ladymacbeth

Hi. Is it worth reading? I'm looking for a good read but you never know whether something is worthwhile just because it's popular.

Your favourite read of the year? The themes of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler will stick with me long term. Your favourite author of the year? Graeme Simsion - I loved both his books. Your most read author of the year? Laurell K Hamilton. I read quite a few of her Anita Blake series until it got completely ridiculous. Your favourite book cover of the year? Erm. I must admit I don't pay much attention. The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? I am halfway through The Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man but I sort of intend to finish it - just read a few pages here and there. The book that most disappointed you? A tie between Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell and I'm currently reading the new Marian Keyes book The Woman Who Stole My Life and it's dreadful The funniest book of the year? The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion Your favourite literary character this year? Don Tillman from The Rosie Project. Your favourite children's book this year? Monkey Puzzle by Julia Donaldson and Slinky Malinki Open the Door by Lynley Dodd. These are picture books I read my children. Oh Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack by Lynley Dodd is also amazing. It's not a chore reading bedtime stories with these awesome books. Your favourite classic of the year? Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. So atmospheric Your favourite non-fiction book this year? Peaceful Parent, Happy Child by Laura Markham. Your favourite biography this year? None read Your favourite collection of short stories this year? None read Your favourite poetry collection this year? None read Your favourite illustrated book of the year? Look! A Book by Bob Staake. Fabulous for children and adults. Your favourite publisher of the year? All of them Your favourite audiobook of the year? None read Your favourite re-read of the year? This may be the first year in my life I've not re-read anything.

Well after seeing everyone's praise I've just found the kindle version of For Whom the Bell Tolls for 91c so I bought it. I enjoyed A Farewell to Arms and think that's the only Hemingway I've read previously. I'm reading very slowly right now but I've just finshed The Wine of Angels by Phil Rickman and I feel like I've found a great new author I can get into. I can't remember whether it was on Goodreads or Amazon but they had celebrity recommendations and Diana Gabaldon recommended one of Rickman's books. I've given up on Ms Gabaldon's books a few years ago but she is right about Phil Rickman - excellent.

I think my love of Pride and Prejudice is unfairly assisted by Colin Firth

I am in total agreement SunnyShadows. I kept reading in the hope of some amazing development later in the book which would bring it all together and blow my mind. Sadly it did not happen. I'm just not a fan. I particularly hated the middle story. I have not read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall but was not a particular fan of the other Bronte sisters work. I just finished The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion which I loved. Simple storyline but laugh out loud funny and I find the way he writes the character of Don Tillman makes me totally understand his unique point of view.

I've finished The Goldfinch which took me ages so I got a little weary of it. It didn't really blow me away unfortunately but often award winning books don't. I sometimes wonder if there is something a bit wrong with me when I don't enjoy "famous" books. Maybe I'm not very smart. I'm looking for a light hearted read now.

Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion are the top 2 for me. For third I would pick Emma but a distant third.

Hi I've only read two on your list - The Wind Up Bird Chronicle and Heart of Darkness. I've also read The Foutainhead but I'm not sure I really understood Ayn Rand's philosophy. I just thought the characters were odd people. I also only got partway through The Picture of Dorian Grey. I didn't think it was too bad but I had just read a play by Oscar Wilde - The Importance of Being Earnest, and I think I overdosed a bit on Wilde and got bored of it. I've never read any Nietzche. I suspect that is for smart people and I don't qualify . Happy reading for the rest of the year.

I'm about 25% of the way through The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I'm really enjoying it although I don't feel especially emotionally engaged with the main character.

I used to re-read alot while I was a student. My brain did not want any more new information! Some books I read once a year. Now I very rarely re-read anything.

I'm totalyl with you on your opinion of The Great Gatsby. It just felt like a somewhat forgettable book for me and I wondered if I was just missing knowledge of the cultural background of the time which might have made it more interesting. I also wondered if the story has been so well referenced in popular culture that it didn't feel new anymore.

I have finished Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell and sadly remained underwhelmed. I thought it was well written but the storylines didn't blow me away. I then read a bit of The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man but it's not really my cup of tea. I'm thinking I might read a few pages here and there to try and finish it. Have started The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.

