Favourite Books of 2013

I've read lots of very good books in 2013; some brilliant debut novels, some great second novels, some wonderful novels from established authors. I always find it hard to compile a kind of 'best of'/'top ten' type list, and I spend time debating with myself whether to do it or not, because it's impossible to include everything, and I am wary of leaving something out.

My picks below are in no particular order. I think my choices show just how many different books I enjoy reading - I don't want to be limited to a certain genre, when I enjoy reading books across many different ones. I haven't included any 2014 releases which I've already read. (This might end up being the first of two posts, as I'd like to write another one recommending a fair few other reads from this year that were also very good, if I can.)

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to visit and read the blog this year, thank you to everyone who has very kindly sent me books and contributed features, to guest reviewers,  to the super bookshops on the high street and online, and to the writers of these wonderful stories.

The comments by the books below are brief thoughts taken from my reviews, and the titles link up to my full reviews (if I've written one.)

Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer

'A brilliant read, a cracking and inventive mystery, cleverly written and darkly funny, and a standout book of the year so far.
The bringing together of the story arc of the whole novel from beginning to end was very cleverly done...
There is genuine terror, suspense and intrigue throughout and I couldn’t read this book fast enough.
There is some deliciously dark humour; at times I was laughing an awful lot and wondering whether I should really be laughing at these things, but the way Belinda Bauer writes these events is so clever, combining the gruesome with the ridiculous and mundane to superb effect.'

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion 

'I absolutely loved this wonderful book! It genuinely moved me, and made me laugh, smile and cry. The two main characters are so endearing; I was rooting for Don and Rosie throughout. Don’s mindset and the way he is ‘wired’ mean that there are many amusing situations which arise due to his misunderstanding of the emotions behind words and events. This is a sensitive, warm-hearted story of someone who is different yet wants what we all want – someone to share their life with. It is beautiful to observe how Rosie impacts on Don’s life and opens his eyes to a world beyond the one he has always known.

The Rosie Project is a beautifully written, tender and funny portrayal of the eternal search for love.'

The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook

'There is some stunning imagery and poetry to the prose that I loved and which made this novel a joy to read for me...

I really, really liked this book. It was surprising, shocking and thrilling at times, and engaging throughout. It deals with some big themes; love, passion and separation, loss, lies and a nation's guilt, and asks difficult questions that can make you feel uneasy or make you reconsider how you had viewed people; it certainly makes you think.  

It is also going to be made into a film I believe. One of my favourite reads so far in 2013.'

The View on the Way Down by Rebecca Wait

'The View on the Way Down is a beautifully written debut novel, and Rebecca Wait sensitively portrays painful, harsh truths about depression...it remains throughout a compelling, vital story that the reader has to read to the finish. 

This story is sad, tender, raw and painful but it is also warm and hopeful. It is heartbreaking, vivid and it feels very real. I felt so involved with this story as I read it, I felt the agonies of this family, I was moved by the characters and I found myself thinking about them after closing the pages. I read the book in one day; it's very rare for me to manage that. 

The writing is light and understated and yet so incisive...it's so special to read a book that actually reminds you why you love reading so much.'

Indiscretion by Charles Dubow

'I thought this was a brilliant, captivating and addictive debut novel, about beautiful people with seemingly perfect lives, and what results when an outsider breaks in on all this and exposes the weakness, changing it irrevocably. It made me think a lot about people and how they behave. It's about love and families, contentment versus temptation, friendship and unrequited love, wealth and envy, greed and lust, fate, guilt and tragedy. I enjoyed it very much indeed. As the narrative progresses, the suspense increases and I began to feel an impending sense of the sadness that was surely to come as a result of what happens, but like a voyeur I couldn't look away; I was too engrossed by this tangle of lives which was becoming increasingly, inextricably messy.'

Nearest Thing to Crazy by Elizabeth Forbes

'This was a complete and utter page-turner of the best kind. A riveting, chilling, tense psychological tale that grabbed hold of me and begged to not be put down until I had finished…It's cleverly written, and made me question what was true, who could be trusted?...Sometimes books of this ilk don’t work out as well as I hope they will, or are initially compelling but then fizzle out a little; but for me this one absolutely did hold up to it’s promise and was utterly gripping, with a great build up of the suspense and tension and some nice twists in the tale.'

Alex by Pierre Lemaitre

'This is a clever thriller with a gripping narrative that kept me completely hooked throughout, and a lead character, in Alex, who held my attention and had me intrigued. This novel shocked, surprised and enthralled me; I found myself reassessing what I had read before in light of what I had just learnt...If you like a crime novel with an addictive narrative that keeps you guessing, that makes you question what you know and expect in terms of the crime genre, making you wonder about the limits of right and wrong, and of revenge, and if you can stomach dark themes, violence, abuse and some admittedly very upsetting episodes, then you should definitely give this a try because it has such a strong plot, great suspense, and a clever and surprising outcome. The conclusion made me stop and think and look back at the whole story again. The translation is very well done. Gripping stuff.'

