My Favourite Reads of 2018

Help! Your Character’s voice

How Was Your Writing Year?

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Paul Whybrow

Full Member
Jun 20, 2015
Cornwall, UK
Now is the time of year when newspapers and websites are full of lists detailing critics and authors' best books of the previous twelve months. I gave my favourite reads of 2017, so I'll continue the tradition with my baker's dozen (or so) of favourite reads.

Not all of my choices were published this year, and there are several novels that are part of long series, as well as a couple that are sequels or prequels to successful stories.

1) Lamentation by C. J. Sansom.

The sixth story in the Matthew Shardlake series, I can't praise these books enough. Even if you don't normally read historical fiction, you'd like them, as they hook the reader in. I prefer Sansom's handling of the Tudor period to that of Hilary Mantel, as he has more warmth in his writing and conveys the fears of ordinary citizens better. A new story in the series was published in October, called Tombland.


2) Robicheaux by James Lee Burke.

I've read all of the Dave Robicheaux series and this is the twenty-first story. Burke is a writing heavyweight whose technique is something to aspire to. He gives a strong sense of place, tying historical events into contemporary attitudes with great characterisation.

3) All That Remains: A Life In Death by Professor Sue Black.

51Zd0aL8n4L._SX349_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


A humbling read from a Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology, who literally knows death inside out. Not as macabre as you might think, with unexpected moments of humour, her memoir is gripping and full of wisdom.

4) Norwegian By Night & its sequel American By Day by Derek B. Miller.

61-7RDr0m4L._SX317_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

51uiH2eKN4L._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


An unexpected pleasure. I'd read favourable reviews, but Miller's unusual approach to crime writing surprised me, giving me food for thought, as he goes off at tangents, making his stories as much character portrayals as they are entertaining and involving mysteries.

5) Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters.

51XgOuj0%2BmL._SX324_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


I normally steer clear of alternate histories, but I liked the blurb on the cover of this novel that I picked up in the library. I was soon hooked, as the author's premise of a continuing form of slavery was believable and there were plenty of 'what-would-you-do?' thrills. Good characterisation and an effective condemnation of corporate America. I preferred it to Colson Whitehead's highly-praised The Underground Railroad which won several literary prizes.

6) The Last Painting Of Sara De Vos by Dominic Smith.

51IgPIAf39L._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


I've already praised this novel a couple of times on the Colony. I read it as part of my research into the world of art and forgery, as my latest Cornish Detective novel is set in the art colony of Saint Ives. I was captivated by the masterful writing and how the author wove two time periods into the narrative. Smith has a lightness of touch using arresting imagery that makes you think deeply about creativity and possession of the finished product.

7) The Rules Of Magic by Alice Hoffman.


A prequel to Practical Magic Hoffman's most successful novel, and adapted into a Hollywood movie. The author weaves her spell in an entrancing way, encouraging the reader to believe that witchcraft has a place in contemporary society. Deft handling of intimate moments that make you feel a part of the story.

8) Sapiens: A Brief History Of Mankind by Yuval Noah Harari.


This book appeared on so many listicles, that it almost put me off reading it. I'm glad that I did, for it's a mind-expanding challenge. The author sometimes makes rather woolly assertions, which made me wonder if he was being deliberately provocative, as surely such and such was more likely....Damn it, he made me think!

9) French Exit by Patrick deWitt.

316ZM8nERpL._SX304_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


After enjoying The Sisters Brothers, which was an offbeat Western, I wondered how the author would handle a modern setting. The plotting is off kilter, making you wonder what's going to happen next...almost as if deWitt is throwing a dice to decide the action. The mother and son protagonists are not people you'd want to get too close to, as you'd be safer observing them at a distance. Gloriously and madly self-destructive, they stick in the memory. Oh, and there's also a bonkers cat character called Small Frank who's the reincarnation of the mother's dead husband! A fun read.

10) Pendulum by Adam Hamdy.

