Now that 2014 is almost over it seems like an appropriate time to look back at some of the books that made “The Best Books of the Year” lists.  From the New York Times to Amazon from NPR to the Internet blogs, the lists are everywhere.   Certain books made almost all of the lists, and the slower months of winter may be a good time to catch up on some books that had all the critics raving.

           

This column concentrates only on Fiction, but if you Google “Best Books of 2014” you can see lists of the best nonfiction, best young adult books, best crime fiction, best sports books, best science fiction, etc.  There is a list for almost any interest.

         

Marion James’ “A Brief History of Seven Killings” is appearing on most Best Fiction lists.  It is “a virtuosic performance detailing three turbulent decades in Jamaican history, centering on the attempted assassination of Bob Marley” according to the editors of Publishers Weekly. 

 

“Everything I Never Told You” by Celeste Ng has been selected by Amazon Editors as the #1 Book of the Year.  It is the story of the death of the oldest daughter of a Chinese-American family.  “What follows is a novel that explores alienation, achievement, race, gender, family, and identity--as the police must unravel what has happened to Lydia, the Lee family must uncover the sister and daughter that they hardly knew. There isn’t a false note in this book … Achingly, precisely, and sensitively written.” is the assessment of Amazon editor, Chris Schluep. 

 

Another book to appear on most of the best books’ lists is“All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr, a story of two children caught up in the events in both Germany and France during World War II.  Best-selling novelist Marilynne Robinson focuses on the marriage of Lila and her husband, the elderly Reverend Ames in the fictional Iowa town of Gilead in her third novel set there obviously titled “Lila.”

 

 “Boy, Snow, Bird” by Helen Oyeyemi “continues to weave fairy tales, myth, and folklore together in this stellar reimagining of the Snow White Tale, which also deftly handles themes of race, ‘otherness’ and beauty.”  Matthew Thomas traces six decades in the life of a woman from Queens in “We Are Not Ourselves.”

           

Siri Hustvedt made the top 50 fiction books for 2014 in the Washington Post with “The Blazing World;”   its editors stated that “this electrifying work stars an enraged artist bent on exposing sexism and other prejudices in the art world.” 

           

Chris Bohjalian with “Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands” made that list as well for “creating one of the most memorable teenage protagonists in recent fiction.”  Amy Bloom also made the list with “Lucky Us,” the story of two motherless half-sisters “who take it upon themselves to reverse their sorry fortunes.”

           

Other books that have made many of the lists are: “To Rise Again at a Decent Hour” by Joshua Ferris, “Revival” by Stephen King, “Some Luck” by Jane Smiley, “The Vacationers” by Emma Straub, “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel, “Euphoria” by Lily King, “Redeployment” by Phil Klay, “The Bone Clocks” by David Mitchell, “The Invention of Wings” by Sue Monk Kidd, “The Martian” by Andy Weir and “Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay” by Elena Ferrante.

           

 The library will be closing next week at noon on December 23^rd for the City Christmas Party and remain closed until December 26^th.