Friday 27 December 2013

Best Books of 2013: Volume One

It's that time of the year again, when we all start reflecting on the books that we've read over the year. This year for the first time in ages, I have read under 100 books, with my final total probably being 92, depending on whether or not I actually finish Les Miserables before the 31st.  However, I'm not someone who is particularly bothered by the amount of books I have read, as the important thing is that I've read some awesome books this year.  As per my tradition, I'm going to be highlighting my favourite book read in each month.

My best of 2011 and best of 2012 books can be found here.


January:
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Tender is the Night by F.Scott Fitzgerald

 

I'm technically cheating by picking two books for one month, but there is no way I could separate these two.  A Storm of Swords is my favourite volume from the Song of Ice and Fire series, which I devoured from late 2012 to early 2013.  It's action packed, utterly gripping and got me into fantasy in a big way, which significantly altered my reading habits for the rest of 2013.  On a more personal level, it was a great reading experience as my husband also loves the books, so it led to lots of great discussion.

I read Tender is the Night for the Classics Club readathon after being a bit underwhelmed by The Great Gatsby (sorry,Gatsby fans!).  But this tale of a marriage in decline had all the emotional punch I felt Gatsby lacked, and I found it beautiful yet utterly heart-breaking.  It's my favourite read from my classics club list so far, and now one of my all-time favourite books.



February:
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens


I have a feeling my list is going to be classics heavy this year!  This classic was an unexpected delight as Dickens isn't exactly my best friend.  But I found this story set in the French Revolution to be tightly plotted, fast paced and full of surprising little twists.   Dickens writes about the revolution very well and makes you feel part of the anger of the citizens at one moment, and then disgusted with them the next.  And Sydney's storyline was just captivating.  I'm glad I picked this one up, it feels great to have found a Dickens book I truly love.



March:
Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth


I read a lot of historical fiction in 2012, but hardly any in 2013.  But the ones I did read were largely excellent; particularly this blend of historical fiction and fairytale.  Forsyth places her Rapunzel in Venice, the daughter of a maker of carnival masks.   The story is told by three women (including the witch herself) and the fairytale is broadened to a living, breathing story.  This is a chunky book, but I just raced through it, and would recommend it to anyone who loves fairytale retellings or historical fiction.  Forsyth's The Wild Girl is excellent too.



April:
The People of Forever are not Afraid by Shani Boianjiu


April is the month when I read lots of books from the long-list of the Orange Prize/Women's Prize for Fiction.  The People of Forever are Not Afraid is a debut novel about three young girls conscripted into the Israeli army, and at first I was a bit ambivalent about it.  But it's one of those books that has stuck with me throughout the year, as the writing was just so distinctive and blunt.  The book felt a bit disjointed in places but the writing is so brutal and honest, that it more than makes up for it.  I'll definitely be reading anything else that Boianjiu writes.



May:
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte


Another book that took me by surprise.  I didn't really like Wuthering Heights as a teenager, but I loved it this time around.  I loved the examination of the darker, twisted side of love and the raw emotion that just comes spilling out of the pages.   This book is no fairytale, and the unreliable narrators keep you guessing.  I just love the Brontes.



June:
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier


I was pushed into reading this book by the Classics Club spin, and I'm so glad that I was! The unnamed narrator is the new wife of Max de Winter, but she feels haunted by the legacy of her predecessor, Rebecca.  This book has a lot of twists and turns, and certainly kept me guessing, glued to every page.  I liked how the low self-esteem of the narrator was used as a device to keep the reader guessing, and I loved how you're never really sure how to feel about Rebecca herself.



July:
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie


Adichie is one of my favourite authors, and she never disappoints.  Americanah is a love story about Ifemulu and Obinze, who meet at secondary school in Nigeria, but are then separated as Ifemulu manages to get a visa to study in America.  But it's more than that - it's a beautifully observed story about race and subtle prejudice and the experience of being a new migrant.  Ifemulu is a wonderful main character and I already can't wait for whatever Adichie publishes next.


Volume Two will contain my favourites from the months August-December.
Have you read any of these titles?  I'd love to know what you thought of them.

32 comments:

  1. I looooove this way of rounding up the reading year :) Like I did last year, I think I'm going to steal it and stick it in my Sunday Sundries post this week ;).