51Ch21E2PdL._SX324_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


You know how we're advised to start our story with a hook, and that it's wise to have a moment of tension or a question at the end of each chapter, that compels the reader to turn the page? Well, try reading Adam Hamdy's third novel, which does just this really well. His hero is quite the most resistant to injury character I've encountered, but the plot is thrilling and the tension never quits.

11) Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.

19696137.jpg


Powerful storytelling with a strong sense of place in a claustrophobic coastal community in Maine. Sure to divide sympathies, the main character Olive is a force of nature. Lots of truth about what it means to be human, so not always an easy read.

12) The Narrow Road To The Deep North by Richard Flanagan.

22732374.jpg


I was drawn to read this novel, after watching a BBC documentary on Flanagan in which he discussed the writing of it. He's a personable chap, with his feet firmly on the ground and not one to bullshit about the mysteries of his craft. His novel is also fluff-free and though a harrowing read is life-affirming.

13) Walter Mosley....This year, I read his Rose Gold, Known To Evil, When The Thrill Is Gone, Down The River Unto The Sea, And Sometimes I Wonder About You and finally And All I Did Was Shoot My Man.

Not only does he come up with brilliant titles, but his plotting is serpentine and engrossing. Mosley is great at thumbnail sketches of incidental characters, and inserting his MC's internal dialogue into the action. Even if you don't like crime novels, his are worth a look to see how he makes everything look so easy.

If you're new to writing and looking for an advice book, I recommend his This Year You Write Your Novel. It's a short book, but full of comforting and common sense tips.



What books have you enjoyed reading this year? They don't have to be recent—old favourites that you've revisited will do.
 
Read that, very good. I have also read the second one Homo Deus which is about where humans are heading and what we might become in the future. Equally interesting.
I'm currently making my way through his newest book 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, which is a frankly worrying investigation into the potential world problems that we are making for ourselves on this planet and how we might (or might not) be able to deal with them.
All worth a read in my view.
 
Now is the time of year when newspapers and websites are full of lists detailing critics and authors' best books of the previous twelve months. I gave my favourite reads of 2017, so I'll continue the tradition with my baker's dozen (or so) of favourite reads.

Not all of my choices were published this year, and there are several novels that are part of long series, as well as a couple that are sequels or prequels to successful stories.

1) Lamentation by C. J. Sansom.

The sixth story in the Matthew Shardlake series, I can't praise these books enough. Even if you don't normally read historical fiction, you'd like them, as they hook the reader in. I prefer Sansom's handling of the Tudor period to that of Hilary Mantel, as he has more warmth in his writing and conveys the fears of ordinary citizens better. A new story in the series was published in October, called Tombland.


2) Robicheaux by James Lee Burke.

I've read all of the Dave Robicheaux series and this is the twenty-first story. Burke is a writing heavyweight whose technique is something to aspire to. He gives a strong sense of place, tying historical events into contemporary attitudes with great characterisation.

3) All That Remains: A Life In Death by Professor Sue Black.

51Zd0aL8n4L._SX349_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


A humbling read from a Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology, who literally knows death inside out. Not as macabre as you might think, with unexpected moments of humour, her memoir is gripping and full of wisdom.

4) Norwegian By Night & its sequel American By Day by Derek B. Miller.

61-7RDr0m4L._SX317_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

51uiH2eKN4L._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


An unexpected pleasure. I'd read favourable reviews, but Miller's unusual approach to crime writing surprised me, giving me food for thought, as he goes off at tangents, making his stories as much character portrayals as they are entertaining and involving mysteries.

5) Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters.

51XgOuj0%2BmL._SX324_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


I normally steer clear of alternate histories, but I liked the blurb on the cover of this novel that I picked up in the library. I was soon hooked, as the author's premise of a continuing form of slavery was believable and there were plenty of 'what-would-you-do?' thrills. Good characterisation and an effective condemnation of corporate America. I preferred it to Colson Whitehead's highly-praised The Underground Railroad which won several literary prizes.

6) The Last Painting Of Sara De Vos by Dominic Smith.

