It's the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness....and reading. As the nights draw in we begin to think of cosy nights by the fire with a good book.
Share with us your favourite books, especially any that you have read this year, as we will soon be looking for recommendations for our Book of the Year.
I really enjoyed a previous contender, The Crimson Rooms by Katherine McMahon. Like many of those who recommended it, I would have loved there to have been a sequel and the good news is that Katherine McMahon has begun working on one.
We wish you a happy autumn of reading and look forward to hearing from you about your favourite books.
59 comments:
I haven't actually read this one yet but 'The Stranger's Child', by Alan Hollinghurst, is an intriguing story starting in 1913. A young poet writes a poem in an autograph book, which becomes known nationwide after he is killed in the Great War. Decades later an biographer starts to unearth some buried secrets...
It's a book that I'm adding to my autumn reading list.
Jill
Richard North Patterson is always “a good read”.
I found 'The Devil's Light' particularly interesting, and different from his usual themes.
I was intrigued by the maps and the detailed Middle East situations discussed – snippets of facts woven through the story.
A difficult subject, written with great fairness.
I recently read 'Into The Darkest Corner' by Elizabeth Haynes. It was recommended to me by two colleagues as well as a customer. It is a daring subject which may not sit comfortably with some people, but I'm glad the subject has been brought to light. I read it very quickly and couldn't put it down. It is gritty and the author skips between past and present , which shows off the character's experiences before and after. on
Yes, the subject of an obsessive admirer is a difficult one to read about, so it's good to hear that it has been tackled in a way which encourages people to read the full story.
Jill
Jill, I read The Stranger's Child recently and loved every single bit of it. I thought I didn't like Alan Hollinghurst's writing but this one made me want to read everything he's written. I bought it for a friend and she loved it as much as I did. The writing is just beautiful and the plot had me gripped from start to finish.
I'm working my way through Hilary Mantel's books, having read and loved Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies.
Oh, and there's a new Maggie O'Farrell out soon - always a treat!
Hi Sharon - that's really interesting, because it is the first Alan Hollinghurst title that I have felt tempted to read by looking at the descriptions on the flyleaf. I'm all the more keen to read it now.
Jill
Hello Jill & Sharon
Well, how funny, I also keep looking at 'The Stranger's Child' and wondering whether I should or shouldn't give it a go, so perhaps I should. It won't be for a while though as I've just started reading Ken Follet's latest 'Winter of the world' which is the second of his Century of giants trilogy, it's a huge book with a vast range of characters and places but if Fall of giants was anything to go by it will be brilliant. I'm also excited to hear that Maggie O'Farrell has a new one out soon, her books are always a pleasure to read.
The Stranger's Child is definitely gaining a following here - maybe it will get nominated for the Book of the Year.
Remember the City Reads promotion earlier this year - Oliver Twist. Recently I went to Brighton and discovered that they were just about to run their City Reads events. Their chosen book was 'My Policeman' by Bethan Roberts - a love triangle story set in 1950's Brighton.
Jill
I started reading the Peter James crime series. WOW! His first book is called Dead Simple and they do have to be read in order, as I was warned by a colleague when I started with the 4th book-d'oh! He is a British author and the books are set in Brighton and the lead character is very likable straightaway. The first plot in the first book is very cringy - most probably everyone's nightmare! The first 2 chapters had me hooked. Very easy to get into, with lots of twists and a fast pace! I'm very fortunate to have at least 7 more titles to get my teeth into! Many thanks to my colleague who passed him onto me!
Thank you, Elena. Suddenly Brighton is becoming a theme! Does anyone else have a book set in Brighton to recommend?
Meanwhile, as we celebrate success in the Ryder Cup in this year of Sport, here is a recommendation that I have received.
'Full Circle' by John MacLean.This is the autobiography of the Australian Paralympian, who, as well as winning a silver medal for rowing, completed 3 Iron Man Challenges, and swam the English Channel. Until the age of 22 John was a promising athlete. Then he was knocked down by a hit and run driver and his life changed forever. He was determined to overcome his physical problems and would never refer to himself as ‘disabled’ but rather as ‘physically challenged’. When he retired from professional sport, he became a public speaker and used the money that was raised to found The John MacLean Foundation, which works with under privileged children. He also wanted to meet with the man who had run him over, which he managed to do and was able to put closure on the incident – a remarkable story of a remarkable man.
Jill
Talking of sports books I really enjoyed this one - 'Bobby Moore' edited by David Emery.
