RTW: Best Book of December

From YA Highway:

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question to write about on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This week's topic:  What was the best book you read in December?

Yawn.  It's been a long day.  First of all, really?  It's Wednesday?  Sure felt like a Monday, swamped at work, no lunch, brought work home, etc.  But the kids were rock stars this morning and we were EARLY to the bus stop, so I can't complain.

But I did maybe forget just a little bit that there was a Road Trip today.  Here goes:

December was what I like to call an awesome reading month.  I had challenged myself to read 12 books in the 12th month of 2012, which I didn't quite reach.  But I read nine - still a lot for me.

I read non-fiction, I read grown-up books, I re-read two of my favorites of 2012 (hardcover editions of RUBY RED and SAPPHIRE BLUE, given to me for Christmas by my wonderful children - how could I not re-read them?), I read disappointing books, I read good books, and I read one truly phenomenal book.

My best book of December was easily Lovely, Dark and Deep by Amy McNamara.

From goodreads:

A resonant debut novel about retreating from the world after losing everything—and the connections that force you to rejoin it.

Since the night of the crash, Wren Wells has been running away. Though she lived through the accident that killed her boyfriend Patrick, the girl she used to be didn’t survive. Instead of heading off to college as planned, Wren retreats to her father’s studio in the far-north woods of Maine. Somewhere she can be alone.

Then she meets Cal Owen. Dealing with his own troubles, Cal’s hiding out too. When the chemistry between them threatens to pull Wren from her hard-won isolation, Wren has to choose: risk opening her broken heart to the world again, or join the ghosts who haunt her.

 My goodreads review:

Lovely. Heartbreaking, hopeful, just lovely.

This was one of my favorite reads of the year.  I couldn't put it down.  

I'm not even really sure what to say about this book except that it made me want to be a better writer.

No.  Scratch that.

Reading this book reminded me that I already am that better writer.  Reminded me that writing is hard work.  Reminded me that I am capable of doing that hard work to write something as fragile and solid and permanent and beautiful as this book.  Reminded me that I can create lovely, heart-wrenching prose and beautiful, resonant, indelible images with my words; that I can emotionally entwine my readers in the inner life of my characters.

Reminded me that I have a story to tell.  Motivated me to go back to WAITING FOR THE SUN.  Gave me a fresh new perspective.  On the drive home from our vacation in Wisconsin, I made notes and captured ideas.  Tomorrow I start revisions.

What was the best book you read in December? And be sure to swing by Jaime's blog to check out her favorite read of the month and enter to win a copy of THE DIVINERS by Libba Bray!