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Happy 2015!

So, what was your favorite book of 2014? What book got you so excited this year you felt like writing to the author and letting her or him know? What book did you give as a gift, receive as a gift, or, recommend to others? Come on now, let us know!

My favorite fiction book released in 2014 was Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo. An incredibly witty, audacious and deceiving 74 year old Antigua/British dandy, married for 50 years but in love with his paramour, Morris. Thin in pages but large at heart, a wonderful book that will appeal to anyone and everyone.

Equally as good is Miles: The Autobiography by Miles Davis and Quincy Troupe. Released in 1990. Brilliant and troubled, Miles Davis provides an honest and thorough telling of his most incredible career as one of the best trumpet players and jazz artist the world has ever known. Not a boring moment in this book.

Columbus wrote: "My favorite fiction book released in 2014 was Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo. An incredibly witty, audacious and deceiving 74 year old Antigua/British dandy, marr..."

I too enjoyed Mr. Loverman. It was one my top reads for the year.

I had a good reading year.

My top three fiction reads for 2014 are:
The Secret History of Las Vegas: A Novel by Chris Abani
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James
Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor

My top nonfiction reads are:
Ebony and Ivy: Race, Slavery, and the Troubled History of America's Universities by Craig Steven Wilder
Slavery's Exiles: The Story of the American Maroons by Sylviane A. Diouf

Looking back, I had a good year also.

My top literary fiction by authors of color were:
Time of the Locust by Morowa Yejide
Into the Go-Slow by Bridgett M. Davis
The Shadowed Sun by N.K. Jemisin

All 3 were books that I had looked forward to reading and enjoyed on many levels.

For nonfiction, my favorite was Men We Reaped: A Memoir by Jesmyn Ward. Broke my heart so many ways.

It was also a great year for debut writers whose next books I am looking forward to, especially Lauren Francis-Sharma, NoViolet Bulawayo, Natalie Baszile, and Celeste Ng.

Interestingly, my favorite fiction my authors who are not authors of color were books categorized as YA, with the exception of one mystery. My favorite of them was Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. That one will stay with me for a long time.

Here's to another great reading year for all of us!

Wilhelmina wrote: "Looking back, I had a good year also.

My top literary fiction by authors of color were:
Time of the Locust by Morowa Yejide
Into the Go-Slow by [au..."

I too read Men We Reaped this year and thought it was amazing - also among my top books.

I have to agree with you regarding Code Name Verity. I received an ARC of this book several years ago and wondered why as I am not a fan of YA but it ended up as one of my top reads in the year I read. I have been meaning to read her next book. Just not enough time.

I gave five stars to four of the books I read in 2014: (1) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (I know, I was late the the party).
(2) The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
(3) Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie>>>my favorite for the year<<<<
(4) The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

My faves in fiction were An Untamed State by Roxane GayandForty Acres by Dwayne Alexander Smith.

Non-fiction: Things I Should Have Told My Daughter: Lies, Lessons & Love Affairs by Pearl Cleage and The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League by Jeff Hobbs

Definitely Forty Acres

I had narrowed down my top picks to 10 out of the the books that I read this year, but maybe I can get it down to 5 here:

Nigger by Dick Gregory
Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More by Janet Mock
An Untamed State by Roxane Gay
Forty Acres by Dwayne Alexander Smith
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Migrations of the Heart by Marita Golden
How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America by Kiese Laymon

okay, 7 :)

Columbus wrote: "Equally as good is Miles: The Autobiography by Miles Davis and Quincy Troupe. Released in 1990. Brilliant and troubled, ..."

I agree with the assessment of Miles. I want to read that one again, but I may not need to after the biopic. I'm really hoping Don Cheadle gets this right!

Wilhelmina wrote: "For nonfiction, my favorite was Men We Reaped: A Memoir by Jesmyn Ward. Broke my heart so many ways...."

I can understand how this could be the case. I have not read the book, but I went to her book tour for the paperback release. When she finished reading, a man had tears in his eyes. It was definitely the most emotional reading I've been to.

My top favorites are:

Daughter by Asha Bandele

Into the Go-Slow by Bridgett M. Davis

Happiness, Like Water by Chinelo Okparanta

My favorite read was Time of the Locust