This is neither a biography, nor an autobiography, but a collection of articles and essays written about the life of the footballer, Bobby Moore, detailing episodes from his childhood and his adult life, depicting both the sports star and the man.
WE had more good news this year in tennis as well so I'd like to recommend 'Open' by Andre Agassi.
A wonderful, sensitive autobiography, which will make you laugh and cry. Agassi recalls his oppressive childhood and adolescence during which his life was absolutely ruled by tennis – a game he has always loathed. The book charts Agassi’s rise to fame, his failed marriage to Brooke Shields, his descent into drugs and his re-emergence as the world’s no.1 tennis star. He speaks very movingly about his love for Steffi Graf, his second wife, and their two children, and his foundation for under privileged children that he has founded in Las Vegas. This is an exceptional book and will appeal whether or not you are a fan of tennis.
While we have a sports theme and tennis has been mentioned, here is another one which might appeal. It's called 'Serious' and it's by John McEnroe.
If you like John McEnroe and you like tennis, you’ll love this lively and engaging autobiography. McEnroe is very frank and open about his outstanding career, his temper tantrums, his first marriage to the actress, Tatum O’Neal, his second marriage to the musician, Patty Smyth, and his new career as a New York art dealer. It is fast paced and edgy, and full of interesting insights about life on the ATP tour.
Jill
Has anyone tried the new JK Rowling yet?
(I wonder what it'll be like - can she do it again?)
I'd be interested to hear the answer to that question too - I've heard rumours of dissension on this. Do tell us what you think.
Jill
"Carrying on with the sporting theme, I recently read a book called 'Tales from Q School' by John Feinstein.
I had promised to watch the Ryder Cup with my golf-mad dad, and being an avid reader, I thought the best way to prepare was to read a book or two on golf.
Golfers who play at the top level of the game on the PGA Tour have to finish in the top 125 in order to continue playing the following year. For those who don't, or who are playing at lower levels, a spot on the PGA Tour is the prize they compete for through three gruelling rounds of Qualifying School, and this book follows some of the 400 players competing for just 25 places on the 2006 Tour. The author focuses on the players' lives off the golf course as much as on it, and creates real emotional tension as he describes what the players have gone through to get this far in their career, and what it would mean to them and to their families if they don't get through.
The only thing I struggled with was keeping up with who was who, as the author tells the stories of about 50 different golfers in a relatively short book! But well worth a read"
Here's another good sports title - 'Bleachers' by John Grisham
Bleachers are the cheap open air seats at American Football stadia. This novel tells the story of a man who once played American Football for The Spartans. In his later life, he returns to the town where he once played because his former coach is dying of cancer. While on the bleachers reminiscing, his fellow team players, who have also returned to the town to meet with their coach, come to join him and they each share the stories of their lives since their playing days. This is a well-constructed novel, full of emotion.
I've read another John Grisham with a sports theme 'Calico Joe' .
This is a newly published (2012) novel by the acclaimed thriller writer. It is a move away from his usual genre and deals with the father / son relationship set against the background of American Baseball. Well worth reading. For those who have no knowledge of the game, there is a useful section at the beginning which explains all the terms that you come across later in the story.
Interesting to hear about John Grisham moving from thrillers to a new style of writing.
The following book has the theme of sport, plus mystery - 'The Inheritance' by Jenny Pitman
Following in the steps of Dick Francis, this is a mystery novel set in the world of horse racing. It is the 5th ‘Jan Harvey’ story and concerns the reasons behind her brother’s unexpected inheritance and the mysterious sickness which afflicts her horses. I'm told that it is a real page turner – and you’ll want to read the others in the series.
Jill
I have to mention the Booker prize winner - Hilary Mantel – 'Bring up the Bodies'. I found it just as good (or even better?) than Wolf Hall.
One of those books you’ll never forget. Definitely a candidate for the Book of the Year
Yes - do look at the Book of the Year link on our homepage and don't forget to let us know about your suggestions too. I definitely agree with this reader - Anne B recommends 'Annabel' by Kathleen Winter. She says “This novel deals with a difficult subject, as the central character has been born a hermaphrodite, but Winter creates a book which is both beautiful and tragic, as she represents the experience in a very sensitive and subtle way.
Great sympathy is created for the parents as well as for their child; as the book is set in Canadian Labrador, we are given an insight into the culture of that place too.
The opening of the book, with its sense of unearthly beauty and danger, sets the tone for the rest of the novel, but the final pages do offer a more optimistic resolution”.
