An old reading list
I’ve just found this list hidden in the depths of my computer’s hard drive. It’s from October 2005 and it’s a list of books that were on my radar. To my shame most of them I’ve forgotten though a few have found there way to the bookshelves.
But now I’ve been reminded are there any I shouldn’t have missed?
The List:
How I live now Meg Rosoff
Blackbird House Alice Hoffman
Ghosting Jennie Erdal
Like a Fiery Elephant Jonathon Coe
Newfoundland Rebecca Ray
Tigers in Red Weather Ruth Padel.
AD500 Simon Young
Give Us This Day Jonathon Tulloch
Nothing but Ghosts by Judith Hermann
Fascination William Boyd
The Planets Dava Sobel
The Various Haunts of Men Susan Hill (on the shelf)
Oblivion David Foster Wallace
Beyond Black Hilary Mantel ** (on the shelf)
The Closed Circle Jonathon Coe
Firecracker Sean Stewart
Dead Simple Peter James
Home Julie Myerson
Moondust: In search of the people who fell to Earth
Iron Sunrise Charles Stross
Darkhenge Catherine Fisher (on the shelf)
Hellboy: Odder Jobs Various
Silverfin Charles Higson
The Autumn Castle Kim Wilkins
Hounds of Avalon Mark Chadbourn (on the shelf)
Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, gangsters, and the birth of the Comic Book
Author, Author David Lodge
My Trade Andrew Marr
I have only read a couple of these - Like a Fiery Elephant, Beyond Black - and both fell within the category of potentially brilliant but ultimately disappointing. You still might like them though. If I had this list, I would be heading straight for the last title; Andrew Marr is always interesting.
I saw Jonathan Coe in Hay when he was talking about Closed Circle. I’ll probably will try Like a Fiery Elephant, thanks.
Andrew Marr is an amazing man - I wonder if he’ll ever write a novel?
I really enjoyed Beyond Black, though it did take a while to get through. Like a Fiery Elephant is unread on the shelf at the moment, though I intend to get round to it. Also unread on the shelf is My Trade by Andrew Marr.
The Closed Circle was fantastic, though not *quite* as good as The Rotters Club. I also really liked Home by Julie Myerson (though the paperback jacket is hideously pastel).
It’s strange the amount of books that stay shelved only to read and loved. And the books that you buy and think I can’t wait for this and never do.
I started The Rotters Club ages and ages ago just after when I saw Mr Coe and Hay and thought I’ll go back to this one day..
Will see if Hilary fairs much better.