Lush Library discussion

There are so many books that I would recommend that I think it's easier to break the threads down. What books are the top 3 books you read of the year (any books they don't have to be published recently

I recently read The Help and here's what I put on the IF forum thread - The Help is set in 60's Mississippi. It is written from the perspective of 3 protagonists - 2 are African American help and the other has been raised with/by help.
I couldn't help but see similarities to the helpers in Hong Kong. My brother has a full time helper and i read the book just before going to Scotland to see him while he is visiting (with his family and helper) from Hong Kong. I loaned it to my sis in Law and she read it in one sitting. I wish I'd had the chance to discuss her thoughts from the perspective of any employer of a full time helper.
It is a beautiful, thought provoking book and I can't imagine anyone not liking it.

I have read so many amazing books this year it's hard to just pick 3, but I think they would be:

How Green was my Valley by Richard Llewellyn - One of the most beautifully-written books I have ever read. It's almost like poetry, and I kept having to stop and mull it over every so often.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini - I can't think why I waited so long before reading this. One of those books that just grabs your heart and you know you're going to love it for ever.

Earth Abides by George R Stewart - I love my apolalyptcs and this is the most epic one I've ever read. Wonderfully thought-out and believeable.

I shall come back to this when I've decided what the other ones will be, but I read Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie in October last year and it is beautiful. A bit far fetched but lovely. :)

I shall go and add it to my shelf now, another excuse to used the bar code scanner. Whoot!

My top three from the books I've read this year would be:





and



I liked them for different reasons, but I think they all have a certain charm about them. The central relationship in Vaclav and Lena is beautifully depicted, and utterly heartwrenching. I liked how the events were depicted from the perspective of russian emigres, too...I felt it really gave me a new angle on things.

The Night Circus I felt was truly atmospheric in the best sort of way. It had me absorbed from start to finish, and I really adore fantasy that makes me feel transported.

I'd been wanting to read A Tiny Bit Marvellous for a long time, and I'm glad I finally did this summer. It's warm and funny, utterly typical in its depiction of family life, and wonderfully written. Chapters are narrated from the perspective of three different characters, and I loved how she'd managed to give them all a perfectly unique voice. And, of course, it's wonderful how Dad emerges quite suddenly from the background to become the perfect family hero.

hm, this is an older thread, but I just can't resist.

it's really hard for me to narrow favourites down, and lots of books I love I re-read, but new favourites from the last months for me are:



the Crimson Petal and the White was an amazing read, I just couldn't put it down, my edition was really heavy despite being a paperback, but I just raced through it, even though I got more and more achy and uncomfortable as time and the novel progressed.
it's such an unusual book, a period piece without the romanticising of that period or any of the characters, none of them are perfect, everyone is flawed in their own way. it's gritty and dark and yucky in places and I found the characters, Sugar especially, really captivating.

The Night Circus was just gorgeous, it took me a little to get into it, but the beautiful detail and the wonderful ideas in it made me wish I could visit Le Cirque des Reves myself. by the end the book had turned me into a complete and utter reveur.
I also adored that the author stated in her afterword that she was very influenced by bpal, I think it really shows in her vivid descriptions and her many mentions of scents.

with the last one I'm really miffed that it doesn't seem to have been translated into english yet. if it was I would bug all of you until you read it. I think the original is serbian, I read a german translation and it's just wonderful.
my literal translation of the german titel is "The Villa at the Edge of Time" and it's about books and people who love to read and who love books. an important part of the story is that there are certain people who can (naturally or by learning to do it) sort of read themselves into a book and interact there with others who read the same book at the same time.
I know jasper fforde in his thursday next series and cornelia funke in the inkheart-trilogy have done something like this as well but this author takes it even further.
it's full of gorgeous detail and rich characters and it was such a pleasure to read.

I also loved American Gods, and an author I love who I've discovered fairly recently is Sarah Addison Allen