What's your 'Book of the Decade'?

[toomuchsplother]

Someone has just asked me this! Such a hard one and obviously everyone is going to have a totally different idea.
I am going with 'Lincoln in the Bardo' by George Saunders, which I know is a 'marmite book' but blew me away when I read it.
I have reread it at least 3 times, gifted and recommended it lots too.
Watching with interest to see other people's choices..

Highly recommend
Clockwork Angels by Kevin J Anderson and Neil Peart (RUSH)
A story that can reflect most peoples life and battles -
With an emotional ending that is, in many ways, a summary of what life is all about...
We all are nurturing our own garden... our own family...

Last year was incredible (read Lincoln last year and absolutely loved it) this year not so many standouts, but I'll go for Milkman by Anna Burns. Has to be a lifetime top twenty for me.

Wolf Hall and Life after Life

Goldfinch for me. I refuse to watch the film as it’ll sound it

I agree. I adored the book and I can picture all the characters and the places and the film would spoil this.
Also, the film got bad reviews.

In terms of what I read rather than what was published this decade undoubtedly Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglas, An American Slave I think it should be required reading to graduate from high school in the US

My favourite books from this decade were A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and Life After Life and A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson

The Hare with the Amber Eyes - Edmund de Waal.

I've loved the 'Seven Sisters' series by Lucinda Riley.

I’m torn between ‘All the light we cannot see’ and Ken Follett’s ‘Fall of Giants’. I wish I could go back and re-read them for the first time.

Oh can I join in please. I’m new to ‘what we’re reading’ but my New Years resolution is to complete a 50 book challenge so this is giving me some great ideas.

My book of the decade would be The Storyteller by Jodi Piccoult or Eleanor Ophiliant is completely fine.

Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller or Tin Man by Sarah Winman

There are so many books in the past 10 years that I've loved - two, already mentioned, that come near the top of the list are Wolf Hall and The Goldfinch. But I have to agree with Permanent that Milkman is absolutely standout. I'm amazed that I hadn't heard of Anna Burns until she won the Booker.

My book of the decade has to be A Little Life. I honestly still think about it most days now.
Also big thumbs up for Kate Atkinson too!

The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanegan.

The Goldfinch. My book of the century actually (which means I can consider P&P as my best-ever😄)

Big shout out to all Kate Atkinson's books esp Life After Life and Hilary Mantel's two about Thomas Cromwell.

Must try Lincoln in the Bardo then 😀

@onlyconnect I agree that book was perfect!

@Mumofcats5 I loved A little Life too and thought about it for ages afterwards, so would also say this book.
Also loved a thousand splendid suns and the invention of wings

I have said this on the other thread before but I just don't think I have read a book in the last ten years (so, therefore, written within that time frame) that has changed my life/outlook or blown me away as much as many books written between about 1990 - 2000 ish. I don't think it's an age thing!

Admittedly, I haven't read Lincoln but I have read nearly all the others mentioned on this thread and just thought they were all 'good'.

I will ponder my books and see if I can come up with a contender!

The Atkinsons all left me cold , I'm afraid.

I haven’t read as many books as I would have liked this decade, but in fiction my favourite has to be Life after Life.

In non-fiction I really enjoyed ‘The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lack’ it was fascinating both in terms of her story and also the story of how medical science has moved from the pursuit of discovery to the pursuit of cash. I also think ‘Invisible Women’ by Caroline Criado Perez should be read by everyone.

Placemark to come back too later...

A Thousand Splendid Suns. That book definitely made the biggest impression on me this decade.

Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies by Hilary Mantel.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead.

There have been some stunning books published so far this century.

I'm so tempted to read Lincoln in the Bardo but since I had my baby ds anything about people's children dying goes through me like a knife, I don't know if i could cope with it! Could anyone give me an idea of exactly how much weeping it would likely cause? Is it at all hopeful?

It's very uplifting in its own strange way, and the child death has some heartbreaking moments, but in no way harrowing, and the the little boy is not a very young child.

I’m not sure what my answer is. Potentially How Not to be a Boy by Robert Webb if we are allowed non-fiction.

Bring up the Bodies
The Luminaries
All the Light We Cannot See
The Goldfinch
A Little Life