There are a number of reasons that I rarely do best anything of the year lists. I tend to ignore newer films and music, so there goes both of those lists right out the window. Since I am one of those people who always seem to walk around with a book in my hand though it might make perfect sense for me to do a best books of the year list. I will never claim that I am the most patient of readers and I probably wind up shelving more than I finish. This is no fault of either myself or the writer. I merely like to be grabbed right away and if I'm not, well then.... okay, yeah totally the writers fault.
Just kidding.
I don't wish to slam anybody here. We like what we like and don't what we don't.
Actually, my main excuse for hardly chiming in with any of those nifty books that made my nipples tweak for any given year lists is a simple one. I tend to read more old books than new ones. In fact, some of the best books I, not only finished but, found myself completely enamored with were those that fell into the meant to read but up until now I just haven't section. This is not to say that I didn't find myself being moved the right way by something fresh off the new release shelf.
Best of lists mean absolutely nothing outside of said "besters" opinion.
I get that.
But they're fun to look at because I'm sure to find something on every list that is a new book for me to give a go. I feel like one can never read too many books so there you have it. More lists equal more books. I have to admit that the more bloated lists put me off. I mean, life is short. A year is even shorter. If someone drops their best 100 or so what-evers for that year I will pay attention up until the first few and then most likely go back to what I've been doing, which is picking my to be read pile from my own brain.
Other problems that no doubt affect any list I'll attempt include time and money. Oh believe me, I would love to just sit around year after year and read every single book that looks worthy to me. Not gonna happen though. Life simply does not permit it. Piggyback that with the fact that I just can't afford to read every book I would like to and there you have my own existence, and my lists, in a single sentence. I read what I read and I liked what I liked and I'm here to tell you about it.
There are a few books I am really wanting to read. Given enough money and gift cards for Christmas this will happen. This is not to suggest that I will like them better than the ones I did pick here though. According to good reads I actually finished 171 books this year. Of that figure 140 were old and 31 were released in 2014. I also shelved 34 books, 3 of which were from 2014.
This isn't a worst of list so fuck those books.
This is the best of the best.
The 5 books that dropped down onto the public in 2014 and resonated most with me in particular.
They are my crown jewels of 2014.
Well, sort of.
I'll explain as the list progresses.
I have also added 3 titles to the list because technically they do not qualify as novels but they were amongst the best titles of the year for me and should absolutely be recognized. I am always interested in hearing, or reading, other peoples thoughts and lists so please feel free to post either or both.
Next year looks to be a monster year as many of my favorite authors have major releases already listed for pre-orders. Hell, my top 3 favorite writers of all time are amongst these releases so 2015 looks to be most exceptional actually.
But let us not take away any glory from these releases nor their authors.
For they were the best of 2014, for me at least, and I look forward to reading more books by all of them in the future.
The Moon Sisters by Therese Walsh
One of the most heart wrenching tales of any year, let alone this one. I found myself stumbling sometimes because I couldn't read it fast enough.
It's that good.
Two sisters set out on a journey that is every bit as soul searching for its characters as it will be for anyone who picks it up. Believe me, once you start reading this one you will not stop until it's over and long after closing the final page it will stay with you.
Only being the second novel from Thesese Walsh I anxiously await anything she will turn out in the future and I totally need to track down a copy of her first book, The Last Will of Moira Leahy. She is truly a wonderfuLL writer. Yes, 2 L's.
One Kick by Chelsea Cain
It's the start of a new series for Chelsea Cain, and like the title characters nickname, things have started out rather kicking here. This is a bit lighter than her Archie/Gretchen saga but no less masterful.
Kick Lannigan was kidnapped and rescued as a child. Now a young woman, she teams up with a mysterious bad ass named Bishop and they work together to solve several cases of missing children.
It's the most fun I have had between the pages of a book this year.
The Fever by Megan Abbott
Really now, what is there is there to say about Megan Abbott that hasn't already been stated by everyone else that reads her? A new book by Megan is a sure thing for me. One simply can not help but find themselves enraptured by her unique blend of crime and girl power.
Her early work has been a fresh take on the noir genre. If you have not read Queenpin, well you need to rectify that ASAFP. It's one of my all time favorite books.
For her last few books Megan has traded in the stylishly sexy noir world for the modern day high school yard. The Fever tells the tale of a group of teenage girls plagued by a mysterious outbreak of sorts. As always, with both story and prose, she snaps, crackles and pops the reader all the way until the end. Megan Abbott is a master of her craft and never disappoints.
