Kylie Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Welcome to the BCF Book Awards 2016! (I know Ben has already started a favourite books thread, but I still want to post this one that we traditionally do every year because it breaks our favourites down into categories. ) So go on! Tell us your favourites! Favourite read? Favourite author? Most read author? Favourite book cover? Book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? Book that most disappointed you?Funniest book?Favourite literary character?Favourite children's book?Favourite classic?Favourite non-fiction book?Favourite biography?Favourite collection of short stories?Favourite poetry collection?Favourite illustrated book?Favourite publisher?Favourite audiobook?Favourite re-read? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lau_Lou Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 This look like fun. Yayh! Thank you, Kylie Favourites of the year:- 1. Favourite read I have had a fantastic year but I'm going to say Me Before You by JoJo Moyes 2. Favourite author JoJo Moyes 3. Most read author Beatrix Potter with 10 books 4. Favourite book cover The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory 5. Book(s) you abandoned None 6. Most disappointed Lord Of The Flies by William Golding 7. Funniest A Night In With Audrey Hepburn by Lucy Holliday 8. Favourite character Louisa Clark created by JoJo Moyes 9. Favourite children's book Charlotte's Web by E B White 10. Favourite classic Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte 11. Favourite non fiction The only one I read was Ten Thousand Sorrows by Elizabeth Kim. I liked it. 12. Fave biography N/A 13. Fave short stories N/A 14. Fave poetry N/A 15. Fave illustrated N/A 16. Fave publisher N/A 17. Fave audiobook N/A 18. Fave re-read N/A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onion Budgie Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Favourite read? Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides Favourite author? Helene Hanff Most read author? Helene Hanff (five of her books read this year -- and now only one left, waaahhhhh. I wish she'd written more!) Favourite book cover? One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie (Fontana 1969 edition) Book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? None Book that most disappointed you? Life of Pi by Yann Martel Funniest book? Underfoot in Show Business by Helene Hanff Favourite literary character? Calliope/Cal Stephanides from Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides Favourite children's book? None Favourite classic? None this year Favourite non-fiction book? Underfoot in Show Business by Helene Hanff Favourite biography? The Marx Brothers by Kyle Crichton Favourite collection of short stories? None Favourite poetry collection? None Favourite illustrated book? Midnighter by Steve Orlando Favourite publisher? None Favourite audiobook? None Favourite re-read? None Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 (edited) (Oops, sorry about that Kylie, I knew we had a similar type of thread but couldn't remember exactly what we did. Hope we're okay with both threads up?) Anyway, my answers: Favourite read? Very difficult to just pick one but if you held a gun to my head I'd probably say When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. Favourite author? Newly discovered: Cormac McCarthy or Michael Chabon. Already familiar: Nabokov or F. Scott Fitzgerald. Most read author? Ransom Riggs and Peter Swanson (three books each). Should also be three for Dickens by the end of 2016. Favourite book cover? Probably The Muse by Jessie Burton. (Tried to add the image in but I suck and can't work out exactly how to attach the image.) Book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? Haven't abandoned any this year, wahoo! Book that most disappointed you? The Trial by Franz Kafka. Awfully dull. Funniest book? Sourcery by Terry Pratchett. Favourite literary character? Another difficult one but probably Virgil Tibbs from John Dudley Ball's In the Heat of the Night. Favourite children's book? Haven't really read any 'kids' books as such - at the youngest a few YA novels. Favourite classic? Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian. Favourite non-fiction book? Paul Kalanithi's When Breath Becomes Air. Favourite biography? At the Existentialist Cafe by Sarah Bakewell. (Kind of a biography.) Favourite collection of short stories? Homesick for Another World by Ottessa Moshfegh. (ARC, out in January.) Favourite poetry collection? Very much to be surprise, it doesn't look like I've read any poetry collections in 2016. Favourite illustrated book? My current read - The Old Curiosity Shop - has some nice illustrations. Favourite publisher? Vintage Books. Favourite audiobook? Haven't listened to any audiobooks this year. Plenty of bookish podcasts though. (Guardian, NY Times, Vintage, Penguin.) Favourite re-read? No re-reads this year, but that was through a conscious effort not to - has allowed me to focus on getting more books read from Mount TBR. --- Another fantastic year's worth