So, we're standing at the threshold of 2010, and it's that time of the year... Reflections, introspections, retrospections, that kind of thing. I'm feeling pretty annoyed with myself as I haven't done the hundred books I wanted to, this year, but, I have read some phenomenal books, and I thought I'd just list my favourite reads from the year gone by, which I highly recommend to everyone. They might not be books that will change your life, but, they will leave you with some food for thought - and, you might reach for the books every once in a while, just to re-read parts of the book that stand out immensely. I attempted doing a top ten list, but, there were about twenty-five names on that list, so I trimmed it, and pruned it, but, it was almost impossible to get it down to ten. Also, if they're all great books, should I really have to choose ten over the others? I think not...
So here they are, listed alphabetically, by author. There are twenty books listed below. Maybe after seeing some of them, you'll understand my dilemma.
- Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi – Half Of A Yellow Sun
- Burgess, Anthony – A Clockwork Orange
- Carter, Angela - The Magic Toyshop
- Christopher, John – The Death Of Grass
- Du Maurier, Daphne – My Cousin Rachel (Well, I loved Rebecca as well, but My Cousin Rachel edged it marginally)
- Fitzgerald, F. Scott – The Great Gatsby
- Goldman, William – The Princess Bride
- Harvey, Samantha – The Wilderness
- Huxley, Aldous – Brave New World
- Jones, Lloyd – Mr. Pip
- Marquez, Gabriel Garcia – News of a Kidnapping
- Mawer, Simon – Glass Room, The
- Mitchell, David – Number9Dream
- Murakami, Haruki – Norwegian Wood
- Roth, Philip – The Plot Against America
- Rushdie, Salman – Midnight’s Children
- Saint-Exupery, Antoine de – The Little Prince
- Smith, Dodie – I Capture The Castle
- Waters, Sarah – Fingersmith
- Zafon, Carlos Ruiz – The Shadow Of The Wind
Okay, so that's twenty! But, just trust me - the above twenty are great books which should definitely be read, for different reasons.
I've had an amazing reading year, and I look back fondly on almost all the books I've read*. Here's hoping 2010 is similar... as I sit and make my reading lists for the new year. Look out for that post (plus, three pending book reviews...)!
*There are exceptions, but in time, those will be deleted from the memory, with no backups whatsoever!