Once again, I’ve tried to spend every spare moment reading, and have reached a tally of 81 books completed in 2015 (possibly a couple more if I can get them done by Friday). I’ve read a few books this year that others raved about but I didn’t get at all – Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff being one and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline being another. I just got irritated by them both.
I also haven’t shied away from weightier tomes, two of which made a lasting impression on me and are included on my favourites list.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
I’ve already briefly mentioned this book before on my blog and I don’t think there’s really more I can add. Every now and again, I remember a little detail, or something about Jude St. Francis and want to cry. I was a bit intimidated by the length (720 pages ain’t no joke) but I am so pleased that I slogged through it. Not that I had a choice really – once Jude, Willem (Beautiful Willem!), JB, and Malcolm found their way into my heart, I couldn’t possibly have stopped reading. I will have to re-read it again.
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
One of the first books I read this year (and oddly not the only one about travelling performers). I love the dystopian setting, and found the writing very elegant, quiet, and subtle – I was completely sucked into the story from the beginning. I love how the writer wound each of the stories around each other. Just magical.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
I’m a little late to Donna Tartt’s work having been convinced to read The Secret History by Husband last year. I think I liked The Goldfinch even more. Another monster of a book (881 pages – oof), I loved reading every second and truly loved Theo despite all his flaws. I really hope they actually make the film adaptation (and make it well).
One More Thing by BJ Novak
I hate the UK cover of this book so held off buying it until I was in New York earlier this year (seriously – look at the beautiful cover above, and then click on the Amazon link. Why have we got crap?). Anyway, it was worth the wait, and I delighted in every one of BJ’s short stories. He’s a wonderful writer. My favourite, as I’m sure most people’s favourites is:
“If you love something, let it go. If you don’t love something, definitely let it go. Basically just drop everything, who cares.”
There were so many other books that have stayed with my this year but I didn’t give 5 stars to – A Man Called Ove, Why Not Me, All My Puny Sorrows, A Place Called Winter, Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl. I had thought that this year wasn’t that memorable but I did ok. Not sure what’s coming up next as nothing is grabbing me at the moment. I need to dig myself out of a bit of a rut.
untold blisses 