Cornflower Blues 2012 - the best of the best

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« Cornflower Blues 2012 - the books of the year, part 2 | Main | Inspired madness: Tinder Press & 'ones to watch' in 2013 »

Cornflower Blues 2012 - the best of the best

John Saturnall's Feast and The End of Your Life Book Club: one novel, one memoir, two books which are 'the best of the best' I've read this year.

Take a bow, then, Lawrence Norfolk and Will Schwalbe; your work has engaged the brain and touched the heart, provided a stimulating literary delight on the one hand, and on the other, a very moving personal story which will resonate with anyone to whom books matter. Thankyou, gentlemen!

11 December 2012 in Biography and memoir, Cornflower Blues - books of the year, Historical fiction, Period/historical fiction | Permalink

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I haven't read Will Schwalbe's book (yet) but I absolutely agree about John Saturnall's Feast. A superb read, and heartily recommended. Though watch out for quaking blancmanges!

Posted by: Kit Berry | 11 December 2012 at 09:24 PM

'John Saturnall's Feast' is a book of the year for me and I'll remember it a long time. A great mix of historical / fantasy / cooking ; an unlikely combination. The story involved me effortlessly. As I wrote in another blog entry, thanks for the recommendation Cornflower - it's these hidden gems that make the blog so good for me.

Posted by: Sandy | 11 December 2012 at 10:07 PM

Just want to say thanks for all your 2012 favourite reads. I bookmarked them and will keep as reference.

Posted by: claire | 11 December 2012 at 11:25 PM

Ooh thank you - I haven't even heard of those two books - they are going straight on the TBR pile!

Posted by: Gemma | 12 December 2012 at 07:11 AM

The End of Your Life Book Club was my favorite non-fiction book of the year as well -- thank you for bringing it to my attention! I've added John Saturnall's Feast to my wishlist as well as The Music Room and Mrs. Robinson's Disgrace and hope to get to them in the upcoming year. Could it be coincidence that when I went to Amazon to add in some of these that many were "order soon, only x left in stock" -- or could it be the power of the "virtual Cornflower blue" award? :)
I so appreciate all the reviews!

Posted by: Susan in TX | 12 December 2012 at 01:28 PM

On your recommendations, which I read avidly, I borrowed both John Saturanll's Feast and The End of Your Life Book Club from my local library. For one the wait was so very worhtwhile but the other I did not enjoy. Lawrence Norfolk and I may not become best friends! My dislike of fantasy was sufficient to make this a hard read but I thoroughly enjoyed William Schwalbe and would like a copy for my own shelves. Definitely a "read-again"

Posted by: Margaret Stedman | 12 December 2012 at 09:50 PM

Couldn't agree more and thank you, Cornflower,for bringing both of them to my attention.
Keep up the great work in 2013.

Posted by: LizF | 13 December 2012 at 10:27 AM

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