Other recommended reads from 2013

Still looking for reading ideas? As well as my favourite reads post, here are some other books I read in 2013 that I would recommend. You'll find reviews of a lot of these here.

Novels from my favourite authors

There were novels I read in 2013 from some of my favourite writers, all of which I enjoyed very much, and would recommend:

The Memory of Lost Senses by Judith Kinghorn
Human Remains by Elizabeth Haynes
Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain
The Lost by Claire McGowan

The World is a Wedding by Wendy Jones

A Heart Bent Out of Shape by Emylia Hall

The Twelfth Department by William Ryan
Emotional Geology by Linda Gillard

A Treacherous Likeness by Lynn Shepherd

Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield

Trust Your Eyes by Linwood Barclay

Walk Me Home by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Debut novels

I'd also like to mention the following super debut novels I discovered in 2013, consider giving some of them a try if you missed them:

The Library of Unrequited Love by Sophie Divry
How to be a Good Wife by Emma Chapman
The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin

The Night Rainbow by Claire King

Kiss Me First by Lottie Moggach

Amity & Sorrow by Peggy Riley
The Beauty of Murder by AK Benedict
The Silent Wife by ASA Harrison
Pictures at an Exhibition by Camilla Macpherson
Someday We'll Tell Each Other Everything by Daniela Krien
Behind Closed Doors by JJ Marsh

Dance the Moon Down by R. L. Bartram

Authors who I read for the first time

Some books below which I enjoyed a lot, by authors who were new reading for me this year, though these books aren't their first books (I don't think - apologies if I've got any of them wrong):

The Promise by Ann Weisgarber

Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus

The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald

Heading Out to Wonderful by Robert Goolrick

Elijah's Mermaid by Essie Fox

Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
His Father's Son by Tony Black
Dead Simple by Peter James
The Blood Whisperer by Zoe Sharp
The Perfume Garden by Kate Lord Brown
The Last Family in England by Matt Haig

Books for children/young adults

These were lovely reads:

Frost Hollow Hall by Emma Carroll
A Place Called Perfect by Helena Duggan
Kellie at Come-alive Cottage by Wendy Unsworth
Myopia by Jeff Gardiner
The Quietness by Alison Rattle
The Secret Lake by Karen Inglis
Freaks Like Us by Susan Vaught






Non-fiction

I hoped to read more non-fiction this year than I actually have, so I'll have to try and continue with that next year. An excellent book I read this year was Touretteshero by Jessica Thom. 

I think that's it for the reading round-ups for now. Thanks for reading!

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books I Recommend the Most

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

The topic this week is - 

 Top Ten Books I Recommend The Most

1. Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

Quite simply a marvellous, chilling psychological thriller debut which I have recommended countless times to many readers, none of whom, as far as I know, have been at all disappointed.

2. The Secret History by Donna Tartt

One of the few novels I've read more than once, a clever and gripping tale of murder and obsession.

3. The Outcast by Sadie Jones

One of the best debut novels I've ever read, a personal favourite, I read it in a weekend and couldn't stop thinking about it, beautifully written, very moving and will continue to happily recommend it to others. Brilliant.

4. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

I've bought this one as a gift for several friends to get them started on this author and on the Jackson Brodie series, and also because it is set in Cambridge which appeals. 

5. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

I was so impressed by the way searing emotions and damaged relationships are captured in this novel. A wonderful writer. The film version is good in and of itself, but it misses so much of what the book offers, so please do read it.

6. Winter in Madrid by C. J. Sansom

I thought this was a really good read, I was intrigued by the Spanish Civil War aspects and gripped by the mystery, and I find myself recommending it fairly regularly. 

7. The Observations by Jane Harris

Another book that I adored when I read it and would recommend as a really entertaining and well written historical novel with a very engaging spirited heroine for a lead character.

8. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

I read the Thursday Next series from the early days when they first came out and loved the clever inclusion of so many literary references and witty ideas that Fforde comes up with. A good read for well read book lovers. I'd recommend the series in general but this is the first one so a good place to start!

9. Untying the Knot by Linda Gillard

This was one of my first reads on my Kindle, and it's an atmospheric and very moving story of a couple who seemingly can't survive with each other, but can't be apart either, with the lead male character suffering from PTSD. I would, and indeed do, recommend all the novels by this author that I've read so far, but if I had to pick one just now, it would be this one. 

10. The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy

Some readers love his books, others don't get on with them at all. I'm firmly in the first camp, and this is my favourite of his novels. A brilliant character study of a man and his treatment of those closest to him. Yes it's bleak and dark and cruel, and I love it.

~~~~~

A word on the covers - I've used the image of the covers of the editions I own and read as far as possible here. Some books have had so any versions of the covers, but sometimes I find that part of the memory of the novel for me is attached to the particular cover too, if that makes sense.

Which book or books or authors do you find yourself recommending to someone else to read most often?