Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Some favorite books and authors of 2014

I love this time of the blogging year, when the lists of "My favorite books of 2014" appear.  Even with blogs that I read regularly, I still find authors and titles to add to my TBR lists - just before the TBR Dare kicks in.  Usually I enjoy putting my own together, but I'm having trouble coming up with a list that satisfies me.  When I look back over the books I read this year, there were new-to-me authors, introduced via blog reviews or recommendations.  There were also authors I rediscovered on my own shelves, and other favorites whose books I am still exploring.

In the new-to-me category, Patricia Wentworth tops the list, with her detective stories featuring Miss Maud Silver.  I am not the only one asking how I missed her books all this time, particularly as I'm a fan of Golden Age mysteries.  I read five of her books this year, starting with The Clock Strikes Twelve, which was a perfect introduction.  However, my favorite was The Watersplash (featuring a quite reasonable cat lady and a fascinating old library to be catalogued).  If I had any talent for fan fiction, I'd write a story where Miss Silver and Dorothy L. Sayers' Miss Kitty Climpson join forces to solve crime.

Two years ago, tracking down a copy of E.O. Somerville and Martin Ross's The Irish R.M., I realized for the first time that they wrote many other books together.  I read two of their entertaining travel accounts and enjoyed them.  But it was finally reading Somerville's memoir Irish Memories this year, as well as a selection of their letters, that really sparked my interest in their other, more serious novels.  I have their first books written together, An Irish Cousin and The Real Charlotte, on the TBR stacks.

Finding a copy of Emily Kimbrough's Water, Water Everywhere at Half Price Books was something of a turning point in my reading year.  I had read another of her travel accounts, which didn't inspire me to read more.  But this one, about a trip to Greece, was so good that it made me think I had been too quick to set her aside.  Her memoir about finding a career in the 1920s, Through Charley's Door, was also a highlight. There will be more of Emily Kimbrough's travel books to come.

Last year I rediscovered Mary Stewart's books, and this year I read two that are now my favorites of her mysteries, The Ivy Tree and My Brother Michael.  Thanks to the Mary Stewart Reading Week hosted by Anbolyn, I have added a few more to the TBR shelves, including another set in Greece, The Moonspinners.

One of my best reading discoveries in 2013 was Margaret Kennedy.  The first of her books that I read, Lucy Carmichael, is still far and away my favorite, but I have enjoyed exploring her other books.  This year I read two very good ones, A Long Time Ago and The Wild Swan.  I owe my introduction to her books to Jane (Fleur), whose Margaret Kennedy Reading Week added even more titles to my TBR list.

I began my reading year with Jane Austen's Emma, and what could be better?  Our Houston JASNA chapter met to discuss Sanditon this fall, and I gained a new appreciation of Austen's last, unfinished story.  I know I'm not the only Janeite to have many more books about Austen than books by Austen on my shelves.  This year I particularly enjoyed Jane Austen: Her Homes and Her Friends, by Constance Hill and Ellen G. Hill, an account of an Austen pilgrimage they took in 1901.

Over the past four years, the United States has been observing the sesquicentennial of our Civil War, which will end in 2015.  At one point I had the crazy idea that I could clear all the Civil War-related books off the TBR shelves by 2015.  That might have worked, if I had just stopped adding new ones.  This year I only managed to read two, Sarah Emma Edmonds's Memoirs of a Soldier, Nurse and Spy (at least partly fictionalized), and Joshua Zeitz's study of Abraham Lincoln and his secretaries, Lincoln's Boys.  Marking the centennial of the Great War, I also read a fascinating compact history of it, Michael Howard's The First World War

Tomorrow begins the TBR Double Dog Dare, hosted by James of James Reads Books.  For the next three months, I plan to read only from my own TBR shelves (with a few exceptions like book club selections).  Even beyond the Dare, I would like to reduce the ridiculous number of unread books that I have accumulated.  I have made that resolution so many times that I feel a bit like the boy who cried wolf in saying it yet again.  But I am making it one of my reading goals for 2015.  If I stick with that, I will be checking the library catalogue for the enticing books that appear daily on my favorite blogs.  My other reading goal for the new year is to continue to read more diversely, in both fact and fiction, with at least twelve books by authors of color - one a month, or about 10% of my usual reading.

It has been such a good year of reading.  Thank you to everyone who has read along.  The conversation here and on your blogs has enriched my reading life so much, as well as adding books to the TBR stacks.  I wish you a very happy New Year, one that brings all good things, especially books to read and share.

30 comments:

  1. I've really enjoyed reading your blog and getting to know you this year. You have really sparked my interest in Emily Kirbrough, and I'll be seeking out her books myself in 2015. Mary Stewart is such an old favorite--even though her stories are dated now, they are still thrilling to read.

    I'm hoping to go to the JASNA AGM in Louisville this year--it's been several years since I last went to one--if you go, let me know so that we can meet in person!

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    1. Jane, the more I hear about how fun the AGMs are, the more I want to go - and I'm kicking myself that I missed the Fort Worth meeting a couple of years ago. I don't know if I'll manage Louisville, but I'd love to meet up!

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  2. I always enjoy reading your posts because you write about books that I would never, ever discover on my own. Thanks for all of your lovely suggestions this year. I am really looking forward to reading Patricia Wentworth in 2015. I checked out 'Nothing Venture' from my library and forgot to bring it home to read this weekend. Argh! Happy New Year!

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    1. Anbolyn, it really struck me how little new fiction I read - other than mysteries. I do count on your blog and others to keep me up to date on new books. I do hope you enjoy Miss Silver :)

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  3. A fascinating list. I bought a copy of the Irish RM after reading your reviews of the other S&R books - better to start at the beginning! I also love Mary Stewart, Jane Austen & Margaret Kennedy Reading Week was a great way to find out more about her books. I have a few on the tbr shelves.

