Michelle Posted January 11, 2008 Posted January 11, 2008 For the past couple of years, Kell has run our yearly Book Awards, but this year she's a little snowed under. So, we thought we'd just have a more informal thread, looking back at your reading year. So, do you have 3 favourite books that you read last year.. or was there one that really stood out for you? How about bad books.. was there one you hated? How about authors.. who is the best author you discovered last year, and who has stood out for you? If you can keep your choices to as few as possible it would be great, because I can keep an informal tally, and see there's a book or author who comes out on top. Quote
Nici Posted January 11, 2008 Posted January 11, 2008 My three favourite books are: Raven Hart - The Vampires Secret Stephen King - The Stand Raven Hart - The Vampires Seduction Bad book of the year: The vanishing act of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farrell (sorry ) Best new author: Raven Hart Quote
Kell Posted January 11, 2008 Posted January 11, 2008 Thank you, Michelle, for taking over on this for this year (talk about being snowed under - I need a BIG shovel - LOL!). Anyway, here are my thoughts: My three favourite books were: The Plucker: An Illustrated Novel - Brom Stuck in Neutral - Terry Trueman The Stand - Stephen King (re-read) All three of these were 10/10 (there was only one other - Ronia, The Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren, which was another re-read from my childhood). There were a handful of 'almost-made-it's that got 9/10, and a whole slew of 8/10s. Basically, I had a really excellent year for reading! Bad book of the year: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - M Spark (3/10) There were actually several books that I had to leave unfinished as I was hating them so much (The Man Who Knew Too Much by G K Chesterton; Candide by Voltaire; Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; and The Sooterkin by Tom Gilling), but I actually plodded right through to the bitter end of TPoMJB and it sucked royally. I didn't like any of it and, quite frankly, I can't think why I didn't ditch it, other than it was such a short one it seemed pointless not to get to the end. Best new author: Brom (for The Plucker: An Illustrated Novel) Not only was this an outstanding dark fairytale of almost epic proportions, but the artwork was so stunning that I was almost in tears over its sheer beauty. Quote
JudyB Posted January 11, 2008 Posted January 11, 2008 Hmm tricky one this Top three books The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak Winter in Madrid by C J Sansom E11even Terrible Months by R L Royle Worst - didn't manage to finish it In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar New Writer Sorry can't decide between R L Royle, Marcus Zusak and Maggie O'Farrell Quote
Roland Butter Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 Top Three Books What Was Lost - Catherine O'Flynn Winter in Madrid - C J Sansom Gentlemen and Players - Joanne Harris Worst Book Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. It's rare that I don't finish a book, but this was virtually unreadable. Somebody needs to tell that lad he'll never make it as a writer .... Best New Author Catherine O'Flynn Quote
Echo Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 This has taken me some thought, but... Top 3 Books: 1. The Book of the Dead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child 2. Wheel of Darkness by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child 3. Chanel: A Woman of Her Own by Axel Madsen Worst Book: The Bostonians by Henry James...this was a book I had to read for school, but it was so boring, I couldn't finish it. That meant that I had to fudge up the paper I wrote on it. I will not be reading James again any time soon. Best New Author: Clive Barker. I finally read Weaveworld, Everville, and The Great and Secret Show this year. Toooootally awesome! Quote
rosegarden Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 Top 3 Books 1. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd 2. Gone for Good - Harlan Coben 3. The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett Worst Book The Wrong Boy - Willy Russell (I just couldn't finish it, it just annoyed me and I didn't like the path it was going down) Best New Author Janet Evanovich Carole Quote
KW Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 Hmm tricky one this New Writer Sorry can't decide between R L Royle, Marcus Zusak and Maggie O'Farrell LOVE Markus Zusak! Fav book last year: Notes on a Scandal and Kite Runner new author? The Notes on a Scandal author...name escapes me at the moment.... Quote
Roland Butter Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 new author? The Notes on a Scandal author...name escapes me at the moment.... Zoe Heller? Quote