51IgPIAf39L._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


I've already praised this novel a couple of times on the Colony. I read it as part of my research into the world of art and forgery, as my latest Cornish Detective novel is set in the art colony of Saint Ives. I was captivated by the masterful writing and how the author wove two time periods into the narrative. Smith has a lightness of touch using arresting imagery that makes you think deeply about creativity and possession of the finished product.

7) The Rules Of Magic by Alice Hoffman.


A prequel to Practical Magic Hoffman's most successful novel, and adapted into a Hollywood movie. The author weaves her spell in an entrancing way, encouraging the reader to believe that witchcraft has a place in contemporary society. Deft handling of intimate moments that make you feel a part of the story.

8) Sapiens: A Brief History Of Mankind by Yuval Noah Harari.


This book appeared on so many listicles, that it almost put me off reading it. I'm glad that I did, for it's a mind-expanding challenge. The author sometimes makes rather woolly assertions, which made me wonder if he was being deliberately provocative, as surely such and such was more likely....Damn it, he made me think!

9) French Exit by Patrick deWitt.

316ZM8nERpL._SX304_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


After enjoying The Sisters Brothers, which was an offbeat Western, I wondered how the author would handle a modern setting. The plotting is off kilter, making you wonder what's going to happen next...almost as if deWitt is throwing a dice to decide the action. The mother and son protagonists are not people you'd want to get too close to, as you'd be safer observing them at a distance. Gloriously and madly self-destructive, they stick in the memory. Oh, and there's also a bonkers cat character called Small Frank who's the reincarnation of the mother's dead husband! A fun read.

10) Pendulum by Adam Hamdy.

51Ch21E2PdL._SX324_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


You know how we're advised to start our story with a hook, and that it's wise to have a moment of tension or a question at the end of each chapter, that compels the reader to turn the page? Well, try reading Adam Hamdy's third novel, which does just this really well. His hero is quite the most resistant to injury character I've encountered, but the plot is thrilling and the tension never quits.

11) Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.

19696137.jpg


Powerful storytelling with a strong sense of place in a claustrophobic coastal community in Maine. Sure to divide sympathies, the main character Olive is a force of nature. Lots of truth about what it means to be human, so not always an easy read.

12) The Narrow Road To The Deep North by Richard Flanagan.

22732374.jpg


I was drawn to read this novel, after watching a BBC documentary on Flanagan in which he discussed the writing of it. He's a personable chap, with his feet firmly on the ground and not one to bullshit about the mysteries of his craft. His novel is also fluff-free and though a harrowing read is life-affirming.

13) Walter Mosley....This year, I read his Rose Gold, Known To Evil, When The Thrill Is Gone, Down The River Unto The Sea, And Sometimes I Wonder About You and finally And All I Did Was Shoot My Man.

Not only does he come up with brilliant titles, but his plotting is serpentine and engrossing. Mosley is great at thumbnail sketches of incidental characters, and inserting his MC's internal dialogue into the action. Even if you don't like crime novels, his are worth a look to see how he makes everything look so easy.

If you're new to writing and looking for an advice book, I recommend his This Year You Write Your Novel. It's a short book, but full of comforting and common sense tips.



What books have you enjoyed reading this year? They don't have to be recent—old favourites that you've revisited will do.

I'm sorry: just finished All that Remains. Didn't like it. Too much about her/her first cadaver/her parent's deaths, etc. Perhaps I should have read the blurb more carefully -- I expected more about the cases. Not sure instances where a body wasn't found, and nothing else was either, were worthy of inclusion. Perhaps once, but...
 
I'm sorry: just finished All that Remains. Didn't like it. Too much about her/her first cadaver/her parent's deaths, etc. Perhaps I should have read the blurb more carefully -- I expected more about the cases. Not sure instances where a body wasn't found, and nothing else was either, were worthy of inclusion. Perhaps once, but...

Have you read brain surgeon Henry Marsh's memoir Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death & Brain Surgery? The follow-up book Admissions: A Life in Brain Surgery is more of a eulogy to his profession, as he contemplates retirement, while assisting colleagues in Nepal establish a public mental health system. Both books make you count your blessings.
 