    Also, love love love that you loved both Rebecca AND Wuthering Heights :)

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    1. Steal away, I'd love to see all of your monthly favourites :)

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  2. I'm very curious about Bitter Greens. It looks fantastic!

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    1. It is fantastic, as is Wild Girl by the same author. Definitely worth checking the local library for at least :)

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  3. I love these posts and I love the way you've done it by month even more. Basically every book on here I either love or am dying to read! Looking forward to part 2 :)

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    1. I didn't think 2013 was a great reading year, but looking back it definitely was!

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  4. I haven't posted my own list yet, but I'm sure A Tale of Two Cities will be on mine too! Wuthering Heights and Rebecca are two of my favourite books and both are on my Classics Club list as re-reads...I hope I can find time for them next year.

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    1. I've been trying to find more time for rereads lately and it's been rewarding so far. If only there wasn't so many amazing new books in the world too1

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  5. Brilliant list! I was convinced I had no favourites this year, but looking back there are definitely more than I thought! Going to have to find a new way of cataloguing my reading for next year I think because I love this monthly favourites thing :-)

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    1. I thought 2013 was a pretty rubbish reading year, to be honest, until I started looking back and realised that I've actually read some great books. All I do to find my monthly favourites is look at the archive on the side of my blog, but then I do tend to review pretty much as soon as I finish a book.

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  6. Such variety! I only share Rebecca with you and, unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much as I did when I was a teen and read it for the first time. Looking forward to part II.

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    1. It's a shame when rereads don't quite live up to expectations. I don't think I would like Rebecca as much on a reread as I'd already know all of the twists....

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  7. I felt exactly the opposite to you on Wuthering Heights - loved it as a teenager but didn't like it so much when I reread it. Rebecca is a book I've been meaning to reread for ages, perhaps I'll do it this year.

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    1. I don't know why I didn't like it as a teenager - you would have thought that all the drama would appeal! I don't know if I would enjoy a reread of Rebecca as all of the suspense would be gone.

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  8. I've only read A Storm of Swords and Wuthering Heights. I like your way of highlighting the best books of the year! Next year I will definitely read Rebecca and Tender is the Night.

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    1. Tender is the Night is so beautiful, you're going to love it.

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  9. Can't wait for your Volume 2 which will include August and I'm sure will not include "A Reliable Wife". Dear... I shift between thinking how awful it was and totally forgettint it!

    I'm really happy you liked Rebecca, by the way. I have read some negative reviews of lately.

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    1. No, don't hold your breath waiting for A Reliable Wife (which has already been donated to the charity shop, anyway!).
      And Rebecca is so good, I'm struggling to see why people would actively dislike it.

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  10. Thank you for your review of "Americanah." I'm looking to read more books from African or African-American authors or books set in Africa this year. I read "Things Fall Apart" by Achebe.

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    1. Things Fall Apart is actually what got me into Nigerian writing, and it led me to Adichie. Purple Hibiscus is my favourite book of hers.

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  11. What a great way of picking your best books, doing it by month. Very interesting books you list here and I love the variety.

    Kind regards,

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    1. It's a nice way to look back over the reading year :)

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  12. I've read both Rebecca and Storm of Swords (my favourite of the Martin series so far) and loved them both! I'll have to check out the other books on your list.

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    1. I agree, Storm of Swords is the best in the series so far - it's so dramatic!

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  13. I really like that you broke this down by month! I'm such a huge fan of A Storm of Swords - I've read it twice, but I'm thinking I might give it a third read before the fourth season of the TV show :)

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  14. I'm planning Tender is the Night for 2014. I came across an amazing quotation from it this year, and then remember your review.

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  15. Americanah really was so very good. I want to read Bitter Greens so badly!! Great year, Sam.

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  16. Great list! I plan to read Adichie next year. I certainly have to considering as I have been saying that for a long time now.

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  17. such a great list of books, The People of Forever are Not Afraid made my list as well

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  18. Gah! So many great books! A TALE OF TWO CITIES!!! REBECCA!!! I let out a little cheer. And I can't wait to read Americanah.

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  19. I love Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I really need to read more from the Brontes in 2014. I am also really looking forward to reading more The Song of Ice and Fire series as I'm two books in so far.

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  20. I added Bitter Greens and Americanah to my own TBR list, and I added a link to your lists at my Saturday Review of Books at Semicolon: http://www.semicolonblog.com/?p=21939 Feel free to enjoy the lists linked there and have a great reading year in 2014!

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