Last year I read 15 books that are set out as follows in the order in which I read them. They include several that I felt confident I would enjoy and, with a couple of exceptions, I was not disappointed; one that I found a surprisingly good read; and one that I disliked so much that I intend never to read anything else by the same author.
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher (2008) by Kate Summerscale
This is a thoroughly researched account of a notorious Victorian murder case that involved Jack Whicher of Scotland Yard, the most famous detective of the time. The case inspired the classic English country house murder story. The book won the prestigious Samuel Johnson prize for non-fiction in 2008 and was named as the Book of the Year in the 2009 Galaxy British Book Awards. Whilst I enjoyed it, I felt it succeeded more as a social history than as a narrative of the actual events. Nevertheless, well worth reading.
A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007) by Khaled Hosseini
I enjoyed this even more than Hosseini’s first novel, The Kite Runner. Indeed, I think it is the better book. Like its predecessor, it is set in Afghanistan, and is an epic and often harrowing tale of the lives of two women enduring their plight in that country’s recent turbulent history. It has been a huge international success and was the novel that most impressed me of the ones I read last year.
Don’t Look Back (2002) by Karin Fossum
I so enjoyed the BBC Wallander series last year that I decided to read one of Henning Mankell’s novels. Unfortunately the only ones that seemed to be readily available at the time were those on which the TV series had been based. It was not, however, a massive leap from a Swedish policeman to a Norwegian one, Inspector Sejer. Although it was well written, I did not find the book gripping and am a little surprised at Karin Fossum’s considerable popularity. Perhaps this was not a particularly good example of her work.
A Most Wanted Man (2008) by John le Carré
One of my favourites of the year. See the review in my blog of 24th June 2009.
I’m Not Scared (2001) by Niccolò Ammaniti
A disturbing story, seen through the eyes of a nine year old boy who gradually discovers that his world is not what it had seemed. It is a superbly written short novel that maintains its tension to the end. The 2003 film of the same name, with a screenplay by the author, is very faithful to the novel.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1984) by Milan Kundera
This is widely regarded as a twentieth century classic. Having struggled to read it, I can but wonder why. To me it was unbearably tedious. Probably, I simply don’t appreciate postmodern literature. I am sufficiently old-fashioned to want well-drawn characters and a structure to the plot. I much preferred the 1988 film version.
The Ghost (2007) by Robert Harris
I read this on holiday in a very short space of time and it was, indeed, hard to put down. It is a first-class, intelligent political thriller. Don’t be misled by the title. It is not about the supernatural; the hero is a ghostwriter hired by a former British prime minister to complete his memoirs. If the Blairs have read this, I don’t think they would have enjoyed it.
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