Book Reviews

‘The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.’ Alan Bennett

“Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.” ― Franz Kafka

Monday, 20 July 2015

Six months of books 2015


I've taken part in this in previous years and it's great to see it back again. A chance to look back at the books we've read in the first 6 months of 2015, 6 books in each of 6 different categories.

Visit the home of this meme, The Book Jotter, here to find out more...


Six books I have enjoyed the most...
  1. The Golem and the Djinni - Helene Wecker
  2. The Miniaturist - Jessie Burton
  3. Station Eleven - Emily St John Mandel
  4. Big Little Lies - Liane Moriarty
  5. Hausfrau - Jill Alexander Essbaum
  6. The Last Anniversary - Liane Moriarty

Six authors new to me...
  1. Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
  2. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café - Fannie Flagg
  3. How Green Was My Valley - Richard Llewellyn
  4. Sleepyhead - Mark Billingham
  5. Big Ray - Michael Kimball
  6. City of Thieves - David Benioff

Six books that took me on extraordinary journeys...
  1. Inflicted - Ria Frances
  2. The Leipzig Affair - Fiona Rintoul
  3. The Golem and the Djinni - Helene Wecker
  4. Station Eleven - Emily St John Mandel
  5. Dissolution - CJ Sansom
  6. The Auschwitz Violin - Maria Àngles Anglada

Six books by favourite authors...
  1. The Secret Keeper - Kate Morton
  2. A History of Loneliness - John Boyne
  3. The Last Anniversary - Liane Moriarty
  4. Chess - Stefan Zweig
  5. Reasons to Stay Alive - Matt Haig
  6. The Fry Chronicles - Stephen Fry

Six graphic novels/comic book collections I enjoyed...
  1. Plumdog - Emma Chichester Clark
  2. Marbles - Ellen Forney
  3. This One Summer - Mariko & Jillian Tamaki
  4. The Complete Maus - Art Spiegelman
  5. Sex Criminals - Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky
  6. Anya's Ghost - Vera Brosgol

Six bookshops I have visited...
  1. The new Foyles, London
  2. St. David's Bookshop, Pembrokeshire
  3. Heffers, Cambridge
  4. Aldeburgh Bookshop, Suffolk
  5. Any Amount of Books, London
  6. St Ives Bookseller, Cornwall
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32 comments:

  1. Ellie20 July 2015 at 19:58

    This is a great way to look on the past few months! I particularly like the extraordinary journeys category. I think Station Eleven would fall into that one for me too :)

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    1. Lindsay21 July 2015 at 11:05

      I really enjoy doing this look back and having a think about what I've read so far. Yay for Station Eleven :)

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  2. Helen20 July 2015 at 21:15

    This is a great meme, isn't it? I haven't read many of the books you've listed, but of the ones I have read I enjoyed The Golem and the Djinni, Dissolution and A History of Loneliness. I love your final category!

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    1. Lindsay21 July 2015 at 11:05

      Yes, I really enjoy it! Just been over to read your lists. I'm glad you liked those books too. Love visiting bookshops when we are on our travels.

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  3. Literary Feline21 July 2015 at 00:11

    I haven't read any of your top six so far this year, but several are ones I hope to read at some point. Especially The Golem and the Djinni and Station Eleven. I really want to read more by Liane Moriarty. I've only read one of her books so far.

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    1. Lindsay21 July 2015 at 11:06

      I hope you'll enjoy them too one day. I really like her writing, she has become one of my favourite authors, I just find her really good at commenting on 'everyday' life.

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  4. Anonymous21 July 2015 at 07:30

    Of course I liked all the books you mentioned (although I have by no means read all of them), but I especially enjoyed the list of bookshops.

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    1. Lindsay21 July 2015 at 11:08

      Thanks I'm glad you enjoyed that list, I love finding bookshops wherever I am.

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  5. Jane @ Beyond Eden Rock21 July 2015 at 08:05

    You've read a wonderful range of books, and what a good idea to include a category for bookshops. I used to work just around the corner from Any Amount of Books - and I have to say that you've visited some lovely parts of the country.

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    1. Lindsay21 July 2015 at 11:10

      Thanks Jane. I always like to pop into AAoB when I'm in London if I am anywhere near, it's brilliant. We've had some nice trips this year, many in our old campervan.

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  6. JacquiWine21 July 2015 at 08:48

    I enjoyed looking through your lists, Lindsay. I love the new Foyles in London - I could quite happily spend a small fortune there.

