Now that I have children,
my wife and I don’t get to go out as much as we used to. Since we spend a lot more time at home,
I have started reading a lot more over the last few years. I decided to compile a list of my
favorite books that were released in 2012. I like a variety of genres, as you will be able to tell from
my list. In no particular
order, these are my top ten favorite books of 2012.
Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades,
Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan
By Sean Parnell
Non-fiction
My review:
Lieutenant Sean Parnell's account of his platoon's deployment on the
Afghan-Pakistani border is one of the best accounts I have read about the war
in Afghanistan. It is a story of heroism, but Parnell is very humble in the
book and always gives credit to his men rather than himself. This book really
gives a lot of insight into the every day life of a soldier fighting
insurgents. It describes the bonds within the platoon, the rivalry with other
platoons, and the mind numbing rules of engagement that our troops are required
to abide by. The book also gives the reader a sense of the Afghan people and
their culture. This is probably the seventh or eighth book I have read about
the Afghan campaign, but it is unquestionably the best account I have read so
far.
Live by Night
By
Dennis Lehane
Fiction
My
review: Dennis Lehane continues to show why he is one of
America's best writers. Regardless of the era, Lehane always weaves an
interesting tale. Live By Night follows Joe Coughlin along his meteoric rise as
an American gangster. Those that have read The Given Day, will recognize Joe as
the youngest son of Boston Police Captain, Thomas Coughlin. Joe was only a fringe
character in The Given Day and it is not necessary to read that book before
reading Live By Night. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the themes woven
within the plot. Lehane paints a vivid picture of prison life in the 1920s and
power of the criminal underground following the Volstead Act. When Joe is able
to leave prison, he must endure the Florida heat, racial tension, the KKK, the
emptiness of a broken heart, and other gangsters who don't like the success of
Joe and his crew. This was a brilliant novel and I anxiously await Lehane's
next book.
The Round House
(Winner of the 2012 National Book Award)
By
Louise Erdrich
Fiction
My
Review: The Round House was not what I expected, but a
good read nonetheless. Louise Erdrich really takes the reader into the life of a
13 year old member of the Ojibwe tribe named Joe. The book is a coming of age
tale set in 1988. The plot centers around Joe's mother being raped and his
family struggling with the aftermath. There is little mystery in the novel,
because the attacker is identified early on in the novel. Even though the
reader finds out early on who attacked Joe's mom, the book takes you on a
journey through heartache, anger, healing, and the bureaucratic red tape that
surrounds those that live on tribal land. I also thought the ending was
perfect, although somewhat sad.
Meat Eater: Adventures from the Life of an American Hunter
By
Steven Rinella
Non-fiction
My
Review: Meat Eater is a fantastic read that I would
recommend to anyone. Outdoor writer, chef, and TV show host, Steven Rinella, shares
the hunting stories from his past that have molded him into the person that he
is today. He explains his love for hunting and the outdoors when he was growing
up in Michigan. He explores hunting for various types of game and the things he
learned from these various experiences. He reflects deeply on hunting in
general, trapping, fishing (which he considers a form of hunting), hunting
ethics, the beliefs of non-hunters, and culinary tips for preparing wild game.
Much like his previous book, American Buffalo, Rinella takes us on a spiritual
journey through the past and through our own souls. I enjoy Rinella's writing
and enjoy watching his TV show (also called MEATEATER). This was a heartwarming
and amazing read that makes me anxiously look forward to his next book.
The Revenge of Geography: What the Map Tells us About Coming Conflicts
and the Battle Against Fate
By
Robert D. Kaplan
Non-fiction
My
Review: The Revenge of Geography takes geopolitics to an
entirely new level. Robert Kaplan splits the book into essentially three parts.
The first part looks at geopolitics in general and specifically looks at the
theories of well-respected intellectuals of the past. The second part of the
book looks at the various areas of the world (Russia, China, India, Iran, etc.)
where there is potential for conflict with neighboring countries or political
unrest within. The last third of the book deals primarily with the United
States and what our future might hold if we continue with current involvement
abroad and what that might mean at home. I have always enjoyed the writings of
Robert Kaplan and this book did not disappoint. If you are looking for an easy
read, this book is not for you. This book actually created more questions for
me than answers and I had to stop reading several times to research events and
people Kaplan referenced. The Kaplan quote I thought summed up this book the
best was, "...we must never give in to geography, but must be
fundamentally aware of it in our quest for a better world."
Insurgent (Book
2 of the Divergent Series)
By
Veronica Roth
Fiction
My
Review: Dystopia at its best. If you are a fan of the dystopia genre and have not read the
first two books in the Divergent series, I highly recommend that you get
started. Roth has produced another
winner in the Divergent Series. Insurgent answered a lot of questions that
Divergent did not. It also has a cliff hanger ending that makes you anxiously await
the final book in the trilogy. This book was action-packed from beginning to
end and there were very few lulls in this novel. As much as I liked this book,
I did find that I had a harder time relating to the "new" Tris, who
was still emotionally scarred by an action in the previous novel. I can't wait
to see what Roth has in store for the readers in book three!