of reading during 2016. On to the next one. Edited December 19, 2016 by Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Favourite read? Daughter of Eden by Chris Beckett Favourite author? Mark Edwards Most read author? Mark Edwards Favourite book cover? A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen Book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? none Book that most disappointed you? Stiletto by Daniel O'MalleyFunniest book? He Who Dares by Del BoyFavourite literary character? Angie Redlantern from Daughter of EdenFavourite children's book? didn't read anyFavourite classic? didn't read anyFavourite non-fiction book? Animal by Sara PascoeFavourite biography? didn't read anyFavourite collection of short stories? didn't read anyFavourite poetry collection? didn't read anyFavourite illustrated book? didn't read anyFavourite publisher? wouldn't knowFavourite audiobook? didn't read anyFavourite re-read? didn't read any Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCat Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Favourite read? The Second Sex Favourite author? Simone de Beauvoir Most read author? Dostoyevsky Favourite book cover? N/A Book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? N/A Book that most disappointed you? Crime and Punishment Funniest book? N/A Favourite literary character? Emma Favourite children's book? N/A Favourite classic? Emma by Jane Austen Favourite non-fiction book? The Second Sex Favourite biography? N/A Favourite collection of short stories? N/A Favourite poetry collection? Collected Woroks of Yeats Favourite illustrated book? N/A Favourite publisher? Pengiun Favourite audiobook? N/A Favourite re-read? The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Begins Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 1) Favorite read: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah 2) Favorite author: Phillip K Dick 3) Most read author: Laura Ingalls Wilder (9 books) 4) Favorite book cover: The Paper Magician by Charlie N Holmberg 5) Book you abandoned: This Perfect Day by Ira Levin 6) Book that disappointed you: 9 1/2 Weeks by Elizabeth McNiell 7) Funniest book: Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick deWitt 8) Favorite literary character: Sugar Legowski- Gracia in Sugar by Deirdre Riordan Hall 9) Favorite children's book: (Who was) Anne Frank by Ann Abramson 10) Favorite classic: None read! 11) Favorite non- fiction: Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp 12) Favorite biography: Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K Massie 13) Favorite collection of short stories: Can't and Won't by Lydia Davis 14) Favorite poetry collection: I don't read too much poetry! 15) Favorite illustrated book: Pyongyang by Guy Delisle 16) Favorite publisher: Faber & Faber 17) Favorite audio book: Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Karakauer 18) Favorite re read: The Life of Elizabeth I by Alison Weir Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nursenblack Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 1) Favorite read: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah The Nightingale is also one of my favorites this year. I want to read everything of hers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nursenblack Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 Favourite read? The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I really want to cheat on this question and name one or two more, but I won't. Favourite author? Kristin Hannah Most read author? It is a three way tie with two books apiece: Diana Gabaldon, Laini Taylor, and Kristin Hannah Favourite book cover? Book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler Book that most disappointed you? This is a tie between Voyager by Diana Gabaldon and Uprooted by Naomi Novik Funniest book? Life and Other Near Death Experiences by Camille Pagan Favourite literary character? Scorpius Malfoy - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Favourite children's book? The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier Favourite classic? The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck Favourite non-fiction book? A Mother's Reckoning:Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold Favourite biography? Didn't read any Favourite collection of short stories? Didn't read any Favourite poetry collection? Didn't read any Favourite illustrated book? My Friend Dahmer by Derk Backderf (graphic novel) Favourite publisher? No clue Favourite audiobook? Where'd You Go Bernadette? by Marie Semple Favourite re-read? Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 (edited) Your favourite read of the year? The House by the Lake by Thomas Harding. Maybe not as a pure read, but as a whole experience, including visiting the house itself, it was exceptional. Your favourite author of the year? Amy Liptrot's beautiful, rawly honest writing in The Outrun made her my standout author of 2016. Closely followed by John Wyndham - whose novels completely took me by surprise. Several others who are already on my favourites list featured during the year too. Your most read author of the year? Georges Simenon - 3 of his wonderful Maigret stories. Continues to be a favourite. Your favourite book cover of the year? By a whisker (pun intended) this was John Lewis-Stempel's The Running Hare; The Essex Serpent slithered in a close runner-up. This is the first time for years I've not awarded this to the Folio Society, but I really loved these covers. The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? Us - David Nicholls. Only read this because it was a book group read - just confirmed that I really can't abide his novels. The book that most disappointed you? Two books stood out for different reasons: Firstly, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole which had simply dated horribly. The other, slightly more complex in the disappointment, was The Blackhouse, the first book in Peter May's Hebridean trilogy. This was a classic example of raised expectations: all the reviews had raved about it, and the setting was one I had really looked forward to, but when I came to it, it simply fulfilled so many cliches, the damaged detective, the unnecessarily spectacular, gory murder, the climactic denouement, with an utterly predictable murderer. It was OK (I gave it three stars), but I had expected so much more.... The funniest book of the year? Well, it's not Adrian Mole! This has to be Asterix and the Bonnie Fechter: even better in Scots! Your favourite literary character this year? Emma Woodhouse in Emma, just edges it over Flora Post in Cold Comfort Farm.Have to confess, I do prefer my heroines to heroes. Your favourite children's book this year? This isn't normally a problem as I usually only read one children's book maximum in a year, but 2016 has been an exception as I've read a couple for the English Counties Challenge. So, aside from Asterix, it's another toss-up between two books that remain a part of the essential fabric of my childhood. I think Swallows and Amazons sneaks in ahead of Winnie the Pooh, but on another day it might have been different. Your favourite classic of the year? Favourite new classic was Howards End; if including rereads, see under that category. Your favourite non-fiction book this year? This seems to assume that the favourite read of the year is fiction, but my favourite read this year was non-fiction,The House By The Lake. I'm therefore going to list my favourite fiction book here! This is Sarah Perry's The Essex Serpent - absolutely superb. The fact that it is only fourth on my overall list this year just underlines the excellence of the non-fiction books this year, as Perry would have won in many other years. Your favourite biography this year? Amy Liptrot's The Outrun was a close challenger for my favourite book of the year, even if perhaps more of a memoir than biography? Whatever, it's just too good to miss out. The House by the Lake is of course a biography of sorts - just of a house! Your favourite collection of short stories this year? I rarely read short stories, and am almost always disappointed when I do, but Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories was sheer class. Your favourite poetry collection this year? This is perennially a very short short list, and this year was no exception. Fortunately the one poetry book read was a good one: Simon Armitage's The Death of King Arthur. (Last year, I said the same thing about Gawain and the Green Knight; of the two I prefer the latter). Your favourite illustrated book of the year? Neil Macgregor's Germany, Memories of a Nation, another very close challenger for my book of the year, gallops away with this one, but it has to be the hardback edition: an object lesson to many publishers in how to use illustration in a non-fiction book. Your favourite publisher of the year? Slightly Foxed Your favourite audiobook of the year? Of two good choices, Georgette Heyer's Cotillion, superbly read by Phyllida Nash, narrowly wins out. Your favourite reread of the year? Emma. So, so much better than I remember. Adored it! Edited December 28, 2016 by willoyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Favourite read? Philippa Gregory - The King's Curse (Cousins' War #6) Favourite author? Philippa Gregory Most read author? Carol Matthews Favourite book cover? A toss up between Ransom Riggs - Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, and Cameron Jace - Insanity (Mad In Wonderland #1) Book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? Matthew S Cox - Emma and the Banderwigh Book that most disappointed you? Andy C E Brown - Declutter And Simplify - 33 Proven Ways To Declutter And Simplify Your LifeFunniest book? Richard Grady - It's Never OK To Borrow Someone Else's ToothbrushFavourite literary character? Claire Trevelyan from Shelley Adina - Lady of Devices (Magnificent Devices #1)Favourite children's book? Lemony Snicket - A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning (#1)Favourite classic? n/aFavourite non-fiction book? Victoria Pepe, etc - I Call Myself a FeministFavourite biography? n/aFavourite collection of short stories? Ruth Manning-Sanders - Folk & Fairy TalesFavourite poetry collection? n/aFavourite illustrated book? Ruth Manning-Sanders - Folk & Fairy TalesFavourite publisher? Simon & Schuster UK (publisher of Philippa Gregory's books)Favourite audiobook? n/aFavourite re-read? Ruth Manning-Sanders - Folk & Fairy Tales Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Begins Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 The Nightingale is also one of my favorites this year. I want to read everything of hers. And your favorite classic is my second favorite book of all time Good tastes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted December 25, 2016 Share Posted December 25, 2016 My answers right now: Favourite read? Stephen King - The Stand Trudi Canavan - The Age of the Five trilogy (I read books 2 and 3 in 2016) Jodi Picoult - Nineteen Minutes Brandon Sanderson - Warbreaker Peter F. Hamilton - Fallen Dragon Geronimo Stilton - Fantasia IX: De Fenomenale Reis (Grande Ritorno nel Regno della Fantasia) Favourite author? I couldn't possibly pick just one! Most read author? Geronimo Stilton (87 books) Favourite book cover? A lot of the books I read had nice covers. Book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? Sally Gardner - Maggot Moon (~8%, 22 pages out of 288 pages) Book that most disappointed you? Susan Hatler - Treasured Dreams 5: An Unexpected Wedding Harriet Evans - A Winterfold Christmas Roddy Doyle - Dead Man Talking Katie Davies (ill. Hannah Shaw) Animal Antics 1: The Great Hamster Massacre Jet Manrho and Others - BoekieBoekie 100: De Ongelofelijke Avonturen van Jules Verne Funniest book? Paul van Loon - Dolfje Weerwolfje (various books in the series) Jory John and Mac Barnett (ill. Kevin Cornell) - De Vreselijke Twee 1 & 2 (The Terrible Two 1 & 2) Lincoln Peirce - Niek de Groot 1, 2, 4 & 5 (Big Nate 1, 2, 4 & 5) Georgia Pritchett - Wilf the Mighty Worrier 1 & Gary Northfield - Julius Zebra 1 & 2 Stephan Pastis - Flip Fiasco (Timmy Failure) 1, 2 & 3 Favourite literary character? Geronimo Stilton Favourite children's book? Geronimo Stilton - Fantasia IX: De Fenomenale Reis (Grande Ritorno nel Regno della Fantasia) Favourite classic? None. Favourite non-fiction book? Horrible Histories & Horrible Science & Horrible Geography books Favourite biography / memoir? Laura Ingalls Wilder - Little House on the Prairie series Josh Sundquist - We Should Hang Out Some Time George Mahood - Every Day is a Holiday 1: Every Day is a Holiday George Mahood - Every Day is a Holiday 2: Life's a Beach Favourite collection of short stories? Chrissie Manby - Seashells and Other Stories David Walliams (ill. Tony Ross) - The World's Worst Children Favourite poetry collection? None. Favourite illustrated book? Geronimo Stilton - Fantasia IX: De Fenomenale Reis (Grande Ritorno nel Regno della Fantasia) Favourite publisher? I'm not sure. Favourite audiobook? None. Favourite re-read? Diane Chamberlain - The Midwife's Confession Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 Favourite read? I was going to say South Riding, but I've put that under the audio book category, so I'll say Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. I just loved the alternative London!Favourite author? Probably Agatha Christie as we both like listening to the Poirot books and they therefore remind me of some lovely weekends away. Most read author?Agatha Christie and Roald Dahl with six books each Favourite book cover?Two stand out: Book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton - too ridiculousBook that most disappointed you?Lady Chatterley's Lover by D H Lawrence. I would have undoubtedly have given up on this if it wasn't and English Counties Challenge book. Funniest book? Just William by Richmal Crompton - my first visit to William - I really liked him! Favourite literary character? A toss up between Flora Poste from Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons and Mrs Hawkins from A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark Favourite children's book? It's a play script, but probably Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J K Rowling, John Tiffany & Jack Thorne. Sure, it's not perfect, but it was great to revisit the wizarding world. Favourite classic? Hard Times by Charles Dickens Favourite non-fiction book? Pies and Prejudice by Stuart Maconie, although Meadowland: The Private Life of an English Field by John Lewis-Stempel was so beautifully written that it's a close second. Favourite biography?I only read one, so Enchanted Places by Christopher Milne Favourite collection of short stories? / Favourite poetry collection? (I've merged this into one category as this book contained both) The Christmas Book by James Reeves Favourite illustrated book? I'm not sure this really counts as they're photographs, but Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs Favourite publisher? Vintage Favourite audiobook? South Riding by Winifred Holtby - superb Favourite re-read? I always say A Christmas Carol (and this year is no exception!) but I'll say Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons - I enjoyed it