What's-Off-My-Bookshelf-Wednesday

At the start of the year I decided to try and read more books this year.  And I think I have managed quite successfully!  The late summer/autumn pile of books is sitting by the front dor awaiting a decision on what to do with them, and here it is...

I think when I last blogged about fiction, I was predicting more weeping (after 'Daughters of Mars' and 'Me Before You') with 'This Is How It Ends'.  And so it turned out!  I quite liked the book, though I remember feeling, as tear-jerkers go, that it wasn't as good as 'Me Before You'.  Both had the same level of 'I-know-what's-going-to-happen' but I warmed more to the characters in Jojo Moyes's story.

That leaves another nine books to write about, which seems like a tall order, especially as I am trying to make blogging achievable again by spending no more than an hour at the keyboard .  So I will simply rank them, in reverse order, with a tiny bit about them.

9.  The Great Gatsby - I read this because I always felt I had missed out by not reading it when all my friends were doing it for A level way-back-when, and because Miss U-t-B was raving about the film and I felt I should know what it was all about.  

I was charmed by the Barbier front cover, but not, alas, by the tale...Oops!  What a philistine!

8.The Glassblower of Murano - I began reading this many months ago, wanting to escape to Venice in my imagination, but soon gave up, so had to start all over again.  I still found it a bit of a chore but persevered as I had nothing else to read at the time!  Rather predictable, I thought. And it didn't make up for the fact that I have never been to Venice!

7.Tigers in Red Weather - Loved the front cover, disappointed by the tale. Dysfunctional, privileged family with a bit of 'whodunnit' thrown in, if I remember rightly. Which I may not...

6. The Moment - Based on the premise that one moment can change your life I found this one a very strange mix of tedious and page-turning. 

5. State of the Union - I have had this on my bookshelf for years and finally got round to reading it.  I found it slow to get into, but once it had hooked me it was a real page-turner.  

4.Instructions for a Heatwave - Another that took a while to get into, but once I did I really enjoyed it. Another story of a retired man who goes missing (I've done three of those this year!), I found the characters quite realistic.

3.In Her Shadow - A psychological drama, I found this gripping, even if rather unbelievable in the end.

2.Heartbreak Hotel - written by the author of 'Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' this was light and fluffy, but fun !

1.Wonder - A children's book, this is meant to be, but it was recommended to me by the lady in our local Waterstones.   The Observer described it as 'Incredibly charming, brutal and brilliant' and I would agree!  One of my top three of the nearly completed year!