I heard it dramatised on the radio and it was a gripping story.
Jill
Talking of gripping stories - this one was good - 'Fall of Giants' by Ken Follett. It's the history of the events leading up to and including the first World War from five different perspectives: Welsh miners, the upper classes, a wealthy German family, the Russian poor, and a rich British family…
You're right about 'Fall of Giants' – Ken Follett. It's
an excellent story about family life above and below stairs…always so well researched and such believable characters: I can’t wait to read the next one.
Dear Barbara - I've just started reading Ken Follett’s latest - 'Winter of the world' - which is the second of his 'Century of Giants' trilogy. It's a huge book with a vast range of characters and places but if 'Fall of giants' was anything to go by it will be brilliant.
Perhaps you'd all like this book too. 'My Dear, I Wanted to Tell You' by Louisa Young. It's an interesting and brilliantly crafted story but all based on truth about World war 1.
It’s also of particular interest because of the involvement of our local Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup and the surgeons who worked there and did so much to pioneer plastic surgery as we know it today.
A wonderful book!
I loved that book too. The story of soldiers at the front and their communications with their loved ones. You almost feel at the front yourself as the description is so vivid.
I liked 'The Last Summer' by Judith Kinghorn.
It is about WW1 and starts from the balmy summer of 1914 and how everyone's lives change so dramatically within a matter of weeks. I love books about WW1 and WW2 and it is great to find a new author who writes about that era.
Hi Charmaine
I agree - books about WW1 and 2 are among my favourites too, I'm fascinated and horrified by that part of our recent history.
There are also some very good books set between the wars, have you tried for instance 'The crimson rooms' by Katherine Mcmahon? Not only is it about a family struggling to come to terms with the loss of their son, it also highlights the struggle facing women trying to be recognised as equals in careers such as Law.
To the Ken Follett readers out there I have news of Winter of the World - the second of the century of Giants trilogy. I've just received this recommendation. "This is a sweeping saga following various families from different countries as they go through the second world war. It was by turns shocking and incredible to read about German civilian life at that time and really opened my eyes to their suffering. Up until now I hadn’t really appreciated the lives of ordinary Germans during the war as every other book on that subject focuses on the camps.
Well done Mr Follett for bringing this story into the mainstream".
This series by Ken Follet is getting lots of recommendations for the Book of the Year - please do keep sending in your suggestions and telling us about them on Bex-read.
Jill
My vote goes to Hilary Mantel's sequel to 'Wolf Hall' - 'Bring up the Bodies'.
It graphically depicts life in the Tudor court and portrays the times in a hugely engaging and enjoyable read. Thomas Cromwell is presented as a fantastic character who I find incredibly appealing.
I've just read Elena's comment about Dead Simple by Peter James. I agree - fast paced, and once you've started - impossible to put down.
I agree with Anne and Jill.I’d like to recommend Annabel by Kathleen Winter as my outstanding read of the year so far.
A first novel, set mostly in the frozen north of Labrador, Canada, it tackles the difficult subject of a child born with both genders. Christened Wayne by the father, he grows up to the world of a trapper only to have the female part of him, Annabel, surface at puberty. Very well written with a small range of characters who are all treated with sympathy. It would make a very worthy Bexley book of the year, and I can confidently nominate this title.
I'd like to nominate 'The Help' by Katherine Stockett.
What was so good about it?. Everything!
It was so well written…you could really imagine the characters. It was very educational, too, exploring what actually happened in relatively recent years.
Actually, Chrissie, I agree. Definitely another choice for my book of the year!
Yes - The Help is definitely one of my recommendations for the Book of the Year.
As a thriller, 'Child 44' by Tom Robb Smith is my book of the year - it really stood out for me.
Oh yes, a dramatic debut novel set in Stalinist Russia, where a member of the secret police risks everything to find a killer.
Jill
Yes, that's another one of my favourites from this year too.
For a gripping novel try 'Before I go to Sleep' by S.J. Watson.
Ever since the 'accident' Christine has had trouble remembering things. Everything. And every morning after she wakes up she finds out the horrible truth of her condition. Sometimes its better sometimes its worse. But is getting back her memory worth the consequences...?
We agree. We’ve read this after it being recommended to us…and it’s also being enjoyed by at least 5 more of our customers!
Couldn’t put it down! Gripping, right to the end…thought you had the end, but there was still another twist. BRILLIANT!