Renniemist Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 Top Three Books A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Iving Atonement by Ian McEwan TheSea by John Banville Worst Book In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar. I just did not like the characters Best Author New to me Ian McEwan Quote
Kylie Posted January 13, 2008 Posted January 13, 2008 Top 3 Books Anthony Burgess: A Clockwork Orange Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird (re-read) Bram Stoker: Dracula Worst Book (A Tie) Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist Anna Sewell: Black Beauty Best New Author Vladimir Nabokov Quote
poppy Posted January 13, 2008 Posted January 13, 2008 Top 4 Books (couldn't do three) Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson One Flew Over a Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kelsey To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck (thanks Muggles ) Worst Book Can't remember anything I didn't like Best New Author (for me) Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (Fantasy introduced to me by Stiggy) Quote
angerball Posted January 13, 2008 Posted January 13, 2008 Not including re-reads: Top 3 books: The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell Atonement by Ian McEwen After You'd Gone by Maggie O'Farrell. Honorary mentions: The Swarm by Frank Schatzing Lucky by Alice Sebold Worst book: This book Will Save Your Life by AM Homes Best New Author: Maggie O'Farrell Ian McEwen Quote
Angel Posted January 13, 2008 Posted January 13, 2008 Top 3 Books Alison Weir - Innocent Traitor James Herbert - The Secret of Crickley Hall Philippa Gregory - Earthly Joys Worst book Ian Caldwell & Dusin Thomason - The Rule of Four Best new authors Alison Weir Susanna Gregory Quote
madcow Posted January 13, 2008 Posted January 13, 2008 Top Books of 2007 The Crimson Petal & The White - Michel Faber Marley & Me - John Grogan Dying Light/Cold Granite/Broken Skin - Stuart MacBride Worst Book of 2007 Silent Spring - Rachel Carson (so boring I couldn't finish it) Best New Authors of 2007 Karin Slaughter Stuart MacBride Michel Faber Richard Montanari J M Warwick (or KW to us) Quote
happyanddandy Posted January 13, 2008 Posted January 13, 2008 Top Books of 2007 Black Swan Green - by David Mitchell Small Island - Andrea Levy One Good Turn - Kate Atkinson Worst Book of 2007 This Book Will Save Your Life - A.M. Holmes - felt duped by the title and cover. Utter nonsense. Best New Authors of 2007 Kate Morton Maggie O'Farrell Quote
muggle not Posted January 13, 2008 Posted January 13, 2008 Off the top of my head, some of the best that I have read in 2007 in no particular order: The Road by Cormac McCarthy Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck (re-read) The Pillars Of The Earth by Ken Follett Quote
Tiger Posted January 13, 2008 Posted January 13, 2008 Top 3 books: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver Outcast by Michelle Paver Worst book I can't think of any. Best new author Michael Crichton Quote
Icecream Posted January 13, 2008 Posted January 13, 2008 This is so difficult! I read so many great books last year. I think I will have to go with those that have had the most effect on me. The best books I read last year Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - J.K Rowling The Vampire's Seduction - Raven Hart The Mist Over Pendle - Robert O'Neill Worst Book The Book of the Courtier - Baldesare Castiglione (Seeing as it has taken me about, what, 3/4 months to complete a 344 pg book! Although there are some very good points in the book ad it has some good historical/cultural aspects and I do recommend it.) Best Discovered Author Raven Hart Terry Pratchett Quote
Freewheeling Andy Posted January 14, 2008 Posted January 14, 2008 Best books - War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, 1812 by Adam Zamoyski Worst book - Atonement by Ian McEwan Author I discovered last year - Cormac McCarthy, probably, although I only read one of his. Quote
Janet Posted January 14, 2008 Posted January 14, 2008 Top Books of 2007 The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd The Vanishing Acts of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farrell The House at Riverton - Kate Morton To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee Worst Book of 2007 The Queene's Christmas - Karen Harper Best New Authors of 2007 Kate Morton (looking forward to her next one!) Quote
Maureen Posted January 14, 2008 Posted January 14, 2008 Top Books of 2007 Something Rotten The Eyre Affair The secret purposes Worst book of 2007 Adam and Eve and Pinch me- Ruth Rendell Best New Author Jasper Fforde Quote
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