Is there anything better than reading? Okay so I might be overstating it, but where else can you visit unknown universes, explore the intricacies of human nature and experience the heights and depths of emotion… And if you happen to be a library lover, you get to do all this for free!
If you want to be a writer, the very first piece of advice anyone in the industry will give you is this: read. Read everything, read in your genre, read outside of your genre. Take notes, understand what it is about a book that compels you to turn the page, to care about the characters, to become involved in what might happen next.
I took that advice to heart this year and read 74 books.
I love the page turners. Fast-paced, multi-layered, complex characters, exceptional writing. If I don’t feel like a book ‘gets’ human nature, I’ll put it down. Thrillers, character dramas, middle grade/young adult fiction, dsytopian fiction, fantasy – I don’t really mind about the genre as long as it draws me in, makes me think and provokes me to care about what happens next.
If you haven’t visited the middle grade/Young Adult genre for great titles – you really should! Check out my post from earlier in the year ‘Seven Kids’ Books That Can Also Be Enjoyed by Adults‘.
So, without further ado, here is my list (in no particular order):
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (Gail Honeyman)
I had heard so many good things about this book and it did not disappoint. Eleanor is such an endearing character despite of (or perhaps because of) her many quirks. Her struggle to grasp the supposedly ‘normal’ social conventions, her fascinating internal commentary and the shimmers of vulnerability that shine out unexpectedly – all contribute towards making her someone you want everything to work out for. I won’t spoil the story by revealing too much more, but Honeyman is a master of the gradual reveal. She expertly weaves in humour along with the darker elements and makes the book both heart-warming and heart-achingly beautiful.
The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone (Jaclyn Moriarty)
What a charming, unpredictable and interesting book. I laughed and smiled the whole way through and found Bronte to be a very compelling main character. The elaborate journey that she takes is filled with surprises, coincidences and delights and it is all woven together with such a deft touch. The sequel, The Slightly Alarming Tale of the Whispering Wars is also exceptionally written, though in a very different format, and Moriarty is a master of creating vibrant worlds with memorable characters, dealing with sobering subject matter with a witty and light touch. Plus, the illustrations by Kelly Canby add the perfect touch. A middle grade series, but enjoyable for adults too.
The Dark Lake (Sarah Bailey)
What an incredible debut crime thriller! I found Bailey’s writing so easy to read, complex in the best ways and her descriptions are particularly wonderfully crafted. Gemma’s character had great depth (even if she was humanly unlikable at times) and she carried the story well. Check out the sequel Into the Night for another great read.
The Second Cure (Margaret Morgan)
If you want a book that will make you think, hook you in and beckon you to pick it up and compulsively read it until you are done – this is it. This speculative fiction novel is set in Australia, taking a look at what could happen if a pandemic that altered people’s brains was allowed to spin out of control, particularly when the consequences of that infection are loved by some and despised by others. There are elements of religion, politics, culture, biology, music and relationships and they are expertly woven together to create a fast-paced and clever book. The politics of the book are a little cynical, as is its view of religion, although some critiques are sobering and valid. Some of the themes are a little on the gritty side, so maybe not one for those who are more conservative…
The Girl Who Drank the Moon (Kelly Barnhill)
This book has stayed with me long after reading. Exquisite storytelling, wonderful characters and superbly done. I felt completely drawn into the magical world and cared deeply about what happened. Based upon what seems like a very dark premise (where each year the people of the Protectorate leave a human baby as a sacrifice for the Witch who lives in the forest, hoping she will leave them alone) the entire tale is incredibly redemptive, starting with Xan (the Witch) who saves the baby each year to deliver to welcoming families on the other side of the forest. Luna, the central character who is fed moonlight accidentally and becomes astonishingly powerful, has to reckon with the nature of her power, leave the safety of everything she has ever known and reach deep within herself to overcome evil. A book intended for middle grade readers, but deep enough to be enjoyed by adults as well.
Looking for more by this author? Check out The Witch’s Boy.
