Rd
I’d been intending to do a half-year wrap-up but then this topic turned up for Top Ten Tuesday from the lovely ladies at The Broke and The Bookish so I thought I’d join in. If you take part too, remember to add a link to your post on their blog page and then go blog hopping!
I’ve been lucky enough to read so many wonderful books in the past six months that it’s been difficult to choose. However, after much reflection, here is my list with some hints at the reason for my choice. Click on the title to read my review.
Best Second Novel – The Good People by Hannah Kent
Best Literature in Translation – The Executioner Weeps by Frederic Dard
Best Unconventional Love Story – Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves by Rachel Malik
Best Tearjerker – A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Best Action Thriller – Ares Road by James L Weaver
Best Debut – These Dividing Walls by Fran Cooper
Best Short Novel – Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift
Best New Historical Fiction Series – Vindolanda by Adrian Goldsworthy
Best Non-Fiction – A Countess in Limbo by Olga Hendrikoff & Sue Carscallen
Best Literary Prize-winner – Days Without End by Sebastian Barry
Are any of these amongst your own Top Ten? What have you read so far this year that would make your list?
Fabulous eclectic mix of books on your list – Mothering Sunday and A Monster Calls are both tremendous reads aren’t they?
The Countess in Limbo looks fascinating – right up my alley!
http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com.au/2017/06/top-ten-tuesday-best-of-2017so-far.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you enjoy A Countess in Limbo if you decide to read it. The sections during the occupation of Paris in WW2 are gripping. The author was a remarkable lady
LikeLiked by 1 person
I still haven’t read A Monster Calls – I really need to get on to it, because it sounds absolutely heart-breaking (and I love books that hurt me!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Trust me, it’s sad. But it’s also uplifting at the same time. The film version was pretty good as well, not as good as the book though (they hardly ever are, are they?)
LikeLike
A monster call definitely on my top ten and under tearjerker too. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent is on my list. Looks like I need to read The Good People!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Burial Rites is now on my list having read The Good People. I think she’s a talented writer
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoyed Mothering Sunday. Some great picks that I’ve added to my to read list: Countess in Limbo, These Dividing Walls and Miss Boston and Miss H. All sound very good though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These Dividing Walls and Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves were both amazing debuts I thought.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll get to them eventually. I”ll give you a shout-out–I saved your link –when I do a review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll be really interested to see what you think of them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the way you’ve separated your favourites. It’s inspired me to read a bit more diversely, genre-wise! Also, I definitely need to check out Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I think blogging has encouraged me to read different genres, although I do love my historical fiction. I see books recommended on other blogs that I probably would not have chosen them otherwise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I definitely stick to my fantasy books, but I’ve been trying this year to step out into more contemporary fiction. It’s kind of working 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s nice to try something different once in a while (I must try some fantasy now and again, for instance!) But it’s most important to enjoy your reading, I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A Monster Calls is on my TBR so I’m happy to hear you loved it! I just keep putting it off because I’m afraid of the heartbreak. I’ll get to it sometime soon I guess, just need to be in the right mood for it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is sad but it’s uplifting as well, I thought.
LikeLike
Mothering Sunday has been on my TBR list for nearly a year now. I need to get to it this summer. It’s silly to have waited this long to read such a short book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
LikeLike
I really want to read Days Without End and almost borrowed it from the library last time I saw it but I have so many books out already I didn’t dare pick up any more 🙂 Maybe next time though.
LikeLike
I think you’ll find it’s well worth it when you do. To my mind, justifies all the praise and prizes it’s received.
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] joined other bloggers for Top Ten Tuesday, sharing my ten best books of the year so far. Wednesday has become WWW Wednesday, where I and […]
LikeLike