Welcome to The Literary Blog Hop hosted by Judith of Leeswammes Blog! Not really sure what is considered a Literary read, Wikepedia defines it as well written, critically acclaimed and usually serious in nature. Still not sure? Goodreads has compiled a list of over 500 titles of literary fiction.
My giveaway will be for a literary book of your choice of $20 or less from either Amazon or the Book Depository. To enter I have one question you need to answer. I would like to know what is the best book you have read (or listened to if it was on audio) so far in 2012.
I will draw a winner the morning of the 28th and announce it here.
For the list of the other participants to hop your way too – click here
Book Journey 
So far nothing has beat Ready Player One.
I listened to that one Heather… so fantastic! 🙂
That’s a tough question! I’m going to go with The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Thanks for the giveaway!
The best book I’ve read so far is Wide Open by Deborah Coates. Thanks for having this giveaway.
So far in 2012, the best book I have read is BORN WICKED by Jessica Spotswood. It’s wonderful.
“A Red Herring Without Mustard” by Alan Bradley. The 3rd book in the flavia de Luce series.
So far, the best book I’ve read this year is Until the Next Time, by Kevin Fox.
I know I’m not supposed to be on the computer, but when I saw this in my email, I had to come one. My vacation runs passed the end date, so I guess I’m breaking my rules already 🙂
The best book this year is Gillespie and I by Jane Harris. No question about it. It was spectacular!
It’s Not Just Who You Know by Tommy Spalding . . . it’s a book about relational competence so it’s non-fiction . . . but it’s quite compelling! Thanks for the fun giveaway.
This is actually a difficult question to answer. I’ve read some really excellent novels this year that would be considered literary fiction.
If I had to pick just one, I’d choose The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.
Divergent by Veronica Roth was my favorite read so far this year.
Diary of a Provincial Housewife by Delafield.
11-2-63 is the best book I’ve read so far this year! I do have to agree with some of your other friends…it’s a difficult question to answer. :~)
The best book I have read is The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen 🙂
The best book I read this year was Grave Mercy by Robin Lafevers.
I’d have to say “Before I Go To Sleep” by S.J. Watson
I have to answer this with two choices – 11/22/63 by Stephen King and Wonder by RJ Palacio.
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantle, I read this for the first time in 2010 but read it again a few weeks ago to catch up for the sequel that was just released.
That is such a hard question! Can I choose my top three?! In no particular order (because that would be EVEN HARDER):
1. Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey – Chuck Palahniuk
2. King Solomon’s Mines – H. Rider Haggard
3. The Sisters Brothers – Patrick DeWitt
Thanks for the giveaway, and enjoy the hop!
Ellie @ Musings of a Bookshop Girl
emp501@hotmail.co.uk
it’s really hard question! But I guess it was Destiny by Laura DeLuca. Thanks!
fetachan@gmail.com
The best book I’ve listened to in 2012 has been Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Such as great story and a great audiobook!
Oh gosh. I’m going with A Good American. What a great giveaway.
My favourite reads so far this year have been Scott Stabile’s Brooklyn bites series, which I’m giving away on my blog. I read the first one as a requested review and was so glad I accepted.
Thanks for the giveaway (and for joining the hop)! I’m giving away State of Wonder so I’ll go for that. On a different top (have you seen it?) I’m giving away Ready Player One which I also thought was very good – maybe even better..
So far in 2012, my two favorites have been Gillespie and I by Jane Harris and The True Deceiver by Tove Jansson.
That is a really hard question but today I would choose one of the books I am giving away in this hop. Following Atticus by Tom Ryan is a wonderful inspirational story. Thanks for the giveaway!
The best book I have read this year is And the Land Lay Still by James Robertson. Definitely worth a read! 🙂
A few to choose from, but I think the best was Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin.
I really enjoyed Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin.
I have a done a lot of rereading this year, but I have read several really good mysteries and two wonderful books by Sandra Dallas. If I had to choose, I’d say my favorite is Dreming of the Bones by Deborah Crombie. I struggled with this one at first, but then when I switched to audio, I loved it.
My favorite read so far this year is definitely “The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox.”
the best book I have read lately, and there have been lots of them, was Home Front. This book touched me in indescribable ways. I loved the insight into war, the conflicts of going to war and leaving behind family, and the aftermath of war on a soldier.
The best book of 2012 for me was, A Walk Across The Sun by Corban Addison. I would rate it a 5 star. It was an amazing read about young girls being kidnapped and put into the sex trade business around the world. It stays with you long after you have finished it.
I think The Hunger Games is my top read for the year so far.
