I’ve always enjoyed reading Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) posts on the blogs I follow, but I’ve never participated myself … until now! Yes, this is my very first Top Ten Tuesday post and I love the topic. As we approach the half-way point of 2014 I’ve been thinking a bit about what my favorite books of the year have been and this event has helped me to narrow it down. Since I decided to participate only last night (and I worked the night shift) I didn’t have much time to write the post so I have given each title three descriptors to give you an idea of why I loved them. I linked the books to my reviews if I wrote one or to the publisher’s page if I didn’t. One of the titles, Station Eleven, doesn’t pub until September, but I had to include it because it is outstanding – something to put on your fall TBR. So, here goes:
1. High Rising by Angela Thirkell – Witty, silly and downright fun.
2. The Vacationers by Emma Straub – Humorous, family drama, with a beautiful Spanish setting.
3. The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen – Powerful, gorgeous writing, and challenging.
4. I Remember You by Yrsa Sigurdardottir – Frightening, gut wrenching, and heart breaking.
5. Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey – Suspenseful, sad, and gripping.
6. Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead – Sophisticated, set in the ballet world, and melancholy.
7. The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin – Romantic, sparkling, and Neo Victorian.
8. A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O’Connor – Gothic, funny, and dark.
9. The Shelf by Phyllis Rose – Companionable, passionate, for book-lovers.
10. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel – Stunning, thought-provoking, dystopian.
What are your favorite books of the year (so far)?
A Certain Fondness 
I’ve often thought about taking part in Top Ten Tuesday but have never got round to actually doing it! I loved The Fortune Hunter too and there are a few other books on your list that I would like to read.
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I’m not sure why I’ve never done it before, but I’m glad I finally decided to participate. I’ll try to keep it up. 🙂
I thought The Fortune Hunter was quite good and I loved Bay – such a swoony character.
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A lovely list. I have ‘The House in Paris’ in mind for Paris in July, and I’m waiting for the library to find me a copy of ‘The Fortune Hunter.’
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The Fortune Hunter is lovely – great summer reading. I’m really looking forward to Paris in July, but I haven’t decided what I want to read yet – there are so many possibilities!
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I loved both High Rising and The House in Paris, and can’t wait to read The Vacationers… must take a closer look at the others on your list. Glad you joined in for this Top Ten Tuesday!
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I’m glad I joined in, too! The Vacationers seems to be ‘the’ book right now – and well worth it.
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You know how much I love book lists! I am making my own now, of books to look for. I hope the rest of the year brings you even more great books.
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I love lists, too! I’ve enjoyed reading all the Top Ten Tuesday posts the past couple of days. I hope my reading continues to be fantastic – my only goal is to read a few more classics.
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I am planning to do a top ten post as we come to the half way point in the year but not decided much yet as too many good reads to choose from!
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It was really hard to narrow down my list, but it made me think about why I liked certain books and why others didn’t quite cut it.
I look forward to seeing your choices!
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I haven’t read any of the books on your list but I’d love to give no. 8 a try.
One of the best books I read this year was The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker.
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Hello, Delia, Flannery O’Connor is a brilliant Southern writer – I hope you do give her a try.
The Golem and the Djinni is my book group’s November selection and I am very excited about it. It sounds fantastic.
Thanks for stopping by! Anbolyn x
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I loved “Chronicle in Stone” by Ismail Kadare, a wonderfully funny, touching and terrible book based on his childhood in a small Albanian city during WW2 when the city changed hands almost weekly between Greek and Italian forces.
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I haven’t heard of this book, but it sounds wonderful. I love reading books about the WWII experience outside of England or France. Thanks for reading. Anbolyn x
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I think my favourite novel this year is Karen Joy Fowler’s We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. It was so poignant I’ve not found the words to blog about it.
If you recommend the Emma Straub I’ll give it a go – I’m compiling my summer reading list.
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The Emma Straub is not the most profound book, but it’s a good summer book – light, funny, yet thoughtful. I liked it!
I’ve heard lots about the Fowler book, but it hasn’t appealed to me – until now. I always respect your recommendations.
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