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December 4, 2014

Novels once again dominated my reading this year, and many impressed me.

These are the 11 novels I have most recommended to friends, family, and anyone else who has crossed my path this year (my personal metric for "favorite").

All links go to the authors' contributions to the Book Notes series, where applicable, and I have reposted my original review.

What was your favorite novel of 2014?





A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall by Will Chancellor

Will Chancellor's A Brave Man Seven Storeys Tall is an ambitious and powerful debut, simply one of the year's finest books.





Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill

Jenny Offill's novel Dept. of Speculation is powerful and poetically told in its short chapters.





Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor

Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor's debut novel Dust is lyrically told and vividly captures both the people and the landscape of Kenya.





Faces in the Crowd by Valeria Luiselli

Valeria Luiselli's Faces in the Crowd is one of the year's most striking and cleverly written novels, a debut that heralds the arrival of a promising literary voice.





Fourth of July Creek by Smith Henderson

Smith Henderson's Fourth of July Creek is a stunning debut and my favorite novel of the year.





A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride

Eimear McBride's novel A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing has been much lauded and deserves every accolade it has received. Imaginatively told and poignantly resonant, this debut is one of the year's best books.





High as the Horses' Bridles by Scott Cheshire

Scott Cheshire's High as the Horses' Bridles is one of the year's strongest debuts. This epic novel brilliantly explores themes of family, faith, and desire.





The Kept by James Scott

James Scott's The Kept is as masterfully written a debut novel as I have read in years, a book that has already earned him numerous comparisons to Cormac McCarthy.





The Last Illusion by Porochista Khakpour

Porochista Khakpour's second novel The Last Illusion is a a storytelling masterpiece, strikingly original and ambitious in its modern retelling of an ancient myth.





Rainey Royal by Dylan Landis

Dylan Landis's debut novel Rainey Royal is vividly told and as unforgettable as its young protagonist.





Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter

Lindsay Hunter's debut novel Ugly Girls is a dark and true book about female friendship, youth, and class, and easily one of the year's finest works of fiction.



also at Largehearted Boy:

online "best of 2014" book lists

Largehearted Boy favorite comics of 2014

Largehearted Boy favorite food and drink books of 2014

Largehearted Boy favorite nonfiction books of 2014

Largehearted Boy favorite short story collections

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2013

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2012

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2011

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2010

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2009

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2008

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2007

Largehearted Boy favorite nonfiction books of 2013

Largehearted Boy favorite novels of 2013

Largehearted Boy favorite short story collections of 2013

previous lists at Largehearted Boy

Antiheroines (interviews with up and coming female comics artists)

Book Notes (authors create playlists for their book)

Note Books (musicians discuss literature)

guest book reviews

musician/author interviews

52 Books, 52 Weeks book reviews



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