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Top Picks

Best books of 2014

By:

AliReads

Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi

Staff-created list

This year I didn't even bother trying to restrict myself to just ten. A Staff Pickles list.

By:

AliReads

Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi

17 items

17 items

1

The Girls at the Kingfisher Club

The Girls at the Kingfisher Club

A Novel

by Valentine, Genevieve, 1981-

Book - 2014

A retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses, set in the 1920s. 12 brilliant girls and their love for sneaking out and dancing all night, 12 sisters with diff...Show more A retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses, set in the 1920s. 12 brilliant girls and their love for sneaking out and dancing all night, 12 sisters with different relationships with each other, and one tyrannical father trying to control everyone. A great novel about sisters! Show less

A retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses, set in the 1920s. 12 brilliant girls and their love for sneaking out and dancing all night, 12 sisters with diff...Show more A retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses, set in the 1920s. 12 brilliant girls and their love for sneaking out and dancing all night, 12 sisters with different relationships with each other, and one tyrannical father trying to control everyone. A great novel about sisters! Show less

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

2

Bugs

Bugs

by Hereaka, Whiti

Book - 2013

I was gutted that this didn't win the NZ Post Book Award that it was nominated for; it was TOTALLY the best one. I loved the main characters, their relati...Show more I was gutted that this didn't win the NZ Post Book Award that it was nominated for; it was TOTALLY the best one. I loved the main characters, their relationships with each other, their parents, the school. A great book about racial identity in New Zealand, and living your own life. Show less

I was gutted that this didn't win the NZ Post Book Award that it was nominated for; it was TOTALLY the best one. I loved the main characters, their relati...Show more I was gutted that this didn't win the NZ Post Book Award that it was nominated for; it was TOTALLY the best one. I loved the main characters, their relationships with each other, their parents, the school. A great book about racial identity in New Zealand, and living your own life. Show less

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

3

Through the Woods

Through the Woods

Stories

by Carroll, Emily

Graphic Novel - 2014

Creepy, gorgeously drawn stories. Best read at night in a cabin in the woods but will give you shivers in a staff room during the day as well. Creepy, gorgeously drawn stories. Best read at night in a cabin in the woods but will give you shivers in a staff room during the day as well. Show less

Creepy, gorgeously drawn stories. Best read at night in a cabin in the woods but will give you shivers in a staff room during the day as well. Creepy, gorgeously drawn stories. Best read at night in a cabin in the woods but will give you shivers in a staff room during the day as well. Show less

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

4

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

by Brand, Russell, 1975-

Book - 2014

Part fairy tale, part poo jokes, part inquiry into the mysteries of human existence. Excellent kids book all round! Part fairy tale, part poo jokes, part inquiry into the mysteries of human existence. Excellent kids book all round! Show less

Part fairy tale, part poo jokes, part inquiry into the mysteries of human existence. Excellent kids book all round! Part fairy tale, part poo jokes, part inquiry into the mysteries of human existence. Excellent kids book all round! Show less

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

5

The Cracks in the Kingdom

The Cracks in the Kingdom

by Moriarty, Jaclyn

Book - 2014

Totally magical. As in, magical characters magical prose magical plot. Yet there are so many aspects of this book that are so grounded in humanity. This o...Show more Totally magical. As in, magical characters magical prose magical plot. Yet there are so many aspects of this book that are so grounded in humanity. This one absolutely illustrates the reasons why I love fantasy as a way of looking at the real world in a different light. If you can suspend your disbelief and believe in a world where colours are kind of a meteorological phenomenon and two teenagers are connected to that world and this one by a sculpture through which they send letters and try to stop the whole universe from caving in, then trust me, everything in this book makes perfect sense. Show less

Totally magical. As in, magical characters magical prose magical plot. Yet there are so many aspects of this book that are so grounded in humanity. This o...Show more Totally magical. As in, magical characters magical prose magical plot. Yet there are so many aspects of this book that are so grounded in humanity. This one absolutely illustrates the reasons why I love fantasy as a way of looking at the real world in a different light. If you can suspend your disbelief and believe in a world where colours are kind of a meteorological phenomenon and two teenagers are connected to that world and this one by a sculpture through which they send letters and try to stop the whole universe from caving in, then trust me, everything in this book makes perfect sense. Show less

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

6

I Am Malala

I Am Malala

The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World

by Yousafzai, Malala, 1997-

Book - 2014

Malala <3 Malala <3 Show less

Malala <3 Malala <3 Show less

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7

The Impossible Knife of Memory

The Impossible Knife of Memory

by Anderson, Laurie Halse, 1961-

Book - 2014

One of the first books I read this year and it set the standard. Excellent contemporary fiction, PTSD, familial relationships, character development, this book just works so well. One of the first books I read this year and it set the standard. Excellent contemporary fiction, PTSD, familial relationships, character development, this book just works so well. Show less

One of the first books I read this year and it set the standard. Excellent contemporary fiction, PTSD, familial relationships, character development, this book just works so well. One of the first books I read this year and it set the standard. Excellent contemporary fiction, PTSD, familial relationships, character development, this book just works so well. Show less

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8

Saga

Saga

[Volume Three]

by Vaughan, Brian K.

