Top Five Books of 2020

Description
Add your favorite books read in 2020. Define favorite however you wish. Books don't need to be a 2020 pub date, just ones you read this year. You can see the LT Staffer picks at the LT Blog: https://blog.librarything.com/main/2020/12/top-5-books-2020/ And participate in the conversation on Talk: https://www.librarything.com/topic/327305
1
Hamnet
de Maggie O'Farrell
4,356 membres
228 critiques
4.2
33 Members
innominate, princessmonster, krisa, modlibrary, tyrosine, booksinbed, charl08, thornton37814, N1na, sogamonk, Copperskye, msf59, Iudita, brenzi, celerydog, Leida, HelenBaker, elkiedee, BLBera, ominogue, vancouverdeb, JenMDB, Karen1Usher, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, Boand, RandyRasa, Houhoulis, grandmimi, mommamouro, rhonda35, LeonaML, Jack_G, ,
Explications
Boand: A simply stunning and well paced book which reaches a wonderful crescendo at the very last moment! Words fail me - just read this book!!!
2
The Mirror & the Light
de Hilary Mantel
2,756 membres
103 critiques
½ 4.3
28 Members
anglemark, krisa, Osbaldistone, modlibrary, rarm, smc1, bjappleg8, dhm, LDVoorberg, Capybara_99, sogamonk, KarenRice, eronn, celerydog, lottpoet, Mweb, lothiriel2003, NeilDalley, anju04, JenMDB, VW_Williams, Karen1Usher, This-n-That, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, elphie93, KelAnemone, Boand,
Explications
Boand: The book I most wanted to read this year and so sad the series has now ended, although already knew the end anyway! It does not disappoint and was a joy to read.
4
A Promised Land
de Barack Obama
4,553 membres
131 critiques
½ 4.3
21 Members
modlibrary, tyrosine, Micheller7, terran, Romonko, cataloga, loafhunter13, DCBlack, maskarakan, james.proffitt, Wilgot-A-Elf, msjudy, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, cipeciop, ManWithAnAgenda, Houhoulis, Potterydrapes, lekshmijay, luvlee68, eclements87, , , , , ,
Explications
ManWithAnAgenda: I had kept my list to 5, but I saw 'Promised Land' and others being thumbed down by users who had ONLY thumbed books down and not added anything. So I balanced the scales.
8
The House in the Cerulean Sea
de TJ Klune
6,155 membres
321 critiques
½ 4.3
16 Members
ablachly, Ennas, foggidawn, penelopereader, mcfitz, Watry, bookcookie1920, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, Yeti21, audra35, lekshmijay, naesa3597, Bondmom, Tosta, Craftybilda
Explications
Yeti21: Cute and Light. Perfect for 2020. Also I want to steal Theodore. I have so many buttons for him <3
9
Mexican Gothic
de Silvia Moreno-Garcia
4,715 membres
232 critiques
½ 3.7
16 Members
ShelfMonkey, tyrosine, katemcangus, bookcookie1920, caseyface81, noveltea, pussreboots, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, Chris64, MariaCapaldi, Houhoulis, lekshmijay, naesa3597, Tosta, AnonymousPlatypus,sogamonk
Explications
sogamonk : For me, too long. The scary parts were anticlimactic. Repetitive
10
Sur les Ossements des morts
de Olga Tokarczuk
2,742 membres
139 critiques
3.9
16 Members
krisa, modlibrary, Euryale, pamelad, astridnr, KatyBee, mstruck, noveltea, dbsovereign, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, emquixotic, Houhoulis, audra35, Tosta, Charon07,
11
The Vanishing Half
de Brit Bennett
5,602 membres
237 critiques
4.1
15 Members
krisa, jilld17, Micheller7, lsh63, KatyBee, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, emquixotic, Chris64, RandyRasa, Houhoulis, pencil26, lekshmijay, luvlee68, roojs,ahef1963 ,
Explications
ahef1963 : I found this book disappointing.
12
Shuggie Bain
de Douglas Stuart
2,460 membres
126 critiques
4.2
14 Members
kageeh, richardderus, booksinbed, sogamonk, msf59, Milda-TX, brenzi, edparks, anju04, dbsovereign, .cris, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, Houhoulis,summonedbyfells ,Jack_G
Explications
summonedbyfells : A series of episodic events 'observational fiction' lacking much of a purpose, I had hoped that James Kelman would have had the last word on this depressing genre, sorry.
