My Favorite Books Published in 2012

2012 was an excellent year to be a reader. So many books have been published by authors I love. Here are six of my favorite books that were published in 2012.

This is the second book I have read by Laura Moriarty, the first being The Center of Everything. After reading The Chaperone, I have decided to add Laura Moriarty to my list of favorite contemporary authors. The Chaperone tells the story of silent film star Louise Brooks, before she hit the big time. She is 15 years old and needs a chaperone to escort her to New York City so she can attend a dance academy. Cora is the chaperone and The Chaperone is really her story. She is a bit old fashioned and butts heads with the more modern Louise.

I love books that teach me something. While reading The Chaperone, I learned about the history of the suffrage movement in the United States, orphan trains from New York City to the midwest, and Louise Brooks.

Who will like this book? Fans of historical fiction who like to read about the early 1900's. People who like brainy chick lit. Fans of old Hollywood.

Winter of the World is the second of a planned trilogy by one of my favorite authors, Ken Follett. The first book in the series, Fall of Giants is about World War I and how it affects several Russian, German, British and American families. In Winter of the World, the action centers mostly on the children of the main characters that were introduced in Fall of Giants. While I enjoyed Fall of Giants, I loved Winter of the World.

There are probably two reasons I enjoyed Winter of the World so much more than Fall of Giants. The first reason is that I, like many other people, know more about World War II than I know about World War I, so I didn't have to stop and do as much background research when an unfamiliar event or person would pop up. The second reason I liked Winter of the World more than Fall of Giants was because I think it was better written. Fall of Giants had many endless battle scenes and those are not my favorite. Follett reduced those kinds of scenes in Winter of the World and stuck more to character development.

So, who will enjoy Winter of the World the most? I think anyone who enjoys historical fiction or family sagas.

Gold is about the lives of three Olympic hopefuls, Jack, Zoe and Kate, all vying for a place at the 2012 London games in track cycling. The book starts out at the Athens Summer Olympics, with Zoe and Jack going for gold while Kate stays at home with baby Sophie. The relationships between the three seems complicated from the start. Zoe flirts with Jack even though he is married to Kate. Zoe and Kate are dedicated friends even though Jack seems to come between them. Through the book Cleave slowly reveals the real story of this group of elite athletes. Gold is an unflinching look at what people have to sometimes give up to achieve goals.

So, who would enjoy this book? Anyone who likes characters studies. Sophie, the young daughter undergoing cancer treatment in the book, steals the story line.

I first heard of this book on The Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda. Since I like mysteries and the book was set in my native Missouri, I was sold on reading it right away.

Gone Girl starts with the disappearance of Amy, Nick's wife. Nick is pretty clueless, so he is not very much help in the investigation into Amy's disappearance. One part of the story is told in the present by Nick. the other part of the book is told by Amy, through diary entries she wrote before her disappearance.

If you haven't already read this book, read it now before anyone spoils it for you.This book is fast paced, shocking and one you will not forget for a long while. My advice is to read this one with a friend, so you can discuss it and believe me, you will want to.

Who will like Gone Girl? People who like mysteries, psychology or real crime shows.

I cannot remember laughing so hard while reading a book. I basically laughed constantly while reading this book. Heck, I am laughing just recalling this book while I write this review. I looked insane, but it was worth it. The funniest part of the book to me was when Lawson described buying James Garfield, a stuffed trophy pig she now proudly displays in her home.

Though Let's Pretend This Never Happened is really funny, it does have some serious moments. If you have ever suffered from social anxiety, you will relate to Jenny Lawson and this book. I cannot recommend it enough for all of the self identified weird people in the world.

Who will like this book? Lawson has an offbeat sense of humor so maybe check out some of her blogs before committing to this book.Oh, and if you are offended by cussing and/or taxidermy, this book might not be for you.

John Green is one of the founders of Nerdfighteria, a land I am a proud citizen of, so The Fault in Our Stars was a must read for me. I have read all of John Green's books and they are all good, of course, but The Fault in Ours Stars is his best.

The story follows Hazel, a girl who had only a short time to live until a medical discovery shrank the tumors in her lungs, giving her a reprieve from certain death. Sounds depressing, right? Well, maybe not. Green does not write this like a Lifetime movie of the week, going for the easy tears. He explores the very real and at times funny side of mortality. The standout character in the book is Gus, a young man Hazel meets when she joins a support group for young people with cancer. I predict The Fault in Our Stars will be a classic.

Who will like this book? This book is a young adult novel but I think people of all ages will enjoy it.

What about you? What were some of your favorite books that were published this year? Any disappointments?