Next year I am hoping to increase the number of books I read so that my top 5 books will have more depth. Still, this year I did read 32 books some of which I have reviewed. And in no particular order here are my top 5:
I have been hearing about Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe for years and this is a classic that definitely lived up to the praise. As with two other classics (Frankenstein and The Call of the Wild), Things Fall Apart is not a very long book but it is so worth your time.
I am not a birder but H is For Hawk is a beautifully written memoir. I would advise you read this book in the audio version by the author Helen MacDonald. She reads her memoir with emotion and it adds to her story.
I loved The Outcasts by Sarah Stegall. The setting 1816 Lake Geneva Switzerland and how one stormy night in response to a challenge from Lord Byron, Mary Shelley conceives the idea for her classic novel Frankenstein. The story itself is interesting but in addition Sarah Stegall does a very good job of letting us know what Lord Byron, Dr. John Polodori, Claire Claremont and Percy and Mary Shelley may have been like and it rings true.
Many years ago I read Thomas Cook's Red Leaves and the book made a lasting impression on me. I was pleased to discover this year that Thomas Cook's The Last Talk With Lola Faye is equally memorable and I did not see the ending coming!
Hope everyone has a great Holiday Season and a Happy and Healthy New Year!
I have three of the books on your list and plan to read them, so that is good. (Things Fall Apart, H is for Hawk, and The Last Talk with Lola Faye). I also liked A Trick of the Light very much when I read it. Sounds like you had a good reading year.
ReplyDeleteHi Tracy, glad you have those 3 books and I hope you enjoy them. Next year I am hoping to read more books and really pay attention to quality because that way I will have a larger selection to choose from when I compile my top 5 or 10 book list.
ReplyDeleteA Trick of the Light is indeed excellent, as is the next book, The Beautiful Mystery. I plan to read H is for Hawk as I'm currently reading her Vesper Flights and it's so good. I've read just one book by Thomas H. Cook, The Chatham School Affair, which I thought was excellent. Must read more. Merry Christmas to you too, Kathy!
ReplyDeleteHi Cath, So glad to hear you read Thomas Cook's The Chatham School Affair and I would venture a guess that as with the books of his I have read its wonderfully written and doesn't end the way you think it is going to end. . His endings tend to be redemptive but bittersweet. Hope you and your family have a great Christmas !
DeleteThat's a nice variation in styles, genres, and eras for sure. I loved that Louise Penny book and am hoping to start The Last Talk with Lola Faye in the next few days because I'm fast reaching the point of "use it or lose it" on that one.
ReplyDeleteHi Sam, Louise Penny is great and I am committing to reading at least 3 more of her novels in 2024. I am thinking of what type of reading plan to design for myself in 2024. I am hoping the Back to the classics challenge comes back because it could be a pain trying to complete the 12 books I said I would read but it also gave my reading year structure.
DeleteThat's a nice mix of books! I haven't read any of them, though I'm very interested in reading the Thomas Cook one. Outcasts sounds really good, too. :D
ReplyDeleteHi Lark, it is a mix of books and I recommend all of them. I would say with H is for Hawk the writing is beautiful but it does help to be a birder. It's kind of fun thinking about reading plans for 2024 and I will be curious to hear what everyone has planned.
DeleteNice list! I still want to take another crack at H Is for Hawk. And I will do it by audio. I also have the book for backup. I know I'd love it if I could just get into the first 70 pages. It seems like such a story I'd like and sympathize with. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, what I would say about H is For Hawk is that I put it on my top 5 list because of the excellent writing. I was torn though because I am not a birder so I didn't get the most out of this book that others who are birder would. But the writing was superb and I felt therefore it should make the list.
DeleteIt is time for wrap-up the year posts--I like your approach of picking the top 5 as I can rarely go with just 1. I really need to read Things Fall Apart -- all three of my kids read this in high school and said how good it was, and yet it remains unread on my shelf. Yes, H is for Hawk is a wonderful book--I have the author's Vesper Flights and keep meaning to read it. Maybe this winter! And it is always a pleasure to spend time with the Gamaches in Three Pines. Wonderful set of top books--Happy Holidays to you and happy reading in the New Year.
ReplyDeleteNot sure why I cannot stay logged in, but the above comment is from me, JaneGS at Reading, Writing, Working, Playing.
DeleteHi JaneGS, I know what you mean I have to type in my user ID every time I want to reply. Never used to be that way.
DeleteI really recommend Things Fall Apart. I wasn't sure how I would feel about it before I read the book. But it's not over-hyped. It's a great classic that kept me interested throughout.
I'm thinking as important as best books we read at end of he year are it's also important to set a reading plan for 2024 and I want to go with a theme, possibly ancient Greek literature. Never read The Odyssey. Must go with a good translation.
JaneGS, Hope you and your family have A very Happy Holiday!
Delete