Wednesday, January 20, 2021

The Book review of the year 2020

I'm a bit late with this but here are my reviews of what I read last year. Let me know if you do this, I love a good nosy!
  • Best book you read in 2020
I struggle to remember what all the books were like that I read this year! I do get book amnesia once I've moved onto another world (which is why I struggle with book reviews if I didn't write them instantly, which is why you've seen virtually none this year!  I would say, out of all of them, Villains in Venice by Katherine Woodfine was the one I thought was the best this year! It was a stand out, exciting penultimate book to the Taylor and Rose children's series. The ending was super exciting after all the build up from the other books in the Sinclair's mysteries and Taylor and Rose books. I adore this series!
  • Children's fiction
Since my overall best book was a Children's book, I would have to say Villains in Venice again but if I MUST choose a different book, I would say, Death sets sail by Robin Stevens was brilliant and a wonderful, clever conclusion to the Murder Most Unladylike series
  • Crime fiction
Hydra by Matt Wesolowski was absolutely brilliant! The Six Stories series was recommended to me by Jake, an employee at Forum Books in Corbridge, Northumberland as good modern Crime fiction and I agree- this was SO utterly eerie, spooky, unnerving and absolutely brilliantly clever! The denouement was excellent and it came SO close to the last page!
  • Classics
I was definitely thin on the ground in terms of fiction.  I think the only thing I read in 2020 that would be classed as a classic (in terms of era and author) was The Town in Bloom by Dodie Smith (she of I Capture the Castle and 101 Dalmatians fame).  It was a great book though- different to other books I've read and a real coming of age novel.
  • Non-fiction
Oh dear. I read TWO non-fiction books this year only so I have to recommend both.  The first was a kids book.  Little Leaders- Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison.  A brilliant book though and really inspirational and interesting. It was great that I'd read it as I was able to help Year 3 with their Black History Month art tasks and tell quite a few people about really interesting people!
The second was sent to me by Ang, Miss, what does incomprehensible mean? by Fran Hill- the diary of a teacher and it was really great to read and to know exactly what she is talking about!
  • YA
All my YA reads were by Neal Shusterman.  I loved his final book in the Scythe series, The Toll, but I thought the ending of the Unwind series, Unsouled, was super clever!
  • Dystopian fiction
All the Dystopian fiction I read was by Neal Shusterman so I name the same two as in the previous category as I read no other YA!
  • Most surprising (in a good way) book of 2020
I borrowed The Boy at the Back of the Class- Onjali Q. Raúf - from one of the year 5 classrooms over the Summer. Didn't know what it was about but it was wonderful! About a refugee- such a book with heart!
  • Book that you read in 2020 that you recommended most to others
As always, Katherine Woodfine is my recommendation- Her Villains in Venice book is one I firmly recommend but I also recommended Maiamander by Thomas Taylor to a few poeple.
  • Best series you discovered in 2020
The lovely Ellie, who used to blog as Ellie Country girl blog, who is the warden of the Chillingham cattle, sent me  Ryan's Christmas by L J Ross - these are Whodunnits, modern crime fiction set in Northumberland- having been to Chillingham castle (and seen Ellie) in August, it was really nice to read a book in a setting you'd been to.
  • Favourite new author you discovered in 2020
I loved the book No ballet shoes in Syria  by Catherine Bruton so I hope to read something else by her.
  • Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love but didn't.
The further Accidental adventures of the 100 year old man, It was entertaining but I didn't love it as much as the first book.
  • Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre to you.
I'd been told that The Girl on the train by Paula Hawkins was a bit scary and it was horrible but oddly compelling! CBC even read it after me!
  • Book you read in 2020 that you're most likely to read again in 2021
I'll probably reread any of the Murder Most Unladylike books again for comfort reading!
  • Favourite book you read in 2020 from an author you've read previously.
I don't want to keep quoting Murder most unladylike and Katherine Woodfine so I will say, The Cut Throat Cafe by  Nikki Thornton- such a great series! I've read the first two books in the Seth Seppi mystery books and I do think they are so exciting- that sort of exciting Harry Potter, this series is heading to a big revelation, type of ilk.
  • Best book you read in 2020 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else
Well, I only read Miss, what does incomprehensible mean? by Fran Hill, because Ang sent it to me and I was glad she did!
  • Favourite cover of a book in 2020
The Wonderling by  Mira Bartok has a gorgeous cover! It was such a lovely book and I originally picked it up because of its cover!
Image borrowed from Waterstones


  • Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2020
Did any books have an impact on me?
  • Book you can't BELIEVE you waited until 2020 to read.
Well, I read  The Book of Dust- Philip Pullmann, which my work colleague Andy lent to me and I can't believe I didn't pick it up in the library before this as I saw it several times and was intrigued! It was great!
  • Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about it (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss etc).  Be careful of spoilers
Well, I do really want to talk to someone, ANYONE about the Toll and the Scythe series. Will someone else PLEASE read it!
  • Favourite relationship from a book you readin 2020 (be it romantic, friendship etc)
I loved the relationship between Rowan and Citra in the Scythe series.
  • Most memorable character in a Book you read in 2020
I loved the main character of The return of the Railway children - Lou Kuenzler, Phyllis's daughter. Such a lovely character! I also loved The Wonderling!
  • Genre you read the most from 2020
Children's or Mystery or Crime fiction of course!
  • Best 2020 debut
Gargantis was a great book!
  • Book that was the most fun to read in 2020
Secrets at the Little Village School - Gervaise Phinn was good fun- it's a nice easy read.
  • Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2020
The Wisdom of Sally Red shoes (thanks Hazel!) Also
  • Book you read in 2020 that you think got overlooked this year or when it came out.
I don't really know enough about the book world to know what is overlooked or not but I do think that the Tasha Alexander series, of which I read, The Adventuress, is a great series I've not heard anyone talk about.
  • Total Number of books read in 2020
It's my worst number since 2009!  73 books!  I discovered Scrabble Go and had less car journeys. Having a phone upgrade and working from home was not good for my reading credentials!

 

Here's my whole list. Notice a few empty numbers- I KNOW I these books but can I remember what  they were?!?!

2020

December:
68.  
69
70.  Christmas at Thrush Green - Miss Read
71.  Mistletoe and murder- P D James
72.  Ryan's Christmas- L J Ross
73.  Jolly Foul Play- Robin Stevens


November:
66.  The Wonderling -  Mira Bartok
67.  The Famous Five have a puzzling time- Enid Blytin
October: 

61. Miss, what does incomprehensible mean? Fran Hill
62.  Murder Most unladylike - Robin Stephens
63.  Arsenic for tea- Robin Stephens
64.  The Thirteen treasures- Michelle Harrison
65.  The Thirteen curses- Michelle Harrison
September:
59.  Death at the Bar -Ngaio Marsh
60.  The Chilbury Ladies Choir- Jennifer Ryan
August:
52. The island at the end of everything - Kiran Millwood Hargrave
53.  The terrible thing that happened to Barnaby Brocket - John Boyne
54.  Death sets sail - Robin Stevens
55.  The Town in Bloom - Dodie Smith
56.  Taylor and Rose- Villians in Venice
57. The Cut Throat Cafe-  Nikki Thornton
58.  Gigantus- Thomas Taylor
July:
47.
48.  Sky Song- Abi Elphinstone
49. Malamander-Thomas Taylor
50. What to do if you turn invisible -  Ross Welford
51.  The Cornish School series:  Summer Love - Kitty Wilson
52.  The Boy at the Back of the Class- Onjali Q. Raúf


June
39.  Changeling - Matt Wesolowski
40.  If you follow me (The Dunbridge Chronicles)- Pam Rhodes
41.  The clockwork Sparrow- Katherine Woodfine
42.  The jewelled moth- Katherine Woodfine
43.  The painted dragon- Katherine Woodfine
44.  The Midnight Peacock- Katharine Woodfine
45. Murder in the stocks- Georgette Heyer
46.  Little Leaders- Bold Women in Black History - Vashti Harrison
May:
29.  Unsouled- Neal Shusterman.
30.  Undivided- Neal Shusterman.
31.  The Bad luck Lighthouse - Nikki Thornton
32. Sillhouette-Doctor Who novel - Justin Richards?
33.  Race the Wind- Lauren St John
34.  No ballet shoes in Syria - Catherine Bruton
35.  Pog - Pàdraig Kenny
36. Five go Feasting - The Famous Five Recipe Book
37. The Land of Roar - Jenny MacLachan
38.  The Book of Dust- Philip Pullmann

April
23.  Number One Chinese restaurant - Lillian Li
24. Styx and Stones- Carola Dunn
25.  The Toll- Neal Shusterman.
26.  The Royal Rabbits of London- The great diamond chase- Santa Montefiore Simon Sebag
Montefiore
27. The accidental further adventures of the hundred year old man- Jonas Jonasson
28.  Unwholly -Neal Shusterman (Unwind series)

