I always find these posts a bit hard to write because I rad so many great books and so many of them were quite difference.
I know I am a bit late to the party, but it's better late than never. These are the books that stuck with me.
Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
This follows Eilis as she leaves Ireland for New York, and is so much about people feeling like they don't beling anywhere. There’s nothing overly dramatic about Brooklyn, but that probably contributes to why it felt so real. It’s about small choices and homesickness and was very moving.
Conclave by Robert Harris
Not high literary fiction but it's on my list because it was one of those books that completely pulled me in. It’s set during the election of a new Pope, which doesn’t sound like it should be this gripping, but it really is. It has all the tension of a political thriller, with secrets, alliances and quiet manoeuvring happening behind closed doors. I listended on audiobook and it was a highly satisfying read.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
This is such a strange and beautiful book. The setting alone, an endless house of halls and statues, is so vivid, and the story slowly unfolds in a way that keeps you slightly off balance the whole time. Piranesi himself is such an unusual character, and there’s something quite moving about the way he sees the world. It’s one of those books that’s hard to describe, but very easy to get lost in. One of my favourites of the year.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
I loved how immersive this was. Set in 18th-century Maine, it follows a midwife who becomes caught up in a murder investigation. It’s also about community and women’s roles in a very particular time and place. It has a strong sense of atmosphere and a really compelling central character. It felt both thoughtful and very readable, which is always a good combination.
Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
This felt like a quieter, more reflective take on a mystery. Maisie is such an interesting character. She is part investigator, part psychologist and the movel and Maisie's personal story is shaped by the aftermath of World War I. This story is about the weight of what people have been through. I can see why this series has such a loyal following. I can't read the rest of them fast enough.
100 Years of Betty by Debra Oswald
This was a bit different from a lot of what I usually read, but it really worked for me. It traces a life across decades, and there’s something about that kind of storytelling that makes you reflect on time in a different way.
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman
This was just a really enjoyable read. It follows two women who quietly take it upon themselves to intervene in situations where they think justice isn’t being served. There’s a slightly subversive feel to it, and I loved that it centred women who are so often overlooked. It’s clever, a bit mischievous, and very easy to read.
Babel by R. F. Kuang
This is set in an alternative Oxford where language and translation are tied to power, and it explores some big ideas around colonialism, knowledge and control.
Looking back, this feels like a pretty good snapshot of my reading year. There were some comfort reads and some surprises.
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