Recommend the 20 best books you've read in the last five years

Description
A casual acquaintance is looking for ideas about books to read, but you don't know much about their tastes. Thinking back over your last five years of reading, which books would you recommend?
3
20,836 members
615 reviews
4.2
34
17,260 members
911 reviews
4
55
7,747 members
407 reviews
4.1
20 Members
aprille, SqueakyChu, pammab, bookworm12, goldenmoon, KimarieBee, amysisson, kxn11, goldenlobo, hammockqueen, KatyBee, Jenny1013, IrishSue, Winny99, Penske, KittyTwist, richard_c, WendyRobyn, archanads, nankan,pitjrw , ,aulsmith
Explanations
: Bad science fiction, terrible dialogue, and really bad theology.
62
22,273 members
1,264 reviews
4.2
15 Members
donutage, fifthbusy, kootibkiteer, RobinMG, briarhills, smasler, rozymary, Risbom, WhatUsername, HelenGress, Peace2, richard_c, ParanoidMaryMarvel, Jelissa88, SundayN
Explanations
donutage: An inventive and, by the end, surprisingly moving story of an orphan raised in and by a graveyard. Categorized as a YA title, which is understandable, but I consider it also a meditation on parenthood.
69
3,812 members
55 reviews
½ 4.3
74
5,949 members
316 reviews
4.1
13 Members
pechmerle, rstaedter, Kieln, lillypatti72, SpreeMetVoeten, Lapsus16, rozymary, peterveen, LoneS, linlef, kazzer2u, Michael_Gibbons, CharlesTheB
Explanations
pechmerle: A combination of East Asian history, historical romance, suspense, and writing style that is irresistible. A little knowledge of Japanese history before reading makes it a much richer reading experience.
76
16,020 members
384 reviews
4
77
9,943 members
470 reviews
½ 4.3
78
3,083 members
166 reviews
4
79
54,212 members
1,003 reviews
4
13 Members
gilroy, applemcg, brianc6, lordcharles, martensgirl, eclecticdodo, joanra21, Peace2, chwiggy, Femklutz, CharlesTheB, ijamiedee, Kylagm
Explanations
lordcharles: Opened my eyes to a number of things - and possibilities. Frightening. On pet.
80
5,995 members
367 reviews
4
12 Members
Shrike58, Aquila, Euryale, ArieJvdP, dhm, SusiLibrarian, RobinMG, Dilara86, zjakkelien, gypsysmom, lorannen, jpahl,ayaeckel
Explanations
Shrike58: Another current example of the best state of the art of modern SF that builds on the traditions of the field (imagine what a collaboration between Le Guin & Cherryh would look like) while trying to extend the state of the art. Some people think this is a bad thing, and I'm not sure that Leckie's tricks of language always work, but this is ultimately a very individual story of how one comes by personal dignity.
82
3,973 members
288 reviews
4.1
85
4,210 members
253 reviews
4
86
9,239 members
295 reviews
4.1
87
6,979 members
346 reviews
½ 4.3
89
9,001 members
355 reviews
3.8
90
35,607 members
545 reviews
3.8
11 Members
aprille, donutage, unspuncapricorn, dmsteyn, smasler, tjsween, AmourFou, pseudoeden, CharlesTheB, NidiaMR86, CLMor,KerryMcGuire ,booksbooks63
Explanations
donutage: It's a "classic" for a reason. Ambitious, profound, playful, at times bizarre. Like many, I read this back in high school and was somewhat flummoxed by the "boring" "digressions" about whale anatomy and sailing ships. When I re-read it a couple years ago, I was more willing to take the sprawling narrative on its own terms and found it infinitely enjoyable.
91
3,626 members
159 reviews
4.2
92
5,715 members
164 reviews
4
93
9,427 members
183 reviews
4
94
18,225 members
453 reviews
3.9
98
15,139 members
147 reviews
4.1
100
5,320 members
283 reviews
½ 4.5