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The 40 Books I’ve Read In 2014

11/06/14 | books

Pile of Books

Based on the successful of my post last year on the 26 books I read in 52 weeks I gave myself the same goal this year – read one book every-other week for the entire year.  Imagine my surprise when I went back through my list and realized I blew past 26 books and, as of Sunday, I have read 40 books this year!   If you have been around S & S for a while you know I love listening to books (here, here, and here) whether I am commuting to and from work, shopping, or really heading anywhere by myself but almost a book a week was shocking!  

Of the more than three dozen books I have read this year, my favorite series has been Jams Patter’s Private. The books are based on a world renowned investigation company called Private,  founded and run by a former CIA agent and each book just seemed to get better – however, I must say I found  Private Games the most realistic in terms of how many things could go wrong at an Olympics Games and Private Berlin taught me the most eye-opening.  You can read about all of the books here: 

James Patterson Private Series - Private - Private Number One Suspect - Private Games - Private London - Private Berlin - Private LA

If you are not into the crime fighting thriller books, ala James Patterson and David Baldacci, there were two books this year I absolutely loved in addition to The Art Forger, which got it’s own post.   The first was The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Bechanan which I debated for ages whether or not it should get it’s own post but decided to include it in this recap instead.  If you know me you know I love historical fiction so a book about two real events – the teenage crime in Paris in the 1880’s and the paintings and work of Edgar Degas woven into a spectacular but seemingly realistic tale was right up my ally.  The second book I loved was Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple – I have no idea why it took over a year for me to get around to reading it but it was a perfect light, quick, easy read and I appreciated the plot twist.
 The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Bechanan and Whered You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple

Honestly, if you a member of your public library I strongly recommend seeing if they are linked or affiliated with OverDrive and if you can get involved!  My library in New York City lets you borrow books (both ebooks and audiobooks) for 7 days, but my library in Florida gives you a full 14 days!  All expect for a few of the books below I “read” through OverDrive: 

The full list of books:  

  1. The Friday Night Knitting Club – by Kate Jacobs
  2. Private – James Patterson
  3. Private: #1 Suspect – James Patterson
  4. Private  London – James Patterson
  5. Swimsuit – James Patterson 
  6. Private Games – James Patterson
  7. Private Berlin – James Patterson 
  8. Postcard Killers – James Patterson 
  9. The Jester – James Patterson
  10. The Quickie – James Patterson
  11. 11th Hour – James Patterson
  12. 12th of Never – James Patterson
  13. Kill Alex Cross – James Patterson
  14. The Murder of King Tut – James Patterson
  15. Gone – James Patterson 
  16. The Drowning House – Elizabeth Black
  17. In Sunlight and Shadow – Mark Heprin
  18. Diary of a Mad Fat Girl – Stephanie McAfee
  19. Defending Jacob – William Landay
  20. Death Match – Lincoln Child
  21. The Litiagors – John Grisham
  22. The Lost Symbol – Dan Brown 
  23. The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo – Stieg Larson 
  24. The Light Between Oceans –  M. L. Stedman
  25. Hour Game – David Baldacci 
  26. Deliver Us From Evil – David Baldacci 
  27. Gideon’s Sword – Douglas Preston
  28. The Painted Girls – Cathy Marie Bechanan 
  29. The Peach Keeper – Sarah Addison Allen 
  30. Stone Cold – David Baldacci 
  31. Now You See Her – James Patterson 
  32. The Target – James Patterson 
  33. The Brass Verdict – Michael Connelly 
  34. The Innocent Man – John Grisham 
  35. Unlucky 13 – James Patterson 
  36. Devine Justice – David Baldacci 
  37. First Family – David Baldacci 
  38. Where’d you Go, Bernadette – Maria Semple 
  39. The Heist – Janet Evanovich 
  40. Hotel on Corner of Bitter and Sweet – Jamie Ford 

Forty books down and I do not plan on stopping any time soon. To my friends who say I am “cheating” because I am listening to them, well, I am absorbing literature and I think it counts!   And just to be fair, I did not count my re-reading of every Harry Potter book – that would bring me to 47.  

Have you read anything great this year? 

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Comments

  1. Paisley says

    November 12, 2014 at 3:18 am

    Wow, I am seriously impressed and you’ve inspired me to read more! I really want to read “Where’d You Go, Bernadette”.
    xx,

    Paisley

    paisleynotplaid

  2. Chels says

    November 10, 2014 at 6:40 am

    Hi! I’m new here but I totally like your blogsite. You have a new follower now! 😛
    I also love reading books but I’ve just read 30 book in 2014. Anyway, I still can read some books till 31th December! 😉

    Nice to meet you!

    Chels

  3. Misty says

    November 7, 2014 at 10:29 am

    I love David Baldacci’s books! Have you ever read anything from John Lescroart? He’s good too.

  4. Kenzie Smith says

    November 6, 2014 at 2:18 pm

    I have heard a lot of great things about James Patterson’s books — I am really going to have to check them out! Are they good to read as standalones or is it better to read them in a series? I might have to go see which one comes first and find it on eBay 😀 Great job on reading so many books this year! Do you have a Goodreads account? I would love to add you on there!

  5. pop champagne says

    November 6, 2014 at 1:16 pm

    James Patterson is amazing! I love those books! and good for you for getting through all those!

  6. Jemima says

    November 6, 2014 at 8:08 am

    Wow! Good on you for getting through so many! Audiobooks are totally acceptable.. Any purists who tell you otherwise need to get with the times. One of the best things about life today is the way we are able to adapt learning and reading and educating to suit the needs of so many… I mean how long has the ‘people don’t all learn in the same way’ argument been around… Only now are we really able to take that concept and apply it in a meaningful way! It’s great! I personally love to read books but don’t mind listening to them if driving, it allows me to share the book with my partner (who hates reading and almost exclusively listens to audiobooks instead!)

    I’m really impressed by this list. I try to read as much as possible but always seem to justify not doing so… Naughty! However recently I did fly to Australia and back and managed to knock out 3 books on the flights (Not That Kind of Girl – Lena Dunham, Road to Paradise – Paullina Simons, Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn). I highly recommend any Paullina Simons books by the way, they are fantastic.

    WOW what a long comment…

    • Kelly says

      November 6, 2014 at 9:51 am

      Thank you so much for the long comment, I love it! I will definitely check out that author, I appreciate the recommendation!

Hi, I am Kelly and welcome to Sparkles and Shoes, a fashion, travel, and lifestyle blog founded in 2012.  After six years of living in London I am back in New York with my husband and two littles! 

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