I'm a bit late with my personal "Best of" list, but I read SO many wonderful books last year that I've decided to break it up into genre categories. First up will be historical fiction. Some of these are crossover books that could easily fit in other genres as well, and some were released pre-2011. I've included review links if I wrote a review and clicking the cover will take you to the Goodreads page.
Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch
I've found that a lot of "award winners" don't live up to expectations, but this Man Booker-nominated title was all that and a bag of chips!
Review snippet:
The first part of this story is delightful in places, but if all this tale was about was a poor boy's tale of working with animals during the day and in a tavern at night, unrequited young love, and an at-times antagonistic burgeoning friendship, the storyline would have quickly become stale.
The whaling adventures and misadventures, a heartbreaking tragedy at sea, and a tale of desperation brought about by starvation - THIS is where I see how this novel is deserving of a Man Booker Prize. Impeccable pacing brings the reader into the choppy sea, in one of a pair of flimsy lifeboats, after the Lysander is capsized.
The whaling adventures and misadventures, a heartbreaking tragedy at sea, and a tale of desperation brought about by starvation - THIS is where I see how this novel is deserving of a Man Booker Prize. Impeccable pacing brings the reader into the choppy sea, in one of a pair of flimsy lifeboats, after the Lysander is capsized.
The Very Thought of You by Rosie Alison
Good writing alone doesn't cut it for me; the story has to be compelling as well. Shortlisted for the Orange Prize, this poignant, often sad story definitely hit the mark.
Review snippet:
If you're looking for a "feel good" story, this one may not be for you; there are some sad happenings here. If you're looking for a story that makes you feel for the characters, where you find yourself rooting for someone even though you know that, technically, what they're doing is at least morally ambiguous - in other words, if you want a story that feels like real-life, with all of its twists and foibles, pick this one up.
Drood by Dan Simmons
I love Dan Simmons - I don't think I've ever picked up one of his books and NOT at least really, really, liked it. This fictionalized account of Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins and their unravelling friendship was no exception.
Review snippet:
If you like twisting, brooding, gothic, Dickensian types of mystery where the answers aren't always clear, mysteries that make you think and use your own imagination, you MUST have this one on your shelf. I was totally drawn in almost from the first, and fascinated by this fictionalized account of Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens (as well as Drood, in this novel the basis for Dicken's unfinished The Mystery of Edwin Drood). There really were people who were so poor that they relegated themselves to living in the sewer systems of London and Paris.
Small Acts of Amazing Courage by Gloria Whelan
This tale of coming-of-age in colonial India is geared towards middle readers, but this adult reader liked it very much!
Review snippet:
I would also honestly recommend it for teachers, parents, and home schoolers, as it gives an understandable and compelling overview of the events that precipitated India's independence, all told from the point of view of a young girl with a good heart.
The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma
This tale involving three interconnected stories revolving around H. G. Wells was a WONderful read.
Review snippet:
To avoid spoilers, I can't really supply a synopsis, as the way the book unfolds leaves the reader wondering about this and that until the questions are answered with further reading. There is a rather Victorian feel to this novel and readers of Steampunk would like it, even though there aren't gears and steam-powered contraptions :). The translation of Palma's work seems to be spot on, and even though the novel is BIG (the ARC weighed in at 609 pages), it is so enjoyable to read that the pages seem to fly by.
FAVE OF THE YEAR:
Galore by Michael Crummey
Another award winner (International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award Nominee (2011), Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book in Caribbean and Canada (2010), Canadian Authors Association Literary Award), and so well-deserved!
Review snippet:
This sweeping tale will pull you right in, and, just as in real life, the good guys don't always win. My only quibble with this is that I'd hoped for a different ending, but after I thought about it, I realized that the ending was actually fitting and true to the rest of the novel.
A marvelous, epic, horizon-broadening tale, Galore is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction, drama, and the bonds of family and friends.
Have you read and/or reviewed any of these? What did YOU think? Feel free to leave a link to your review(s) in the comments and let me know if I can add them to the review links for each book!
Review snippet:
This sweeping tale will pull you right in, and, just as in real life, the good guys don't always win. My only quibble with this is that I'd hoped for a different ending, but after I thought about it, I realized that the ending was actually fitting and true to the rest of the novel.
A marvelous, epic, horizon-broadening tale, Galore is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction, drama, and the bonds of family and friends.
4 comments:
I like the idea of dividing the best of list into categories. I might do that this year :)
I think we have a lot of the same "tastes" in books. I have a number of these books on my Wish List, but unfortunately I haven't had a chance to read any of them yet. I've seen mixed reviews for The Map of Time.
Seems like wonderful book. They are certainly going on my TBR list.
http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
@Man of la Book - Zohar, with what I can tell of your reading taste, I definitely recommend Galore as one that you will love
@nfmgirl - I was surprised at some of the mixed reviews for The Map of Time - I think the Victorian style of the writing may have put some people off. I'm a big fan of the narrator sometimes addressing the reader directly (as in The Book Thief), and this device was used as well. Maybe because the book leans to the more "literary" rather than quick sound bytes it turns off a casual reader. I don't know, but I loved it and flew through it.
@Mary (Bookfan) - I read SO many books last year that I felt I kind of had to break it into genres to highlight them all.
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