UK Book Club discussion

As we're getting scarily close to the end of the year, I thought it might be time to ask, what were your favourite reads of 2010?

The books I couldn't put down in 2010 (in no particular order....)

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Troubles by J.G. Farrell
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Mudboundby Hillary Jordan
Perfume: The Story of a Murdererby Patrick Süskind
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

Cloud Atlas

This year I was introduced to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. Unfortunately, nothing else compares and my reading has been very unsatisfying ever since. Seven big, fat, bricks of books which you just can't get enough of. Fabulous historical fiction, twists and turns and a brilliant leading man that you just can't help falling in love with and you just want your own one!! I am just waiting patiently for the next one as it didn't end there. Has anyone else enjoyed them this year? Does anyone have any recommendations along these lines?

The Lacuna
Invisible
Eleven Kinds of Loneliness
Norwegian Wood
South of the Border, West of the Sun
The Garden Party and Other Stories
The Penguin Dorothy Parker

There are probably more but all of the above were absolutely stunning.

Lisa wrote: "This year I was introduced to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. Unfortunately, nothing else compares and my reading has been very unsatisfying ever since. Seven big, fat, bricks of books which y..."

Why not tryLady of Hay and any other Barbara Erskine, a friend of mine love Gabaldon and always recommends Barbara Erskine as a similar type of read.

jo wrote: "The Lacuna
Invisible
Eleven Kinds of Loneliness
Norwegian Wood
South of the Border, West of the Sun

There are probably more bu..."

So you like Murakami? - keep meaning to try him - another author for 2011...

I've read alot of good books this year, I think the ones that stand out for various reasons are...

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber a detailed, immersive book that plunges you into the Victorian streets of London.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy, bleak, dark post apocolyptic story infused with the love between father and son and utterly beautiful writing.
Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy, a classic story, well drawn characters that jump from the page and a wonderful story, very evocative of rural life in Victorian England.
A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood, achieves so much in a short novella, this story has stayed with me months after finishing it.
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel another historical novel, this time plunging you into the tudor court and the life of Thomas Cromwell, a fantastic imagining of an historical figure and full of detail.
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, a gripping young adult trilogy, I found them to be worthy of the hype surrounding them and highly recommend having a look at these.
Persuasion by Jane Austen, my new favourite Austen, the best heroine of all Austen in my opinion!

I haven't read the Outlander books, although I'm tempted seeing how much you seem to have enjoyed them Lisa!

Thanks Jo I'll definitely add them to my 'to read' list.

Hi Em. Everyone I have recommended them to has also become addicted so hopefully you will enjoy them as well. I would love to hear how you find them if you decide to give them a try. Lisa x

My favorite book of the year so far (and I only have time for maybe one more) is definitely The Crow Road by Iain Banks.

Liz wrote: "jo wrote: "The Lacuna
Invisible
Eleven Kinds of Loneliness
Norwegian Wood
South of the Border, West of the Sun

There are proba..."
I adore Murakami, I honestly believe that he is the greatest author of his generation, his writing is sublime.

Lisa wrote: "Thanks Jo I'll definitely add them to my 'to read' list."
no probs , enjoy

Em wrote: "I've read alot of good books this year, I think the ones that stand out for various reasons are...

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber a detailed, immersi..."

I loved the Crimson Petal and the White

I think you'll love South of the Border, West of the Sun, can't wait for 1Q84 due out Sept next year i think.

My favourite books of the year has got to be The Riddler's Gift and Second Sight: Second Tale of the Lifesong by Greg Hamerton but there have been a number of other brilliant books I picked up this year:

- The Collector by John Fowles
- This Proud and Savage Land by Alexander Cordell
- Jumble Tales by Steve Morris
- Erich's Plea by Tracey Alley
- The Book by M. Clifford
- The Disaster by John Summers
- Beasts of New York: A Children's Book for Grown-Ups by Jon Evans
- Southcrop Forest by Lorne Rothman
- Necronomicon: The Best Weird Tales of H.P. Lovecraft by H.P. Lovecraft
- The Godfather by Mario Puzo

and there's still a load I gave five stars that I haven't listed (maybe I'm too generous...uhmmmm)!