more the second time round than I did the first time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 I started doing this on my Christmas holiday but then I accidentally clicked the wrong icon and all vanished Here's hoping I get it right this time! Favourite read? - Without a doubt, This Is Life by Dan Rhodes! Favourite author? - I want to say Dan Rhodes because he wrote my favorite book of 2016, but I'll say Linwood Barclay instead: he always gets my mojo going if I have problems, and he did it last year as well! Most read author? - Rather surprisingly a Finnish author: Veera Vaahtera, by 4 novels. Favourite book cover? - Be Frank with Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson Book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? - I can't remember the one I read least of... I don't usually remember the books I abandon. I remember the most recent one I abandoned in 2016, but I'm thinking it's a great book and I just wasn't in the right mood, so I don't want to name and shame it on here. I'll leave this blank because I don't remember the bad ones that I abandoned, and I don't want to name and shame the good ones that I abandoned. Book that most disappointed you? - Slammed by Colleen Hoover and Bridget Jones's Baby by Helen Fielding. Slammed because I'd read Confess by the same author only a few months before, and I'd loved it so much, and then Slammed was really mediocre and in my opinion, insubstantial. Bridget Jones's Baby because I've loved the first three novels and this one was just such a disappointment. The movie was better! Funniest book? - This is Life by Dan Rhodes Favourite literary character? - I'm really bad at remembering literary characters when there's 52 books to remember from.. I will say Le Machine from This Is Life Favourite children's book? - The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster Favourite classic? - I didn't read any, unless The Phantom Tollbooth counts. Favourite non-fiction book? - One of Us: The Story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway by Åsne Seierstad Favourite biography? - I didn't read any (I did read memoirs and such like.) Favourite collection of short stories? - N/A Favourite poetry collection? - N/A Favourite illustrated book? - The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster Favourite publisher? - I don't notice these things Favourite audiobook? - N/A Favourite re-read? - Dry by Augusten Burroughs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraloves Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Favourite read? The Hunger Games Series Favourite author? Amanda Owen - The Yorkshire Shepherdess Most read author? JK Rowling - Harry Potter re-read Favourite book cover?Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon Book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? Village of Secrets Book that most disappointed you? Harry Potter and the Cursed ChildFunniest book? The Unmumsy Mum - bloody brilliant!Favourite literary character?Sookie StackhouseFavourite children's book? Just WilliamFavourite classic? NonFavourite non-fiction book? The Yorkshire ShephardessFavourite biography? Kimberley WalshFavourite collection of short stories? My True Love Gave to meFavourite poetry collection? nonFavourite illustrated book? nonFavourite publisher? nonFavourite audiobook? nonFavourite re-read? Harry Potter Series Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaliepud Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Right, about time I did this! Favourite read? Hard one this, will go for Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger, beautifully written and surprisingly good read. Favourite author? M.R Carey for Fellside Most read author? Jenny Colgan Favourite book cover? One by Sarah Crossan Book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, so disjointed! Very surprised by how good the reviews are! Book that most disappointed you? When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr, I did like it but it wasn't really about what I thought it would be about!Funniest book? Don't do funny! Favourite literary character? Ally in Bodies of Light by Sarah MossFavourite children's book? When Hitler Stole Pink RabbitFavourite classic? NoneFavourite non-fiction book? Humans of New York: Stories by Brandon StantonFavourite biography? NoneFavourite collection of short stories? NoneFavourite poetry collection? NoneFavourite illustrated book? NoneFavourite publisher? I didn't noticeFavourite audiobook? NoneFavourite re-read? None Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