March:
18.  The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes- Ruth Hogan
19. The Adventuress - Tasha Alexander
20.  The Summer of Impossible Things-  Rowan Coleman
21.  The Counterfeit heiress- Tasha Alexander
22.  Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice - Katherine Woodfine
February
10.  A Pinch of Magic- Michelle Harrison
11.  Unwind - Neal Shustermann
12.  The Shadow in the north- Philip Pullman
13.  The Nun's Tale - Candace Robb
14.  Secrets at the Little Village School - Gervaise Phinn
15.  The Girl on the train - Paula Hawkins.
16.  The Tiger in the well- Philip Pullman
17.  Toto - Michael Morpurgo
January 2020:
1.  The Ruby in the Smoke - Philip Pullman
2.  Nevertell - Katharine Orton
3.  The Guggenheim Mystery - Robin Stevens
4.  The return of the Railway children - Lou Kuenzler
5.  The Geography of you and me - Jennifer E Smith
6.  Mrs Jeffers on the ball - Emily Brightwell
7.  The Unseen Hand  Edward Marston
8.  Hydra - Matt Wesolowski
9.  How to stop time- Matt Haig


Here are the questions in case you wish to join in with the Book review post.
  • Best book you read in 2020
  • Children's fiction
  • Crime fiction
  • Classics
  • Non-fiction
  • YA
  • Dystopian fiction
  • Most surprising (in a good way) book of 2020
  • Book that you read in 2020 that you recommended most to others
  • Best series you discovered in 2020
  • Favourite new author you discovered in 22020
  • Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love but didn't.
  • Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre to you.
  • Book you read in 2020 that you're most likely to read again in 2021
  • Favourite book you read in 2020 from an author you've read previously.
  • Best book you read in 2020 that you read based SOLELY on a recommendation from somebody else.
  • Favourite cover of a book in 2020
  • Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2020
  • Book you can't BELIEVE you waited until 2020 to read.
  • Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about it (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss etc).  Be careful of spoilers
  • Favourite relationship from a book you readin 2020 (be it romantic, friendship etc)
  • Most memorable character in a Book you read in 2020
  • Genre you read the most from 2020
  • Best 2020 debut
  • Book that was the most fun to read in 2020
  • Book that made you cry or nearly cry in 2020
  • Book you read in 2020 that you think got overlooked this year or when it came out.
  • Total Number of books read in 2020

 

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11 comments:

  1. Angela7:53 am

    You have done far better than I have. 2020 was not a good reading year for me at all. I'm glad you liked Frans book.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Vix7:57 am

    I haven't counted up how many books I read last year, I must do that!
    I read Girl on a Train years ago and made Jon read it, the film's really good despite it being set in America. If you haven't read it already, Gone Girl is similar in that it's twisty and you have no idea of the outcome. It's always in charity shops (when they open again!) xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. magsmcc10:28 am

    And this was a sparse year?! You read A LOT! I totally agree about the 100 year old man and Girl on Train. Last year it took me a while to be settled enough after Lockdown 1 to be able to read, and then my Lockdown read was The Mirror and the Light, which took me a very long time! This year is already better on the stats front. Which beats Covid.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kezzie10:54 am

    Tin Princess by Philip Pullmann and The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder are two I missed out!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Julia2:43 pm

    I confess that I'm not an avid reader like you but I do read every day and as soon as I finish one book, which usually takes me quite a while to finish, I order another one. I'm waiting for The Echo of God right now. I've read mostly spiritual books as they always feed my soul.I like reading the lives of the saints too. I have haven't counted how many I read but I can humbly say they pale in numbers to your.

    Hugs, Julia

    ReplyDelete
  6. Polyester Princess6:36 pm

    I don't usually count the number of books I read in a year, but it would certainly not amount to as many as you. Although I am lost without a book on the go, in normal circumstances I usually only read in bed before nodding off. This year not being normal, I might have read a bit more than usual ... I've read The Town in Bloom by Dodie Smith and some of her other lesser known novels after I found them at The Works a couple of years ago. I Capture the Castle is one of my favourite books ever. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ivana Split8:37 pm

    congrats on reading so many books.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ivana Split8:28 pm

      I went through the list again, I haven't read a single book from this list.

      Delete
  8. Lulu10:34 am

    Wow, that’s a lot of reading Kezzie!!! I am lucky if I get one book a month read at the moment. Even when I have my one ‘lie in’ day a week with a cuppa and book, the kids constantly disturb me! Anything by Matt Haig and the Murder Most Ladylike series is on the list. Like Vix, I thought Girl on the Train and Gone Girl riveting, and couldn’t put them down. I will now look out for Katherine Woodfine books! Lulu x

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  9. Confuzzled Bev12:37 pm

    You read quite a few books I've never heard of! I need to catch up on the Murder Most Unladylike series - I've only read the first 3. I want to read the Scythe series but I'm trying to get through books I already own first.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sheila7:24 pm

    This was fun to review - I like your categories! Of all your books read, "The Girl on the Train" is the only overlap that I've read! I also read some Enid Blyton but not for over 40 years!

    ReplyDelete

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