Goodreads Choice Awards 2014 - Winners

So, the Goodreads Choice Awards have come to an end for another year and the winners have been announced. Time to take stock, look back and plan ahead. First, though, let's look at the winners.

Fiction

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

I haven't read this one, but it is on my TBR list for next year. I chose The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell, which I reviewed here.

Mystery and Thriller

Mr Mercedes by Stephen King

This was one of my top books of the year, a 5 star read, but not my choice for the win. That went to I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes, which is likely to be in my top three for the year. My review is here.

Historical Fiction

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Again, one I have read and could have chosen. My vote, though, went to The Invention of Wings, which appears to have come in second in the voting. I read The Invention of Wings towards the beginning of the year and loved it - a touching portrayal of two amazing women and the terrible price paid in the face of racism and sexism in turn of the century America. 

Fantasy

The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness

I haven't read any of this trilogy, but if memory serves it has won one or another of the fantasy categories over the past three years. I'm definitely adding all three books to my TBR list for next year. I personally chose Robin Hobb's return to the world of the Fitz and the Fool, Fool's Assassin, which came surprisingly low in the voting this year. Come on people! {grin} My review got lost in the shuffle but will be up on the blog in the next couple of days. 

Romance

Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon

Another series I have not read, but which I will be delving into in the new year. I didn't vote at all in this category as I hadn't read any of the books. 

Science Fiction

The Martian by Andy Weir

Yes! For the first time in this year's awards, one of my choices won! I loved The Martian, a fantastic, gripping, edge-of-your-seat sci-fi thriller. I never posted a review, but it is definitely high in my best of the year list. 

Horror

Prince Lestat by Anne Rice

Quite a let down as far as I'm concerned considering some of the books nominated in this category. My personal vote went to The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon, a chilling zombie novel that transcended the simple horror name as far as I'm concerned. You can find my review here. 

Humour

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Another of my personal choices, which wins this category!  A good memoir, very funny, which has made me want to seek out her work on Parks and Recreation. 

Nonfiction

The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan

Haven't read this one and it didn't particularly appeal when I read the blurb after the nominees came in. My personal vote went for No Place to Hide by Glenn Greenwald, a terrifying look at the NSA scandal started by Edward Snowden. This is probably one of the categories where I have added the most nominees to my TBR list for next year! 

Memoir & Autobiography

This Star Won't Go Out by Esther Earl

Another winner I haven't read and don't have any intention to do so. My personal choice - Life, Animated by Ron Suskin - came in almost last, which I find hard to believe considering both how heartbreaking and heartwarming this tale of a family learning to communicate with an autistic son through the magic of animated movies was.

History & Biography

The Romanov Sisters by Helen Rappaport

I haven't read this, but it will be going on my TBR list for next year. My vote went to The Good Spy by Kai Bird, which I reviewed here.

Business Books

#Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso

I tried to read this as part of my Goodreads read in preparation for the nominations, but could not get into it. I voted for a book I read back in the first part of the year, Flash Boys by Michael Lewis, which I recommend if you want to be absolutely terrified by the total craziness of the current financial system! 

Food & Cookbooks

Make It Ahead by Ina Garten

In this category, I concentrated more on the memoir-type books, so I didn't read the winner. I chose Sous-Chef, which is a high octane look at working in a professional kitchen, told cleverly in the second person. 

Graphic Novels & Comics

Serenity: Leaves on the Wind by Zack Whedon

Although I'm all for continuations of TV shows in graphic novel form, I haven't read Serenity: Leaves on the Wind for the simple reason that I have yet to actually finish Firefly or watch the movie this is a continuation of. I had voted for the runner-up in this category, Saga Volume 4. 

Poetry

Lullabies by Lang Leav

I may pick this up, though poetry isn't really my thing. Probably why I should give this a go. Haven't read any of these, so did not vote in this category. 

Debut Goodreads Author

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Although I loved Red Rising, I voted for it in Young Adult Fantasy and Sci-Fi. For Debut Goodreads Author I voted for The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh, which I reviewed here. 

Young Adult Fiction

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Yay, another of my choices wins the category! We Were Liars is a taut thriller, employing an excellent example of the unreliable narrator.

Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

Although I could have chosen this one, my vote ended up going to Red Rising, which I'm happy won for Best Debut. City of Heavenly Fire was nevertheless a fine conclusion to the Mortal Instruments series and I can't wait to see where Clare next takes this world. 

Middle Grade & Children's

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

I have only read the first of Riordan's initial series, so I am way behind in reading his books. I had read a couple of the books in this category during my catch-up, though, and I voted for The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare. In my mini-review, I called it an exciting, well-thought out Middle Grade fantasy that went beyond its obvious Harry Potter origins. 

Picture Books

The Pigeon Needs a Bath by Mo Willems

I didn't read any of these, though I may try and pick up this one for my son. 

So there we are. The official Goodreads Choice Awards 2014 Winners! Another great month, with many books read and enjoyed. I look forward to reading the other nominees that I have added to my TBR list next year, so you can expect to see quite a few of the books that were nominated at one point or another cropping up here on the blog in the new year. Roll on 2015! :)

What did you vote for? Let us know in the comments!