13
Les Testaments
de Margaret Atwood
6,119 membres
224 critiques
4.1
16 Members
libraryhead, modlibrary, tyrosine, jonathankws, Baukis, patri50, sturlington, Esquiress, Verkruissen, HeatherMoss, .cris, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, ManWithAnAgenda, Houhoulis, sirul, , ,
Explications
ManWithAnAgenda: Balancing the scales.
14
Là où chantent les écrevisses
de Delia Owens
14,133 membres
612 critiques
4.1
14 Members
krisa, juliecheri, celerydog, Leida, soldulac, JacobsBeloved, Stacy_Krout, SGilbreath, Mosholu, Jojo21, luvlee68, ldl2, Tosta, AnonymousPlatypus
Explications
celerydog: suspend belief and be blown away by the creation of the setting ; place is an essential character in this book.
15
M pour Mabel
de Helen Macdonald
4,348 membres
278 critiques
3.9
13 Members
modlibrary, kageeh, summonedbyfells, cataloga, dbsovereign, gayjeg, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, shedgeco, Houhoulis, Mosholu, Jojo21, Tosta
Explications
summonedbyfells: A seemingly unworkable pairing of subjects is so well written into a riveting narrative.
16
Girl, Woman, Other
de Bernardine Evaristo
3,170 membres
132 critiques
4.2
12 Members
booksinbed, lsh63, msf59, brenzi, celerydog, elkiedee, JenMDB, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, Jojo21, luvlee68, roojs
Explications
celerydog: game-changing book because of characterisation and inter-linking of their stories
17
Nothing to See Here
de Kevin Wilson
2,142 membres
133 critiques
4
11 Members
pammab, zhejw, terran, Lidbud, lanewillson, Lynsey2, Stacy_Krout, lordporkchop, lekshmijay, Bondmom, AnonymousPlatypus
18
The Searcher
de Tana French
2,158 membres
112 critiques
3.9
11 Members
terran, bjappleg8, KarenRice, cataloga, katemcangus, Lynsey2, Stacy_Krout, mhilgart, audra35, Bondmom, AnonymousPlatypus
19
L'hôtel de verre
de Emily St. John Mandel
3,025 membres
172 critiques
3.8
10 Members
plaugher, jilld17, mdexter, N1na, sogamonk, cataloga, BLBera, Stacy_Krout, lekshmijay, Charon07
20
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
de V. E. Schwab
8,745 membres
288 critiques
4.1
10 Members
kbuxton, Euryale, Ennas, oceancat, OphelieDepoortere, Stacy_Krout, Fatima_Anwar, audra35, els1224, AnonymousPlatypus
21
The Pull of the Stars
de Emma Donoghue
1,555 membres
93 critiques
4
10 Members
ablachly, krisa, reader247, Micheller7, raidergirl3, Whisper1, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, Fatima_Anwar, Bondmom
22
Ninth House
de Leigh Bardugo
5,506 membres
178 critiques
4.1
10 Members
ablachly, librookian, jencharlap, katemcangus, OphelieDepoortere, msjudy, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, emquixotic, eclements87,noveltea
23
Effet de réseau
de Martha Wells
2,453 membres
173 critiques
½ 4.4
9 Members
tardis, richardderus, majkia, oceancat, souloftherose, kaydern, Stacy_Krout, ManWithAnAgenda, RandyRasa
24
The Great Believers
de Rebecca Makkai
1,976 membres
109 critiques
½ 4.3
8 Members
charl08, bjappleg8, Copperskye, katemcangus, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, emquixotic, ArdizzoneFan
25
Toute la lumière que nous ne pouvons voir
de Anthony Doerr
18,778 membres
880 critiques
½ 4.3
8 Members
lothiriel2003, 19anne44, mstruck, Stacy_Krout, Mosholu, ldl2, Bondmom, Jack_G
26
Writers & Lovers
de Lily King
1,587 membres
99 critiques
4
8 Members
JMC400m, Micheller7, N1na, BLBera, megbmore, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, Houhoulis
27
La Maison aux esprits
de Isabel Allende
13,963 membres
245 critiques
4.1
8 Members
tyrosine, mstruck, BoekenTrol71, NinieB, Stacy_Krout, missjudgment, rcarpent, lekshmijay
28
The Ten Thousand Doors of January
de Alix E. Harrow
3,342 membres
169 critiques
4
7 Members
Ennas, reader247, mooingzelda, mcfitz, marysneedle, JacobsBeloved, Stacy_Krout
29
Ne dis rien. Meurtre et mémoire en Irlande du Nord
de Patrick Radden Keefe
2,366 membres
113 critiques
