It’s not often that I declare my Book of The Year in September, but that’s what I did when I sent my review of Nino Haratischvili’s The Eighth Life off to The German Riveter. I haven’t changed my mind. So let’s start bestowing this year’s sashes at the top of the podium, as it were.
The German Lit Set
The most unputdownable epic and book of the year: The Eighth Life
The one I regret not reviewing: The Storyteller (I did interview the translators though)
My favourite travelling companion (and now my favourite Peirene of all time): The Empress and The Cake
The saddest unrequited love story: A Man in Love (Translator interview here)
The English Lit Set (and a full house for historical fiction)
Finest Scottish Novel: A Perfect Explanation
The one with the ugliest cover, the foulest language and a Robin-Hood-like villain albeit without the charm: The Gallows Pole
Double agents galore!: A Treachery of Spies
Going back to my roots and favourite read for an online reading event (1930s club): High Wages
Non-fiction and other translated fiction
The perfect start to my Age of the Weimar Republic Reading Project: The Story of The Bauhaus
The quirkiest, most serendipitous find and reference book of the year: The Little Book of Scottish Rain
Crime Novel of the Year: The Silver Road
Guaranteed to warm the cockles of your heart (eventually): A Girl, Returned
The Rule Breaker
I’m breaking my rule of not including re-reads, because this copy of The Great Gatsby is the most beautiful book I will ever own.
The Last Minute Entry (i.e 23:00 on 30.12.2019)
The classic thriller that can be summarised in just one word. WOW! (Full review to follow.)
What I love about this is that I’ve read not a single one of the books you mention (apart from Gatsby ) so that gives me loads of books to add to my wishlist. Yeah!!!
On the strength of your recommendation, I just bought a copy of The Eighth Life.
I loved A Perfect Explanation – it almost made my best of 2019 list (didn’t quite have room but it’s a story I have kept thinking about and it was a big hit with my book group).
I’ll check out A Girl, Returned – it sounds interesting (and I’m haunted by a story I saw on a current affairs sow when I was very young about two babies switched at birth and how the families switched them back at age 2!).
And I remain deeply envious of your copy of Gatsby…
đź‘Ś Good choice.
BTW you still wanting to buddy read Confessions with Blue Horses this month?
Yes, absolutely. I can start whenever it suits you.
2nd half of Jan suit?
Sounds great.