Most unusually I have not been stumbling through the never-ending forests of the Back Lists.
This year I have been on the limitless steppes of Kindle-land, catching e-books on my Kindle Fire, close to launch day.
My rudimentary stats reveal that I’ve read around 100 books in 2023, the majority being e-books. It needs to be said that most e-books are relatively short – sometimes novella length, which can be read in a day.
I’ve all but abandoned hard cover books due to the teeny-tiny print. I’ve tried a couple of Large Print books from the Library, which were readable from the vision point of view, but alas! the Public Library stock is tiny, and the selection limited. So: back to Kindle-land.
For the first time, I’ve read a number of series this year. Between the indefatigable Joffe Books who appear to have an infinite stock of (mainly) British Whodunnits, and Kindle who offer a vast choice of cozy crime, romance and paranormal offerings, I have succumbed. With varying degrees of success. The three most enjoyable series I read this year were:
Kim M Watt – Gobbelino London: cozy paranormal mystery. Any book offering talking cats has me from page 1.
Ellery Addams – the Miracle Spring Series – female friendship, Bibliotherapy and feel-good endings.
Carmen Reid – Annie Valentine, Family, Fashion, Frocks and Fun. A real tonic!
Whilst not falling into the Series category, I found good, light reads in the Indian Diaspora Category, notably books by Amulya Malladi, Sonali Dev, Namrata Patel among others. Some of the novels were set in India, other in the USA. I’ve always enjoyed Indian novels, and the genre appears increasingly in the e-book world but in lighter mode, as opposed to the heavyweights like Rohinton Mistry and Amitav Ghosh from earlier years.
In past years I’ve followed the Booker Prize. This year, not so much. Any on-line Booker novel is one hell of a price, so out of my reach. But after my last Booker defeat with Olga Tokarczuk, (The Books of Jacob: all that mud! all that religion!) I think I may be done with Booker novels.
For what its worth, here are my annual nominations:
BEST READ OF THE YEAR – When I’m Gone, Look for me in the East – Quan Barry.
Highly Original Buddhist themed novel set in Mongolia
4 FIRST RATE NOVELS – The Diver’s Clothes Lie Empty – Vendela Vida – unpredictable – contemporary
The Perfect Golden Circle – Benjamin Myers – British contemporary – quirky, original
Eyrie – Tim Winton – Australian contemporary – visceral
West with Giraffes – Lynda Rutledge -American road trip with ecological message
BEST BIOGRAPHY Terry Pratchett: A life with Footnotes – Rob Wilkins
BEST HUMOUR Mr Monk is Miserable – Lee Goldberg. The agonies of a germophobe confronted with Paris. Laugh out loud read (e-bk)
An honourable mention: Simon Brett’s Mrs Pargeter series – tongue in cheek British humour (e-bks)
BEST MEMOIR Kept: An American Househusband in India – Gregory E Buford. Good humoured account of culture clash (e-bk)
So there we have it, I wonder what your top reads were ?
Finally: A special thanks to Book Jotter, who continues to provide an invaluable comprehensive weekly review over the bookish world.
Interesting list of books. For some reason WordPress dropped your blog from my list. I have found it again. I may have deleted it accidentally meaning to get rid of another blow. Who knows. I hope you have a good reading 2024 year. 🌲🌲🌲
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Nice to hear from you. Glad we have re-connected. Wishing yo9u a relaxing trip away, and excellent reading in 2024.
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Hello, Alison
I have read a number of the same books, also on Kindle. I very much enjoyed the Mrs Pargeter series. Like you, I find that the Kindle has the great advantage of allowing me to change the size of font. I plan to go through ALL my books in 2024 and give away all the ones with small print. I always download/buy books that you have recommended. Also, like you, I rarely go to my local library, (at the top of my road) because there are very few large print books. Keep up the good work of enabling me to make choices from your Reading List.
Kare is recovering from the loss of Busby. She has another 3 horses/ponies of course. Why she has had 4 is a mystery to me, and I just try to keep quiet. She seems to have turned to religion to help her, so I hope it works for her.
She is coming to me on Christmas Day for lunch together and here again on Boxing Day with her daughters and children for a, limited, buffet.
That does of course depend on the weather, as some forecasters expect snow on Christmas Day.
You, on the other hand, will be expecting very good weather.
I wish you a wonderful time with all your family and blessings in 2024.
With love, Eileen xxxx
Eileen Turner E-mail: eileen.eileenturner.turner@gmail.com
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I am profoundly impressed by your ability to read so many books, Alison…
I am and will always be a fan of real, solid, hold-them-in-my-hands books. I just can’t read books online, as they tire and strain my eyes.
But I am really impressed at how much you read! And what a wide range of books!
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One of the benefits of solo living … you can read as much as you like ….. when you like …
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Yes! And you can lose yourself in the world of a book, without having to plan meals or work around errands and chores. 😀 Lol!
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Exactly !
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