The
best of 2013 in General Fiction.
I’ve decided to not try and turn this into a top ten. The list gets too
contrived if I narrow my choices down any further.
This a list of general fiction books that have stayed with me for one
reason or another. Not all of these titles got 5 stars but all of them made a lasting
impression on me. All titles have been linked to their reviews.
Fascinating but dark
thriller set in Ireland
in 1963 and deals with Nazi’s who had been granted asylum here. A wonderful
combination of fact and fiction , leaving the reader wondering how much of the
story is fact.
A book that is almost
impossible to categorize filled with surprises, twists and turns and very well
written. Absolutely fascinating read.
A woman starts to
question everything about the last twenty years of her life, her marriage, her
husband and who she is.
Lord John and Jamie Fraser have reluctantly joined
forces to catch a criminal and avert a conspiracy. Very, very good.
A wonderful and thought provoking story about a
teenage boy and the older man he befriends. The book deals with euthanasia in a
sensitive way without ever getting depressing.
As always and as I’ve come to expect a wonderfully written and very well
plotted mystery, this time set in a secluded religious order.
Fantastic mystery set in Stalin’s USSR in the 1930’s. Well written,
well plotted with great characters; I adore these books.
Well written and very hard-hitting book about everything that’s wrong
with the (Scottish) care-system with a main character that will both charm you
and break your heart.
Funny and intriguing book about one journalists return to the world of
live music after taking several years out due to parental duties.
Wonderful sequel to The Watchers. Angels are
fighting the forces of evil to safe humanity and things are definitely heating
up.
Wonderful work of fictional fact, set in Iceland where a young woman is
awaiting execution for murder. A most impressive debut that reminded me a bit –
but in a good way – of Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood.
Original and well plotted story about what happens when people return
from the dead to rejoin their loved ones.
The second title by Louise Penny on this list, this is an absolutely
brilliant instalment in this series in which a murder is solved and a long
running story-line comes to its conclusion. This is probably my favourite
mystery series at the moment.
Historical novel set in Italy about the
Castrati and the struggles two of them face while striving for success and
justice. Very well written and captivating story.
Fascinating story about the sole survivor of a
school shooting in England
and the struggles he faces afterwards trying to make a life for himself despite
the weight he carries on his shoulders.
Heartbreaking story set during WW II about a young female pilot who is
captured by the Germans and ends up in an all female concentration camp. The
story contains some very shocking images, but is told in a heart-warming way
and needs to be told and remembered.
The fourth instalment in the English version of The Dresden Files. The
stories are getting gradually darker and in this one Alex Verus has to confront
his dark past in order to keep himself and those he cares about safe in the
present.
THE STORY OF GULLIVER by JONATHAN COE, THE STORY OF ANTIGONE by ALI SMITH, THE STORY OF DON JUAN by ALESSANDRO BARICCO
Books in the Save the Story series which is an initiative that takes
classic tales and recreates them for a new generation of readers. Gorgeous
books, wonderful retelling, beautiful illustrations and a great way of keeping
these stories alive. I’m very impressed.
This was one of my favourite books when I was
young and The Letter for the King has recently been voted most popular work of
juvenile fiction in Holland.
The book has recently been translated into English for the first time and I
couldn’t resist the temptation to revisit a childhood favourite. Thankfully the
book hadn’t lost any of its charm.
I’m not sure how I managed to miss this book up
until now but I’m glad I found it at last. This is a wonderful and clever work
in so many ways and it left me in awe by the time I read the last pages.
I’ve since seen the movie too (I know, I’m amazed too, I watched a movie) and
liked it although I think I wouldn’t have liked it near as much if I hadn’t
read the book first.
TRANSGRESSION by THEO FENRAVEN (5)
A very well told story dealing with characters
who are different from what most people would consider the norm - bi-sexuality,
cross-dressing-transgender - and all the issues they run into in a world where
the majority of people are still unwilling to accept anything other than the
ordinary. Both the story and the way in which it was written impressed me
immensely.
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