Please or to access all these features

What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

What's your favourite book of 2016... so far.

91 replies

Eviesmummy2011 · 07/08/2016 10:18

Hi Everyone. As we are a little over half way through the year I was wondering what everyone's favourite book was, so far this year? I have read 16 books this year and I have to say that the one that is head and shoulders ahead of all the others I have read is Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. I absolutely LOVED this book and the fact that it's based on the true story of Agnes Magnusdottir (the last woman to be executed in Iceland) made it even more of a draw. I loved it so much that I am seriously contemplating re-reading it again today. Smile

OP posts:
cdtaylornats · 30/08/2016 20:33

The Desert and the Blade by S.M. Stirling

WipsGlitter · 30/08/2016 20:23

I just read To the Bright Edge of the World and loved it.

Also the Maggie O'Farrell loved, loved it.

And Lie With Me.

Just started Nest and can tell I'm going to love it too!!

crapfatbanana · 29/08/2016 22:49

My stand out reads of the year so far have been:

The Vegetarian which I think will stay vividly in my mind for some time.
Any Human Heart because it was gripping from start to finish.

blardyfeck · 29/08/2016 17:18

Shtum by Jem Lester - a book about Ben and Emma and their son Jonah who is autistic, and their bid to secure him a place at a suitable residential school. It's funny, poignant and compelling. I read it in a couple of days and cried at the end. I cannot recommend it enough.

Muskey · 29/08/2016 16:03

River Wild Chronicles by Robyn Hobb loved this triology so much. I don't usually read fantasy novels but I was given a free kindle book by Amazon and I picked the first of this triology because I liked the cover.

Wilberforce2 · 29/08/2016 15:57

*on

Wilberforce2 · 29/08/2016 15:56

Girl in the Train by far!

marieliz · 29/08/2016 15:48

I loved Burial Rites too. I have read The Vegetarian which is shocking, sad, funny and beautifully translated from Korean.
It won't be everyone's cup of tea though.

Grumbug · 29/08/2016 15:21

Great question! Torn between The Muse (Jessie Burton) and Golden Hill (Francis Spufford). Actually not torn. Spufford is a genius and it has to be Golden Hill. Set in C18th NYC. Constant page turner with a series of brilliant twists, only one of which I predicted. Anyone else read it? Don't want to spoil it.....

marilynmonroe · 26/08/2016 14:27

For me it was last act of love by Cathy retzunbrink. Stunning and hugely affected me. Took me a while to get over.

Currently on holiday and loved God in ruins by Kate Atkinson.

fascicle · 22/08/2016 12:34

GandolfBold
The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma was utterly brilliant.

That would be my choice too. Consistently good throughout - fantastic story telling. And it's a first novel.

GetAHaircutCarl · 22/08/2016 11:57

God In Ruins by Kate Atkinson.

worldsworstchildren · 22/08/2016 11:53

Esme Lennoxbook is brilliant Topaz. Awful to think these things really happened though

highlandcoo · 22/08/2016 11:49

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson was totally enjoyable and absorbing from start to finish. Loved it.

I'd been so looking forward to Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels but just couldn't get properly involved and focused on the characters. Maybe a translation issue? I'd gone ahead and bought the first three so might plod on with number 2 later in the year.

kikidee · 22/08/2016 11:47

I've just finished A Little Life by Hanya Yanighera and thought it was fantastic. Heartbreaking but lovely.

jetSTAR · 22/08/2016 08:40

There have been quite a few books I have loved this year. I have really enjoyed Justin Cronin's Passage series books 1 and 2. I'm saving book 3 for later as I don't want it to be over.

TopazRocks · 17/08/2016 16:02

I've got a bit behind with my Maggie o'Farrell reading - but hearing her on R4 Book Club recently got me reading Instructions for a Heatwave. I loved it. I'm going to start on the Esme Lennox one next. It's weird as we had a family member, a great aunt, who was in a similar situation as Esme Lennox.

TeaMeBasil · 12/08/2016 11:39

A man called Ove and Dark Matter are the best so far I think.

Just getting into Kate Mortons The Lake House now, hoping it'll be another good one!

troglodite · 12/08/2016 11:35

I also really enjoyed the Heart goes last - very witty

firedancer · 11/08/2016 20:46

The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood.

worldsworstchildren · 11/08/2016 20:42

Just finished The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. It's a massive read but I was hooked from the start. One of the best books I've ever read Smile

YvaineStormhold · 11/08/2016 20:42

Place marking...

2StripedSocks · 11/08/2016 20:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sadik · 11/08/2016 20:32

Hard to single out just one, but Dark Star by Oliver Langmead is definitely in the top few, and seems surprisingly unknown. It's noir sci-fi, written in blank verse and set on a planet where there is no visible light.

I also loved Grief is the Thing With Feathers.

capercaillie · 11/08/2016 20:25

Another vote for HHhH - saw recommended on here and completely brilliant. Also loved All the light we cannot see.

Nothing else has come close to those this year!

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.