Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the people over at The Broke and the Bookish and today's topic is "Top 10 books I've read this year". According to my Goodreads statistics, I've only read 28 books this year, but I can still easily make a Top 10 because most of them have been really nice reads. I don't participate in TTT a lot because most of the topics are not that captivating for me, but this one I felt is a really good one.
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson has been the number one read in 2013 for me for quite a while now. What can I say - I loved this elegantly written time-folded story, full of interesting and life-like characters.
Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson - this clever story with fantastical elements was such a pleasant surprise! Never did I expect it would captivate me so. And let's not forget the jinni.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple - quirky, fast, captivating epistolary novel with hilarious and accessible characters. So funny.
A Dance With Dragons by George R. R. Martin - I heard many complaints about this one before I read it in the beginning of the year; however, I liked this one more than a few previous books in the series.
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde - big thanks to all who said good things about this book, it will be the series I will definitely continue with.
Germinal by Émile Zola - a haunting book, beautifully and descriptively written. There are scenes in Germinal I am not sure I can ever get out of my head.
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - this was the first book I finished this year, and what a start to the reading year of 2013. Atwood's text is almost mesmerising.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez - one of the best re-read experiences I've ever had. After plowing through this novel in high-school, all I remembered now was a bunch of guys all named Aureliano or Jose Arcadio, and a strange girl who ate soil. This time I devoured this book - such beautiful language (I read it in Estonian and it is one of the rare cases when I can say that the translation was absolutely brilliant), and my faith to magical realism has been restored.
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - four words: fantastic characters, Marian Halcombe.
.jpg)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bront
I've seen Bernadette on a lot of lists today. I'm glad! It was such a great read. (So funny!)
ReplyDeleteYes, I've seen Bernadette around as well :) I kind of like that this book is getting some serious blogger love!
DeleteI received a copy of The Eyre Affair from World Book Night but I just haven't had time to read it yet. I recently found it's sequel at a secondhand shop so I hope to read them soon. I really enjoyed Jane Eyre. :)
ReplyDeleteHere's my Top Ten Tuesday
I've been searching for the copy of sequel of the Eyre Affair, too, but it looks like the cover I want has disappeared from the world, so I'll have to settle with a different one. Bookbloggerproblems :)
DeleteYou have read some great books this year (and it's only June)! The Atkinson and Where'd you go bernadette are both on my tbr list.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Mary - it's only June! I hope the rest of the year will give as many (if not more) reading experiences :) I hope you enjoy both books!
DeleteI like the idea of a Top Ten Stats list. I might "borrow" that idea.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you have a whole bunch of books on your list that I want to read but haven't and two faves of mine (The Handmaid's Tale and Jane Eyre).
My Top Ten
Thehe, borrow away :) I'm glad you have also had nice reading year so far (peeked at your TOP10).
DeleteI love this post! I too must borrow this idea.
ReplyDeleteYou've also mentioned so many great books. I really enjoyed Life After Life and I'm getting into the George R.R. Martin series (meaning I've read the first book...) And of course One Hundred Years of Solitude is simply brilliant.
I'm going to add the books you've mentioned that I haven't read to my to-read list. I'm sure I'd enjoy The Eyre Affair, and Alif The Unseen has such a lovely cover (superficial, yes, and something I'm sure I've mentioned on your blog before!)
Best wishes :)
Thank you for the nice comment, Lucy. I've had your post on Martin open in my browser for a few days now, but other things have been on the way to focus on it enough - I will today.
DeleteI like this cover of Alif a lot more than the other (paperpack?) and the book also looks lovely under the dust jacket. These are little things but they kind of matter when it comes to books you want on your shelves and know that you will want to re-read. And I was sure I would enjoy the Eyre Affair just based on premise, and so it was - so clever and all these literary tidbits are just... ahh :)
I gave away The Eyre Affair for World Book Night this year, I love Jasper Fforde. The Handmaid's Tale is an all time fave and I have Alif the Unseen on my TBR.
ReplyDeleteYay to Alif :) I am also really curious to read Fforde's other works, as much as I know there should be a young adult series and probably some more, so I will definitely get back to him.
DeleteI want to hug almost all of this list! The Eyre Affair!!! Yayyyy.
ReplyDeleteI really need to read Life After Life. And I'm looking forward to starting Alif early in July :)
Hihi, I'm pretty happy with the list too (they ARE the best reads of the 6 months, afterall). The amount of classics was surprising though. I can't wait to get to the next Fforde, my fingers are so itching to order it (with the cover I don't like :p). I hope you enjoy Alif!
DeleteSo man awesome books on this list, like Alif the Unseen and Game of Thrones. I've added all of the ones I haven't read to my wish list.
ReplyDeleteAnd I actually own Life After Life, I must start it soon...
For some reason I'm scared you won't like Life After Life (and I want almost everyone to like it :) ) But it's always interesting to read your thoughts, whether we agree or disagree. Fingers crossed ;)
DeleteYou've read some wonderful books so far this year! I really must give Life After Life a try.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I hope you enjoy the Atkinson, it's not a difficult read, but it's beautiful.
DeleteI see a few to add to my TPR pile. May you continue reading great books!!
ReplyDeleteHere is my Top Ten post!
Thanks, I hope I will!
DeleteSNAP Life After Life and Bernadette! I liked this topic, it's really good to look back and remember what I've read.
ReplyDeleteI just had a mini-excitement-freak-out about the fact that you have Wilkie on your list. I LOVE WILKIE. SO MUCH. The Woman in White is probably my favourite novel and I completely agree about Marian Halcombe.
I hope the rest of the year is just as good for reading :)
Yes, that's why I liked this topic too and it made me go to the books-read-this-year shelf at Goodreads and then I remembered all those books I read back in January and it was a nice nostalgic moment.
DeleteWilkie is very lovable, no? I still don't understand how we are made to read certain other authors in high-school but not Wilkie, which is what probably more people of that age would enjoy... (I had proper rant over it back in February when I wrote the review on The Woman in White - http://bookishrealm.blogspot.fi/2013/02/review-woman-in-white-by-wilkie-collins.html) I have Moonstone in Classics Club list, so more goodness to look forward to.