The Best Reads of 2016

It’s that time of the year again… where I’m left staring at the pile of books I’ve accumulated over the year and wondering:

A. Where on earth I’m going to put them all.
B. Why I can’t just join a library.

Hrmmm.

Anyway, I set myself a goal on Goodreads to read 55 books this year and I’m happy to say that I surpassed it in November! In fact, I’m hoping to hit 60 books by the end of the year. It sounds ambitious but I recently discovered a new Australian author who I’ve fallen head over heels for and there was a sale on all her books and they were under ten dollars and… you know how it goes. Right?

Let’s kick on with this year’s top ten.

The Year of Living Danishly – Helen Russell

The fact that I was dreaming of retirement at the age of 33 was probably an indicator that something had to change.

[easyazon_link identifier=”1785780239″ locale=”US” tag=”birdgehls10-20″]This is a book[/easyazon_link] that every expat should read. Or maybe anyone with a sense of humour.

Helen Russell and her husband Lego Man are exhausted by London life (take that, Samuel Johnson). So, when Lego Man gets offered a job in rural Denmark at the Lego Company, they decided to pack up their lives and move to Jutland.

Russell, a freelance journalist, decides to embark upon a year long mission to find out why their adopted home of Denmark is the “happiest nation on earth”. With a winter spent in freezing darkness and total adherence to social traditions, how is it that most Danes manage to rate themselves at least an 8/10 for happiness? What are they doing right? What are we doing wrong? And how can we all try to live a little more Danishly?

I’ve read a lot of travel and expat memoirs over the last few years and Helen’s stood out for a couple of reasons. It’s funny, in a totally self-deprecating way, which I adored. Plus, it’s not just all about personal experience. Russell is a journalist first and foremost and intertwines research, interviews with other Danes and personal experience to present her findings.

Maybe I should start my happiness project by trying to be more grateful for what I’ve got.

House of Mirth – Edith Wharton

Here’s one from last year’s list that I actually got around to reading! Hooray!

Lily Bart is a member of New York’s “high society”. Beautiful, witty, sophisticated on the outside – in reality, she is a poor girl with expensive tastes. Bart is in want of a husband to help preserve her social standing amongst the nouveaux rich and maintain her luxurious lifestyle. Although many have sought her hand in marriage (and indeed, a rich hubby would see the end of her money problems), something – stubbornness, or her own integrity – prevents Bart from making a suitable match.

[easyazon_link identifier=”0140187294″ locale=”US” tag=”birdgehls10-20″]Wharton’s novel[/easyazon_link] became a scandalous sensation when it was first published in the early 20th century. Here was a woman actively rallying against the norms that society would want to press against her. I wish I could say it’s a happy story, but that would be a lie. The ending will hit you like a tonne of bricks.

She was so evidently the victim of the civilization which had produced her, that the links of her bracelet seemed like manacles chaining her to her fate.

The Anti-Cool Girl – Rosie Waterland

That was the exact moment I realised I was the Doug Pitt to my sister’s Brad.

Rosie Waterland has never been [easyazon_link identifier=”1460750640″ locale=”US” tag=”birdgehls10-20″]one of the cool girls[/easyazon_link] – but typically, her sister always has. The two girls grew up in housing commission with two addicts for parents. Rather than going to MacDonald’s for Sunday lunches and hanging at the park with friends, Rosie attended AA meetings, narrowly escaped drug dealers, watched her Dad regularly pass out and often kept her Mum a step away from suicide.

Rosie eventually realised the key thing was to stop trying to be someone she wasn’t and embrace who she was: The Anti-Cool Girl.

She’s gone on to have a pretty cool career, writing for Mamamia.com.au and working in TV. Maybe she actually is cooler than she first thought. I think so, anyway.

Valley of the Dolls – Jacqueline Susann

Oh look, [easyazon_link identifier=”0802125344″ locale=”US” tag=”birdgehls10-20″]another book[/easyazon_link] that had me griped at the opening sentence.

What are dolls? They’re pills. Pills to help you sleep. Pills to keep you happy. Pills to keep you skinny. Wash them down with vodka or swallow them straight – Anne, Neely and Jennifer don’t give a damn, so long as they’re easily accessible.

We follow the three one-time friends, struggling to “make it” in New York City, as they climb to the very top of the entertainment industry… only to come plummeting down.