She also happens to have written the best short story I read this year as well, "My Heart is Either Broken", which can be found in the George RR Martin edited anthology Dangerous Women. Though it came out on the tail end of 2013 I actually read the story this year. This mind blower, and heart breaker, of a tale has also been slated for release this year as part of another anthology, The Best American Mystery Stories of 2014, edited by Laura Lippman. Like everything else of Megan's, it's a must read!
Strangers by Bill Pronzini
Bill Pronzini is a hard boiled veteran of the crime scene that has been clocking in quality fiction longer than all the other writers on my list added together. He's a master at what he does and the fact that all these years later he is still relevant at not only working it but getting the job done is a testament to greatness in itself.
His Nameless Detective series is one of the longest running, and still most entertaining, reads out there. In the most recent tale our hero is taken to Sin City to look into a rape case made against the son of an old girlfriend.
Pronzini hits you hard from the bottom of his soul with brutal procedure highlighted by his unique flair for geographical sense. His books are always a quick and fun read and you can almost smell the change of seasons between opening and closing the covers.
Strangers proves that he is like the Energizer bull of crime fiction.
Night Film by Marisha Pessl
Okay, so this book technically came out in 2013. It was issued in paperback in 2014 though, and this is the year I read it.
It's such a monster-piece of literature that I felt a few months couldn't spoil my decision to shower it with praise. It's unlike anything I have ever read. Not so much of a book as it is an experience to be reckoned with by the reader. Night Film stayed with me in between readings and even after I read the final line. That is what great writing is all about. This book used my senses porno style and fucked my head each time I sat down and found myself lost in its complexities.
It's basically a tale of a mysteriously reclusive director and the journalist trying to track him down, and yet it is so much more than that. The media dogs are called out following the apparent suicide of the directors daughter and this beast of a tale simply does not let up for all of its 700-ish pages in length. My general lack of enthusiasm for long books make this one worthy of every bit of its glory here.
Dinner with the Cannibal Sisters by Douglas Clegg
Douglas Clegg is one of my favorite writers of any genre. When people drop their picks for maestros of horror fiction pretty much all the usual suspects get ample nods. I never see people mention Doug Clegg though and that is both a damn shame and an improper oversight. I just got turned on to him a few years back and have become a huge fan. He has only recently seemed to be re-activating his output with lots of new stories and the cream of the crop is this beautiful novella, both in prose and layout, released this year from Cemetery Dance. Over the years this publisher has turned out some spectacular releases and this one is no exception. It's so well presented here that I almost felt bad about having to soil its pages with my fingers.
Obviously, with the title, one would tend to think this might be some kind of gore fest. This being Douglas Clegg though you never know what you are going to get outside of being nothing short of magnificent. It's stylish and filled to the brim with that brilliant prose that Clegg is known for.
Centering around a meeting between a man and 2 elusive, and reviled, sisters this tale is somewhat of a mash up of a quiet horror tale and a historical fiction piece that may very well be the best thing I have read all year. Being a novella I was able to sit down and read it all in one sitting and when I was done the first thought I had was that I simply could not wait to read it again. Kudos to both Doug and Cemetery Dance. A landmark release on both of their parts.
Fossil Lake: an Anthology of the Aberrant
Okay, so first I have to say something up front. I'm in this anthology. My story poem, The Rack, can be found here. That has nothing to do with my decision to mention this one, I swear. It's an anthology and as much as I love anthologies I kind of don't. They can be uneven at times in terms of both quality and pacing. My story aside, This was one of the best anthologies I have read in a while. Although I will blow my own horn here and say that my story fits in nicely. I wouldn't have made the table of contents if it didn't, right?
I actually dug every single piece that was included here and I am overjoyed to be amongst such stellar company. I won't bother singling out specific stories or poems and just say that if you want to have a whole lot of fun and read some quality stuff well then this book has got you covered. It's available as both an e-book and in print from Amazon.
Imaginer: Volume one by Thomas Negovan
Imaginer is an art book that collects reproduction prints of paintings by Clive Barker. It's part of a proposed series of 8 books and Barker himself claims it to be the greatest book that has ever carried his name on it. How could I not include it here?
It's Clive Barker so that means it needs to be here. Everything this man does is of the highest quality and this collection is no exception. Though his literary output has been scarce these last few years 2015 looks to be quite a year for us Clive Barker fans. A new novel, along with some special novella releases, and Volume 2 of this series, the first of which is still available in limited quantities and well worth picking up for fans of Barker and art alike.
