Tuesday, 13 January 2015

Top Ten Books I Meant To Read in 2014

I'm struggling to get back into the groove (of just about everything!) now that the holidays are over and the working year has once again begun.

I spotted Louise @A Strong Belief in Wicker's entry for this week's Top Ten hosted by The Broke and the Bookish & I thought "ah ha! that's what I need - a tried and true meme to get me blogging again!"

I have a stack of 2014 books on my TBR pile that fit this category easily. The hard part was keeping it down to 10!!

Without any further ado I give you my Top Ten Books I Meant to Read in 2014...


1. England and Other Stories by Graham Swift

2. The Stone Mattress by Margaret Atwood

3. My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff

4. Mr Mac and Me by Esther Freud

5. Euphoria by Lily King

6. The Children Act by Ian McEwan

7. In Certain Circles by Elizabeth Harrower

8. A First Place by David Malouf
  
9. The Writing LIfe by David Malouf

10. Delicious Days in Paris by Jane Paech


A lovely mix of fiction, short stories and non-fiction - International and Australian titles. I hope to tackle some of these books sooner rather than later...but the 2015 new releases are tempting me already...the hazzards of being a book seller!
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20 comments:

  1. Anonymous13/1/15

    I also have Stone Mattress and Euphoria on my list of missed books. I read The Children Act and enjoyed it as my first Ian McEwan novel.

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    Replies
    1. Brona14/1/15

      I'm a bit hit or miss with McEwan lately, so I guess that's why I haven't rushed to read it yet, but I am looking forward to Euphoria & Stone Mattress.

      Delete
    2. Louise16/1/15

      I only saw Euphoria in these end of year lists, and don't think I'd seen it around before that. The stripey cover is much better (I presume that is the non-Australian one).

      Delete
  2. Louise13/1/15

    Glad to help in whatever way I can Brona! Naturally I browsed most of Delicious Days in Paris, but I haven't got around to blogging about it yet... I just love the cover of Mr Mac and Me and would like to read it on that basis alone, I think I should take to carrying it around just to look cooler. I need to catch up with Margaret Atwood, the last one I read was Oryx and Crake.

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    Replies
    1. Brona14/1/15

      I'm also a little in love with the cover for Mrs Mac (I also feel the same way about H is for Hawk's cover:-)
      I was sooooo disappointed with the Australian cover for Euphoria - the overseas cover was so much more dramatic and eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing to me.

      Delete
  3. Lisa Mandina14/1/15

    I really need to read a book by Margaret Atwood, since I'm such a big dystopian fan.
    Check out my Top 10

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    Replies
    1. Brona14/1/15

      I've only read 2 of Atwood's dystopian books as I tend to prefer her straight fiction. I'm really looking forward to her short stories though - I'm hoping for a mix of genre's with them.

      Delete
  4. Cynthia14/1/15

    Great list! Stone Mattress made my top ten that I meant to read last year as well. I love Margaret Atwood.

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  5. Travellin' Penguin14/1/15

    Margaret Atwood and David Malouf are both writers who are on my TBR shelf and for some reason I need to push myself to read them. I can't cope with Ian McEwan. I know people love him but I am not one of them. Will look forward to see how you go with this great list.

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    Replies
    1. Brona14/1/15

      I loved McEwan's earlier books, but have been a bit so/so about his later ones.

      I'm a huge Malouf fan, but have never read any of his non-fiction before, so I think that's why I haven't rushed into these two books. I read non-fiction much slower than fiction.

      Delete
  6. Sarah14/1/15

    My Salinger Year and Stone Mattress are 2014 release I need to get to too. . . oh so many books, so little time!

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  7. Unknown14/1/15

    These look good. The Children Act is currently on my bedside table, but I haven't read it yet.

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  8. Rudejasper14/1/15

    The Children Act and Euphoria ere two that just missed my list bit I would love to get to them this year. I'm not sure how to fit them all in. I can't imagine how overwhelmed your list must get if you are a book seller! Good luck and happy reading!

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  9. Anonymous15/1/15

    I wasn't drawn to Euphoria when it first came out (don't know why), but lately I've been obsessed with the idea that I need to read it! So far, I'm being good and waiting for my library to have a copy available, rather than buying yet another book. Looks like an interesting list! I hope you find time to read some good ones!

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    Replies
    1. Brona15/1/15

      I first fell in love with the overseas cover for Euphoria, then eventually realised the story also appealed to me...but then I suffered great disappointment with the Aust cover...which I think is the main reason it didn't rocket its way up my reading list in 2014 #sadbuttrue

      Delete
  10. carol l mckenna15/1/15

    So many books ~ so little time ~ Great list ~

    thanks for commenting on my blog ~

    Happy Weekend to you,
    artmusedog and carol

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  11. Cipriano15/1/15

    Of these listed here, I did read the McEwan one and really liked it. One of my top favorite reads of the year. And yet, I do get what you said in a response, I agree that his writing is a sort of "hit and miss" scenario. Bt in this one I think he hit the mark.
    Happy reading in 2015 to you!

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    Replies
    1. Brona15/1/15

      Glad to hear it!
      Most of the feedback has been positive from customers and other bloggers too, so I'm sure I will get to it soon :-)

      Delete
  12. Gattina16/1/15

    I love crime stories I read all Agatha Christie's books, amongst others !

    ReplyDelete

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