Books 2020
Dec. 15th, 2020 01:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
millionreasonsSome books I've enjoyed this year (i.e. have given 4 stars to on Goodreads):
Stone Mattress - Margaret Atwood. Creepy tales from the mistress of macabre.
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet. More than I ever wanted to know about imperial Japan and the Dutch East India Company. But with Mitchell's customary beautiful writing and concern for the underdog.
The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone - Tennessees Williams. This book made me want to move to Rome, rent a villa near the Spanish steps and become a sex tourist. Probably more expensive now than in the 1950s, though.
Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. War! What is it good for? It's good for literature.
Actress - Anne Enright. Do we need another novel about mother/daughter dynamics and olde Hollywood? Yes we do and this book is it.
The Red Men - Matthew De Abaitua. Artificial intelligence fever dream set in pre-gentrified Hackney.
The Two Faces of January - Patricia Highsmith. This book made me want to move to Crete and go on a murder spree.
Go Set a Watchman - Harper Lee. Problematic fave.
Monsignor Quixote - Graham Greene. Priest goes mad in La Mancha.
Out of Africa - Karen Blixen. Problematic fave #2.
The Story of English in 100 Words - David Crystal. Words for nerds.
The Woman In the Window - AJ Finn. Manipulative but highly engaging domestic noir
A Line Made by Walking - Sara Baume. Depressed artist in Ireland nonetheless makes for poetic, appealing novel.
Village Christmas - Laurie Lee. A book for the whole year, not just for Xmas. Seasonal essays found by Lee's daughter after his death. NB They say you should never meet your heroes, but I'd also suggest not looking at the "personal life" section on Wikipedia.
The Thousand Dollar Tan Line - Rob Thomas. I adored being back with Veronica Mars and the gang.
Earthquake Bird - Susanna Jones. Murder and mayhem in modern Japan.
My reviews are on Goodreads, should you wish to follow me there.
Stone Mattress - Margaret Atwood. Creepy tales from the mistress of macabre.
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet. More than I ever wanted to know about imperial Japan and the Dutch East India Company. But with Mitchell's customary beautiful writing and concern for the underdog.
The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone - Tennessees Williams. This book made me want to move to Rome, rent a villa near the Spanish steps and become a sex tourist. Probably more expensive now than in the 1950s, though.
Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. War! What is it good for? It's good for literature.
Actress - Anne Enright. Do we need another novel about mother/daughter dynamics and olde Hollywood? Yes we do and this book is it.
The Red Men - Matthew De Abaitua. Artificial intelligence fever dream set in pre-gentrified Hackney.
The Two Faces of January - Patricia Highsmith. This book made me want to move to Crete and go on a murder spree.
Go Set a Watchman - Harper Lee. Problematic fave.
Monsignor Quixote - Graham Greene. Priest goes mad in La Mancha.
Out of Africa - Karen Blixen. Problematic fave #2.
The Story of English in 100 Words - David Crystal. Words for nerds.
The Woman In the Window - AJ Finn. Manipulative but highly engaging domestic noir
A Line Made by Walking - Sara Baume. Depressed artist in Ireland nonetheless makes for poetic, appealing novel.
Village Christmas - Laurie Lee. A book for the whole year, not just for Xmas. Seasonal essays found by Lee's daughter after his death. NB They say you should never meet your heroes, but I'd also suggest not looking at the "personal life" section on Wikipedia.
The Thousand Dollar Tan Line - Rob Thomas. I adored being back with Veronica Mars and the gang.
Earthquake Bird - Susanna Jones. Murder and mayhem in modern Japan.
My reviews are on Goodreads, should you wish to follow me there.
