Best of the best books 2018
Beadyjans favourite books 2018 My top 10
We're all doing it - frantically compiling lists of our favourite reads in 2018.
I don't know why we readers feel compelled to make lists of everything but its a common trait, and we love reading other peoples lists too. So while I should really be making a shopping list, a packing list for my festive break etc, here's a list of my very favourite reads over the past 12 months.
UPDATE: - Already I'm fretting that I missed a few books I adored and then I've just finished reading yet another which really blew me away. Do not view this as a definitive list!!
2018 has been a year of change for me, we bought a little holiday home in the sun which has proven to be rather a mixed blessing and I finally escaped the job I loathed and have landed firmly on my feet working for the most amazing and lovely small family business, who have all but adopted me, not just employed me. I only wish I'd started working for them donkeys years ago and could have made a lifelong career with them rather than working out my last few years until retirement.
It has also been the year before Brexit which is grieving me so sorely I can't bear to speak more of it, so here we go with something more cheerful:
Books I've loved reading this year.
Some are titles I've been fortunate enough to read in advance of publication and a few may not be published until early 2019. As a Book-blogger I'm brought into contact with many authors and titles I may not otherwise have discovered and I'm in the privileged position of reading many new books as soon, or even before, they are published. For this, I thank all the publishers, authors and blog tour organisers for helping me find so many books which have made a great impact on me.
2018 for me, has been THE year of the historical novel.
I just don’t seem to have been able to get enough of escaping the madness of 2018 by travelling back into the past and there have been some damn good offerings so that it’s come as no surprise that the majority of my top ten are from the historical genre:
My top 10 books are as follows:
1. The Corset by Laura Purcell
The Corset is a very worthy successor to her extremely good previous book The Silent Companions. However for me The Corset is in a league of its own. The book I wish I’d written and will probably still be telling people to read in ten years time.
2. The Binding Bridget Collins
So good I want to cry just thinking about it.
3. Walls of silence - Ruth Wade
Wonderful story telling with a killer twist that punched me in the gut.
4. Blackberry and Wild Rose – Sonia Velton
DO judge this book by it's cover - the words inside are as glorious as the image on the outside, a stunning debut novel built around the lives of Huguenot silk weavers.
5. The Story Keeper Anna Mazzola (review to follow as part of the blog tour in January)
Beautifully descriptive, set on the Isle of Skye following the Highland Clearances.
6. Salt Creek – Lucy Treloar
Stunning award-winning novel set in the far-flung Coorong Australia.
7. When Winter comes – VA Shannon
Truly wonderful gripping book about the tragedy surrounding the real pioneering Donner Party.
8. The lighthouse keepers daughter – Hazel Gaynor
Lovely romantic fiction based on the life of Grace Darling.
9. Ghost – Helen Grant
Delightful dual-time frame novel of the lives of two young women, past and present which become entwined.
10. The Perfect Friend – Barbara Copperthwaite
The only contemporary thriller in my top this year and no surprise it’s by my go-to author when I want a shiver to run down my spine – the sublime Barbara Copperthwaite who nearly always manages to get into my top reads lists and if you haven’t read any of her books yet – start now.
That's my top ten and I really must add an honourable mention to The Glovemaker by Ann Weisgarber which really should be on my list too and a nod to 2019 and a note to watch out for this one ..... The Doll Factory by Elizabeth MacNeil and apologies to anyone else whose book I've loved, there were just too darned many this year!!
We're all doing it - frantically compiling lists of our favourite reads in 2018.
I don't know why we readers feel compelled to make lists of everything but its a common trait, and we love reading other peoples lists too. So while I should really be making a shopping list, a packing list for my festive break etc, here's a list of my very favourite reads over the past 12 months.
UPDATE: - Already I'm fretting that I missed a few books I adored and then I've just finished reading yet another which really blew me away. Do not view this as a definitive list!!
2018 has been a year of change for me, we bought a little holiday home in the sun which has proven to be rather a mixed blessing and I finally escaped the job I loathed and have landed firmly on my feet working for the most amazing and lovely small family business, who have all but adopted me, not just employed me. I only wish I'd started working for them donkeys years ago and could have made a lifelong career with them rather than working out my last few years until retirement.
It has also been the year before Brexit which is grieving me so sorely I can't bear to speak more of it, so here we go with something more cheerful:
Books I've loved reading this year.
Some are titles I've been fortunate enough to read in advance of publication and a few may not be published until early 2019. As a Book-blogger I'm brought into contact with many authors and titles I may not otherwise have discovered and I'm in the privileged position of reading many new books as soon, or even before, they are published. For this, I thank all the publishers, authors and blog tour organisers for helping me find so many books which have made a great impact on me.
2018 for me, has been THE year of the historical novel.
I just don’t seem to have been able to get enough of escaping the madness of 2018 by travelling back into the past and there have been some damn good offerings so that it’s come as no surprise that the majority of my top ten are from the historical genre:
My top 10 books are as follows:
1. The Corset by Laura Purcell
The Corset is a very worthy successor to her extremely good previous book The Silent Companions. However for me The Corset is in a league of its own. The book I wish I’d written and will probably still be telling people to read in ten years time.
2. The Binding Bridget Collins
So good I want to cry just thinking about it.
3. Walls of silence - Ruth Wade
Wonderful story telling with a killer twist that punched me in the gut.
4. Blackberry and Wild Rose – Sonia Velton
DO judge this book by it's cover - the words inside are as glorious as the image on the outside, a stunning debut novel built around the lives of Huguenot silk weavers.
5. The Story Keeper Anna Mazzola (review to follow as part of the blog tour in January)
Beautifully descriptive, set on the Isle of Skye following the Highland Clearances.
6. Salt Creek – Lucy Treloar
Stunning award-winning novel set in the far-flung Coorong Australia.
7. When Winter comes – VA Shannon
8. The lighthouse keepers daughter – Hazel Gaynor
Lovely romantic fiction based on the life of Grace Darling.
9. Ghost – Helen Grant
Delightful dual-time frame novel of the lives of two young women, past and present which become entwined.
10. The Perfect Friend – Barbara Copperthwaite
The only contemporary thriller in my top this year and no surprise it’s by my go-to author when I want a shiver to run down my spine – the sublime Barbara Copperthwaite who nearly always manages to get into my top reads lists and if you haven’t read any of her books yet – start now.
That's my top ten and I really must add an honourable mention to The Glovemaker by Ann Weisgarber which really should be on my list too and a nod to 2019 and a note to watch out for this one ..... The Doll Factory by Elizabeth MacNeil and apologies to anyone else whose book I've loved, there were just too darned many this year!!
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