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Jessica Townsend)
This is the first book of an incredible new series for those who loved Harry Potter or simply love a good fantasy/adventure set in a magical universe. Nevermoor is expertly created with depth (but not a deluge of information), Morrigan Crow is the perfect protagonist and I love Jupiter North. The plot is unravelled perfectly – keeping just the right amount of suspense without being frustrating. I recently read the sequel – Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow which was equally as good. Townsend is an expert storyteller and has an absolutely brilliant imagination. Great for middle grade readers and adults alike.
The Family Next Door (Sally Hepworth)
Brilliantly done. This book hooked me in right away with its dramatic beginning and the oh so realistic depictions of what really goes on inside the heads of the women. I loved the setting of Pleasant Court and the surrounding area of Sandringham. It is so great to see real Australian settings used in books. Sally is a master of pacing, plotting and revealing elements with perfect timing. Definitely one if you are a fan of Liane Moriarty style books. Loved it!
The Colours of Madeleine Series (Jaclyn Moriarty)
At first I was sceptical… Colours that attack? A modern day crossover to Cambridge and the strange backwater town of Bonfire in the Kingdom of Cello? Vapid columns by the Princesses of Cello in The Cellian Herald? Isaac Newton, Lord Byron, Ada Lovelace? How on earth could all of these possibly work together. But they did – strangely, magically and enchantingly. Madeleine is such a vague protagonist but the letters between her and Elliot Baranski were fascinating and compelling, opening her up to the reader and becoming a humorous way to self-critique the book’s tenets. I had to list all three of the books because the way in which Moriarty unfolds the story is exceptional and you will want to read right to the end.
The Dry (Jane Harper)
Wow. What a perfectly paced thriller/crime fiction novel. From the expertly woven back story to the short chapters and the compelling characters, I felt as if I was living in Kiewarra while I read this book. I love seeing Australia brought to life, even if the reality here was rather depressing with the lingering drought affecting the farmers so harshly. Aaron Falk was perfectly cast in the role of impromptu investigator and the characters just seem to leap off the page, they are so vividly captured. An enjoyable read (despite the rather grim subject matter).
Harper’s second book, Force of Nature is also exceptional.
The Woman Who Fooled the World: Belle Gibson’s Cancer Con, and the Darkness at the Heart of the Wellness Industry (Beau Donnelly, Nick Toscano)
The Belle Gibson controversy came to my attention around the time that she was exposed and I was fascinated by the ‘why’ factor, which Donelly and Toscano explore respectfully. More importantly, the questions of how this could happen and what factors helped Gibson shoot to fame, and the misinformation that is masquerading as fact in relation to diet and nutrition. Very well-written, with great pace and thorough research. Definitely recommended.
Nine Perfect Strangers (Liane Moriarty)
There is an indefinable ‘something’ about Liane’s books that draws you in – the uncovering of universal inner thoughts and motivations woven deftly throughout. The characters in this book are likeable in their own way, even the supposed villain. Moriarty’s fascination with wellness, therapy, human loss and the very peculiar ways we cope with tragedy informs the depth of her work, and making the unfolding of each character supremely enjoyable, almost regardless of plot. When I read a Moriarty book my thoughts keep returning to it, and I continually fight the urge to speak about the people I’m reading about as though they are known to me.
The setting of Tranquillum House is fascinating – the outwardly serene wellness retreat drawing a quirky cast of characters looking to renew themselves. I must say after I finished I had a huge craving for a big steak and a glass of wine! I don’t think I’ll be journeying to a health retreat any time soon!
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy (B.M. Carroll)
Told from the perspectives of seven different people, this book explores what happens when an unintentional accident causes unimaginable pain to an innocent victim. Playing with concepts of grief, shame, guilt, parenting, victims, genetics, family and marriage it is compelling reading. I read this in less than 24 hours because I just kept being drawn back in, wanting to find out what was going to happen next. Great depth of subject matter but respectfully explored.
You know what? I just realised that 10 of the 12 in this list were written by Australian authors. That is pretty awesome.
Now, over to you. What books stuck with you this year? Let me know! I’m always looking for great new titles to add to my list. Feel free to follow me on Goodreads if you love talking books…
