Five from fifty

  

      

      Fifty books read so far this year (I know, I'm a real slacker compared with some of you, and it doesn't sound that many, though it adds up to a lot of hours), and I've been keeping a list of the ones which are in the running for my 'books of the year' post in about six months' time.

     Of course, there may be huge competition in what's to be read over the coming weeks, but of the fifteen to have made the cut thus far, here are the first five. What are the criteria for inclusion on the master list? Some are there because they are impressive feats of writing, others because of the enjoyment they've given me, and some score on both counts.

Another ten to come in later posts, but let's begin with these from the start of the year:
Gil Adamson, The Outlander  - (more here).
Alan Bradley, The Sweetness at the Botom of the Pie  - (my impressions here).
Francesca Kay, An Equal Stillness - (thoughts on it here).
Amitav Ghosh, Sea of Poppies - (initial post).
Joyce Dennys, Henrietta's War - (no post proper as yet, just a quick mention).

Comments

[Ruth]

I love the tie-in with your CF blog. Glorious red poppy over there and "Sea of Poppies" here.

[Dark Puss]

Clearly if you are a "slacker" then I am terminally lazy! I expect to read about 50 novels this year in total. Not a single one of your books of the year have I read, which I suspect is greatly to my detriment. Oh well let us see which ones come up in the next five.

[Tara]

I'm just over 40 books read at this point; you're doing just fine! I'm impressed that you already have 15 books in the running for your books of the year post. I'm not sure why, but I certainly don't have that many yet!

[Erika]

Thanks for sharing your list now rather than waiting until the end of the year! No chance of catching up then when everyone is releasing their lists all at once...

[Lisa W]

Fifty books sounds pretty impressive to me, too. I've been looking forward to the rerelease of Henrietta's War, which I think I first heard of here.

[Samantha]

50 books! I wish. I think I am going to be struggling to get to 40 by mid year. I keep reading good things about The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and I had not heard about Henrietta's War (which I will have to rectify).

[Danielle]

You're not a slacker at all! I'm only at the 40 mark and it'll take me at least another month or so to hit 50. You've read some wonderful books--there are a couple here I've been 'meaning to read'! And I'm looking forward to getting one of the new Bloomsbury editions of Henrietta's War!

[Verity]

I loved an Equal Stillness, and am really looking forward to getting my hands on Henrietta's War.