New Year’s Resolution (1)

Cover of Life after lifeAttempting to win a non-existent prize in a non-existent contest for the most ridiculously early New Year’s Resolution for 2014, I resolved to read 10 books from The Guardian’s List of Best Books of 2013 as selected by a number of well-known writers and critics.

I couldn’t find 10 books I really wanted to read so I am also in line to win the non-existent prize for earliest failure to keep a New Year’s Resolution.

Perhaps I could almost make it by counting the two I have already read.  Life after life by Kate Atkinson chosen by Ian Rankin, and The woman upstairs by Claire Messud, chosen by Lionel Shriver.

Does the list-maker influence the choice? Possibly.  Hermione Lee’s Penelope Fitzgerald: a life appeared on the lists of John Lanchester, Penelope Lively, Hilary Mantel and Helen Simpson. I’ve read all of these writers and hold them in high esteem. Same with Mark Haddon, but  although he’s a good writer it’s the subject matter of the The Great War, edited by Mark Holborn and Hilary Roberts, that is both topical and compelling.

Blurbs can help – who could resist “a chilling psychological thriller portraying the disintegration of a relationship down to the deadliest point when murdering your husband suddenly makes perfect sense”. Not me, so I’ve added The silent wife by A. S. A. Harrison. It was on John Lanchester’s list and some say it’s better than Gone girlCover of Visitation Street

I chose Visitation Street by Ivy Pochoda off Lionel Shriver’s  list because Ivy Pochoda is such a good name and because it  features a character who is “a Juilliard drop-out and barfly… forced to confront a past riddled with tragic sins of omission.”

I’ve also picked two off William Boyd‘s list: Breakfast with Lucian by Geordie Greig and Breakfast at Sotheby’s by Philip Hook. Not just because they both have breakfast in the title, but because they are about the endlessly fascinating art world.

Richard House’s The Kills has been called a staggering work but it’s 1003 pages long – ‘a novel in four books’. The fact that I’m game for the attempt is what’s truly staggering. The Luminaries will be a walk in the park after this baby.

So, my list of books I will read from The Guardian Best Books of 2013 is as follows:

All safely reserved. First come, first read. I can’t wait to see where they’ll take me and I may even record how I get on.

12 thoughts on “New Year’s Resolution (1)

  1. Paul 10 December 2013 / 1:52 pm

    The Guardian links gone a bit wonky. What are the 3 the library don’t have?

  2. Gallivanta 10 December 2013 / 2:34 pm

    Which books do you like of John Lanchester’s and have you read Penelope Lively’s latest memoir ?

    • Robyn 10 December 2013 / 4:03 pm

      I loved John Lanchester’s Capital and enjoyed hearing him very much when he spoke at The Press Writers Festival. He had the loveliest voice and a wonderful turn of phrase – he described his wife as being “immaculately cosmopolitan” despite the fact that she lived less than three miles from where she was born. No I haven’t read Penelope Lively’s latest memoir.

      • Gallivanta 10 December 2013 / 4:22 pm

        I struggled a bit with his Family Romance so was just curious. And I love Penelope Lively but haven’t had time yet to read her latest.

  3. jane 10 December 2013 / 3:43 pm

    Read The Silent Wife – though Gone Girl was better

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