Why on earth did Day's Bared to You trilogy miss out on all the Fifty Shades action? It almost went completely under my radar. If it wasn't for my (frankly a bit pervy) Aunt in publishing (can i get a WoooooOOOooo?)then I probably wouldn't have even picked it up! Stop wetting your pants over Christian and come and meet Giggidy Gideon (what is it with characters in these kinds of books having stupid names?). Anyway, I'm serious. The sex is better (no Tampax ickiness, no cliched Red Room of Pain), the story's better (i.e. it isn't just "padding" between sex scenes) and the writing is better (no "inner goddess" - my Inner Goddess was very relieved!).
Classic
The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkein
I won't bother summarising this because if you don't already have an inkling as to the plot, there is only
Yep, I only read this book this year. For shame!
It is simply everything you could wish for in a Children's Epic.
The blueprint for every fantastical tale I've read since.
Fiction
I am cheating because there are so many good books - I have 2 faves for the Fiction books I read in 2012. I probably could have split them into sub-categories bit oh well...
The Help - Kathyryn Stockett
Truly uplifting. I love the writing style. The dialectal way in which Stockett tells the 2 sides of the story. It is witty, topical and an all round feelgood read.
(The film is also very good; close to the book and the acting is absolutely on point.)
I loved this. It is an intricate fairy tale retelling, taking in many aspects of traditional (mainly Grimm) fairy tales and transforming them into a complicated, dark and sometimes visceral plot. I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of using childhood stories to explore adult themes of loss, grief, envy and love.
I would recommend this if you enjoyed: Any Grimm Fairy Tales, Tender Morsels, Tom's Midnight Garden or Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister...
Crime
Echo Park - Michael Connelly
I used to be really in to crime thrillers and murder mysteries when I was a kid. Probably thanks to my diet of Famous Five and Secret Seven books! I then progressed to Nancy Drew when I was a teenager. Since then though, I haven't really read many "crime" novels. I think I sort of thought "been there, done that".
Well, that was until I discovered Michael Connelly. I was a little put off by the fact that he is one of those writers that just seems to bash these things out, which always puts me off because it makes me doubt the quality of the writing. I know it shouldn't do and it's silly - don't worry though. I fully admit that I was wrong. Very wrong.
This book was intriguing because it was about a closed case where the murderer had never been caught. Years later, an absolute nutjob admits to the killing but good ol' Detective Harry Bosh doesn't believe him and sets out to solve the cold case himself. Dun dun dunnnn....
Fantasy
Okay so I'm properly cheating now because this is actually 4 books but I'm counting it as one entry...deal with it!
You may not be famiiar with the story of Wicked but most people will have heard of it by now, thanks to the incredibly popular stage show on Broadway and in The West End.
The books follow the life of the Wicked Witch of the West and her family/ associates.
You will want to invest time in these because they suck you in until before you know it, you have spent a month reading with barely any sleep living a half-life because your mind is constantly in Oz!
In my opinion this is everything fantasy should be. There is comedy, magic, mystery, tragedy and green-people sex - what's not to love!?
Historical Fiction
Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
Not for the faint-hearted! This novel is exquisite but long. It is a proper saga. I love the very French feel of Faulks' novels and I love how intimately he knows the people and places in his stories.
Not a traditional love story and definitely no gushing, this is a spectacular tale that you can really believe in.
Make sure you have your Kleenex at the ready - it's a weepy!
Non-Fiction
Do Not Pass Go - Tim Moore
My family used to play Monopoly quite a lot but I wasn't a major fan, mainly because I almost always lost to my much-less-gullible sister! That said, you don't need to be a Monopoly superfan to find this book charming, hilarious and interesting.
I think it was an inspired idea of Tim's to tour London and try and discover why the Monopoly Board streets were chosen. His mission takes him all across London and he makes some interesting and weird discoveries and tells us about them in a very witty way. This book reminds me of Bill Bryson's Notes on a Small Island. Brilliant stuff!
Science Fiction
Farenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
Don't know how I lived so long without ever reading this. It is a must-read for all bookworms. I don't consider myself as a particular sci-fi fan but fear not - this is more of a future dystopia dealy. In a future where books are feared by the government because their influence cannot be controlled; in a society where the government are trying to discourage free-thinking; one man steals a book that he is supposed to have burnt...
I could read this every month and not get bored. This story has so many layers that you uncover something new each time and the state-control aspect of it is muted, rather than over-exaggerated like it is in other dystopia . The scariness is more implied than stated and I think that makes everything even scarier!
A girl gets turned into an old woman by a particularly nasty witch. She seeks refuge in an old, magical, moving castle which is home to a grumpy wizard who is renowned for kidnapping girls.
There is nothing too taxing/tragic/emotionally demanding in there, just humour, magic and mystery.
