10 of the Best from 2007
December 26, 2007 by lizzysiddal
Based on the most memorable reads - not necessarily the highest star ratings.
1. The Lizard Cage - Karen Connelly
2. The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne - Brian Moore
3. The Darkroom of Damocles - W F Hermans
4. Measuring the World - Daniel Kehlmann
5. The Secret Agent - Joseph Conrad
6. Justin Thyme - Panama Oxbridge
7. Stasiland - Anna Funder
8. The Redbreast - Jo Nesbo
9. Joseph Knight - James Robertson
10. Lanark - Alasdair Gray
How did I get there?
Debut of the Year: The Lizard Cage - Karen Connelly
“Nothing has ever raised my blood pressure the way this novel did.”
Comic Novel of the Year: Measuring the World - Daniel Kehlmann
a “comic take on the insanity that accompanies genius”. Very, very funny!
Historical Novel of the Year: Joseph Knight - James Robertson
“A fictional account of an C18th ground-breaking judicial case” in which the title character is given a voice only in the last 30 pages.
Children’s Novel of the Year: Justin Thyme - Panama Oxbridge
“a thoroughly entertaining mix of riotry, wit, humour and suspense.” Who says self-published is rubbish? This knocks the spots off Harry Potter!
Crime Novel of the Year: The Redbreast - Jo Nesbo
“fast-paced and furious”
Reviewless Novel of the Year: Lanark - Alasdair Gray
So full of ideas, symbols, satire and other imaginative tricks that I find it impossible to condense into a lucid review. Perhaps I need to reread?
Reread of the Year: The Secret Agent - Joseph Conrad
“an examination of the fallout of a terrorist act gone badly wrong” - Published in 1907. As valid as ever it was in 2007.
Foreign Novel of the Year: The Darkroom of Damocles - W F Hermans
“bizarre, politically cynical and … increasingly Kafkaesque”. An object lesson in unreliable narration.
Non-Fiction Title of the Year: Stasiland - Anna Funder
I find I didn’t review this either. But John Self did. Perfect accompaniment to my film of the year: The Lives of Others.
Discovery of the Year: Brian Moore
No surprises here for anyone who has been following my growing addiction during the past 3 months! And addiction is the word …. just look at the state of the 2008 TBR!
The Radetzky March - Joseph Roth 
Cleave - Anthology of Scottish Women's Writing
The Ice Princess - Camilla Lackberg 
Hurray for lists! I will definitely definitely be reading The Lizard Cage in 2008. I tried to cadge a copy off the publisher but it hasn’t arrived even though they said yes so I suspect they didn’t bother; I think I’ll wait for the more manageable paperback (or ‘properback’
then, which is out in Feb/March.
Yeah, Lizzy! A very exciting and inspiring list. Keep up the great work!
Just to be contrary, I’ve ordered not The Darkroom of Damocles but another Hermans novel Beyond Sleep.
Yep - that one’s sitting in the 2008 TBR as well!
Wow! That has to be Brian Moore’s entire catalogue! I have not read a single one of the books you’ve mentioned. I’m trying to figure out which I want to add to my wishlist.
[...] 31, 2007 by lizzysiddal The Best of 2007 posted a few days ago, it’s time to honour that other, less pleasant end of year tradition - [...]
Lizzy - I finally got around to reading “Lanark” this year and found it nigh on impenetrable, as if it had been written more as a display of literary virtuosity than as something worthwhile for the humble reader. I am sure there are a lot of very imaginative and creative ideas in there, but I lost them in my frustration with the structural and linguistic tricksiness.