More reading time required Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 This is made easier by my lack of titles to choose from this year Favourite read? : Bones of the Dragon by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman Favourite author? : Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman Most read author? : Garth Ennis, due to the 9 Preacher graphic novels Favourite book cover? : Can't recall any Book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? : I always plug away to the bitter end! Book that most disappointed you? : Revival by Stephen King or Emma by Jane Austen Funniest book? : My Booky Wook 2 by Russell Brand Favourite literary character? : Lisbeth Salander from The Girl in the Spider's Web Favourite children's book? : N/A Favourite classic?: The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger Favourite non-fiction book?: Revolution by Russell Brand (not that I've finished it yet) Favourite biography? : My Booky Wook 2 by Russell Brand Favourite collection of short stories? : Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman just edges it over Stephen King's Bazaar of Bad Dreams Favourite poetry collection? : N/A Favourite illustrated book? : Any one of the 9 Preacher graphic novels Favourite publisher? : N/A Favourite audiobook? : N/A Favourite re-read? : Preacher graphic novels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 8, 2017 Author Share Posted January 8, 2017 OK, I wrote up my answer not long after I started the thread, but my computer crashed and I lost most of my response (luckily I had copied some of it into another document beforehand). I just couldn't be bothered redoing it all until now!Favourite read? I only had two 10/10 reads for the year, and they were Alexandre Dumas' The Story of a Nutcracker and Erik Larson's Dead Wake, a non-fiction book about the sinking of the Lusitania. Larson is an amazing researcher and writer. In fact, I've been in such a reading slump lately that I picked up another of Larson's books to see if it would help, and it has! I would never usually seek out a non-fiction book to help with my missing mojo, but Larson is just that talented! Runners up: Matt Haig's A Boy Called Christmas, Jon Ronson's So You've Been Publicly Shamed, David Mitchell's Slade House, Sarah Murgatroyd's The Dig Tree, Patricia Highsmith's Strangers on a Train, John Hersey's Hiroshima, Emily St John Mandel's Station Eleven, PG Wodehouse's Jeeves in the Offing and Bill Bryson's The Road to Little Dribbling. Favourite author? Agatha Christie and PG Wodehouse are perennial favourites. Most read author? I read the first four books in Morris Gleitzman's Once series. I also read three books by PG Wodehouse. Favourite book cover? Book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? I've started but not finished many books this year, but it's mostly been my lack of mojo rather than any fault of the books. The only one that I wasn't enjoying that much was Boris Akunin's The Turkish Gambit, but I still plan to finish it one day. Book that most disappointed you? Boris Akunin's The Turkish Gambit. From what I've read so far, it's very different from the first book in the series. It's much more political and I'm having a hard time following it. Hopefully it will pick up eventually. Funniest book? All three books I read by PG Wodehouse: Jeeves in the Offing, Meet Mr Mulliner (which turned out to be a reread) and Mr Mulliner Speaking. Bill Bryson's The Road to Little Dribbling and Al Franken's Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them were also brilliant. Favourite literary character? Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce in 'A Red Herring Without Mustard'—she's so wonderfully precocious! Also, Jeeves and Wooster in PG Wodehouse's 'Jeeves in the Offing'—a wonderful double act. Favourite children's book? Matt Haig's A Boy Called Christmas and Alexandre Dumas' The Story of a Nutcracker. Favourite classic? Alexandre Dumas' The Story of a Nutcracker. Favourite non-fiction book? Erik Larson's Dead Wake. I actually had a brilliant year for non-fiction reading. Sarah Murgatroyd's The Dig Tree, about a famous exploring tragedy in modern (European) Australian history, was excellent. Other runners up were Jon Ronson's So You've Been Publicly Shamed, John Hersey's Hiroshima and Bill Bryson's The Road to Little Dribbling. Favourite biography? An autobiography by John Elder Robison called Look Me in the Eye. Woof. Favourite collection of short stories? I suppose the Mr Mulliner stories by PG Wodehouse would count here. They're all brilliant! Favourite poetry collection? No poetry. Favourite illustrated book? The Walking Dead Compendium #1 and Joanna Eliot's Infographic Guide to Literature (I love infographics ). Favourite publisher? As always, I'm a huge fan of Penguin and Vintage. I love that they pay special attention to the classics and are continually re-releasing them in drool-worthy new editions with beautiful covers. Favourite audiobook? No audiobooks. Favourite re-read? This might sound like a strange one. Many years ago I went through a period where I was interested in reading Beatles fan fiction. Among all of the stories out there, there was one epic story (truly the length of a long book) that I read several times during that period. It was called Into My Life by Diane Huberty. I've always held onto the ebook file (it's freely available online) and I decided to re-read it in 2016. It was just as wonderful as I remembered, and I was surprised how much detail I could remember all these years later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 8, 2017 Author