I'm talking the one that deserves a golden bookmark.  Above all others, the absolute best to you.

Mine would be the Kingkiller Chronicles.

Judye / maysied

After You, Marco Polo by Jean Bowie Shor. a fascinating travel narrative.

I don't think I read a really great books this year. ;(

I don't have one that I could pick out of the pack as the BEST.  But the ones I won't swap are the Dr. Siri series by Colin Cotterill.  

This is what I posted in the Book of the Month discussion thread:

Books of the Year: Ok, some good print books, 4 stars, but oh, the trouble I had deciding if there really was one that was best.  Finally, I decided no, there is no top pick in print this year.  Nothing I'd read again.  But in audio, at least half of them I would listen to again, and maybe again after that.  After much pondering I've decided that there are two of many that edged out the others.

Audio: Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King  read by Wm Hurt and Stephen King

The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak, read by Allan Corduner

Each is a great story, superbly performed.  They were each actually better in audio than in print.  Or movie.  And I loved the movies!

Ghost on Black Mountain - Ann Hite    I just love her books.  

Bonnie,

Isn't Stephen King great as a reader?  When I started "The Dark Tower", he does this disclaimer that he is not a professional reader, only the author. But as I got into it, I came to feel he was the BEST one to read his own books.  He puts the emphasis and other moods where he intends them to go.  I couldn't get over the way he pronounced some of the words and the amount of French he used.

Judye / maysied

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch was my favorite this year.  Read it for a book club, and really, really enjoyed the story, the setting and the characters.