People parted, years passed, they met again- and the meeting proved no reunion, offered no warm memories, only the acid knowledge that time had passed and things weren’t as bright or attractive as they had been.

Crown of Midnight – Sarah J. Maas

Would I have started reading the [easyazon_link identifier=”1619630346″ locale=”US” tag=”birdgehls10-20″]Throne of Glass[/easyazon_link] series if I knew I’d end up dedicated hours of my life to it? Probably. I’m a sucker for fantasy books and this is one that is worth the commitment.

Everything changes for Celaena Sardothien when she is dragged out of the mine of Endovier by Dorian, the son of the King of Adarlan, who just happens to be the man she hates most in the world. The beautiful, sharp and deadly teenage assassin must fight to become the King’s Champion in a world where magic has been outlawed. And then a bunch of other stuff happens because this is so far a five book series.

[easyazon_link identifier=”1619630648″ locale=”US” tag=”birdgehls10-20″]Crown of Midnight[/easyazon_link] has been my favourite book by far. Talk about feeling all the feels. Team Chaol for life.

The rest of the world quieted into nothing. In that moment, after ten long years, Celaena looked at Chaol and realised she was home.

Sigh. See? Emotional. Everyone is so ridiculously good looking and unfathomably sexy in YA fantasy books, aren’t they?!

My Family and Other Animals – Gerald Durrell

I got a bit hooked on Gerald Durrell after visiting his eponymous Wildlife Park in Jersey.

I picked up [easyazon_link identifier=”0142004413″ locale=”US” tag=”birdgehls10-20″]one of his memoirs[/easyazon_link] on a whim in the gift shop, without anticipating just how funny it would be.

Durrell and his rather unconventional family, on the encouragement of his older brother Larry, pack up their home in grey and drizzly England and move to Corfu. Durrell meant to write a book about the natural history of the island, but as he once put it, his family always managed to worm there way in.

So, the book became an account of some of the years he and his family spent living on the Greek island of Corfu and the many animals they encountered (and adopted) along the way.

My childhood in Corfu shaped my life. If I had the craft of Merlin, I would give every child the gift of my childhood.

The Post-Birthday World – Lionel Shriver

It is never persuasive to argue that you are not the kind of person who does what you are actually doing.

Lionel Shriver is one of my favourite authors and I’ve been slowly working my way through her novels over the last few years. They’re deep, they’re intelligent and they always leave you… well, filled with despair when thinking about the state of the world and our place in it.

The two that stood out to me the most this year were her newest, The Mandibles and an oldie but a goodie, [easyazon_link identifier=”0061187895″ locale=”US” tag=”birdgehls10-20″]The Post-Birthday World[/easyazon_link].

The book follows a parallel-universe structure that hinges on one moment – when mild-mannered children’s book illustrator Irina McGovern decides whether she should, or shouldn’t cheat on her longterm partner Lawrence with the fancy snooker player Ramsey Acton. The future Irina’s career, familial relationships and day to day life will be determined by one single kiss. She can give into temptation or she can choose to stay loyal to Lawrence. Either decision will have lasting and not entirely pleasant consequences on her life.

We all have our own “what-if” moments, which we play on endless loops around our minds. What if I had taken that job? Gone on that first date? Said yes to that opportunity? Would my life be better, or worse off as a consequence?

In this book, we get to see the effects of one single decision, as Irina’s two possible life paths are laid out side by side. I can only imagine how much fun Shriver would have had writing this book.

Americanah – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I actually ended up reading [easyazon_link identifier=”0307455920″ locale=”US” tag=”birdgehls10-20″]Americanah[/easyazon_link] shortly after I wrote last year’s book review, as I just couldn’t wait any longer!

The book follows the stories of two teenagers – Ifemelu and Obinze, living in Lagos. Nigeria is under military dictatorship, with people fleeing the country if they can. Ifemelu heads to America to study, where race is thrown to the forefront of her mind for the first time in her life. Obinze hopes to join her, but post-9/11 America draws the line, so he moves to London illegally instead.

The two are not reunited in Nigeria until years later, with three continents and countless years between them. Their passion is reignited, but is it enough to keep them together?

How easy it was to lie to strangers, to create with strangers the versions of our lives we imagined.

