you read any/ most of these ?!?! 7y

TrishB NF not my thing but I loved Hunger too. 7y

emilyhaldi Oooohh I need to read that Shirley Jackson book! 7y

Reviewsbylola I loved Flower Moon and Emmett Till was good too. 7y

125 likes4 comments

Cinfhen

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

Los Angeles Times book editors top 19 Fiction of 2017! I haven‘t even heard of some. I read 6/19, I own a few others which I hope to get to in 2018....From this list, my favorite so far is Sing Unburied Sing....The NF List is up next....

LauraJ I‘ve heard of them all thanks to the local indie bookstore, but have only read six. 7y

Cinfhen Oh wow!!! That‘s impressive...which 6 have you read? @LauraJ do u have a favorite? 7y

PenguinInFlight I really want Lincoln in the Bardo. That‘s high on my Christmas list. 😍 7y

See All 13 Comments

TrishB Read 2 and not heard of most of them. Book tbr is piling up even further.... 7y

Reggie @TrishB I feel like you‘re on this boat, and there is so much rain. The boat is filling up and filling up. The rain never ends. Lol 7y

TrishB @Reggie exactly 😁 7y

Cinfhen There are a few on here I do want to read, but you‘re both right....it never ends @TrishB @Reggie 7y

emilyhaldi Wow interesting, I‘m on that boat with @Reggie ! I just ordered American Martyrs as part of my bookoutlet haul 👍🏻 7y

Reviewsbylola Surprised about Wonder Valley. We‘ll see what I think of The Power. 7y

Cinfhen Damn @emilyhaldi I missed the Oates on BookOutlet

A Book of American Martyrs: A Novel

Cinfhen I think The Power might make my top 10 fiction @Reviewsbylola @emilyhaldi @TrishB I still haven‘t read Lincoln @PenguinInFlight I‘ve had it on my shelf for over a year!!!!! 7y

TrishB I‘ll let you make your mind up on Lincoln (we do think differently occasionally 😁) 7y

Cinfhen Occasionally @TrishB 😉 7y

125 likes13 comments

Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

I know Goodreads hasn‘t started their end of the year lists yet, but what‘s the best book written this year that you‘ve read so far and would recommend?

What should I be reading before the end of the year lists and voting does start?

Jess7 Confessions of a Domestic Failure was excellent 7y

Ashley_Nicoletto I have my fingers crossed so tight that they do another huge ebook sale for these this year. 7y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Ashley_Nicoletto I love those! I got some great ones last year at that time! 7y

See All 14 Comments

PacingTheCage The Hate U Give. Just finished and wow 7y

ErikasMindfulShelf

Little Fires Everywhere

idrinkandiknowthings Loved this one if you haven‘t read it already!

Pachinko

Soubhiville This was incredible:

The Heart's Invisible Furies

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @dltpacngthecage I haven‘t read that one yet, but it is on my list to squeeze in yet this year! 7y

Kaylamburson My favorite book of 2017!!

Light We Lost

BarbaraTheBibliophage Fiction choice was same as @Soubhiville - definitely

The Heart's Invisible Furies

BarbaraTheBibliophage Nonfiction is a toss up between The New Jim Crow, On Tyranny, and We Were Eight Years in Power. 7y

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Im in the @Soubhiville @BarbaraTheBibliophage club with The Heart‘s Invisible Furies 7y

Jas16

The Hate U Give

BookwormM Autumn by Ali Smith 7y

56 likes14 comments

eraderneely

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

10 Years in 10 Books! #readathon
These were my favorite books of each of the last ten years. It got harder the further back I went because I had read more books in each of the published years.

DeweysReadathon

9 likes

TieDyeDude

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

I may finally attempt my first 24 hour challenge with #eclecticreadathon, since that weekend is my summer staycation @EclecticReaders @Merethebookgal

Merethebookgal Nice! 😃 8y

EclecticReaders Woohoo! 8y

10 likes2 comments

roneea

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

In good news, I finished my @bookriot puzzle from the Best Books of 2016 Box. This kept my family thoroughly entertained during the holidays and kept our minds off the passing of Carrie Fisher, an idol amongst my sci fi loving family.

rachellayown That's so cool! 8y

8 likes1 comment

Nuwanda

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

I have a bookish gift card to spend. Fellow Littens, what were your most un-put-down-able books of 2016?

ReadingOver50

Skitter: The Hatching Series, #2

Notafraidofwords Nonfiction:

Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places

Notafraidofwords Romance:

The Hating Game: A Novel

See All 17 Comments

8little_paws

The Nix

8little_paws

White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America

BookishMarginalia

Dark Matter

BookishMarginalia

The Years That Followed: A Novel

Suzze

Pretty Girls: A Novel

amywithbooks

The Winter People: A Novel

amywithbooks Anything by Don Winslow! 8y

Nuwanda Thank you all! I'll be checking these out! 8y

Dragon I enjoyed

Station Eleven: A novel

MyNamesParadise Watching Edie by Camilla Way 8y

charl08 Historical thriller about the first black policemen in Atlanta. Edge of my seat.

Darktown: A Novel

12 likes17 comments

Leelee.reads

Best Books: For Kindergarten Through High School | Donna L. Hess

Countdown before the New Year - hoping to hear your favorites of 2016! There is no way to pick just one very best book, so how about some categories? For today, post your pick for winner of the "High Entertainment Value" award and add the #highentertainmentvalue tag so we can find it easily. I'm guessing lots of suspense/thrillers or fantasy for this round. Tomorrow's award: Most Informative. Looking forward to seeing what y'all loved this year!

Zelma Great idea! 8y

22 likes1 comment

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