Paul Whybrow
Full Member
Continuing the tradition of naming favourite reads of the year, here is my baker’s dozen of books that inspired, entertained and informed me. It’s been a strange year for everything and what with my local library being closed for months, I’ve been buying more books online. None of my selection was published this year.
1) Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens.
I resisted reading this novel for a couple of years but was immediately drawn in by writing that skilfully blends unsentimentality, a love of wild things and passion. A tale of murder is cleverly interwoven leading to a surprise ending. Soon to be made into a film.
2) Miss Jane, by Brad Watson.
Based on the life of the author’s great aunt its protagonist suffers from a gentitourinary condition that dictates the course of her life. This sounds like an unprepossessing subject for a story, but, believe me, the lyrical power of the writing, great characterisation and inspiring behaviour made me marvel at the skills of Brad Watson, who tragically died too young. This tale is so good, I’d choose it to be in my favourite reads of my lifetime.
3) Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor.
There aren’t many books that change the way we think about things, but this is one of them. It’s altered how I breathe. Worth reading if you or someone you know has breathing problems.
4) Squeeze Me, by Carl Hiaasen.
Carl Hiaasen writes funny crime caper novels featuring terrifying criminals and which make earnest points about the environment. This title’s villain is a strangely orange President with an unfaithful wife.
5) The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse, by Charles Mackesy.
A beautiful book for all ages. Wonderful drawings and profound thinking.
6) Successful self-publishing: how to self-publish and market your book, by Joanna Penn.
The best book I’ve found on how to do things yourself as an Indie author. I’ll be using it to kickstart my eBook and audiobook titles in 2021.
7) Dear stranger: letters on the subject of happiness, compiled by Martha Roberts.
Inspirational thoughts from the famous and the worthy. Unexpectedly moving in its tenderness and pragmatism.
8) Arias, by Sharon Olds
Sharon Olds writes with courage, honesty and humour about the human condition and the state of the world.
9) The Hidden Life of Trees: what they feel, how they communicate - discoveries from a secret world, by Peter Wohlleben
Think you know trees? You probably don’t. This is a startling and revealing read that had me marvelling at recent discoveries about how trees communicate with each other.
10) Salt on your tongue: women and the sea, by Charlotte Runcie.
Joyful, contemplative and life-affirming, the author considers the sea and our relationship with it, while pregnant with her first child.
11) The Axeman’s Jazz, by Ray Celestin.
A great book to read if you like reading or writing historical crime stories, as you’re plunged into 1919 New Orleans where a serial killer prowls slaying victims with an axe. Highly atmospheric with great characterisation, it’s the first in a series of stories.
12) The Business of Being a Writer, by Jane Friedman
An indispensable guide to the realities of being a writer. You’ve written your story, now the real work begins — how do you sell it?
13) Making Evil: The Science Behind Humanity’s Dark Side, by Julia Shaw
All of us have some evil within us, but how similar are we to murderers and terrorists? How close are we to being a psychopath? The author reveals our dark side in a warm and witty way.
Previous years:
https://colony.litopia.com/threads/favourite-reads-of-2019.6646/
https://colony.litopia.com/threads/my-favourite-reads-of-2018.5132/#post-61732
https://colony.litopia.com/threads/my-favourite-reads-of-2017.3726/
1) Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens.
I resisted reading this novel for a couple of years but was immediately drawn in by writing that skilfully blends unsentimentality, a love of wild things and passion. A tale of murder is cleverly interwoven leading to a surprise ending. Soon to be made into a film.
2) Miss Jane, by Brad Watson.
Based on the life of the author’s great aunt its protagonist suffers from a gentitourinary condition that dictates the course of her life. This sounds like an unprepossessing subject for a story, but, believe me, the lyrical power of the writing, great characterisation and inspiring behaviour made me marvel at the skills of Brad Watson, who tragically died too young. This tale is so good, I’d choose it to be in my favourite reads of my lifetime.
3) Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor.
There aren’t many books that change the way we think about things, but this is one of them. It’s altered how I breathe. Worth reading if you or someone you know has breathing problems.
4) Squeeze Me, by Carl Hiaasen.
Carl Hiaasen writes funny crime caper novels featuring terrifying criminals and which make earnest points about the environment. This title’s villain is a strangely orange President with an unfaithful wife.
5) The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse, by Charles Mackesy.
A beautiful book for all ages. Wonderful drawings and profound thinking.
6) Successful self-publishing: how to self-publish and market your book, by Joanna Penn.
The best book I’ve found on how to do things yourself as an Indie author. I’ll be using it to kickstart my eBook and audiobook titles in 2021.
7) Dear stranger: letters on the subject of happiness, compiled by Martha Roberts.
Inspirational thoughts from the famous and the worthy. Unexpectedly moving in its tenderness and pragmatism.
8) Arias, by Sharon Olds
Sharon Olds writes with courage, honesty and humour about the human condition and the state of the world.
9) The Hidden Life of Trees: what they feel, how they communicate - discoveries from a secret world, by Peter Wohlleben
Think you know trees? You probably don’t. This is a startling and revealing read that had me marvelling at recent discoveries about how trees communicate with each other.
10) Salt on your tongue: women and the sea, by Charlotte Runcie.
Joyful, contemplative and life-affirming, the author considers the sea and our relationship with it, while pregnant with her first child.
11) The Axeman’s Jazz, by Ray Celestin.
A great book to read if you like reading or writing historical crime stories, as you’re plunged into 1919 New Orleans where a serial killer prowls slaying victims with an axe. Highly atmospheric with great characterisation, it’s the first in a series of stories.
12) The Business of Being a Writer, by Jane Friedman
An indispensable guide to the realities of being a writer. You’ve written your story, now the real work begins — how do you sell it?
13) Making Evil: The Science Behind Humanity’s Dark Side, by Julia Shaw
All of us have some evil within us, but how similar are we to murderers and terrorists? How close are we to being a psychopath? The author reveals our dark side in a warm and witty way.
Previous years:
https://colony.litopia.com/threads/favourite-reads-of-2019.6646/
https://colony.litopia.com/threads/my-favourite-reads-of-2018.5132/#post-61732
https://colony.litopia.com/threads/my-favourite-reads-of-2017.3726/
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