WBN 2012 Top 100 Books

I recived an email today from World Book Night asking me to choose my Top 10 books to give away as well as giving a link to the Top 100 chosen so far.  Here are mine, not strictly my Top 10 favourites, but Top 10 to pass on (click on the books for more information): 1. The Crow Road by Iain Banks This is one of the few books on my shelf that I have read and reread. Prentice comes from a strange family, from a granny who can feel the presence of her offspring in her moles to his travelling uncle. A dark, twisting tale as Prentice tries to uncover what happened to that uncle with an added pinch of adholesence angst and desire. 2 The Lover by Marguerite Duras I read this first a few years ago and it blew me away. The relationship between a young French girl and a richer, older Chinese man in Indochina. It is a slim book, but it puts you through the emotional wringer as their doomed relationship plays out. Add family commitments on both sides and prejudice of an inter-racial family and you have a great book. 3 Maps for Lost Lovers by Nadeem Aslam I got this a few years and couldn't put it down. Star-crossed lovers are put under pressure from all sides, and they disappear. Beautifully written text as their story unfolds. This is one of those books that stays with you and I keep buying copies to give to friends. 4 The Princess Bride by William Goldman A tale of heroes and villains, paupers and pirates, love and loss, magic and swordmanship. The titular princess is kidnapped on her wedding day, but as her heart was broken when her love's boat was captured by the Dread Pirate Roberts, a man who never leaves survivors, she is resigned to her fate. What follows is her kidnappers' flight followed by a masked man. I think what makes this book is Goldman's asides and dry tone. A classic, both for younger and older readers. 5 Atonement by Ian McEwan How something can never be unsaid, how a young girl's projection on a situation can ruin lives. Class issues, WW2, writing, great themes for a really good read. 6 The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly The life and thoughts of Bauby, editor of Elle, who, after suffering a stroke, ends up with Locked-in Syndrome. He is able to think and is aware of what is around him, but his only method of communication is blinking the alphabet, which is how he "wrote" this book. This could be a depressing book, but actually I felt that it was more about enjoying the life you have or have had. This is well-written, one of those books that will stay wth you. I also found myself thinking about the people and e 7 About a Boy by Nick Hornby Will just drifts through life, not having to work. He hits on a scheme to meet women, a single mothers' group. His lie has unexpected consequences as Marcus barges into his life. Will is forced to make a real, lasting connection with someone, Marcus gets someone to listen to him and help him through his teenage years. This is another book I like to buy for people because of its very human story, readers connect to it readily. 8 The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham I read it overnight because I HAD to know what would happen. In a world where GM crops are ever more used, we still don't know what their impact would be, this is one scenario, a dramatic one, but still food for thought. Also, as supplies of food and fuel start to run out, Bill and the other survivors have to search for solutions. Another question posed by the author is how to react in the wake of such a disaster. It is scary how quickly our "civilised" society is torn asunder by the crisis. 9 Chocolat by Joanne Harris Vianne brings chocolate to an austere town, she also stirs up emotions. She couldn't differ more from the locals, she is unmarried with a daughter, seemingly flouts the rules around Lent and even spends time with the gypsies passing through. A book for all the senses, Harris pulls you and you won't want to put this one down. 10 Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson Britain seen through the eyes of an American, but one that has really taken his adopted country to heart. I thought it was fun to compare Bryson's musings with my own as he travelled. Good travel lit. What would you put? Here is the link to see the Top 100 so far: http://www.worldbooknight.org/---/the-wbn-top-100-books