After the Fall by Charity Norman

'I was very impressed by this novel throughout; the storytelling, the characters and the development of both were strong and well handled. I felt like every encounter and conversation drove the narrative on and had a purpose towards the story as a whole, there was nothing surplus as can sometimes be the case...Charity Norman deals sensitively and yet thoroughly with modern day issues that can be frightening for all involved, and will test this family to the limits of love.

It’s a book that I wanted both to read quickly and discover how the plot unfolded and yet wanted to savour and not to come to an end because I was really enjoying reading it. The storyline totally captivated me and I found it very moving; at the end I shed a few tears at the outcome.'

The Cleaner of Chartres by Salley Vickers

'I thoroughly enjoyed this story and was so impressed by the writing and by the truly wonderful characterisation by Salley Vickers. The whole cast, from Agnes, to Alain the restorer working in the cathedral, to busybody Madame Beck and her accomplice Madame Picot, are brought vividly to life.  There's a lovely sense of place too, with the vivid, detailed descriptions of the architecture of Chartres cathedral making me eager to go and seek out more about this place after finishing the novel...Salley Vickers has certainly got a strong grasp on what makes people of all types tick...Truly a delightful, moving and beautifully written story and I am certain it will stay with me for a long time.'

The President's Hat by Antoine Laurain

'This is an absolutely delightful, warm-hearted and magical tale about life and fate. I loved reading it! Antoine Laurain has created a very special, mystical and entertaining story here that reveals truths about human nature in a clever way that made me smile and ponder as I read. Love, families, relationships, careers - the hat has a hand in the destiny of so many facets of people's lives in the story...the story links together well as it develops and then it all comes back together very satisfyingly at the end...The translation, with three authors taking on the different main characters, worked really well too.'

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

'This is by turns a surprising, unnerving, moving and rewarding read and it sets itself apart with a clever structure to the narrative and a distinctive main character who we live through different experiences with, over and over again, as we read. It’s a fascinating and fantastic concept that really made me think as I read. What does this mean for fate? What if we could all change things, or go back and have a second chance?...There are some thrilling moments, dramatic and tragic; then the reader realises that there is another chance at the story and can breathe again – it’s quite an experience reading this book...I think this is a very special book in many ways. '

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

'The interweaving of the three tales of the three fascinating, well-drawn main female characters Tess, Rachel and Cecilia, was very cleverly done. I loved this book, I found it an absolutely cracking read, an absorbing story that I couldn't wait to get back to - I became thoroughly immersed in the development of the plot and I didn't want to be parted from this book! 
I thought the characters were superbly portrayed, I engaged with them and loved how the author depicted the evolving relationships between them...The Husband's Secret was a captivating, compelling read and Liane Moriarty is definitely an author whose books I will eagerly watch out for in future.'

The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence

'This is such a touching, captivating story with a wonderful narrative voice in Alex. What a marvellous debut novel – it’s funny, brave, sad and original. Gavin Extence doesn’t shy away from handling sensitive, difficult subjects and he does it thoughtfully, with honesty and humour…

This is such an involving, enjoyable tale, with a likeable, distinctive young man as the hero. Once I was drawn into the story, I was reluctant to stop reading until I had heard Alex’s entire tale. It’s one of those engaging books that you don’t want to end, and where the narrator is utterly convincing…'

Just What Kind of Mother Are You? by Paula Daly

'It’s a cracking thriller, the author has done a great job for her debut work in keeping the reader’s attention and produced a very good story; it’s pacey and passionate and I was turning the pages very quickly to find out what had happened. I found the narrative really engaging...As with the best crime stories, there is plenty of intrigue to make you wonder as you read and to make you think about if how things look on the outside really reflects what is hidden within. Importantly, the tension doesn't let up from start to finish...The novel deftly highlights the importance of the real, loving relationships in our lives as opposed to the somewhat fake friendships that can be formed when really there is actually little in common.'

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

I haven't managed to write a review of this one yet, but I had to include it here in my list because it was such a brilliant debut novel, the story so skillfully told, the setting wonderfully evoked and with super characterisation, Hannah Kent brought this all so vividly to life. The writing is so good that it is simply a pleasure to read this story. I hope to write a proper review of it in the new year. 

What have been your favourite reads this year? 

Are any of my choices amongst your favourites?

Do any of them catch your eye?

The Universe Versus Alex Woods - Gavin Extence

‘…life can seem highly ordered and highly chaotic all at the same time.’