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    1. Lindsay21 July 2015 at 11:08

      Thanks very much Jacqui. It's wonderful isn't it, I love visiting there.

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  7. Brian Joseph21 July 2015 at 09:47

    I love looking through lists. It looks as if you finished some impressive books Lindsay.

    I did not know that you read so many graphic novels. I think that if you have the time it would be interesting if you blogged about them more.

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    1. Lindsay21 July 2015 at 11:09

      Thanks very much Brian. It's only in the last six months or just over that I've been reading so many of them, quite a new thing for me, I'm really enjoying them though. I defintely want to try blogging about them sometime soon.

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  8. Anonymous21 July 2015 at 13:34

    Looks like you've read a great, mixture of books so far this year. I am pleased to see The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton on your most enjoyed list. I have just finished reading it and loved it. I hope to have my full thoughts on it posted soon. I hope you enjoy your reading in the second half of this year too :-)

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    1. Lindsay22 July 2015 at 12:21

      Yay I'm glad you enjoyed The Miniaturist too, it's really stayed in my mind and I'd love to re-read it one day. Thank you :)

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  9. Katherine P21 July 2015 at 14:51

    You've done a lot of bookshop visiting these last 6 months! I haven't read any of the books you mention but I've been wanting to read more Kate Morton and try Liane Moriarty. Great meme!

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    1. Lindsay22 July 2015 at 12:22

      I like popping in to any interesting bookshops that we see when we are on our travels :) Thanks for commenting!

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  10. JoAnn21 July 2015 at 22:01

    I enjoyed Station Eleven and Big Little Lies, too, and have Hausfrau on my tbr pile. Your bookstore category is such an excellent idea! Must try to remember that one for next year :)

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    1. Lindsay22 July 2015 at 12:23

      I'm really glad you enjoyed those two as well, hope you like Hausfrau, I thought it was fascinating and compelling.

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  11. Yvonne @ Fiction Books Reviews21 July 2015 at 22:13

    Hi Lindsay,

    I haven't read any of the books on your list, although I have read a couple of Mark Billingham books and enjoyed them.

    Kate Morton is an author which many of us seem to have read and enjoyed, although I have only read 'The House At Riverton' to date.

    'The Miniaturist' is also on my 'Want To Read' list.

    A great way of tracking the books you have read and it is good to be able to categorize them as well.

    Thanks for sharing :)

    Yvonne

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    1. Lindsay22 July 2015 at 12:23

      Hi Yvonne, I really enjoyed the Mark Billingham novel and am going to try and read some more of his Thorne series. :)

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  12. So many books, so little time22 July 2015 at 16:47

    This is a great meme Lynz, I read and enjoyed big little lies, I haven't done a meme in ages, this could be one for me :D Thanks for sharing.

    Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

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    1. Lindsay24 July 2015 at 09:33

      I'm really glad you enjoyed Big Little Lies too Lainy. This one is fun to do. :)

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    2. So many books, so little time26 July 2015 at 15:06

      It seems like it would be, defo need to put time aside for it

      Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

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  13. Unknown23 July 2015 at 00:32

    Loved the list!! I've actually got The Auschwitz Violin on my bookshelf right now. Me'thinks it's calling my name now. LOL And Leipzig Affair sounds perfect to introduce me to that time period; I've never read in it. Thanks for the great list and future reads. :)

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    1. Lindsay24 July 2015 at 09:34

      Thanks for visiting and commenting Sarah. I had that book on my pile ages despite it actually being very short, it was good to read it.

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  14. Anonymous26 July 2015 at 12:01

    Thank you for joining in. Lots of books for me to look out for.

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  15. Priya27 July 2015 at 10:15

    This is such an interesting meme! Happy to see a few a few of my favourites have made it to yours. Sadly I haven't read enough books this year to be able to answer these myself. Your reviews have got me interested in the Leipzig Affair and Station Eleven, adding them to my tbr-list. :)

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  16. Barbara28 July 2015 at 16:09

    Hi Lindsay,
    I’ve read only one book from your top six, and that is the wonderful miniaturist. I really must catch up on some reading and start making notes about what I’ve read. I can never remember when anyone asks me.

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  17. Felicity Grace Terry4 August 2015 at 15:22

    What a great meme. I have enjoyed several John Boyne books in the past so shall keep a look out for A History Of Loneliness. As for C.J. Sansom .... one of my favourite historical authors, I love his Shardlake series.

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  18. Unknown11 June 2016 at 04:55

    Love this lists..Can't wait to read all of them ;)



    Mar@College Reine Marie

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