What I Read in 2015

27 Dec

I can’t believe it’s nearly the end of the year – and time for my reading round-up. It’s a bumper edition of 64! I’ve read a really good mix of things, including some literary classics, some acclaimed adult fic and, of course, some cutting edge YA.

As per usual, absolute favourites are bolded.

The List: What I Read in 2015

Between the Shadow and the Soul by Susanne Winnacker

The Riddle of the Labyrinth by Margalit Fox (fascinating non-fic about Alice Kober and her contribution to the decipherment of Linear B)

Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman

The Sunrise by Victoria Hislop

The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante (I loved every single page of this series, but this, the second book, was so scorchingly harrowing it was hard to read but also very hard to put down. Teenage life and heartbreak in mid-century Naples.)

Temeraire by Naomi Novik

Falling in Honey by Jennifer Barclay

Life after Life by Kate Atkinson (slightly late to this one, but WOW. Can’t say anymore as I would not want to spoil you for this incredible read)

The Cuckoo’s Calling by ‘Robert Galbraith’

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

The Sin Eater’s Daughter by Melinda Salisbury (YA fantasy with some delicious scheming and a few new ideas)

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab (it’s almost mandatory to have a Schwab book on here. This fantasy of multiple Londons is a thrill ride)

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (I don’t understand how these people didn’t have liver failure by the age of 30)

Five Wounds by Katherine Edgar

Under my Skin by James Dawson

Germinal by Emile Zola (probably my read of the year. SO. GOOD. A tale of uprising in an amoral miners’ society in 19th century France)

The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante

Half Wild by Sally Green (further adventures of teenage witch Nathan and his hot ‘BFF’/something more, Gabriel)

Lirael by Garth Nix (I left it ten years or more to continue reading this series – masterful fantasy)

Abhorsen by Garth Nix

Clariel by Garth Nix

Curses and Smoke by Victoria Alvear Schechter

Lingo: A Language Spotter’s Guide to Europe by Gaston Dorren

Crow Moon by Anna McKerrow

Summoner: The Novice by Taran Matharu

The Fortune of the Rougons by Emile Zola

Five Children on the Western Front by Kate Saunders (a sequel to Nesbit’s classic children’s fantasy, set during WWI. Crying forever)

The Mighty Dead: Why Homer Matters by Adam Nicolson

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Uprooted by Naomi Novik (a lush, Polish-inspired take on a Beauty and the Beast tale, with a spirited heroine and a fair few twists along the way)

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Truly, Madly, Greekly by Mandy Baggott

Only Ever Yours by Louise O’Neill (The Handmaid’s Tale for the Snapchat generation – raw, painful and horribly true to life despite its dystopian setting)

Trouble by Non Pratt

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge

Girl Meets Boy by Ali Smith

Pure by Andrew Miller

Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood (Coming of age + toxic friendship – Atwood is always amazing)

The Big Lie by Julie Mayhew (An alternate-history YA imagining life in Nazi Britain)

Buffalo Soldier by Tanya Landman (A masterclass in voice. A former slave joins the US army who are trying to control the native population, disguising her gender to do so)

Small Island by Andrea Levy

The Colour Purple by Alice Walker

The Boy with the Porcelain Blade by Den Patrick

Ash by Malinda Lo (read my thoughts at the link)

Silhouette of a Sparrow by Molly Beth Griffin

Starring Kitty by Keris Stainton

Read Me Like a Book by Liz Kessler

The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle (A rich, weird magical-realism YA set in Ireland)

Seed by Lisa Heathfield (un-put-down-able YA set in a cult)

The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

The Murdstone Trilogy by Mal Peet (black humour and definitely for adults! An author in desperate need of inspiration does a deal with dark forces)

Blackfin Sky by Kat Ellis

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (Another great yarn from Chas)

The Moment by Douglas Kennedy

Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante

God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

A Little Life by Hanya Yanigahara

The Shore by Sara Taylor

 

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3 Responses to “What I Read in 2015”

  1. justinfenech December 27, 2015 at 3:40 pm #

    Great list… seeing Zola’s name there makes me want to re-read him. Thanks!

  2. Soizic January 30, 2016 at 12:20 pm #

    My god you are a prolific reader! I thought I’d read a lot this year, but you… I stopped counting at 40.

    • catherinequeenwrites January 30, 2016 at 11:00 pm #

      I am probably going to read a lot fewer this year because I have started driving to work rather than getting the train.

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