No.
I'm impressed by the breadth of your reading. I admit I only read the Dame Sue Black because of a review + I'd seen the TV programmes. I am fascinated by the facial reconstructions they do.

Your book reviews are good. Do you do them for anyone? any paper? Even if you wrote them for the local paper, you could keep the books -- and you can call in the books you want to review.
 
No.
I'm impressed by the breadth of your reading. I admit I only read the Dame Sue Black because of a review + I'd seen the TV programmes. I am fascinated by the facial reconstructions they do.

Your book reviews are good. Do you do them for anyone? any paper? Even if you wrote them for the local paper, you could keep the books -- and you can call in the books you want to review.

Thank you for your kind words. I didn't read a thing for 18 months, except poetry, when I returned to creative writing...afraid that my style would be influenced by other authors' work—but, I really felt the lack, as if a part of me was atrophying. Reviewing books professionally, even on a small scale, would be a way of making a few pennies, but it's a sign of the times that most local press websites don't cover books at all.

Back in the 1990s, I knew a man who claimed to be a journalist, but who was really a ligger, a blagger and schmoozer supreme who ingratiated himself with rock bands, promoters, ticket agencies, concert hall owners, record companies and music shops. Somehow, he persuaded the local rag to employ him as a music reviewer, which gave him the credentials to get sent hundreds of CDs. They were usually stamped with the warning Review Copy: Not For Resale, but he shifted them on to market traders and made a decent living from it. He rarely listened to them, and what reviews he submitted were cribbed from music magazines.
 
I write a lot of reviews and the books I receive are all marked 'Review Copy: Not For Resale' and no one would take them off me, not even charities. I wouldn't have dared try to sell them, even if I'd wanted to. Not willing to chuck books out, even those I knew I'd never read again I ended up with a bit of a book problem (still do. They're everywhere, behind the sofa, under chairs, little piles all over). Then my local GP practice started selling books for air ambulance - no qualms about proof books - so, problem solved. Sort of. I got rid of some piles of books I hated, but am having genuine difficulties ridding myself of those I liked, even though I know I don't have enough years left to read them all again.

My favourite reads amongst books published in 2018 would be Tom Rachman's The Italian Teacher, Patrick Gale's Take Nothing With You, Thomas Bourke's The Consolation of Maps, Sabine Durrant's Take Me In. I read a fair few older corkers too, but these are just my cream of the crop for 2018.
 
I write a lot of reviews and the books I receive are all marked 'Review Copy: Not For Resale' and no one would take them off me, not even charities. I wouldn't have dared try to sell them, even if I'd wanted to. Not willing to chuck books out, even those I knew I'd never read again I ended up with a bit of a book problem (still do. They're everywhere, behind the sofa, under chairs, little piles all over). Then my local GP practice started selling books for air ambulance - no qualms about proof books - so, problem solved. Sort of. I got rid of some piles of books I hated, but am having genuine difficulties ridding myself of those I liked, even though I know I don't have enough years left to read them all again.

My favourite reads amongst books published in 2018 would be Tom Rachman's The Italian Teacher, Patrick Gale's Take Nothing With You, Thomas Bourke's The Consolation of Maps, Sabine Durrant's Take Me In. I read a fair few older corkers too, but these are just my cream of the crop for 2018.

I love recommending books and I love hearing what people enjoyed reading. I'm looking forward to reading Patrick Gale's Take Nothing With You, as I've read everything else he's written. I recommend his Notes From An Exhibition and its follow-up companion piece A Perfectly Good Man, which features some of the same characters; both are fine examples of how to write a story from multiple POV.

So many books, so little time....
 
I've always been a fan of Patrick Gale the human being, though not always a huge fan of his writing - but Take Nothing With You was extraordinary. His descriptions of music are the best I've read since The Chimes.
 
I’ve read some tremendous books this year but nothing from 2018 has blown my socks off. On the plus side, I finally overcame my shameful, irrational prejudice against Ernest Hemingway and have joined the ranks of converts. I feel born again. It was The Old Man and the Sea what did it.
 
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