I would have to say that Legend by Marie Lu was amazing.
Head in the Clouds by Karen Whitemeyer!
The Fault in Our Stars is my favourite read for this year, I really love that book. Thanks for the giveaway. 🙂
Thank you for hosting this giveaway! Feel free to check out mine as well. 🙂
The best book I’ve read so far this year is Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. I’m on a Hemingway kick right now, currently on book three.
Have a great weekend! Happy blog hopping!
Jenna
The best book I’ve read so far this year is The Autobiography of Mark Twain (by Mark Twain, of course!) Thanks for the chance to win – my “books to buy” list is always so, so long!
roofbeamreader(at)gmail(dot)com
I think I would have to give two examples of the best books I have read so far and I have read 90 to date since Jan. 1st. I love historical fiction so I will sat The Queen’s Pleasure by Brandy Purdy and The Queen’s Vow by C.W.Gortner…thank you
momkelly2003(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favourite book of 2012 so far, is The Peculiar Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender. Beautiful, poignant, interesting and you can taste the words as you read!
So far The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
The Terror by Dan Simmons is the best book I have read this year, not a new book but one my husband had on his bookcase and thought i might like
11/22/63 by Stephen King is the best book that I have read this year hands down! Thanks for the chance to win.
The best book I’ve read in 2012? I think that’s a tie between The Other City by Michal Ajvaz and Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. Both are really incredible books with experimental styles, but they are very different from each other. I’d highly recommend both of them.
eeoshiel(at)uncg(dot)edu
Blackout by Mira Grant was amazing!
bonnieregan@gmail.com
So far, my favorite this year is Something Like Normal by Trish Doller. 🙂
I loved Saturday by Ian McEwan, maybe because It has many ingredients I will always fall for: a neurosurgeon, 1st person narrative, a kind of stream of consciousness, very smart musings about life, human mind and religion.
That’s a hard question..this year have read a lot of fantastic books. One was the memoir, Ragdoll Redeemed by Dawn Novotny. Thank you for the giveaway.
Thanks for the giveaway!
This is a very tough question, I could cheat and give actually 2 titles, but I will refrain and end up saying The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton.
Emma
ehc16e at yahoo dot com
It is so hard to choose – Cat’s Table by Michael Ondaatje I think would edge out The Submission.
I loved “Harriet Beemer takes the Bus” by Joyce Mangin. I really hope the author writes more books with Harriett in it. I hated to let that character to go.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
My favorite 2012 reads thus far have been The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen, Defiance by C.J. Redwine, and Timepiece by Myra McEntire (I can’t choose just one!)
thehouseworkcanwait@gmail.com
The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha- fave so far!
My favorite book so far has been one I just finished reading today – Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.
Without a doubt: The Submission by Amy Waldman.
Thanks for this giveaway!
My favorite book I’ve read this year is a non-fiction one called Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn
A favourite book from this year – The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot.
My favorite of 2012 (although not first published in this year) is Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
Such a tough question to answer! There have been so many great books this year but if I have to pick just one, then it’s Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.
My favorite so far this year is Ready Player One.
SQQUUUEEEE!!!! (LOVED that one!)
I finally read The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. It was fantastic, though I can see why it received mixed reviews.
So far one of the best reads in literary fiction was Blue Asylum by Kathy Hepinstall. Thanks for this giveaway.
laurafabiani at videotron dot ca
Dreams of Joy by Lisa See is the absolute best book I have read so far this year.
Fantastic I highly recommend it.
My favourite this year was The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
My favorite audio has been In the Woods by Tana French.
My favorite book so far has to be Bear Gryll’s autobiography. I never, ever expected it to be as inspiring as it was when I picked it up. I just figured he’d talk about eating bugs and jumping off cliffs, xD
Thanks for the giveaway!
kimie142002 (at) hotmail (dot) com
Ahh this is too hard! I’ve read 130 books so far and most of them have gotten 4-5 stars. Some of my favs have been-River of Time Series, Susan May Warren’s books, \, THG Trilogy, Wolffsbane, Firethorn, To Win Her Heart, Short-Straw Bride, Jenny B. Jones’ Books, okay I’ll stop but there are seriously tons more!
My favorite read so far has to be Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson! Thanks for the giveaway!
Oooh, I’ve read some good ones but most recent great read was A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. LOVED it! 😀
Easy one: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. So good! – Katie
Too difficult to choose just one… but … a really good recent one was The Shoemaker’s Wife
Thats in the top of my list for 2012 as well Leslie 😉
So hard to pick one! But I’ve read the THG trilogy in january, and its still my best 2012 read so far!
