I have to admit, I love all the lists that go around this time of year. I know that they seem to be everywhere and so many people hate them but I can’t stop reading them. I have found so many gems through reading other people’s lists, whether it be albums or films or books, that I might never have found otherwise.
I’ve been reading through the book lists linked at Semicolon and decided to jump on the bandwagon and make a list of my own. Looking over my personal list a few things strike me. The first being how short this list is compared to some. I count about 25 books which works out at only 2 books a month. Secondly I can see that 2006 was the year of the quick and easy book for me. I read way more mysteries and thrillers than I normally would, thanks to the influence of my sister and my mother who have always been big crime novel fans. None of them are on my favourites list though so maybe it’s time for a change. Lastly, I gave up on more books than ever before. There was a time when I would always persevere with a novel no matter what, believing that I couldn’t judge a book if I hadn’t read it to the bitter end. I suppose I’m more impatient now, I don’t get to read as much as I used to (the same is true for films) and so I don’t want to waste time struggling through something that doesn’t grab me in some way.
So, I present to you my list of books read in 2006 (well, the ones I can remember anyway!):
The Highs:
The Historian – Elizabeth Kostova
Best page-turner of the year and my personal favourite. I’m not sure why this Dracula retelling often seems to be lumped in with all the Dan Brown, Holy Grail spin-offs. I was originally put off by that association but I was hooked from the first chapter.
Holes – Louis Sachar
A clever, funny book with great characters and a brilliant storyline. Yea it’s supposedly for kids but this is one that I can imagine parents stealing from their children’s bedside tables.
East of Eden – John Steinbeck
Finally got around to reading this book and was engrossed. So often the classics are a let-down but not in this case.
Charlotte Grey – Sebastian Faulks
The storyline of the two Jewish children whose parents are taken and who are hidden by the people in the French village had me blubbing for days. The final scene with the two brothers has stayed with me for months and months.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime – Mark Haddon
There’s a good reason this seems to be on everyone’s list, it gave me a much better understanding of Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome but it was also a great story.
Essays-Faith, Christianity and the Church – C.S. Lewis
I picked up a few of CS Lewis’s novels that I’d not got around to reading before. This is one I’ve been dipping into regularly all year.
The Great Divorce – C.S. Lewis
A fable describing a bus journey from hell to heaven that is highly imaginative and thought-provoking. The different passengers on the bus are all examples of human weakness and failings and it’s heartbreaking to see each one reject heaven and choose to return to hell. I’ll be re-reading this one I’m sure.
Soul Survivor – Philip Yancey
A study of some of the great spiritual people of the last few centuries from Gandhi to Martin Luther King, Dostoevsky to Dr. Everett Koop. An antidote to the hypocrisy and pseudo-religion that sends people running from any belief in God.
Peyton Place – Grace Metalious
One of those that I’ve always been curious about. Funny to think of the scandal it caused since it’s so tame now and it’s actually a pretty good read. Sad that it will always be associated with being the origin of the soap opera.
The Midlist:
All of these were entertaining and fun reads but they lacked that little spark for whatever reason that would have bumped them up to the top list.
Darkhouse – Alex Barclay
Cell – Stephen King
Shaman’s Crossing – Robin Hobb
Daughter of Fortune – Isabel Allende
Shutter Island – Denis Lehane
Faithless – Karin Slaughter
Triptych – Karin Slaughter
The Innocent – Harlan Coben
Tell No One – Harlan Coben
Vanish – Tess Gerritsen
Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants – Ann Brashares
The Lows:
Deal Breaker – Harlan Coben
So bad. I finished it but I honestly don’t know why.
On Beauty – Zadie Smith
I know this was a big book of 2006 and a lot of people thought it was wonderful. I just found it boring and depressing, everyone in it was so selfish and cynical. It’s still sitting unfinished by my bed.
Chainfire – Terry Goodkind
I’ve stayed with Goodkind through this long series just because I loved the first five so much. The last three have been getting progressively worse and I’m finally throwing in the towel with this one. Didn’t even get half way.
Birdsong – Sebastian Faulks
This was in the top 10 greatest books list on the BBC a couple of years ago but it left me cold compared to Charlotte Grey. The descriptions of life in the trenches is harrowing but it was missing a personal element in my opinion and again I didn’t finish it. Perhaps I should have persevered?
100 Years Of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Biggest disappointment of the year. I love South American authors and I’ve been hearing about this novel for so long that I thought I was going to love it. I just couldn’t get into it at all and it became a chore to read so I stopped. Again, maybe I should have kept going.