June's Top Reads

It was a bit of a mixed bag this month as I was trying to finish my The 11 in 11 Category Challenge : Soffitta1's 11 in 11.   I didn't get as many read, because I was busy with the end of term, but managed to squeeze in a few gems. The best would include A Death in the Sanchez Family.  This is actually a follow up to a previous book, The Children of Sanchez, but can be read on its own. The text itself is a mere 100 pages, written in three parts covering the death of Aunt Guadalupe, the wake and her burial, together with an introduction about Guadalupe's life and circumstances and an appendix. The book is the product of the author's extensive research and interviews made with the Sanchez family. While it was written in the late '60s, sadly the book is still relevant, commenting as it does on social issues, such as poverty, alcohol abuse and the family. I will be looking out the other books Lewis wrote.  From the lighter, or should I say more sarcastic, side of life, I read Santaland Diaries.  I know that it is a wee bit early, even for Hallmark, but I couldn't resist dipping into this after hearing him on the radio.  The stories are all linked to Christmas, including the author's experience of being a store elf as well as a festive Round Robin.  Recommended!  Restless from Richard and Judy's Book Club, a thriller I picked up because I had read a set of short stories by the author.The narrative is split into two timelines. The first covers the second world war experiences of Anglo-Russian Eva Delectorskaya who is recruited as a British Spy whilst living in Paris. The second is that of her daughter, Ruth, in the '70s teaching in English and avoiding writing her PHD thesis in Oxford, who believes her mother to be Sally Fairchild.  All in all, this is a fast-paced thriller, well-written and I do recommend it. My 2 best 1001 books were Crime and Punishment and Lord Jim.  Very different books, but both dealing with people and their lives.  Crime and Punishment is one of those classics that many teenagers are subjected to read in school. While I wasn't one of them, I did associate the author with heavy text. Daunting it is, in terms of size and the names of characters (all of whom have at least 3 different ones - patronyms, nicknames and the like). I must admit I had to keep flicking backwards to remind myself who was who!  It is a book that makes you think, revealing the our inner moral code that we live by. Lord Jim is a study in how a decison you make in a split second can affect your whole life.  A cowardly decision follows the main character, moulding him into a stronger man for it.  I am pleased to say there were no clunkers this month!

11 in 11 Step Challenge: 1st Quarter

11x 1001 Books
Bonus 1:


1. Agnes Grey ** Group Read
2. The Vicar of Wakefield

10x Films



Books adapted for the big screen, small screen and stage.

1. The Diary of a Nobody **1001 Book
2. The Age of Innocence **1001 Book

9x Asian Books



I usually read a lot of books set in Asia or by Asian writers, hopefully some from my huge TBR pile.
1. Lord Jim **1001 Book
2. Jamilia
3. The Swallows of Kabul

8x British

Books from the British Isles.

1. Where have all the Boys Gone
2. Dinner for Two
3. Restless
4. Web

7x Spanish


From Spanish speaking world or in Spanish

1. Dreaming in Cuban

6x Crime


Crime, mystery, thriller
None read yet.

5x Food & Drink


1. Water for Elephants
2. The Coroner's Lunch

4x History


None read yet.

3x French

French Books

1. Suite Francaise **Group Read **1001 Book

2x Short Stories


1. Santaland Diaries
2. Close Range

 

1x Tome
A big, fat, scary book.


Not read yet.

Wow, first quarter down already!

Top reads:
Suite Francaise was excellent, it grabbed my attention from the off. I also really enjoyed The Age of Innocence, a book I had put off for years, but I am so glad I've read it.
From the pithier side of life, Santaland Diaries may not have seasonal, but it was very funny!
As for the best mystery, I can't decide between Restless, about espionage in WW2, or The Coroner's Lunch, the first installment in the Dr. Siri series set in Laos in the '70s.

As for the duds, well to be honest, I didn't expect much from Where have all the boys gone?, and it was much as it said on the tin. Fluffy, silly, but perfect for a heavy week.

11 in 11 Step Challenge

As I expected, I have tinkered with my categories, so here is the current set-up.  I would be very surprised if there aren't more changes!

 

11x 1001 Books
A keeper :)

 

10x Films


Reintroduced from my 11 in 11 Category Challenge.
Books adapted for the big screen, small screen and stage.

9x Asian Books



I have dropped this down to 9 books.

 

8x British

Books from the British Isles.

Dropped down to 8.

7x Spanish


From Spanish speaking world or in Spanish

6x Crime


Crime, mystery, thriller

I picked up a stack of crime-related fiction from home, so upped this category from 4 to 6.

5x Food & Drink

A new category, thought it would be fun as I noticed that I had 5 books that fitted.

 

4x History

Dropped down to 4 books.

3x French

French Books
A new group, I have had other language themes, so thought I'd pop a French one in.

2x Short Stories

 

1x Tome

A big, fat, scary book.