I’ve picked out some highlight reads from 2023 – these are books that have stayed with me to the extent I’d consider re-reading them, something I rareI’ve picked out some highlight reads from 2023 – these are books that have stayed with me to the extent I’d consider re-reading them, something I rarely do.
Five Decembers A book written in 2021 that felt like it was written seventy years earlier. A tale of war, of loss, of excruciating search and all topped off with a brilliant ending. This book absolutely captured me and just may be my favourite book of the year.
The Shards Is it a biographical tale – a shocking one – or a piece of fiction? Maybe a bit of both. I really wasn’t sure. Whatever, it grabbed me hard and shocked me like no other story I’ve read in years. It’s strong stuff, but unmissable in my view.
Small Mercies The author of two of my favourite mystery novels (Shutter Island & Mystic River) is back and bang on form. Set in and around the housing projects in the south of Boston, it’s a tale merging history – a controversial ruling aimed at desegregating the city’s public high school – with a poignant story concerning a missing girl. Lehane brings it all to life in a book that rivals his very best.
Elon Musk The author is my favourite biographer. It’s clear how much effort he’s invested in his research and just how much time he spent with Musk. Like him or not, there’s no denying that Elon is an interesting man, with an impressive list of achievements. An eye-opening tome.
Return to Valetto A beautifully told tale set in an extraordinary location in Italy. There’s a mystery here and some re-telling of historical events too, but most of all it’s just a wonderful story full of interesting characters. I was unbelievably sad to finish this book and say goodbye to them all.
A Bird in Winter From the author of the excellent Apple Tree Yard comes this spare and sometimes bleak, but never boring tale of a woman who ran away. From what or from whom readers will have to discover for themselves. Vivid, remorseless and hugely touching. A terrific story, brilliantly told.
Three O'Clock in the Morning A slim novel in which a father and son visit a foreign city to see a doctor who might be able to treat the son’s medical condition. Nothing of any dramatic consequence really happens; at heart it’s a rumination on their relationship, a journey of self-discovery and of bonding. It’s a very affecting tale, it caused me to ruminate on my relationships with both my father and with my own son.
My thanks to all I’m connected to in the Goodreads community. Happy reading in 2024!...more
A bit like my music tastes – where I think I’m stuck somewhere south of 2015 - I find myself revisiting authors I’m familiar with and have been readinA bit like my music tastes – where I think I’m stuck somewhere south of 2015 - I find myself revisiting authors I’m familiar with and have been reading for years. A quick glance through the books I’ve read this year throws up familiar names such as:
James Lee Burke Donna Leon Lawrence Block John Sandford Michael Connelly Ian Rankin Chris Hammer Robert Crais Jeffery Deaver Peter May John Grisham Nelson DeMille Lee Goldberg
Those are just the crime fiction writers, but in broader terms I’ve also re-visited some other old favourites:
Deborah Levy Haruki Murakami Paul Theroux William Boyd Emily St. John Mandel
I’ve enjoyed all the books written by my existing fav’s but here are a few stand out books from writers I’ve spent less time with:
So, 80 books this year and as usual it’s a mix of the printed (and electronic) page and audio. This year the mix is somewhat slanted towards the formeSo, 80 books this year and as usual it’s a mix of the printed (and electronic) page and audio. This year the mix is somewhat slanted towards the former for two reasons:
1) We lost our beloved dog Barney in the middle this year and the walking time is/was a key element in my listening to audio. 2) I haven’t run as much this year – another lost opportunity.
My staple diet is, and always has been, crime fiction but I’ve always added a decent mix of contemporary literary fiction, a dab of science fiction and some non-fiction too.
As usual, a portion of my reading has been taken up by grabbing new books from authors I consider old friends – writers whose books I routinely read and probably always will. These include: Paul Theroux, James Lee Burke, Haruki Murakami, John Boyne, John Sandford, Michael Connelly, Ian Rankin and Donna Leon. To this list I’ve added some authors I’ve recently enjoyed enough to want to gobble up their future output (well, at least for a while): Lisa Taddeo, Lee Goldberg and Chris Hammer amongst them.