This is such a touching, captivating story with a wonderful narrative voice in Alex. What a marvellous debut novel – it’s funny, brave, sad and original. Gavin Extence doesn’t shy away from handling sensitive, difficult subjects and he does it thoughtfully, with honesty and humour.

The opening is set up to make us wonder at what has gone before, because we meet seventeen-year-old Alex on his way back into the UK, being stopped at Dover by a customs officer who finds some interesting items in Alex’s car, namely 113 grams of marijuana and the ashes of his closest friend, Mr Peterson. Alex then takes us back, recounting the significant and often highly unusual events of his life to date, ultimately looping nicely back at the end of the novel to how he came to be in his present unusual situation. This structure, the bookending of the novel with the present day, and the past sandwiched inbetween, makes the read into a pleasing whole.

Alex has never known his father, and his mother has a somewhat unorthodox career as a clairvoyant, running a shop selling all manner of fortune telling type goods and offering her fortune telling services there. As Alex relates his past, we discover that he suffered an injury in a bizarre accident – struck on the head by a meteorite after it hit his home several years earlier. He has to learn to live with the medical after-effects of this, suffering seizures, and the occurrence also prompts an interest in neurology.

We learn of the cruelty of school bullies singling out Alex for all his differences, and we witness the unlikely yet firm friendship that is formed between Alex and lonely, widowed Vietnam veteran Isaac Peterson, leading to them sharing their love of books; reading has helped Alex in the past, he tells us that when he was physically restricted he could at least allow his brain to explore; there are several literary references such as to Catch 22, but once he meets Mr Peterson, it is primarily Kurt Vonnegut’s novels that are discussed (I haven’t read them, and it didn’t affect my enjoyment, but if you are acquainted with them and/or like them, it will probably increase yours). Their companionship is at the core of the novel, and the bond that grows between them is charming and through it Alex learns that ‘what you think you know about a person is only a fraction of the story.’ They were both lonely in their own ways before they got to know one another, and they each bring a great deal of enjoyment into the life of the other. The journey the two of them embark on is very brave and moving, but you must discover the details of this yourself by reading the book.

Alex has a keen grasp of scientific matters and is very intelligent and really thinks things through, making informed decisions, however sometimes he seems naïve and inexperienced too, and then we remember that he is a teenaged boy, and that despite his maturity and the wisdom he shows, he is still learning about the world and about people. I liked the friendship between Alex and Ellie, and some of the dialogue is really witty and pitch perfect for the characters involved. Another use of language I loved was the description of the ‘death rattles’ of the school bus; ‘it would wheeze and shudder like a giant asthmatic cyborg.’

This is such an involving, enjoyable tale, with a likeable, distinctive young man as the hero. Once I was drawn into the story, I was reluctant to stop reading until I had heard Alex’s entire tale. It’s one of those engaging books that you don’t want to end, and where the narrator is utterly convincing; rather than feeling as though I was reading the author’s words through Alex, I felt I was reading Alex’s story – as a character he became very real. This book will have you thinking about life and death, about luck and fate, and it reminded me of the enjoyment of reading.

I’ll leave the last word to Alex; ‘I think that telling a story is a way of trying to make life’s complexity more comprehensible. It’s a way of trying to separate order from chaos, patterns from pandemonium.’

Published by Hodder & Stoughton

You can find out about @ThingsAlexKnows on twitter.

Book Beginnings (2)

Gilion at Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Fridays

The idea, as stated on the host's blog, is 'to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.' There's a hash tag #BookBeginnings for twitter etc too, and a master linky list on the host's blog. I've got a couple of books on the go at the moment so I've just picked one out to mention here.

My Book Beginning

'They finally stopped me at Dover as I was trying to get back into the country. I was half expecting it, but it still came as kind of a shock when the barrier stayed down. It's funny how some things can be so mixed up like that. Having come this far, I'd started to think I might make it the whole way home after all. It would have been nice to have been able to explain things to my mother. You know: before anyone else had to get involved.'


What an intriguing opening this is; someone has been stopped when trying to get back into the UK, and what's more, it suggests they've got something to hide because they're not totally surprised to have been stopped, so I'm wondering straight away, who is this and what could they have done, and why, what is the background to it? 

(Reading the synopsis below does actually reveal who this is and what they have on their person though...)

Published by Hodder

~~~~~

Here's the story synopsis from goodreads:

A tale of an unexpected friendship, an unlikely hero and an improbable journey...This novel might just strike you as one of the funniest, most heartbreaking novels you've ever read. This is the story of seventeen-year-old Alex Woods - born to a clairvoyant mother and a phantom father, victim of an improbable childhood accident - who is stopped at Dover customs in possession of 113 grams of marijuana and the ashes of his best friend, Vietnam veteran Isaac Peterson. What follows is a highly original and compelling account of Alex's life and the strange series of events that brought him here.