Fiona wrote: "Me neither... I hate waiting when it's already out in other countries. At least we have the Norwegian Wood film to look forward to on the 18th of March."
I know, it seems to be getting good reviews, have watched the trailer looks rather wonderful. Tony Takitani was a great film and worked wonderfully well.

I have read a few exceptional books this year;
2 by Shona MacLean, The Redemption of Alexander Seaton and the sequel A Game of Sorrows
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Owlkillers by Karen Maitland
One Day by David Nicholls
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
A Hard Death by Jonathan Hayes
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy

There have also read some incredibly dire books, But I won't bore you with my moans and groans

My highlights were:
The Day of the Triffids - John Wyndham
Wolf Hall - Hillary Mantel
One Day - David Nicholls
Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

Sam wrote: "My favourite books of the year has got to be The Riddler's Gift and Second Sight: Second Tale of the Lifesong by Greg Hamerton but there have been a number of other brilliant books I picked up this year...
...there's still a load I gave five stars that I haven't listed (maybe I'm too generous...uhmmmm)! "

I guess we each have our own system. I am positively stingey with my stars!

Chris wrote: "I have read a few exceptional books this year;
2 by Shona MacLean, The Redemption of Alexander Seaton and the sequel A Game of Sorrows
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Owlkillers by Karen Maitland....

...There have also read some incredibly dire books, But I won't bore you with my moans and groans"

Oh, but do tell, which did you find dire???? ;)

Liz wrote: "Sam wrote: "My favourite books of the year has got to be The Riddler's Gift and Second Sight: Second Tale of the Lifesong by Greg Hamerton but there h..."

I try to be but when I actually start reviewing a book I start talking myself into giving them more stars. It seems I like a book more once I've reviewed it, it's all very bizarre!

Has to be: Men I've Loved Before and Kiss Heaven Goodbye for me.

Has to be The Marrowbone Marble Company by M. Glenn Taylor and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

These will stay with me for a long while.

One of my favourite reads of 2010 was an older book by master author Naguib Mahfouz The Cairo Trilogy: Palace Walk; Palace of Desire; Sugar Street I had read one of the books maybe 15 years ago but enjoyed it even more in the context of the trilogy; I read it on vacation on Islay and couldn't put it down.

Sam wrote: "Liz wrote: "Sam wrote: "My favourite books of the year has got to be The Riddler's Gift and Second Sight: Second Tale of the Lifesong by Greg Hamerton..."

Just catching up on this thread and I read your comment about liking a book more once you've reviewed it. Much the same seems to happen to me! The more I think about a book, the more I appreciate it - on the whole!

Surprisingly I would have to go for The Day of the Triffids. Close runners up goes to Wolf Hall and One Day.

I would say, The Kite Runner, One Day and Broken were my favourites this year and will be thinking about those a little while more...

Mine were definitely Room and Shades of Atlantis

Some favourites from my 2010 readings -

The Year of the Flood
Our Man in Havana
Dark Fire
City of Thieves
Pied Piper
Child 44
The Road
Matter
The Guns of August

This is a good question! I was kind of thinking that it hadn't been my best year in reading. My count was down from 2009 -- I sort of slowed way down when I took up tango lessons over the summer and I wasn't finding any really enthralling books. But upon review, there were some highlights:

The Elephant Keeper

The Leisure Seeker: A Novel

The Belly of Paris (Les Rougon-Macquart, #3) (I am trying to work my way through the entire Rougon-Macquart series)

and a quartet of sci fi novels I absolutely tore through, but I don't really talk about my sci fi addiction because it is often greeted with snickers...

We wouldn't laugh Karen!!

