For the last couple of years I’ve done a round up post of all the books I’ve read over the last year. We’re now a week into 2018 and not only have I not done my book round up, I’ve also not posted at all yet. So first up I just want to wish you all a very happy new year. There will be more on New Year related stuff soon, but as usual I need to catch up first!
This year I’ve done a lot more listening to Audible rather than picking up a physical book. This is partly because I’ve been super busy and listening on the go is super handy. It’s also because my eyes haven’t been very happy this year due to my Intercranial Hypertension (more on that maybe one day). Anyway on to last years reads…
I started the year reading lots of Daisy Dalrymple mysteries by Carola Dunn. There was a lot going on at the beginning of the year and having something light and cosy to escape to was great. I also got through some books by my favourite chick lit authors, like Jenny Colgan.Lucy Diamond and Katie FForde.
I re-read a couple of Jane Austen’s books. I’ve read them all so many times I lose count! Having watched Decline and Fall on TV I decided to read a couple of Evelyn Waugh Books. I’ve read a couple of his books before, but not Brideshead or Decline and Fall. I really enjoyed both of them.
Long term readers will know I love biographies of interesting women so Coco Chanel – The Legend and The Life was a great choice for me. I wrote a review of this one for the blog, which I haven’t got round to publishing yet. I’ll try total some pics and get that up this week. I also re-read Take Six Girls, a book about the Mitford sisters that I read last year. It’s a really good read and absolutely fascinating.
Having read about the Mitford sisters I had to then re-read some of my favourite Nancy Mitford novels. I lover her writing so much, I can’t help going back to these a lot!
One of my favourite books of the year was Wilde Like Me, by Louise Pentland. It explores motherhood in a way I can really relate to and it’s generally just a really fab relatable read.
I really enjoyed The Husband Hunters by Anne De Courcy, she’s an amazing social history writer and this book which explores marriages between American women and members of the British aristocracy was absolutely fascinating.
My favourite book of the year would have to be Lucy Worsley’s Jane Austen At Home. This is about as good as biography gets I just couldn’t put this one down. It’s a well researched, beautifully written look at one of my favourite authors and I couldn’t recommend it enough.
I was also excited to read new books by two of my favourite authors. Ben Aaronovitch’s new book was as good as expected and The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage was every bit as good as you’d expect from Phillip Pullman. I absolutely cannot wait for the next instalment.
Another highlight of the year was The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry, this unusual and mysterious novel was one I really enjoyed. I also re-read Murder on The Orient Express rather than watching the new film! I finished the year with some festive chick lit and a very interesting book about the OJ Simpson trial by prosecutor Marcia Clark.
I always love looking back at the mix of books I’ve read over the year and it always makes me want to devour even more books this year. Do you have any recommendations for me?
See what I read in 2016 and 2017. Find more posts and books reviews in my Books section.
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