Share Posted January 8, 2017 6. Most disappointed Lord Of The Flies by William Golding Totally agree! Favourite biography? The Marx Brothers by Kyle Crichton Ooh! I'll have to go and see if you wrote a review for this. I love the Marx Brothers! Most read author? Ransom Riggs and Peter Swanson (three books each). Should also be three for Dickens by the end of 2016. Book that most disappointed you? The Trial by Franz Kafka. Awfully dull. Three by Dickens?! Very impressive! Aw, shame about The Trial. I thought it was rather clever, and I loved the ending, although I can totally understand the 'dull' comment. I've been wanting to re-read it because I don't think I read a very good translation. Favourite read? The Second Sex I bought this fairly recently, but I'm a bit intimidated by it. Is it fairly easy to get through? 7) Funniest book: Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick deWitt Interesting! I've been looking forward to reading this. Is it better than The Sisters Brothers, do you think? (I assume you've read that...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 8, 2017 Author Share Posted January 8, 2017 Favourite book cover? <snip> Book that most disappointed you? Lady Chatterley's Lover by D H Lawrence. I would have undoubtedly have given up on this if it wasn't and English Counties Challenge book. Ooh, those covers are lovely indeed! And I absolutely agree about Lady Chatterley's Lover. Argh! I started doing this on my Christmas holiday but then I accidentally clicked the wrong icon and all vanished I had a similar problem! So frustrating! Favourite read? - Without a doubt, This Is Life by Dan Rhodes! I'll have to try and read this book this year. Your comments about it last year got me interested! Favourite book cover? - Be Frank with Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson It's your favourite because it has part of your name on the cover, right? Book that most disappointed you? <snip> Bridget Jones's Baby because I've loved the first three novels and this one was just such a disappointment. The movie was better! Aw no, that's a shame! Favourite children's book? - The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster Favourite classic? - I didn't read any, unless The Phantom Tollbooth counts. Favourite illustrated book? - The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster Squeeee! The Phantom Tollbooth made your list three times!! (And I don't care if it was the only contender in each category...you still chose it!) This is made easier by my lack of titles to choose from this year It really does make it easier, doesn't it?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onion Budgie Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Ooh! I'll have to go and see if you wrote a review for this. I love the Marx Brothers! I did write a short review on Goodreads, yes! If you love the Marx Brothers then you'd definitely love the bio, it was immense fun to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 OK, I wrote up my answer not long after I started the thread, but my computer crashed and I lost most of my response (luckily I had copied some of it into another document beforehand). I just couldn't be bothered redoing it all until now! So annoying!! But kinda funny that it happened to both of us with this topic Favourite biography? An autobiography by John Elder Robison called Look Me in the Eye. Woof. Woof! The books you mention in your list are all ones I've not read so I don't have any other comments Woof I'll have to try and read this book this year. Your comments about it last year got me interested! Oh yay!! I already want to re-read it. It's your favourite because it has part of your name on the cover, right? Yes and the rest of it would be 'Be With Me' and being the co-dependent person that I am, what's not to like! Nawh, I just love the color, and simplicity of the cover Aw no, that's a shame! Yes Squeeee! The Phantom Tollbooth made your list three times!! (And I don't care if it was the only contender in each category...you still chose it!) Oi! I read other children's novels! And I read other illustrated books too! But yes, it was the only classic. So there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Runners up: Matt Haig's A Boy Called Christmas, Jon Ronson's So You've Been Publicly Shamed, David Mitchell's Slade House, Sarah Murgatroyd's The Dig Tree, Patricia Highsmith's Strangers on a Train, John Hersey's Hiroshima, Emily St John Mandel's Station Eleven, PG Wodehouse's Jeeves in the Offing and Bill Bryson's The Road to Little Dribbling. I didn't realise you'd read Station Eleven. I absolutely loved it...one of the best books I have read in recent years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 I didn't realise you'd read Station Eleven. I absolutely loved it...one of the best books I have read in recent years. Ooh, I do love Mandel's Station Eleven. Steadily making my way through her works and finding the vast majority very enjoyable... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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