Well I wouldn't anyway, I was indoctrinated by Dad from an early age and although I watch more than I read I am planning to read some of Doris Lessings scifi books and the new Iain M Banks.

Karen, I go to a sci fi and fantasy bookclub at my local waterstones, and there are some great characters who meet up, you should have seen us dressed up as characters at our Nov meeting!

Karen wrote: "But upon review, there were some highlights:

The Elephant Keeper

The Leisure Seeker: A Novel

The Belly of Paris (Les Rougon-Macquart, #3) (I am trying to work my way through the entire Rougon-Macquart series)

and a quartet of sci fi novels I absolutely tore through, but I don't really talk about my sci fi addiction because it is often greeted with snickers... ..."

I like the sound of The Elephant Keeper, I've added it to my To Read list.

Very impressed you're working your way through Émile Zola - I keep meaning to read La Bête humaine and Germinal, but it hasn't happened yet...

And if you're reading Zola, I'm not surprised you're fitting in some Sci-Fi. Hey, we all need a guilty pleasure and variety is said to be the spice of life!

Lynne wrote: "Karen, I go to a sci fi and fantasy bookclub at my local waterstones, and there are some great characters who meet up, you should have seen us dressed up as characters at our Nov meeting!"
Hi Lynne
Surely you didn't go as a 'night nurse'!!?
Just me being daft again!!
All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer]

No Paul, although I sometimes have to go in my uniform if I have to got to work straight afterwards I did not go as a night nurse!

I went as a very sexy witch actually!

Hi Lynne,
Never thought I'd live to say I was jealous of a broom stick!! Don't worry, it's just I'm at a funny age!
All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer]

My favourite reads from 2010 include...

The Blue Fox by Sjon
Atonement by Ian McEwan
A Month in the Country by J L Carr
The Magic Apple Tree by Susan Hill
Emma by Jane Austen
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Leah wrote: "My favourite reads from 2010 include...

The Blue Fox by Sjon
Atonement by Ian McEwan
A Month in the Country by J L Carr
The Magic Apple Tree by Susan Hill
Emma by Jane Austen
To Kill A Moc..."

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favourites.

Some of my favourite reads were:
The Redemption of Alexander Seaton
A Game of Sorrows
The Owl Killers
The Help
Someone Knows My Name

The City & The City was definitely my favourite book of 2010. No idea if it was published last year, but that's when I read it ;)

Rachel

Andy wrote: "Leah wrote: "My favourite reads from 2010 include...

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favourites.

I can't believe it took me so long to get round to To Kill a Mockingbird. I think I always believed I had read it because it is so well known and we did do passages at school. So glad to have rectified it now.

Hi,
Alright, this is a little 'tounge in cheek'. All of you into reading about 'killing birds', mocking or otherwise, check out 'The Day the Ravens Died'.
I suppose you would descibe it as an 'action thriller', O.K., I wrote it but I dare put it beside anyones work of a similar nature. How much of it is fiction?, why don't you decide. I'll just say this, you will never look at a slurry tanker in the same way again.
All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer]

Love the plug Paul! And readers, its true about the tankers! I cringed everytime when I over took them after I first read the book, and still think about the book even now when I see a tanker lorry!

Hi Lynne,
thank you for the support. I'm glad you enjoyed it, I just wish more readers would 'take the plunge' and read more 'Indies'. Not randomly picked out of the ether, but ones recommended by other readers and authors, many here on goodreads.
You really are missing out on some cracking books by concentrating on a dieing mainstream.
All the best Paul Rix [oldgeezer]

Fiction
East of Eden - John Steinbeck
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer
Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
The Road - Cormac McCarthy
The Unbearable Lightness of Being - Milan Kundera

Non-Fiction
In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences - Truman Capote
Not on the Label - Felicity Lawrence
Shopped: The Shocking Power of British Supermarkets - Joanna Blythman

Disappointments
The Corrections - Jonathan Franzen