But I’ll restrict my reflections here on only those books that have made a significant impact on me (and those that stick in the memory for less positive reasons).
Crime fiction
The Dark Remains– Rankin and McIlvanney team up to produce in a tough Glasgow Noir classic. Billy Summers– Stephen King proves he can write effectively in any genre he chooses. Porno Valley– Ageing PI takes on his final case on the seedy streets of LA.
The Last Migration– A wanderer follows Arctic Terns on (perhaps) their final long voyage. Under the Wave at Waimea– Theroux takes a lot of pages to tell his tale, but like a great meal – why rush it. Animal– Absorbing, complex and visceral. Palace of the Drowned– Mysterious, engrossing and set in my favourite city.
Science Fiction Meet Me in Another Life– Not a tale of time travel (of which I’m a big fan) but of reincarnation. Project Hail Mary– On a par with The Martian, which means it’s top notch from top to bottom.
From an author new to me
The Woman from Uruguay – A short, engaging story following two would-be lovers through the course of a single day. The Favour– A literary thriller that held me captive throughout.
Audiobook
A Bright Ray of Darkness – My favourite book of the year, the audio version brilliantly narrated by the author. Powerful is just too small a word.
Strangest
The Echo Chamber– Such a departure from anything I’d previously read from this author. At first I found it somewhat odd and unsettling but it really grew on me.
Most Disappointing
The Chaos Kind– Muddled, over populated and over-engineered effort from a writer I much admire. The Every – Disappointing follow-up to The Circle World Travel: An Irreverent Guide – Published after the author’s death and with scant input from him. A confused concept.
In 2022 I am already looking forward to novels from James Lee Burke, Donna Leon and Emily St. John Mandel. In addition I’ll be saying hello to a new puppy – Teddy – so my walking/audio listening will hopefully get back on track. Let’s hope too that the pandemic threat recedes somewhat, if not altogether. I’m optimistic the year will prove to be an improvement on 2021 – I hope it works out that way. Here’s wishing you all the very best in the next twelve months, be safe and happy reading!...more
Just short of 100 books this year, which is about where I am most years. As always, a mix of text and audio, probably 50/50, and with possibly more noJust short of 100 books this year, which is about where I am most years. As always, a mix of text and audio, probably 50/50, and with possibly more non-fiction than normal, particularly history.
I tend to listen to non-fiction, particularly anything likely to be dense with detail as I like the option to let the information ‘settle’ with minimum effort. To read books and collections of lectures running to a thousand pages or more would not work for me, but somehow listening to the same material does. The English and their History was 45 hours of audio and Great Courses - The History of the United States, 2nd Edition 43 hours – both were amongst my favourites this year.
My other non-fiction books were a mix of bios, travel/photography books and, my second area for some focus this year, stories concerning American tech companies. It’s not that I’m a very technical person myself (I’m really not) it’s just that I’m interested in how these companies manage to generate such huge sums of money: Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future and We Were Yahoo were terrific but Uncanny Valley just felt like the ramblings of a disconnected employee.
Crime fiction always represents a decent chunk of my books in any given year. This time I read great books from old favourites (James Lee Burke, Michael Connelly, Donna Leon, Lawrence Block, Robert Crais, Reed Farrel Coleman and Craig Russell) but also some from authors new, or relatively new, to me. I've listed the best of these below: These Women by Ivy Pochoda Mother May I: A Novel by Joshilyn Jackson The Abstainer by Ian McGuire Lost Hills (Eve Ronin #1) by Lee Goldberg
I've continued to dabble with literary fiction and whilst The Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier won't be everyone's cup of tea, no book has stayed with me longer (thank you Kat for the recommendation). And Trio by William Boyd was another tour de force from this stellar writer.
