I managed to get about 38 books read in 2015, including university reads so I thought I’d do a little round-up of some of the best books I read over the course of the year.
I started off the year pretty well with arguably one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time, The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. My German friend Antonia was gifted this book and raved about it to me as soon as she’d finished it (in fact, she also started translating it into German so her mother could read it too. I’m not sure whether she actually finished that mammoth task or not!). I started and finished it within a few evenings- it was absolutely one of the most beautiful and thought-provoking books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Its overall rating on Goodreads is 4.25/5 based on over 95,000 ratings and I honestly think that in itself speaks volumes. It had me laughing and it had me absolutely bawling my eyes out on more than one occasion. If I could recommend one book, it would definitely be this one.
The second book I’d consider a part of my top 5 is an unusual one- The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman by Dénis Thériault. I first came across this book in a French bookstore whilst I was living in France and decided instead to track it down in English, to make things a little easier for myself. I’m glad I did as it was absolutely beautiful to read. It’s definitely very different but a very short read - a good one to try if you’re in a bit of a reading slump.
I got really into psychological thrillers last year so obviously, I have to include a few of those in my choices. I particularly enjoyed (as did most people, it seems) I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. Both of these books left me wanting to know exactly what was going on and I definitely couldn’t put them down once I’d started them. I reviewed The Girl on the train here and I Let You Go here.
My last choice was another one which was originally written in French, The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair by Joël Dicker. I read this on a train to Pwllheli (and on the return back to Liverpool) and was hooked from the word go. It’s a book within a book and ultimately a crime novel with a twist. It kept me guessing until the very end and was incredibly well written (and translated). It’s definitely one that I would put up with my favourite books of all time. You can read my review of it here if you so wish.
Which books did you read in 2015 that are worth giving a go? Let me know in the comments below and follow me on Goodreads here.
