10 books that escaped 2016
The Broke and Bookish has chosen as the theme for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday: 10 books released in 2016 I meant to read – but didn’t. I read more contemporary fiction last year than in previous years but even then couldn’t keep up with so much that was new. Here’s my list of the ones that got away….
The Sellout by Paul Beatty – the novel that won the 2016 Booker prize. I have a signed copy awaiting me….
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh: I read a sample of this when it was longlisted for the 2016 Booker Prize and was struck by the strong voice of the narrator. It’s had mixed reviews since then but I have my own copy now so will get around to reading it. Someday..
The Book of Memory by Petina Gappah: I wanted to read her collection of short stories before starting on this novel but never got to finish the collection.
Paris Mon Amour by Isabel Costello: This is an unusual choice for me because it’s essentially a story of love but it’s set in one of my favourite cities (Paris). I know from Isabel’s blog that she researched the setting extensively.
The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon, the debut novel that ‘everyone’ seemed to be talking about last year
His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet- another Booker contender. I’ve taken this out of the library twice now and each time had to return it unread. Third time lucky maybe.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. I saw a number of reviews all recommending this but couldn’t get it via our library system and I don’t typically buy novels in hardcover on the grounds of cost so have been waiting for this to come out in paperback.
Old Soldiers Never Die by Frank Richards. This account of life in the trenches of World War 1 was published in 1933. It was given fresh life last year through a new edition by the National Library of Wales
The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney. Another popular novel from 2016 that I missed. Usually the more attention a novel gets the less likely I am to want to read it but this one refused to go away.
Human Acts by Han Kang. A very intriguing novel but before I get to this I’d better hurry up and read her earlier novel The Vegetarian
Nice list!
I preferred Human Acts to The Vegetarian. They’re very different though!
Thanks for that insight – since I have The Vegetarian I will start with that – it will mean I can keep to my plan of reading my own books in preference to buying yet more
Love this list for most books mentioned but there were also some that were known and not missed 🙂 But I am glad you made this list.
I do like this Top Ten Tuesday prompt – it makes me think about books in slightly different ways
I had A Bloody Project on my radar too but haven’t read it yet either! Sounds promising though! I hope to read your review first and you’ll convince me to finally get the book too then 😉
if you’re waiting on me, you might be waiting a very long time though 🙂
Will you be reading any of the ones that got away this year? Human Acts hasn’t been published in the US yet, net month i think. I already have a hold request on it at the library 🙂
Only if I can get them from the library Stefanie – even then I want to be careful not to get too many since then I wont read the books I already have
I haven’t read any of these either, but some are on my TBR. Isn’t it alarming/exciting to see how many books one has yet to cross off/explore, even in the reading years in which we feel we ARE making an effort/enjoying contemporary books!? (Some years, for me anyway, are solidly more about backlists, and I think I’ll have markedly different results when I make a point of following new releases, but the TBR at the end often seems to be the same length whether I’m reading backlist or new titles!)
I suspect that a long TBR and long wishlist goes with the territory of being a reading fan
I can recommend Eileen, but that’s about it. Several of these are still on my own list. I think, though, I could probably have a top 50 list for this topic!
it was indeed a bit tough to keep it to just 10
Love your graphic!
There’s a few here that I still have on my list – Goats and Sheep, Moscow and Heresies. I can highly recommend Eileen – weird and memorable!
I read the first chapter of Eileen and it was indeed a little strange but in a good way
“Usually the more attention a novel gets the less likely I am to want to read it” – me, too!
I hope you’ll get around to The Book of Memory – a very impressive first novel. Having said that, I really should get around to the short stories!
I was able to read His Bloody Project last year, which I enjoyed. I’m currently reading The Sellout, but it’s still to early to say whether or not I like it.
How is The Sellout coming along?
Oh, it’s hilariously irreverent!
cool montage! I also plan to read A Gentleman in Moscow
I loved The Glorious Heresies, hope you do too. There was a lot of hype but for me it lived up to it. I haven’t heard of Goats and Sheep, so I guess I missed something. Good title though!
Hype isn’t always a bad thing – certainly not for the author
I loved Glorious Heresies (review on my blog!) I also need to read sellout and human acts – I loved The Vegetarian
thanks for the endorsement on The Vegetarian
Well I thoroughly enjoyed The Trouble with Goats and Sheep.
I’m in the middle of His Bloody Project at the moment and would definitely recommend it. I hope you have another chance to read it! I also love the sound of A Gentleman in Moscow and am hoping to read it soon.
thanks for the vote in favour of His Bloody Project
I want to read A Gentleman in Moscow. I almost put Eileen on my best of list. I would have if I hadn’t tried to stick to ten titles.
it was tough wasn’t it to be confined to just 10
Yes it was.
A Gentleman in Moscow rather appeals to me, of course – but I’m not sure if it’s appeared in my library either. I’ll just have to wait for the paperback!
You shouldnt have to wait long Karen – I think I saw somewhere that the paperback version is due out in February
The Trouble With Goats and Sheep would make my list too! I strongly recommend Hos Bloody Project – a definite hit for me in 2016
I remember from your review of His Bloody Project that you rated it highly….. I just need more hours in my day
Me too!