Mumsnet Talk

Since we're almost at the end of the year, was just looking back at what I've read.

Favourite books include The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes, The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett and A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen

Worst Stone Junction by Jim Dodge

Most disappointing was Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler. I am a big fan of her, but have been disappointed, underwhelmed by her latest writing.

I haven't managed to read as much as I'd like (mainly due to mumsnet!). After recommendation on here I read Before I Go To Sleep and loved it.

Don't really have a worst book, I tried to read Bill Bryson At Home but found it a bit hard going so gave up, however I'll have another try as it sounds interesting.

Just marking place to give me some inspiration for my next book choice

Best reads - The House By The Sea - Santa Montefiore and The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

Worst reads - Every Last One - Anna Quindlen, Dark Matter by Michelle Paver and The Thousand Autumns Of Jacob Zoet by David Mitchell

Bit too hungover tired to think of a full list but Before I Go To Sleep sticks out as my worst. Good idea but they should have got someone literate else to write it.

Best read - How to be a woman by Caitlin Moran. A great, funny and informative read. Also currently enjoying her Moranthology.

Worst read - 99 reasons why by Caroline Smailes. Just horrible to read. Couldn't finish it.

Yes wasn't keen on Before I Go To Sleep either. Seems like it is a real Marmite book.

Couldn't get into Shattered: Modern Motherhood by Asher either, although I thought I would enjoy that sort of book (non-fiction though btw).

Also wasn't keen on Kathryn Flett's book Separate Lives, although like her writing usually.

I you work in an office type environment I liked And Then We Came to The End by Joshua Ferris. Detailed (have to have a bit of time to get into it) but soo true at times. Clever writing.

I loved The Blackhouse by Peter May. I also loved Pigeon English, but not the pigeon bits...

I did not enjoy The People's Act of Love at all. It took me what felt like 9 years to read.

Loved How To Be A Woman but couldn't read Moranthology, awful!

TheWave I couldn't get on with that Joshua Ferris book at all.
That's why I love threads like this.

Agree with How to be a Woman. That was my Christmas read last year.

It seems I haven't read anything released this year! My reading list from this year appears to show me catching up on stuff I've been meaning to read for a while!

Of those, the best have been Innocent Traitor (Alison Weir), The Siege of Krishnapur (J.G. Farrell), The Siege (Helen Dunmore) and Still Missing (Beth Gutcheon).
The worst have been The Slap and The Colour of Forgetting (Merle Collins).

I have really enjoyed My Dear, I wanted to tell you by Louisa Young, Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes and Me Before you by Jojo Moyes

Loved the 100 year old man who climbed out of a window

The unlikely pilgimage of Harold Fry is my best book of the year. I thought 'me before you' was a pile of poo, so that's my worst. Also disliked 'how to be a woman'.
Enjoyed 'the dinner' by Herman Koch. Original and entertaining.

My best reads this year have been Still Missing by Beth Gutcheon, My Dear I Wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young, The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, and The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. Loads of others I've liked a lot too, inc Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, The Hunger Games, How To Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran and The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides.

My least favourites would be Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson. So disappointing. I was expecting to really love this novel (I love a good thriller) and yet I hated it and also The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt - loathed it.

Worst read definitely 50 Shades

The Slap was dire! Bought it to take on holiday and ended up leaving it in a bench on purpose.

i can never remember books i hated
Liked

where the hell have you been by tom carver ( non fic)
harold fry
the submission
where did ya go bernadette ( almost fave)
liked before i got to sleep ( it was ok)
liked defendin jacob
liked that weird one about differnet people - the Goon squad that one

HATE HATE HATE all MOran books ( can remmebr that ) and 50 shades shit

agree 100 year old man hilarious
LIked rachel heaths book although not as much as her last one
LOVED The return of captain John emmet
the new Seralllier mystery by old Susan Hill

LOVED Alys ALways by Harriet Lane ( ex mumsnetter too!)

HATED tigers in red weather
LOVED Wife 22 and the pop book Wired for sound by Tom bromley
Liked Gone girl despite its end

Liked DOuble cross by Ben mcintyre Liked Night Waking and liked Col gadaffi hat ( although she was a bit weird imo)

LOVED the blackhouse - the sequels not as much
LOVED LOVED The Asylum( not on kindle)
Next to love was ok and LOVED the Amor towles Rules of Civility

there - i went backwards in my kindle to January this year!

Oh yes, forgot to add Gone Girl. Actually I didn't mind the ending. Don't want to plot spoil, but I thought it was a good twist - wasn't expecting it to end like that. Another good one - The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan.

Worst... Crimson petal and the white, just could not get into it, first book I haven't finished for a long time.

Best... Close between elif shafak, the forty rules of love and Lloyd jones, mister pip.

Worst, 50 shades. Man, this year's gone fast. Must have been about May-ish I read those. Disclaimer: my husband bought me the trilogy. I'd not have bought it for myself until I saw all three reduced to £1.99 at The Works

Best? blimey, reading is my big thing and I often get through two a week. So the ones that stand out for me are The Wicked Girls and the final part of the Jack Nightingale Trilogy. Oh, I read The Hunger Games too. First two are great. The third feels a bit padded and pointless. Sophie Hannah had one out this year too which I always enjoy. Oh and how could I forget? Glenn Cooper. Cracking reads!

Loved Water for elephants by Sara Gruen .
So different to usual type of books I go for and a really good read.

Worst wasThe birthing house by Christopher ransom
Despite constant urging from a colleague i just couldnt bring myself to finish it.It was that crap.

Worst - the woman who went to bed for a year (Sue Townsend of Adrian Mole fame) promised so much and then a completely rubbish ending.

Best - Carrie's War - re-read it again after Nina Bawden's death. Was a favourite as a child and just as good as an adult.