Graphic Novel - 2014

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

9

Sex Criminals

Sex Criminals

[1], One Weird Trick

by Fraction, Matt

Graphic Novel - 2014

Basically the funniest graphic novel about a woman who stops time when she has sex ever. (Well, okay, maybe the only graphic novel about a woman who stops time when she has sex, but still!) Basically the funniest graphic novel about a woman who stops time when she has sex ever. (Well, okay, maybe the only graphic novel about a woman who stops time when she has sex, but still!) Show less

Basically the funniest graphic novel about a woman who stops time when she has sex ever. (Well, okay, maybe the only graphic novel about a woman who stops time when she has sex, but still!) Basically the funniest graphic novel about a woman who stops time when she has sex ever. (Well, okay, maybe the only graphic novel about a woman who stops time when she has sex, but still!) Show less

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

10

Dreams of Gods and Monsters

Dreams of Gods and Monsters

by Taylor, Laini, 1971-

Book - 2014

Such a great end to a series that just got better and better with each book! Agonisingly good! I read some of the most dramatic parts in public and made rather desperate flailing noises. Love it when books do that. Such a great end to a series that just got better and better with each book! Agonisingly good! I read some of the most dramatic parts in public and made rather desperate flailing noises. Love it when books do that. Show less

Such a great end to a series that just got better and better with each book! Agonisingly good! I read some of the most dramatic parts in public and made rather desperate flailing noises. Love it when books do that. Such a great end to a series that just got better and better with each book! Agonisingly good! I read some of the most dramatic parts in public and made rather desperate flailing noises. Love it when books do that. Show less

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

11

Evil Librarian

Evil Librarian

by Knudsen, Michelle

Book - 2014

I was absolutely DELIGHTED by this book. A great mix of ridiculous fun, and danger, and wicked characters, and excellent one liners. I was absolutely DELIGHTED by this book. A great mix of ridiculous fun, and danger, and wicked characters, and excellent one liners. Show less

I was absolutely DELIGHTED by this book. A great mix of ridiculous fun, and danger, and wicked characters, and excellent one liners. I was absolutely DELIGHTED by this book. A great mix of ridiculous fun, and danger, and wicked characters, and excellent one liners. Show less

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

12

Cuckoo Song

Cuckoo Song

by Hardinge, Frances, 1973-

Book - 2014

I just love a creepy changeling story, guys. I love stories that investigate what makes a person a person. I just love a creepy changeling story, guys. I love stories that investigate what makes a person a person. Show less

I just love a creepy changeling story, guys. I love stories that investigate what makes a person a person. I just love a creepy changeling story, guys. I love stories that investigate what makes a person a person. Show less

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

13

Complicit

Complicit

by Kuehn, Stephanie

Book - 2014

Actually the scariest book I've read this year. Completely twisted. I love it. Disturbed all my flatmates, we all made lots of screams of despair and agony in the living room while reading multiple copies. Yeah we're nerds. A++. Actually the scariest book I've read this year. Completely twisted. I love it. Disturbed all my flatmates, we all made lots of screams of despair and agony in the living room while reading multiple copies. Yeah we're nerds. A++. Show less

Actually the scariest book I've read this year. Completely twisted. I love it. Disturbed all my flatmates, we all made lots of screams of despair and agony in the living room while reading multiple copies. Yeah we're nerds. A++. Actually the scariest book I've read this year. Completely twisted. I love it. Disturbed all my flatmates, we all made lots of screams of despair and agony in the living room while reading multiple copies. Yeah we're nerds. A++. Show less

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

14

Charm and Strange

Charm and Strange

by Kuehn, Stephanie

Book - 2013

Yeah, Stephanie Kuehn makes it onto the 2014 list twice because she's REALLY DISTURBING and I can't get enough. Yeah, Stephanie Kuehn makes it onto the 2014 list twice because she's REALLY DISTURBING and I can't get enough. Show less

Yeah, Stephanie Kuehn makes it onto the 2014 list twice because she's REALLY DISTURBING and I can't get enough. Yeah, Stephanie Kuehn makes it onto the 2014 list twice because she's REALLY DISTURBING and I can't get enough. Show less

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

15

Lies We Tell Ourselves

Lies We Tell Ourselves

by Talley, Robin

Book - 2014

So good - a brutal read, though. So good - a brutal read, though. Show less

So good - a brutal read, though. So good - a brutal read, though. Show less

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

16

Fangirl

Fangirl

by Rowell, Rainbow

Book - 2013

I WISH I'd had this book in my early years of university, but even now it's great, it's so familiar, it celebrates fandom and the different relationships ...Show more I WISH I'd had this book in my early years of university, but even now it's great, it's so familiar, it celebrates fandom and the different relationships people can have with it, as well as the way relationships change in first year uni, relationships with your twin and your father, new friends, difficult roommates, ~boys!~, the internet, and your own relationship with yourself. Show less

I WISH I'd had this book in my early years of university, but even now it's great, it's so familiar, it celebrates fandom and the different relationships ...Show more I WISH I'd had this book in my early years of university, but even now it's great, it's so familiar, it celebrates fandom and the different relationships people can have with it, as well as the way relationships change in first year uni, relationships with your twin and your father, new friends, difficult roommates, ~boys!~, the internet, and your own relationship with yourself. Show less

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

17

Beauty Queens

Beauty Queens

by Bray, Libba, 1964-

Book - 2011

A few years older but it took me this long to get around to reading it and it NEEDS to be on a Best Of list. "Best of Ali's Wow-Why-Didn't-I-Read-This-Years-Ago Books' maybe. A few years older but it took me this long to get around to reading it and it NEEDS to be on a Best Of list. "Best of Ali's Wow-Why-Didn't-I-Read-This-Years-Ago Books' maybe. Show less

A few years older but it took me this long to get around to reading it and it NEEDS to be on a Best Of list. "Best of Ali's Wow-Why-Didn't-I-Read-This-Years-Ago Books' maybe. A few years older but it took me this long to get around to reading it and it NEEDS to be on a Best Of list. "Best of Ali's Wow-Why-Didn't-I-Read-This-Years-Ago Books' maybe. Show less

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

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