Which would you pick?

[Sparklesandtassles]

This is my ‘books to read’ pile. Some have been loaned to me, some gifted, one I have read before but is my ‘book club’ book so reluctantly feel the need to re-read.
Which would you start with? My New Years resolution is to finish this pile before I buy any more!

Hamnet. Perfect for January.

Leave Crawdads till last and then break your resolution and get another book to read before it.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and Three Hours we’re both top reads for me last year, and Girl, Woman, Other was a top read the year before (although Mr Loverman by the same author eclipsed it). So any of those for me. Depends a bit what sort of read you want though as there is quite a variety there. Three Hours was a fast page turner though, if that’s something you’re after.

Ladder of years! Love this book and feel a bit jealous that you haven't read it yet. Wish I could wipe my memory and read all Anne Tyler's books fresh!

I've read five of these, my favourite was Hamnet.

Brilliant selection - it would depend on my mood but I would go for Hamnet!

Another vite for Hamnet!

My top two would be the Matt Haig and Albert Camus.
Nice selection

Hamnet

Three Hours I loved, and Crawdads is beautifully written (although parts of the story is flawed).

Couldn’t get into Hamnet although I know others love it.

Girl, Woman, Other. It's really good. Any Ann Tyler is going to be a great read, also. Likewise Maggie O'Farrell (although I haven't yet read Hamnet). Where the Crawdads Sing was a disappointment- lovely nature writing, interspersed with some poorly written fiction.

Is Hamnet sad? It looks interesting but I’m not very good at books or films with [that topic].

Yes Hamnet is sad

Hamnet is brilliant, not at all like any of Maggie's previous books but just as well written. It's interesting and sad and intriguing at the same time.

Having said that, Days Without End is also absolutely bloody brilliant! Again, really interesting and also sad in parts, and of course very well written.

Just my opinion of course! But I'd go for either of these.

@PeskyRooks

Ladder of years! Love this book and feel a bit jealous that you haven't read it yet. Wish I could wipe my memory and read all Anne Tyler's books fresh!

I agree with this wholeheartedly! Absolutely Ladder of Years. One of my favorite books of all time.

Of those I have only read Crawdads and Girl, Woman, Other. I agree with @TheAnswerIsCake Mr Loverman was better than GWO, but it was a decent read.

Re: Crawdads I 100% agree with @JaninaDuszejko keep buying other books so you don't get to it. (It is a marmite book I think, I don't see a lot of middle ground love for it).

Thanks all - most helpful to get some differing perspectives!

After reading your comments I was torn between Hamnet and Ladder of Years but decided on the Anne Tyler in the end. Am only a chapter in but enjoying it so far.

Incidentally Crawdads was the one I’ve read before and has just been selected by my book club as the next read. I did enjoy it when I read it 18 months ago but can barely remember a thing about it - this could possibly be my peri-menopausal brain at work or that it ultimately lacked substance…anyway I’m not relishing the thought of re-reading it! Maybe I’ll try the audiobook version instead.

Can also see me purchasing Mr Loverman in the not too distant future. Thanks for recommending.

I didn’t enjoy the Crawdads either @Sparklesandtassles. Style over substance imho.

@SmallElephant

Yes Hamnet is sad

Thanks. I’ll leave it for another decade then

Curveball: Days without End. Read it and really liked it.

An other suggestion is, read loans first and then either from top to bottom or bottom to top.

Days Without End, because it's wonderful; but then again that might mean you'll have peaked too soon and read the best first...!
Or Three Hours? Haven't read it, but from a quick google it sounds like it'll be pretty gripping.

I really liked Three Hours. Would definitely recommend reading it in a blitz when you have a chunk of time, particularly the first third or so - you need to get into it.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close! Loved it and have reread it a couple of times