Time for me to inflict another list on you all and, as we near the end of 2009, I am casting an eye back on my reading for the year and coming up with my Random Reads of the Year. If you wish to refresh your memory, or read for the first time, my thoughts on these books then please click on the title and, hopefully, you should be magically transported to the right place. Did not work with every book on my Creme de la Crime list but this has now been rectified and, as I am now beginning to feel a bit of an expert on Typepad (ahem....) I feel sure that I will get it right this time. Fingers crossed....
Here they are in no particular order:
- Michael - E F Benson To say I was bowled over by this book is putting it mildly. After my discovery of Mapp and Lucia this profoundly moving book took me totally by surprise.
- Mr Perrin and Mr Trail - Hugh Walpole Another writer, about whom I knew nothing save that I used to shelve his books years ago when I worked in a library, and republished by Capuchin Press. Another story that knocked my socks off. The year had got off to a good start.
- Two People - A A Milne And another unexpected find and it is from Capuchin again. Delighted that this publishing house has made my list. An unexpected book from this author, not about Winnie and Tiger but the anatomy of a marriage and spot on.
- The Blue Hour - Lilian Pizzichini A biography of Jean Rhys which I read in one sitting appalled and infuriated in equal proportions. Some reviewers found the slightly lush style of writing not to their taste, but I enjoyed it and felt it suited the subject matter perfectly.
- An Autumn Sowing - E F Benson Yes, that man again! Another lucky find, another unknown book, another joy, moving and just so beautifully written. Out of print, sadly, but see if you can chase down a copy. You won't regret it.
- Henrietta's War - Joyce Dennys Oh what a joy this book is! Part of the new imprint the Bloomsbury Group which is so full of goodies. Will make you laugh and make you choke up as well.
- Henrietta Sees it through - Joyce Dennys Out of print but after reading Henrietta's War I tracked it down and bought a copy and it is as gorgeous as the first one. So fingers crossed this will be republished in the not too distant (and it looks like this is going to happen!)
- Sacred Hearts - Sarah Dunant Had seen this author's titles around in various places for some time, but for some reason, did not take to them. Why? I don't know. But I was offered this one for review by Virago and, as they never seem to do this very often, I snaffled it and was glad I did. As an ex-convent schoolgirl with a horror of enclosed orders, this book certainly hit home. Brilliant read.
- The Gift of Wings - Mary Henley Rubio A biography of Lucy Maud Montgomery, written by the co-editor of LMM's journals, and a truly riveting read. For those of us who think that Anne of Green Gables was written by a light hearted and happy woman, well think again. Read this and LMM's journals and be stunned.
- The Outlander - Gil Adamson A debut novel, set in the snowy wastes of Canada in the 19th century, telling the story of a girl who has murdered her husband and the relentless tracking of his brothers seeking revenge. Wonderfully written and descriptions of the snow and cold which make you shiver.
- Kisses on a Postcard - Terence Frisby Everyone who has read my post will know just how much I adored this book and so have thousands of others as I gather it has been reprinted twice which is great news. The best subscribed Free Book Draw I ever held as well! Lovely, lovely, lovely...
- Demobbed - Alan Allport Totally absorbing social history. Other historians have written in depth about the battles, politics of World War II. Alan Allport writes a fascinating book about the demobilization process and the effect it had on family life as soldiers eventually returned home from the war.
- Edith Wharton - Hermione Lee Written a couple of years ago but only read by me this year so it falls into my choices for 2009. In depth study of the life and writing of this Pulitzer prize winning author, I cannot imagine that this will be overtaken by another life for years to come - if ever.
- Charles Dickens - Michael Slater As with the Wharton biography, cannot imagine that this biography by Slater will ever be superseded. Focusing on Dickens the writer you will be left reeling at his prodigious output and his sheer energy. I simply loved it.
- To bed with Grand Music - Marghanita Laski Another Persephone gem and a book which was originally published under a pseudonym as the subject matter of this particular title, the Tart without a Heart who decided to enjoy her war, was pretty contentious stuff at the time of its publication, post WWII. Dovetails nicely with Demobbed in that this story reflects one of the problems faced by men when returning from the forces and finding their wives had not been quite so stay at home as they thought. Pretty tough stuff.
- The Queen's Knight - Martyn Downer A latecomer to the Random Books of the Year Ball as I only read it last week, this title being another of those books I have had for about a year but only just read. Biography of Sir Howard Elphinstone, who joined the court of Queen Victoria as a governor and guide to Prince Arthur and ended up as one of her most trusted and loved courtiers.
My find of the year - this is not necessarily a new author or a new writer, but one who is new to me. Last year I discovered the world of Mapp and Lucia and fell in love with EF Benson who is an extraordinary writer of a vast amount of books of a diverse nature as you will see from my list above. My other discovery, and I do sometimes wonder why I have waited so long to read this author, is P G Wodehouse. One day, for reasons I know not, I picked up a Jeeves paperback found in a charity shop and started to read. That was it. Totally hooked, reduced to snorting laughter and weeping with mirth on many occasions, the knowledge that I still have about 80 to read gives me a nice warm glow in my tummy. A couple of posts on Plum you may like to revisit, here and here.
All in all a really good year. The books I have listed were the stand out ones for me, but I have read so many other enjoyable, well written and gripping books in 2009 and I am glad I started flagging them up back in January of this year so I could keep tabs on them. Cannot believe the year has passed so quickly.
My book of the year will be revealed in my next post.....
