For any of those regular Goodreads users, you might be familiar with the site’s yearly reading challenge that encourages all comers to read as much as possible. I pledged to read fifty books by the end of 2013, and so far I’ve managed to complete twenty books towards that goal. This week’s Broke and the Bookish meme is dedicated to the best books read so far this year. While I may not have as many read as I would have liked, there are still some excellent reads to be found on this list.

*The following links lead to Goodreads.com*

1. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness: I mentioned the sequel–Shadow of Night–in my last Top Ten Tuesday post. Part of the reason I think I was so charmed by the characters is that I instantly connected with the academic Diana. Once you connect with a character, it’s hard to let a series go. I recommended Discovery of Witches to both family and friends and those that have picked it up have absolutely loved it.
2. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin: Do I really need another post where I spout off about how much I adore this series? I don’t think so. You might reach your saturation point with my Martin talk. So just read the series when you get a chance and enjoy!
3. The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman: This is an interesting add to my list. I started with the television show, which is truly groundbreaking, particularly in the makeup department. The makeup was so good I started having vividly terrifying nightmares. So I stopped watching the show, but randomly decided to try the graphic novels. No nightmares yet, but I’m even more attracted to Kirkman and Charlie Adlard’s black and white graphic style. Right now, I’m four issues in and am completely hooked.
4. The Girl Who Kicked Over the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson: This is the final book in the Millennium trilogy. I started reading the series several years ago on a recommendation from my Aunt Kris. I waited patiently for this one to come out in paperback and then it sat patiently on my shelf for a while while I finished reading other things. Wonderfully satisfying book overall.
5. The Help by Kathryn Stockett: I’m usually way behind on my consumption of popular literature, and The Help is no exception. While I’m not quite finished with this one, I should be within the next twenty-four hours. And I’m already confident that Stockett’s prose deserves a spot on this list.
6. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood: Oh Madame Atwood, how I respect you. Her prose pours over you like poetry. Even better, she’s a great storyteller. This book was written in 1985 but is still eerily fresh and relevant. It’s also one of the American Library Association’s top 100 most challenged books for the years 1990-2000. Sometimes it’s more important to read the banned or challenged books than to swear by the most beloved ones.
7. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me and Other Concerns by Mindy Kaling: Laugh out loud funny. Kaling is such a charismatic personality, and reading this book makes you want to take her out for a drink because you get the sense that she has more stories to tell.
8. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell: Huzzah for fluff! This was such a pleasant and quick read. For more of my thoughts on Rowell’s novel scroll down to my last post.
9. Hector and the Search For Happiness by Francois Lelord: It’s the Little Prince meets The Tao of Pooh. Philosophy about what it means to be happy. I’m not saying that this book has all the answers, but it might make you think twice about what matters.
10. Courtesan by Diane Haegar: Historical fiction in any courtly era usually is right up my alley–particularly the great love stories. Haegar brings tender life to the mistress of King Henri II of France, Diane de Poitiers. Very well done piece.

That’s the best of my read’s from 2013…at least so far. I may have a slightly different list by the end of the year. We shall see.

Happy reading everybody!