The Best Books of 2012

I love best books of the year lists.  So here's mine. 

Best Classic  -  The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.  The book is nothing like the movie that we all remember so fondly.  There's no singing or horses that change color before our eyes.  The story is charming and surprising and a joy to read.  It's always refreshing to take a trip back into our carefree days of childhood to keep our adult world in perspective.

Best Suspense  -  The Breath of God by Jeffrey Small.  This novel took me around the world without a single pause in the action.  It's a page turner with a religious question begging to be answered.

Best Book that Almost Won the Pulitzer Prize  -  Swamplandia! by Karen Russell.  Swamplandia! was a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize.  No prize was ultimately awarded, the competition ending in a three way tie.  I loved the Bigtree family living in the middle of the Florida Everglades wrestling alligators and selling kitchy souvenirs for throngs of tourists.  Quirky.  Crazy.  Fun.

Best Book Made Into a Movie  -  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  How could I not fall in love with tough, smart and vulnerable Katniss?  Against all odds, she survives.  What's not to like?  The movie didn't disappoint either.

Best Self Help  -  The Magic by Rhonda Byrne.  Learning to express my gratitude each and every day has made an incredible difference in my life.  It's not always easy to keep a positive attitude.  The Magic has taught me that positive thoughts and actions attracts more good things.  A grateful life is a wonderful life.

Best Pick By My Sister  -  Blue Angel by Francine Prose.  My sister recommends books all the time.  This year they've all been good so this was the hardest pick of all.   Writing professor, Swenson and his midlife crisis consumed me.  The author got me so deeply into the workings of his mind, that I got on the roller coaster without hesitation.  And Swenson is not a very likeable kind of guy. Prose is a master.

Best Book Overall  -  The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka.   This is not your ordinary novel.  The writing style is unusual but the story is deep and emotional.  I love a novel that makes me feel something inside.  The Buddha in the Attic made me feel, happy, sad, angry, love, friendship, kindness,  disgust and hope.  It's a heart warming and emotional experience about life.

 I wanted to be the first to get my best books of the year list out.  Sadly however Richard has already given me a few that he's torn out of some year end magazines.  I still haven't read all the books I found on last year's book lists.  I've saved them though.  I'll add this year's to them and someday, yes someday I'll have read everything I've ever hoped to read.    

  
 

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

One of the most wonderful things about my Kindle is the number of free books I can download and read.  All the classics that I haven't read since I was in high school, plus a few I should have read and never did.  Why I decided to read The Wizard of Oz again, I don't really know.  However I do have very fond memories of a copy of the book I owned as a child.  It had a sky blue cover with the dancing armless creatures across the bottom. 

The story opened curiously with an introduction from the author.  He talked about the children of the day wanting more excitement that the everyday fairy tale.  This was a modern story for children.  At first I thought this was a modern addition because the book was on Kindle.  But it wasn't. Today this is a very classic fairy tale.  But in the day it was written it must have been very modern and futuristic. 

I was surprised to learn that Dorothy wore silver slippers and that green spectacles were locked onto their faces while in the Emerald City.  Things weren't naturally green.  When the tornado lifts the house, Dorothy and Toto float calmly within the center of the storm until they are deposited on top of the wicked witch.  And I really liked the china people who made visits to the mender every time they broke off an arm or leg. 

And it was quite interesting to see how Hollywood took so many liberties with this story. I think they told a better story for the movies.  But the book is a beautiful classic tale, perfect for curling up with on a cold night or to be read aloud to children just to watch the wonder and amazement on their faces as each new chapter unfolds.  A modern fairy tale, yes.  A classic story that will live on forever.  For sure.