And my book of the year?

Three Wishes – Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty has been floating around my consciousness for the last few months and I’m so glad I finally sat down with one of her books.

Cat felt that sense of pleasure and pride that she always felt when she saw her sisters in public. “Look at them!” she wanted to say to people. “My sisters. Aren’t they great? Aren’t they annoying?”

[easyazon_link identifier=”0062669257″ locale=”US” tag=”birdgehls10-20″]Three Wishes[/easyazon_link] is the first of Moriarty’s published novels and so far, my favourite.

This a book that explores the dynamics of family relationships, with humour and honesty. The Kettle sisters are triplets, about to turn 34. One has had her life turn upside down. One’s about to give birth. And the last is trying to keep up appearances, whilst she crumbles on the inside.

Do yourself a favour and buy any of Moriarty’s books. They’ll grip you as well as having you in stitches.

What’s on my list for 2017

Well. To start with, all the books I didn’t get around to reading that were on last year’s list.

I need to read more classics, particularly after majorly dropping the ball on them this year. This includes finally finishing Mansfield Park and starting North and South, which is sitting on my bedroom floor.

As evidence by this list, I read a lot of books by female authors. Not that this is a bad thing per sae – however, I would like my reading to be a tad more varied. I’d like to finish reading Kurt Vonnegut, Gerald Durrell’s and John Steinbeck’s books and make a start on some of the older classics written by men. Maybe attempt a Dickens! 

Update:I’ve been on holiday in Northern NSW in Australia and finished “Tender is the Night.” Add F. Scott Fitzgerald to that list!

Either way, it’s been a good year of reading and I’m hoping 2017 will be much the same.

What were your favourite reads of this year?

NB: This post contains affiliate links, which goes directly back into feeding the book addiction. But remember – there’s no better feeling than walking out of your local independent bookstore with an armful of novels!

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30 Comments

    1. Haha to be fair, I read about 8 when I was in Cuba earlier this year. Had no internet and nothing else to do, as was pretty sick. AGREED YAY!

  1. Just added you on Goodreads! I absolutely adore Liane Moriarty too and I think that may be one of my favourites from her. What did you think of her latest novel?

    Will probably add a few of those to my Kindle to read on my trip in Tasmania, so thank you for the list!

    1. I actually started with her newest and liked it a lot, even if it was a bit of a tome! Did you like it? Have three of hers to go and then will be somewhat bereft. Enjoy Tassie!

  2. What a diverse and interesting collection. I found a couple I’d really like to read so that says everything about your post. Very informative and fun. Thanks for the recommendations.

  3. These are some great suggestions. I was reading Americanah but it was ruined in a flood. Maybe I need to download it and try again. The rest I haven’t heard of so I will take another look at them.

  4. I’m not a big reader. OK, that is only half true. I don’t read novels. I read a lot of material online and listen to audio books. Some of these sound quite good. I may have to see if I can get them in audio versions. Also, you have a nice writing style.

    1. Thanks for the compliment, Susan. 🙂 Hopefully you can find some of them to give a listen to. Audible at least seems to make audio versions of many books now.

  5. Damn! I didn’t even make my target of 20 I don’t think! I haven’t read any of these books but Americanah looks dead interesting. I might try it in the new year.

  6. Argh, so many great titles! I think my Amazon wishlist is going to explore from the titles I added (especially The Year of Living Danishly!) Thank you so much for these great finds 🙂

  7. Great list of very different books. I loved the Durrells and didn’t know the series was based on a book. I will keep this list somewhere so I can pick some when I need a good read. Thanks for sharing.

    1. I haven’t got around to watching the telly series yet, but I want to. Totally recommend the book, I just bought the second book in the series and am looking forward to being similarly entertained.

  8. Great collection of books! I already had a few of them on my list to read this year. I’ve now added a few more! I’m going to have to get myself on Goodreads to keep track of what I’m reading I think. I’m such a book worm too!

  9. 55! ho ho! Bookworm! I love it! 🙂 Last year I think I only finished 2 books! haha but as part of my 2017, I will read more books. The one that I read was ” The Secrets of Prosperity, How to Create a life beyond limits” by Rick Schnabel. If you have a chance, you can check this out. Every page has a meaningful message. Anyway, thanks for sharing your books!

    Cheers,

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