½ 4.4
7 Members
aron124, sipthereader, fannyprice, anju04, mstruck, Stacy_Krout, mhilgart
30
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
de Grady Hendrix
2,710 membres
133 critiques
3.9
8 Members
librookian, mstrust, Stacy_Krout, MikeFinnFiction, lekshmijay, Bondmom, Tosta, AnonymousPlatypus
31
My Dark Vanessa
de Kate Elizabeth Russell
2,531 membres
139 critiques
4.1
8 Members
IMBOS, hthbooks, sogamonk, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, Fatima_Anwar, caralynn483, AnonymousPlatypus,
32
The Witches Are Coming
de Lindy West
749 membres
41 critiques
4
7 Members
libraryhead, caseyface81, noveltea, kristilabrie, Bondmom, Tosta, eclements87
34
L'arbre-monde
de Richard Powers
5,351 membres
244 critiques
4.1
7 Members
modlibrary, jeanned, FAMeulstee, KarenRice, anju04, JenMDB, Stacy_Krout
35
A Deadly Education
de Naomi Novik
3,874 membres
148 critiques
4.2
6 Members
kbuxton, foggidawn, jencharlap, oceancat, Verkruissen, Stacy_Krout
36
All the Devils Are Here
de Louise Penny
1,630 membres
102 critiques
4.2
7 Members
terran, kteeley, Copperskye, eronn, sjgoins, Stacy_Krout, Bondmom
Explications
sjgoins: Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache books show such introspection by Gamache and also his humanity.
37
Une vie comme les autres
de Hanya Yanagihara
7,455 membres
326 critiques
4.1
7 Members
patri50, BoekenTrol71, dbsovereign, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, maschi, Fatima_Anwar
38
How to Be an Antiracist
de Ibram X. Kendi
4,051 membres
98 critiques
4.2
8 Members
kidzdoc, karenmarie, cataloga, kaydern, Stacy_Krout, quondame, audra35, luvlee68, ,
39
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
de Isabel Wilkerson
4,166 membres
162 critiques
½ 4.4
7 Members
modlibrary, eo206, chellerystick, cataloga, Stacy_Krout, RandyRasa, luvlee68
Explications
modlibrary: This should be required reading for every high school student
40
Olive, Again
de Elizabeth Strout
2,064 membres
128 critiques
4.2
6 Members
jilld17, mojobee, kteeley, snash, Stacy_Krout, luvlee68
41
Milkman
de Anna Burns
2,354 membres
115 critiques
½ 3.7
6 Members
innominate, aprille, celerydog, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, audra35
42
Une colère noire : lettre à mon fils
de Ta-Nehisi Coates
7,734 membres
368 critiques
½ 4.4
7 Members
lemontwist, tyrosine, caseyface81, Stacy_Krout, ManWithAnAgenda, Houhoulis, luvlee68,
Explications
ManWithAnAgenda: Balancing the scales.
43
Valentine
de Elizabeth Wetmore
873 membres
55 critiques
4
6 Members
agjuba, lsh63, BLBera, Stacy_Krout, Chris64, ldl2
44
Summer
de Ali Smith
596 membres
32 critiques
4
6 Members
Parker51, thorold, CarltonC, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, rebamill3
45
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
de Hallie Rubenhold
1,536 membres
67 critiques
4.2
6 Members
thewordygecko, fannyprice, souloftherose, ominogue, Stacy_Krout, AnonymousPlatypus
Explications
thewordygecko: A stunning book about the lives of the women who were murdered by the Ripper; not the horrible murders themselves, but the women's lives, as much as the author could discover from her research. Reveals the injustices and prejudices and misogyny of the era in which they lived. Grateful to the author for giving these women some voice and making them 'real' people, without the sensationalism.
46
Daisy Jones and The Six
de Taylor Jenkins Reid
6,042 membres
332 critiques
4
6 Members
foggidawn, charl08, cooch45, ahef1963, Stacy_Krout, eclements87
47
Jonathan Strange et Mr Norrell
de Susanna Clarke
26,960 membres
772 critiques
3.9
7 Members
tyrosine, amanda4242, cbeausan, Stacy_Krout, Houhoulis, audra35, AnonymousPlatypus,oceancat ,
Explications
amanda4242: This one languished on my shelves for ten years before I finally read it. I've now read it twice in three years and plan on reading it again.
: Absolutely impenetrable.