Another gripping book - but this time sadly true - is 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' by Rebecca Skoot. Her cancer cells became one of the most important tools in medicine - without her permission. A story that needs to be told.
In the interests of science, who knows what parts of us can be taken without our knowledge or consent, even if “the ends justify the means”. A wonderful book.
We are coming close to deciding on the longlist for our Book of the Year - so if you have a book you want to suggest, please do so soon.
Jill
The longlist for our Book of the Year is announced. Thank you to all who contributed suggestions. Do join in discussing which one is best. Here, in no particular order, is the list.
Tom Rob Smith - Child 44
Alan Hollinghurst - The Stranger's Child
Louisa Young - My Dear, I Wanted to Tell You
S.J.Watson - Before I go to Sleep
Madeline Miller - The Song of Achilles
Katharine McMahon - The Crimson Rooms
Kathryn Stockett - The Help
Rosie Thomas - The Kashmir Shawl
Ken Follett - Fall of Giants
Hilary Mantel - Bring up the Bodies
Kathleen Winter - Annabel
Rebecca Skloot - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Which one would you choose?
Jill
So many people were gripped by 'The Crimson Rooms' when it first came out that it could be a popular choice - certainly one of my favourites. Set just after the First World War in a world still haunted by the horror but changed for ever, it follows the struggles of a female lawyer against the traditions of what was once a man's world.
Jill
I'd like 'Bring Up the Bodies' by Hilary Mantel to win. It's already a proven winner, as she won the ManBooker Prize with it this year. In doing so she became the first British author to win the award twice, and the only author to win the prize for two consecutive books in a series.
I'd like it to be 'Fall of Giants' by Ken Follett. As with all his books, it is so well researched - with five very different families across five countries finding their lives becoming inextricably entangled during the many world changing events of the early twentieth century.
My vote would go to 'The Stranger's Child' by Alan Hollinghurst. It is catching the attention of people who have not read his work before, so it's like a trailblazer for his other books. That has to be a sign of a good book - that it leads people to try other works by the same author.
Kathleen Winter's 'Annabel' definitely deserves to be considered - such a complex subject for a first novel. She deals sensitively with the problems of a family of a young hermaphrodite child in a traditional society. Few established authors have tackled such a question and this novel has been nominated for several prizes.
How about 'The Song of Achilles' by Madeline Miller - it's already won the Orange Prize for Fiction, which shows that it is an excellent and original novel - and I found it really brought the myths of the ancient Greeks to life.
'Before I go to Sleep' by S.J.Watson please - gripping, with a twist at the end - it won the Crime Writers' Association New Blood dagger award.
I'd also like to highlight 'The Help' by Kathryn Stockett - both well written [from the point of view of an African-American maid in America in the 1960's ] and educational, it has been popular enough to make into a film.
Do tell us what you think should win.
Jill
My two favourites from your list are both set in and around the first world war and both were wonderful stories. My dear I want to tell you and the Crimson rooms would both be worthy winners.
It is going to be so difficult to choose a winner, so far most of the titles mentioned I've thought "Oh yes that one should definitely win" The only two I haven't read out of the titles mentioned recently, 'Bring up the bodies' and 'The strangers child', are on my "must read soon" list.
Thank you all for your contributions. I'm guessing that you'll all be busy with Christmas right now, so we'll see you in the New Year, when we will announce the top three in our Book of the Year in ascending order.
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year from all at Bex-Read.
Welcome back readers - I hope you had a good Christmas and New Year. We celebrate the start of 2013 by announcing in reverse order the winners of the Book of the Year for which you have been making suggestions.
In third place, the Bronze award goes to 'The Stranger's Child' by Alan Hollinghurst. Some of you said that you were adding this to your reading list, so now's the time to give it a try.
Jill
Today we announce the silver award in the Book of the Year. In second place is 'The Song of Achilles' by Madeline Miller. It won the Orange Prize for fiction in 2012 and has entranced readers with its love story from Ancient Greece.
Jill
And the winner is... The Gold award for the Book of the Year is
'My dear, I wanted to tell you' by Louisa Young.
Set in the First World War, it's a novel of love and war - which moves between Ypres, London, Paris, (and even Sidcup Hospital).
See the Blogbrary for more details about our winners - and do join in here and tell us what you think about them.
Jill
I'm delighted that The Stranger's Child got a place. I read it recently and loved every single bit of it. The plot had me gripped from start to finish. Definitely worthy of an award.
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