Six in Six

When it's cold and grey outside, the only solution is books. And when you can't decide which one to read next, then the next-best thing is to blog about books!

Thankfully, FictionFan came to my rescue today with her recent post Six in Six.

The meme originates with Jo @The Book Jotter, who has been writing about Six in Six since 2012.

The idea is to reflect on the first 6 months of your reading experience for this calendar year. Then throughout July:

share 6 books in 6 categories, or if time is of the essence then simply share just 6 books. Whatever combination works for you as long as it involves 6 books. Of course the same book can obviously feature in more than one category.

Jo has an ever expanding list of six categories to choose from, or you create your own. I have done a mix of both.

Six best books of 2020 (so far):

My favourite and best books tend to be big on character, with a definite sense of place, and I do love fine writing.

• The Dutch House - a genuine delight with lots to saying about mothering.
• Girl, Woman, Other - rich, diverse story-telling. Immensely satisfying
• In Love With George Eliot - gentle, insightful peek into Eliot's writing life and marriage.
• Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line - my hidden gem for the year.
• The Parisian - an extraordinary, rich, classic story of a man out of time and out of place. Review to come.
• The Thursday Murder Bookclub - entertaining from start to finish. A September release. Can't wait for book 2.

Six shortlisted books:

• Actress - shortlisted 2020 Women's Prize - not as good as I had hoped, but enjoyable enough.
• Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line - shortlisted 2020 Women's Prize & one of the reasons why I love shortlists. I may never have found this gem if not for it's nomination.
• Girl Woman Other - Winner Booker Prize 2019, shortlisted 2020 Women's Prize
• Middle England - Winner of the 2019 Costa Book Award & all about Brexit.
• Redhead by the Side of the Road - shortlisted 2020 Women's Prize & just missed out on being in the list above with it's lovely characters with issues.
• The Parisian - Winner 2019 Palestine Book Awards

Six books in translation:

• The Forest of Wool and Steel - a bit of a slog to be honest. 
• The Conquest of Plassans - Zola never disappoints. The fiery ending in this one was a surprise.
• The German House - thoughtful story about post-WWII Germany coming to terms with the Holocaust - who did what and who knew what.
• One Hundred Years of Solitude - a reread of this South American classic that made more sense second time around.
• The Plague - review to come.
• War and Peace - reading one chapter-a-day for the entire year. I'm half way through.

Six From the Non-Fiction Shelf:

• The Feel Good Guide to Menopause - because it will happen to at least half of us one day! Might as well be prepared.
• The Fast 800 - the latest update by Mosley on his diet that actually works for me.
• A Month in Siena - exquisite, beautiful and thoughtful essays on art, loss and family.
• Ten Doors Down - an adoption memoir.
• Fathoms - glorious stuff all about whales.
• 488 Rules for Life - lots of fun.

Six classics I've read this year:

• Moby-Dick - if you have the time, and you're in the mood for a long meander at sea, pondering the meaning of life, then this is a classic you should not overlook. Worth the effort.
• Under Milk Wood - read as you listen to the sultry tones of Richard Burton narrate this wonderful play with words.
• The Dyehouse - a forgotten Australian story thankfully rediscovered by Text Classics.
• The Tempest - not my most favourite Shakespeare. I've learnt that listening to and watching plays is much better than reading them!
• The Cardboard Crown - another little known Australian classic, part memoir, part fiction and part of a quartet.
• Katherine Mansfield short stories - so far I've read 5 this year - 2 still to be reviewed. I love her!

Six books set in Australia or written by an Australian:

• Cherry Beach - starts in Melbourne, finishes in Canada, lots of YA angst in the middle.
• The Rain Heron - just missed out on being in the top 6 as well. The ending wasn't as strong as the start, but, oh, the beginning was tremendous stuff indeed!
• The End of the World is Bigger than Love - a YA eco-dystopian 
• Truganini - an insightful bio into the life and times of a Tasmanian Aboriginal woman.
• Sand Talk - fascinating look at Indigenous thinking.
• The Secret Library of Hummingbird House - fabulous time-travelling primary school aged fiction. Review to come.