The Blood of Heroes: The 13-Day Struggle for the Alamo and the
Sacrifice That Forged a Nation.
By
Jim Donovan
Non-fiction
My
Review: This is one of the better books I have read on
the history of the Alamo and war for Texas Independence. James Donovan does a
great job of researching a variety of sources and giving the reader an in-depth
look at the Alamo and those that died defending it. I liked this book much
better than Donovan's first book, A Terrible Glory, which was a look at
Custer's last stand. The one thing I did not like about the book is that I
thought it could have used more maps in the book. It would have been useful to
have a map that showed Mexican troop placements during the siege and the
movements on the day of battle. A map of Texas with towns, colonies, forts,
etc. from 1836 would have been useful too. When he mentioned them in the book,
I knew where they were located, but it would have been a helpful visual for
those not familiar with that area of Texas. I would recommend this book to any
person that is intrigued by the story of the Alamo and it's defenders.
The Shadow Catcher: A U.S. Agent Infiltrates Mexico’s Deadly Crime
Cartels
By
Hipolito Acosta
Non-fiction
My
Review: Former Federal Agent, Hipolito Acosta, gives an
insightful look into the world of human smuggling. Acosta had an interesting
career and earned many accolades for his investigations and undercover
operations. I think he does a great job of telling his life story. He was a
very brave man who risked his life many times to help bring fugitives to
justice and enforce U.S. laws.
I Suck at Girls
By
Justin Halpern
Non-fiction
My
Review: Justin Halpern's second book is absolutely
hilarious. I was a huge fan of his first book and this book did not disappoint.
His father's wisdom is shared throughout the book. It is laugh out loud funny.
Halpern has a great sense of humor and a knack for storytelling. This is a
quick and enjoyable read. This book was every bit as funny as his first book.
Gone Girl
By
Gillian Flynn
Fiction
My
Review: Gone Girl was literally a novel that I could not
put down. Flynn's storytelling is spectacular. Nick Dunne is the hometown
golden boy who has returned home to care for his ailing parents and is the
number one suspect in his wife's disappearance. Amy Dunne is his uprooted wife
who was dragged from her beloved New York City to Missouri and has gone
missing. Each chapter alternates from the point of view of the husband to the
point of view of the wife (going back in time to when they first met and
eventually getting to the present). This thriller is unlike any I have ever
read and I loved everything about it up to the ending. As amazing as the book
was, I detested the ending.
David Baldacci is one of my favorite authors in the crime/mystery/thriller genres. He churns out about two books a year, but somehow still comes out with new material and thrilling plots. The Hit is Baldacci’s second book featuring assassin, Will Robie. The first book featuring Robie, The Innocent, was a thrilling joyride that involved double-crosses and inter-agency set-ups. This book should be entertaining as well. 
The Sookie Stackhouse Series is my most embarrassing guilty pleasure. I am not generally a fan of vampires and the supernatural, but I got hooked on this series after watching season 1 of HBO’s True Blood, which is based on this book series. This has been an entertaining series, but the last three books have been somewhat disappointing. Dead Ever After will also be the last book in this series and I will be interested to see what happens with Ms. Stackhouse.
I am a sucker for novels from International Best Selling Author, Dan Brown. I didn’t like his last novel, The Lost Symbol, as much as his previous novels featuring Robert Langdon, but it was still a good book. This novel is apparently set back in Italy and involves a mystery surrounding Dante’s Inferno. Dan Brown is one of those authors that upon finishing his books, I always find myself doing more research into the history he intertwines into his novels. I have already pre-ordered this book.
I have been waiting patiently for this third book in The Liberation Trilogy to be published. Book one, An Army at Dawn, won the Pulitzer Prize and book two, The Day of Battle, was equally impressive. Where the first two books focused on World War II in North Africa and Italy, this book will focus on Western Europe during the last two years of World War II. Atkinson's writing is delivered in a way that is easy to read and is so entertaining that it reads like fiction. I have already pre-ordered this book.
Barbecue is one of my favorite dishes. This book promises to be the comprehensive book on Texas BBQ, highlighting restaurants and pitmasters across the state. The author, Daniel Vaughn, was just recently named the BBQ editor for Texas Monthly (I wish I would have known they had an opening, because this guy would have been perfect for the job). I am such a fat kid, I even like reading about food. My ordering this book and blogging about it should be seen as a cry for help. I have already pre-ordered this book as well.
Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, still stands out as one of the most memorable books I have read in the last ten years. I also enjoyed his second novel, A Thousand Splendid Sons. And the Mountains Echoed promises to be an intercontinental character study of family dynamics.
