On Such a Full Sea by Chang-Rae Lee
I was absolutely hooked on this novel from the first chapter. From the unreliable narrator to the plucky, mystifying heroine, this world had me in it's grip and didn't let go. It was surprising to me that the writing was so good - I don't often include genre fiction in the same category as literary fiction. This was a fascinating blending of the two. As such, it was at times not as plot-heavy as some genre readers might want, but I found myself completely enthralled. The ending was heartbreaking and yet hopeful, with plenty of unanswered questions to keep readers thinking after the last page had been turned. Another that could definitely be on my list of favorites this year.