The best short story collection I read was simple, The Awkward Black Man by Walter Moseley is perhaps the strongest collection I’ve ever picked up.
Most disappointing? Easily the much vaunted Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. Not only was this the worst book I read this year, it possibly included the weakest ending of any book I’ve ever read.
Honourable mentions to three books I’ve enjoyed but haven’t managed to fit in above: Heat in the Vegas Night by Jerry Reedy was an enjoyable true story about a group of rogue gamblers. Three Women by Lisa Taddeo is also a true story, this one being about the sex lives of three American women who were looking for something, found it and then realised it wasn’t all they’d hoped it would be. Box 88 a spy thriller by the excellent Charles Cumming
My thanks to those who have helped me find books, have supplied books or have simple shared their feelings on books I’ve read. Happy reading in 2021 ...more
86 books this year, which is pretty much in line with where I’ve been for the last couple of years. My fiction comprised a mix of crime fiction/myster86 books this year, which is pretty much in line with where I’ve been for the last couple of years. My fiction comprised a mix of crime fiction/mysteries/thrillers (which has always been my default genre), science fiction/time travel stories and contemporary literary novels. For non-fiction it was a combination of travel, history, a couple of brilliant autobiographies and some really intriguing photographic studies.
When it came to choosing my favourites, obviously my ratings provided a guide but there were a few that stood out because they’d just stuck in my mind. This longevity promoted them to my list despite my having awarded them slightly lower ratings. Anyway, here they are:
Ok, it’s time to share the good the bad and the ugly of my reading year. More of the former, I'm pleased to say, and I was delighted to stumble acrossOk, it’s time to share the good the bad and the ugly of my reading year. More of the former, I'm pleased to say, and I was delighted to stumble across some wonderful books from authors new to me. I loved some great books from old favourites too, particularly from crime fiction writers I return to again and again.
My sincere thanks to my Goodreads friend who have helped me track down endless books I'd have never otherwise identified by honestly sharing their thoughts on books they’ve read and enjoyed.
I'm not going to list these but there were four books I failed to finish this year. This, however, could be put down to my inability to see where the writer was coming from rather than any failure on the part of the author....more
Another year of reading and listening – some great books by authors I've known and trusted for years and plenty of good ‘uns from writers new to me. AAnother year of reading and listening – some great books by authors I've known and trusted for years and plenty of good ‘uns from writers new to me. And yes, I'm afraid a few (too many) duffers too. That's the way it rolls. Here's my personal highlights… and lowlights too.
Artemis Extracted The Boy on the Bridge Kings of America The Vanishing Game The improbability of Love Here I Am Armada Behind Closed Doors
My sincere thanks to the many friends on this site who have inspired me with their own choices and reviews and have stopped by to chat about the books I've read. I look forward to catching up with you again in 2018....more
It’s not quite the year-end, but it’s close enough. I’ve read/listened to 100 books so far this year and when I ran through the list to highlight thosIt’s not quite the year-end, but it’s close enough. I’ve read/listened to 100 books so far this year and when I ran through the list to highlight those that stuck in my mind (for good reasons and for bad) I found the total came to exactly half that number. Of the remainder, I’m sure I enjoyed most of them – it’s just that they didn’t prompt a particular reaction when I glanced, again, at the title.
A few reflections: - I think I should really seek to introduce more humour into my reading for 2017 - Several of my top reads were right at the start of the year, in January - I peaked early! - I’m not surprised that the largest category below is crime fiction/thrillers: it’s long represented my core diet - I found this site, once again, to be supremely helpful in unearthing some absolute gems I otherwise would have totally missed, so sincere thanks to my Goodreads friends for their inspiration and support!!
I know it’s an indulgence, but I’ve enjoyed viewing the lists posted by others and couldn’t resist a quick romp through my memorable (and not so memorI know it’s an indulgence, but I’ve enjoyed viewing the lists posted by others and couldn’t resist a quick romp through my memorable (and not so memorable) reads – and listens.
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