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    1. I hope you enjoy The Irish R.M., lyn - did you ever see the TV series? I have restrained myself so far from adding more Margaret Kennedy to the TBR shelves, but I have a list of books I still want.

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  4. Happy New Year, Lisa! I am so pleased that Miss Silver gets a spot. And *why* hasn't someone done a Miss Climpson series? - she would be a wonderful heroine. Lucy Carmichael was my first Kennedy and what a great introduction to her writing - I'm definitely going to read more there.

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    1. vicki, I've heard that the Sayers estate is very strict about using the Wimsey characters, though obviously they've given Jill Paton Walsh a free hand with her sequels. Lucy Carmichael seems to be a general favorite - I haven't met anyone yet who didn't fall for it.

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  5. What a wonderful reading year you had, Lisa. I shared your love of Lucy Carmichael and can't wait to track down Emily Kimbrough's books. Best of luck in 2015 with the TBR dare.

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    1. Claire, the Dare would go a lot better if I stopped browsing blogs like yours :) which isn't going to happen, of course. I hope this year gives you a little more space for reading! I can't remember if you've already read Our Hearts Were Young & Gay?

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    2. I read it repeatedly during my teen years but foolishly gave away my copy in a move a few years back.

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    3. I should have known that you'd read it - I'm always impressed with how well-read you were at a young age. I hope you can find another copy. I've never even lent mine out - though in my defense, it's an aged & fragile paperback.

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  6. It's been lovely following your reading, and finding more great books to read I loved my first encounter with Miss Silver, I've found my Sarah Smith books, Somerville & Ross have moved up my list of priorities, and Open Library has a number of books by Emily Kimbrough available to borrow - though they will have to wait until the dare is done.

    I wish you a lovely 2015, and many more wonderful books.

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    1. Jane, there's such a lovely cross-pollination between blogs, isn't there? Look at all the people who've met & loved Lucy Carmichael, thanks to you! It will be interesting to see what the Dare pulls from our shelves - and maybe adds to them :)

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  7. You've had an very good reading year! One of my goals (as always) is to whittle down the number of unread books around here, but as I was looking overly list of 2014 books I found that the number of ebooks I'm reading has skyrocketed... more than twice as many as in print now. That does not bode well for my tbr shelves ;-)

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    1. JoAnn, I managed to read one whole ebook this year - my very first. Then I went straight back to paper - though I've dipped in & out, when I've been somewhere without a paper book. My Google Books account has quite a few titles - but I haven't counted those in the TBR numbers. As I was saying to Anbolyn upthread, yours is another blog that I count on to keep me up to date with the newer books.

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  8. Happy New Year, Lisa! What an interesting selection of books you've read in 2014. I'm going to try Patricia Wentworth next time I'm in the mood for a Golden Age mystery. Good luck with the TBR dare!

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    1. Thank you, Helen! I know there will be new books to tempt me - and your blog always has such intriguing historical fiction. But my resolve is strong, at least for today ;)

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  9. I've got a Jane Austen biography on my list to read in 2015 - it's by Paula Byrne. I've read a couple Byrne's other books and really enjoyed them, so I'm looking forward to it.

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    1. Joanne, how lovely to see you posting again! I know Paula Byrne's name, but I haven't read any of her books. I'll look forward to your review.

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  10. Happy New Year, Lisa!

    Love your list - I always know I will be adding several titles from your reading to my TBR.
    Hoping to read another Patricia Wentworth this month - Danger Point.

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    1. Cat, that's one I haven't come across yet. According to the handy list I made, it's also called In the Balance. I always find the alternate titles confusing!

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  11. If I haven't read Lucy Carmichael by the end of 2015, I give you permission to berate me :) Lovely list of authors and books - and, I agree, this time of year fills the tbr pile SO much.

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    1. I think you'll be berating yourself, Simon, for having waited so long :) My feed reader shows that your end of the reading year post is up, so I am off to peruse it!

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  12. Happy New Year, Lisa! Glad to know you had such a good reading year. May you have an even more enjoyable and satisfying year of good reading to come! I really should consider getting back to the My Brother Michael audiobook I was listening to but did not finish, seeing that it's one of your favourites. :)

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    1. Thank you, Michelle, and Happy New Year to you as well. Each year I think, oh, I've read all the good books - and then I find even more. Your mileage might vary with My Brother Michael, as the saying goes. I've noticed with the Mary Stewart reading weeks that there is quite a range of reaction to the books.

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  13. Happy, happy New Year! I think I'm going to discover Mary Stewart this year at last. I finally read Nine Coaches Waiting, my first ever Mary Stewart book, and I thought it was so charming. I'm looking forward to reading more of her stuff.

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    1. A very Happy New Year to you too, Jenny! I hope it brings lots of good books. I think Nine Coaches Waiting is a very good place to start. If I remember, you really don't like the Merlin books, right?

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  14. The Ivy Tree was such a positive surprise when i read it, especially because I hadn't cared much about The Crystal Cave.

    I've re-read Mansfield Park in 2014 (one of the best of the year although it was far from it when I first read it in my early 20s) and in 2015 I also plan to re-read Emma because of its 200th anniversary. I'm so jealous about your JASNA bookclub! When I lived in Brussels I belonged to the Bronte bookclub and we also read Austen, Dickens and other classics. Nothing like that in Geneva :(

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  15. Alex, I meant to re-read Mansfield Park in 2014, and I'll probably re-read Emma for its bicentennial. Our JASNA chapter is still pretty young, and smaller than it should be. If you're interested in on-line discussion groups, there are several on Yahoo Groups (I'm a moderator on one).

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Thank you for taking the time to read, and to comment. I always enjoy hearing different points of view about the books I am reading, even if we disagree!