Top Ten Tuesday- Thus Far

This week The Broke and the Bookish ask us what our top ten for the year so far are. It ended up being a bit harder than I thought! This was also a good exercise in the sense that it made me take note of my habits during the last six months- I need to add in some more nonfiction and a few more challenging texts I've been putting off.

1. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann- This is probably my favorite so far- his ability to connect stories and create a sense of vitality is impressive. I saw him speak recently and he was just as impressive in person. 

2. The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer- This was the first novel I read by Wolitzer and I thoroughly enjoyed the story and writing style. She follows a group of teenaged friends from a summer camp all the way through adulthood. 

3. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston- I reread this to teach my students at work and had forgotten how damn good it is. Identity searching, man handling, and rabid dog.

4. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood- Another one I reread, more so because I was headed to see Atwood speak at the LA Times Festival of Books. If you like dystopian novels and haven't read this one you should give it a try.

5. Night Film by Marisha Pessl- I'm a huge Pessl fan and was thrilled to receive and ARC for this book. It is a true literary mystery that embeds multimedia aspects and a shit ton of suspense. Pick it up in August when it comes out.

6. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald- Another reread! People either love this novel or hate it. I for one hadn't read it since high school and had forgotten what an amazing writer Fitzgerald is. 

7. Fathermucker by Greg Olear- I really enjoyed this witty novel about a stay-at-home father who must handle his autistic son, lively daughter, and fear that his wife is cheating on him.

8. Transatlantic by Colum McCann- Another McCann book makes the list. Transatlantic, in McCann's words is about "deconstructing the machine," told through three separate narratives (two female journalists, the two men who made the first Transatlantic flight, Senator George Mitchell, and Frederick Douglass. 

9. Me Before You by JoJo Moyes- To this day I am still surprised about how much I liked this novel. Sentimental without being mushy, amusing without being over-the-top, and controversial without being preachy.

10. Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple- God I loved this book. It's not a challenging read at all, but I adored the quirky, tongue-in-cheek feel throughout. It's satirical, smart, and and just plain fun. 

What's your favorite book from the first half of 2013?