So far, the best is The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnson. Thanks for the chance to win – and a generous amount!
11.22.63 by Stephen King. Fantastic read! Who knew King could write mainstream Fiction so well.
S ofar, my favorite read of 2012 is Clockwork Prince.
So far..I would have to pick The Visible Man by Chuck Klosterman!
Lilian @ A Novel Toybox
lilianxchengATgmail.com
Legend by Marie Lu.
Thanks a lot for the giveaway!
toss up between unsaid by neil abramson…i sobbed at the end and the perfect family by kathryn shay..the writing wasn’t so great but i can’t stop thinking about it
Hello, the best book I have read so far in 2012 has to be a draw between On Canaan’s Side by Sebastian Barry and The hottest dishes of the tartar cuisine by Alina Bronsky. Thanks Ceri
My favorite that I have read thus far this year has been Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand- wonderfully written and so inspiring!
I don’t get to read the new releases much anymore since I’ve been trying to save money. But anything Julia Quinn is my fave.
I have been reading the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series this year and have to say they are the best books I’ve read this year.
The best book I’ve read this year is The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender. Good stuff for hosting a stop on this tour!
Hmmmm, I can’t limit to just one. I loved the Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs, Wither by Lauren DeStefano, and A Million Suns by Beth Revis. I listened to Lover Reborn by JR Ward and loved it as well.
Thanks for the giveaway!
darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com
JUST MY TYPE by Simon Garfield was really intriguing, even though I never considered myself a type/font geek. (You will be by the end of the book, though…)
Radioactive: A Tale of Love and Fallout is the best book I’ve read so far. (I know, I know, it doesn’t sound the least bit interesting, does it? But trust me….)
debnance@gmail.com
A Red Herring With Mustard was indeed an awesome read. I love Alan Bradley
True Colors by Kristin Hannah
I loved the Hunger Games trilogy! Thanks for this amazing giveaway – I would love to win!
I have 2 books that I equally loved and which blew me away: one was Ride with Me by Ruthie Knox and the other Sweet Enemy by Heather Snow. I can only recommend these! 😀
Thank you!
stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com
The best book I’ve read so far this year is Diary of a Mad Fat Girl by Stephanie McAfee. I can’t wait for her second book to come our in November.
Titanic 2012 by Bill Walker
On second thought, it was The Loom by Shella Gillus
Thanks for the giveaway! I think my favorite read so far this year was The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean, though it’s technically YA, not “literary.”
The BEST Fiction novel I’ve read so far this year is “A Good American” by Alex George, which is far less about being “American” as it is about a family that migrates, and their assimilation into the American society, a novel that spans generations, the narrative is like good music, it keeps you enraptured! And best Non-Fiction novel I’ve read in 2012 is “Behind the Beautiful Forevers” by Katherine Boo – a non-fiction book that reads nothing like non-fic. A book about the people living in the slums of Mumbai (Bombay) in India, and their resilience despite their setbacks.
Thank you for your generosity, and for being part of the Literary Giveaway Hop.
Name: Hira Hasnain
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
So far, my favorite read is Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick. I read it back in January and I still can’t get it out of my head. Thank you so much for taking part in this hop and for the fantastic giveaway!!
jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net
Great giveaway! Ooh, this question is a toughie. I really enjoyed the Hunger Games trilogy (well the 1st and 2nd! so not the 3rd book!) But I did LOVE A Discovery of Witches. It was so good! 🙂
Birdman from Mo Hayder, thrilling!
I read a hundred thousand kingdoms by N.K. Jemisen and loved it!
I really enjoyed The Second Time We Met by Leila Cobo.
Thanks for the giveaway.
For me, a book I just read this year that easily became one of my favorites was “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie.
Up until this week, my favorite book this year was Amir Towles The Rules of Civility but I just finished Laura Moriarty’s The Chaperone which I loved. I think they’re tied for the best! Loved looking at everyone’s picks!
It is too hard to pick just one Shelia! I loved The Art of Fielding (audio) by Chad Harbach, The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, and A Grown Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson.
My favorite, which I just finished yesterday, is Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Highly recommended!
I’ve never been able to have just one of anything! So here are some of my favorites: Favorite classic–Pride and Prejudice, favorite contemporary–Jellicoe Road, favorite fantasy–the Girl of Fire and Thorns, second favorite fantasy–Finnikin of the Rock, favorite book read this year…I think I should stop here, LOL:D
The best read for me this year thus far would be Days of Grace by Catherine Hall, while the best audio experience goes hands down to The Meaning of Night by Michael Cox.
Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
I loved the movie, so I’m reading Jane Eyre, can’t go wrong with the classics. 😉
TY , Sheila, for this giveaway opp! appreciated..
for me?
the best fiction so far would be The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by your almost neighbour, Julie Klassen ~ loved it .
non fiction would be The Nature of God by Graham Cooke ~ one of the interactive journals in the Being With God series …
Hmm – hard question! I think Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.
Thanks for the contest Sheila.
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out
I just read the my favorite so far for 2012 the other day. It’s The Queen’s Vow by C.W. Gortner. Such a great book!
Thanks for the giveaway!
truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom
So far it was A Breathe of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon book #6 in her Outlander Series.
Thanks for participating in the hop and for the giveaway opportunity.
sophiarose1816@gmail.com
This is an easy qustion – my favorite book so far this year is The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani and a close second would be Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay.
Thanks for hosting the giveaway and the great question – I loved reading everyone’s choices!!!
k2reader(at)gmail(dot)com
The best book this year I have read is the Worst Hard Times. It is a non fiction book about the dust bowl, and the great depression. It was really good- and I normally don’t read nonfiction.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
I enjoyed Across the Universe and A million Suns.
I really loved Gravy Mercy by Robin LaFevers.
stephward84(at)hotmail(dot)com
Great question but a tough one. I think my choice is The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, a book I’ll be reviewing this week.
But A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash is a very close second
Hm…so far this year the only books I’ve read that have really stuck with me have been the last few Temperence Brennan novels – not exactly literary, but my husband works in that field so it always strikes up a conversation between him and I when I finish one of the books! 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks for this opportunity! The best book I read in 2012 was Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald. maevalentine39 [at] gmail [dot] com
I’ve read a LOT of books this year! I can’t pick one but I can say it is a tie between Hope Springs by Kim Cash Tate and Sixteen Brides (can’t think of the author). Thanks for the giveaway!
I agree with several ladies above – READY PLAYER ONE is sensational!
The best book I’ve read so far is Robyn Carr Sunrise Point.Thanks for the giveaway!
The Daughter’s Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick, I’m waiting on her newest book and hope it’ll be just as great.
I’ve read so many this year. Explosive Eighteen was my favorite.
ainfingerATcomcastDOTnet
Curious incident of a dog in the night time. I loved it so much I started a book blog to share it … 😀
The best book I’ve read in 2012 so far has been “The Book of Everything” by Guus Kuijer. A children’s book, but despite that I’d count it as literary.
Thank you for the chace to enter!
I really enjoyed Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin.
The Land of Decoration by Grace McCleen tops my list and there have been many very good ones.
Ah, that’s tough, to pick only one… Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury. I fell in love with it from the first sentence (which I will probably never forget). Thanks for the giveaway!
So far…11-22-63 by Stephen King. Loved how involved and detailed the book was.
so far I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith
The twilight series.
I liked The Immortal Rules, a YA novel.
Thanks!
My favorite literary book of 2012 so far is Wordjazz for Stevie by Jonathan Chamberlain, an extremely well written, heart wrenching, yet inspirational memoir!
I honestly don’t think I could choose a favorite book of 2012. I loved both Wild and The Kitchen Counter Cooking School. Those two couldn’t be any more different, huh?!
Thanks for the giveaway Sheila!
The best book I have read in 2012 was Death Is A Lonely Business by the late, great Ray Bradbury. I have yet to find any of his works that I didn’t like.
@Lisa: have you tried “Let’s All Kill Constance” by Bradbury? It’s a slim book. I loved Fahrenheit 451 but this one I just couldn’t bring myself to finish.
I loved Song van Achilles, the winner of the Orange prize this year 🙂 Also, I finally got round to reading The Night Circus, which I also rated 5 stars on Goodreads.
I loved Divergent.
I really loved Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. Also enjoyed Song of Achilles.
Thanks for the chance to win 😀
I absolutely loved the book Swipe!
Thanks for the chance to win 🙂
Bloom
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I think my favorite so far has been “The History of Love” by Nicole Krauss, but I’m reading “Ready Player One” next, so that might change things! 🙂
Thx for the chance!
I really haven’t read any epic books yet this year. Been sort of reading the little ones. But I did think Miss Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children was great.
I don’t think I have entered this one–if I have, disregard it.
Catching Fire is the best book I have read this year!
So hard to choose! One of them though is The Beach Cafe by Lucy Diamond. Thanks!
good books and a cup of tea @ live dot com
My favorite book so far this year is Rosalind Noonan’s The Daughter She Used to Be.
I love Insurgent! 🙂
Divergent by Veronica Roth was my favorite ..
ronnkelly3@aol.com