48
Harrow the Ninth
de Tamsyn Muir
2,154 membres
85 critiques
4.1
5 Members
Aquila, bookwoman84, souloftherose, Watry, Stacy_Krout
49
Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder
de Caroline Fraser
1,181 membres
71 critiques
4.1
6 Members
IsolaBlue, lothiriel2003, Tess_W, olegalCA, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout,eo206
50
An American Marriage
de Tayari Jones
3,940 membres
256 critiques
3.9
6 Members
astridnr, MissBrangwen, Stacy_Krout, luvlee68, Bondmom, eclements87
51
Le chardonneret
de Donna Tartt
14,854 membres
799 critiques
3.9
6 Members
mojobee, patri50, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, Mosholu, Jack_G
52
Si par une nuit d'hiver un voyageur
de Italo Calvino
12,508 membres
257 critiques
4.1
5 Members
razorsoccam, patri50, eronn, pperez333, Stacy_Krout
53
Station eleven
de Emily St. John Mandel
11,667 membres
777 critiques
4.1
6 Members
modlibrary, petescisco, mstrust, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, eclements87
54
So You Want to Talk About Race
de Ijeoma Oluo
2,715 membres
87 critiques
½ 4.5
6 Members
lemontwist, tyrosine, njinthesun, ReadHanded, caseyface81, Stacy_Krout,
55
Seul sur Mars
de Andy Weir
18,110 membres
1,240 critiques
½ 4.3
5 Members
sipthereader, mcfitz, amerynth, Stacy_Krout, Potterydrapes
56
Stoner
de John Williams
6,686 membres
353 critiques
½ 4.3
5 Members
patri50, Cfraser, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, Mosholu
58
Cristallisation secrète
de Yoko Ogawa
2,130 membres
93 critiques
½ 3.7
5 Members
stretch, AnnieMod, mstruck, flying_monkeys, Stacy_Krout
59
Possession
de A.S. Byatt
12,951 membres
288 critiques
4
5 Members
patri50, cbl_tn, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, Gerry_Fryer
60
The Yellow House: A Memoir
de Sarah M. Broom
1,050 membres
41 critiques
3.9
5 Members
kidzdoc, Euryale, cataloga, mstruck, Stacy_Krout
61
Dear Edward
de Ann Napolitano
1,707 membres
92 critiques
4
5 Members
IMBOS, tjblue, Stacy_Krout, Mosholu, Bondmom
62
Middlemarch
de George Eliot
17,698 membres
330 critiques
4.2
5 Members
Minthe, cbeausan, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, Jack_G
63
L'île des femmes de la mer
de Lisa See
1,653 membres
93 critiques
4.1
4 Members
ReluctantTechie, sallylou61, elkiedee, DidIReallyReadThat
Explications
elkiedee: Absorbing story but also a historical setting and culture etc that I knew nothing about.
64
Deacon King Kong
de James McBride
1,672 membres
94 critiques
½ 4.3
4 Members
modlibrary, mdexter, cataloga, lanewillson
65
The Once and Future Witches
de Alix E. Harrow
2,375 membres
83 critiques
4.1
4 Members
kbuxton, marysneedle, Stacy_Krout, RandyRasa
66
The Shadow King
de Maaza Mengiste
710 membres
33 critiques
3.9
4 Members
ghefferon, N1na, HelenBaker, Stacy_Krout
67
Défaillances systèmes
de Martha Wells
5,469 membres
340 critiques
4.1
4 Members
foggidawn, mahsdad, Stacy_Krout, Yeti21
68
Or What You Will
de Jo Walton
299 membres
16 critiques
3.8
4 Members
jsburbidge, NinjaMuse, Stacy_Krout, quondame
69
The Girl With the Louding Voice
de Abi Daré
1,537 membres
50 critiques
4.2
4 Members
Micheller7, astridnr, KamGeb, Stacy_Krout
70
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
de Becky Chambers
5,461 membres
360 critiques
4.1
4 Members
jaelquinn, maskarakan, ahef1963, Stacy_Krout
71
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
de Stuart Turton
5,471 membres
301 critiques
3.8
4 Members
bookwoman84, Porua, Stacy_Krout, Bondmom
72
La saison des feux
de Celeste Ng
8,840 membres
374 critiques
4
4 Members
agjuba, modlibrary, olegalCA, Tosta
73
Les oiseaux du temps
de Amal El-Mohtar
4,068 membres
211 critiques