Ours are merged but hubby is a nonreader so doesn't have many books. I've only got one bookshelf now as we're in a too small house with too many children.

I've just bought The Goldfinch for my kindle but I'm finding it really hard to choose books right now. My tastes have changed.

Muggle Not - I have read The Giver by Lois Lowry and loved it. I'm pretty sure I gave it 5/5 at the time. I've also read two of the sequels (I didn't realise there was a 4th until recently) which are almost as good. It is a young adult title so a fairly easy read but thought provoking. I hear The Giver has been made into a movie now - have not seen it. It was such a good book I'm not sure I want to watch the movie IYGWIM

I'm more than half way through Cloud Atlas. I'm not sure I find it as amazing as other people have. Am hoping for any amazing ending.

Hi Bobblybear. I've been away from the forum for some time but remembered that I enjoyed quite a few of the same books as you a couple of years ago. I've read The Observations and The Rosie Project after going through this year's blog. Thought they were both excellent. Thanks for posting all your reviews.

Reading the Lily Bard omnibus by Charlaine Harris. I don't normally like mysteries but these are awesome. Even better than Sookie Stackhouse!

Love you book and socks pic. Looks so cosy. I hope all those Roald Dahl books on your TBR are re-reads. I can't imagine a childhood without him. Danny the Champion of the World is my favourite.

I'm looking forward to seeing your reviews of the young adult fantasy series as I love the genre but there is some bad writing amongst the good - so hard to know which to choose. I also agree that Remarkable Creatures is an excellent read and I couldn't finish Lady and the Unicorn so the author definitely has her up and down moments. Happy reading!

Thank you so much to everyone that keeps a book blog as I get so many ideas about what to read from what other people enjoy. Here is my list for 2013... The Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (reread) The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes 4/5 Night by Elie Wiesel 4/5 Sylvia by Bryce Courtney 2.5/5 Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris 4.5/5 I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou 3.5/5 A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson 4/5 A Sword from Red ice by JV Jones 2.5/5 Hypnobirthing by Marie Mongan Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris 4/5 The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie 3/5 Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie 4.5/5 The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick 3/5 A Nomadic Witch by Deborah Geary 4/5 A Different Witch by Deborah Geary 3/5 A Celtic Witch by Deborah Geary 3/5 Witches on parole by Deborah Geary 4/5 Witches Under Way by Deborah Geary 4/5 Witches in Flight by Deborah Geary 4/5 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson 3/5 Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz 2/5 A Perfect Proposal by Katie Fforde 2/5 The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead 5/5 Shakespeare's Champion by Charlaine Harris Shakespeare's Christmas by Charlaine Harris Shakespeare's Trollop by Charlaine Harris Shakespeare's Counsellor by Charlaine Harris

Looks like the final books in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris and also Robert Jordan's wheel of time are coming out in 2013. My only anxiety is that I've forgotten the details of the earlier books and don't really have the time (or energy) for a mass re-read.

Poppy that is such a creepy story about the "chriopractor". I enjoyed Coraline too but I did find it really scary especially for a children's book. Apparently my nephew read it and couldn't sleep so his mum has had to ban scary books / movies now.

Love your recent reviews. I think I would like to try Bill Bryson now.

Woohoo. I'm so proud of myself. I finally finished Anna Karenina. I gave up halfway through last year but picked it up again recently on my Kindle. I'm glad I finished it for the sense of achievement but again it wasn't my cup of tea. I think the underlying story was okay but there was so much superfluous non-plot related writing. Anyway can cross that off my abandoned books list. I read somewhere that Anna Karenina was one of the greatest love stories ever told but I fail to see it. Anyway, I'm no reading Catcher in the Rye and that is much more my type of book. I'm really enjoying it. And yes vodkafan, Fifty Shades of Grey was appalling. I strangely read the second in the series but seeing as I skipped all the naughty bits it didn't take long. I'm surprised women fancy Christian Grey at all. He seemed a nasty piece of work to me and in the end every time he was mean / controlling (ie every time he said something) I wanted to rip his throat out with my bare hands. I do feel like reading a bit of romance though, I just need something a tiny bit intelligent at the same time. Any ideas appreciated.