3.9
4 Members
anglemark, rhian_of_oz, msjudy, Stacy_Krout
74
The Song of Achilles
de Madeline Miller
13,011 membres
505 critiques
4.2
4 Members
modlibrary, maryzee, Mosholu, Bondmom
75
Sur la Lune
de Mary Robinette Kowal
575 membres
39 critiques
½ 4.3
4 Members
kbuxton, Aquila, tardis, Stacy_Krout
76
Les fureurs invisibles du cœur
de John Boyne
2,237 membres
144 critiques
½ 4.4
3 Members
almin, HelenBaker, Rchlwtsn
77
Vieux, râleur et suicidaire, la vie selon Ove
de Fredrik Backman
11,134 membres
685 critiques
½ 4.3
4 Members
dara85, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout, lordporkchop
78
The Silent Wife
de Karin Slaughter
1,026 membres
39 critiques
4
4 Members
JLSMEG, OphelieDepoortere, Stacy_Krout, Bondmom
79
David Copperfield
de Charles Dickens
20,658 membres
274 critiques
4.1
4 Members
modlibrary, Capybara_99, Rchlwtsn, Stacy_Krout
80
Bartleby, le scribe
de Herman Melville
2,866 membres
96 critiques
3.9
4 Members
patri50, Luisali, cbeausan, Stacy_Krout,
81
Lovecraft Country
de Matt Ruff
1,962 membres
84 critiques
4
3 Members
timspalding, norabelle414, noveltea
82
Gaudy Night
de Dorothy L. Sayers
5,448 membres
149 critiques
½ 4.3
3 Members
cbl_tn, NinieB, Stacy_Krout
83
Gideon the Ninth
de Tamsyn Muir
4,430 membres
180 critiques
4.1
3 Members
bookwoman84, penelopereader, Stacy_Krout
84
Lanny
de Max Porter
860 membres
51 critiques
3.9
3 Members
EMS_24, Lynsey2, Stacy_Krout
85
Horizon
de Barry Lopez
352 membres
5 critiques
3.9
3 Members
dhm, warrickwynne, Stacy_Krout
Explications
dhm: For me a Big book, will go on my shelf of treasures. (5 stars)
86
One More Lie
de Amy Lloyd
93 membres
6 critiques
3.2
3 Members
goldenlobo, tina1969, Stacy_Krout
87
Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change
de Stacey Abrams
319 membres
8 critiques
4.2
4 Members
james.proffitt, ManWithAnAgenda, Houhoulis, waylandseal,
Explications
ManWithAnAgenda: Balancing the scales.
88
A Gentleman in Moscow
de Amor Towles
9,063 membres
513 critiques
½ 4.4
3 Members
foggidawn, KarenRice, Copperskye
89
La peste
de Albert Camus
18,463 membres
249 critiques
4
4 Members
aron124, FAMeulstee, SCPeterson, Stacy_Krout,Ennas
Explications
Ennas : Boring and depressing
90
Un bref instant de splendeur
de Ocean Vuong
3,761 membres
129 critiques
3.9
3 Members
revbean, SimoneA, Stacy_Krout
91
Expiration
de Ted Chiang
2,928 membres
129 critiques
4.2
3 Members
Edward, jeanned, Stacy_Krout
92
Un mal qui répand la terreur
de Stewart O'Nan
689 membres
39 critiques
4
3 Members
mojobee, mahsdad, Stacy_Krout
93
Utopia Avenue
de David Mitchell
1,154 membres
73 critiques
4
3 Members
mahsdad, peterveen, Stacy_Krout
94
How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States
de Daniel Immerwahr
1,115 membres
23 critiques
½ 4.3
3 Members
waitingtoderail, spounds, Stacy_Krout
95
Dix jours qui ébranlèrent le monde
de John Reed
2,453 membres
34 critiques
3.8
4 Members
fulner, cbeausan, Stacy_Krout, ManWithAnAgenda,
Explications
ManWithAnAgenda: Balancing the scales.
96
A Thousand Ships
de Natalie Haynes
1,570 membres
47 critiques
4.1
3 Members
charl08, jonathankws, N1na
97
Bois Sauvage
de Jesmyn Ward
2,881 membres
162 critiques
3.9
3 Members
Minthe, katimae, Stacy_Krout
98
Apeirogon
de Colum McCann
938 membres
54 critiques
4.2
3 Members
innominate, njinthesun, Stacy_Krout
99
The Magic Fish: A Graphic Novel
de Trung Le Nguyen
576 membres
34 critiques
½ 4.4
3 Members
Faranae, Stacy_Krout, ManWithAnAgenda
100
Mais leurs yeux dardaient sur Dieu
de Zora Neale Hurston
19,085 membres
345 critiques
4
3 Members
Dilara86, Stacy_Krout, elahrairah
Explications
elahrairah: Wow, what a story, what writing. Stunning!