MY CHOICE BOOKS FOR 2015

Several authors have listed books they enjoyed this year, and gave out awards.  I am very flattered I was mentioned on some of them –  not me – Amie of course and she won’t let me forget it.  Oh, and Truth, Lies and Propaganda as well, thank you Max Powers.

I was thrilled to get the first ever Supreme Grunter Award held by Grant Leishman. His best book for 2015 was Amie. Thank you Grant, I am seriously amazed and pleased.

Now, I’m a bit pushed for time with – the Big Trip and all – but I have made up a list of my very best reads for this year.

They cover a wide variety of genres and I’m not even sure if they’re all indies – but my criteria was a book that held me so entranced that I neglected to eat, sleep, wash dishes or stir from my chair until I had finished it. Pretty difficult when it’s over 600 pages, that requires a lot of self control!

I think I’ve reviewed nearly all the books I’ve read in 2015 and the total is approximately 133. Yes, I’ve been passionate about books since the age of 4, which was of course only a couple of years ago.

I was going to divide these into genres, and list them in order, but due to time constraints  and the impossibility of comparing so many different genres …. in no particular order:-

MY TOMORROW YOUR YESTERDAY by Jason Ayres.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UDHAD0M

A clever story which took me back in time and revived lots of memories. I appreciated the plot and the resolution.

JOSHUA’S ISLAND by Patrick Hodges

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R3KEKGU

A YA book about bullying which was beautifully crafted. I would recommend this as a gift for any child/teen.

THE GIRL FROM ITHICA by Cherry Gregory

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T6UW7I8

An interesting take on history set in the time of the Trojan Wars. History is my thing.

HEIRLOOM PLANTATION by Rick Johnson

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00THVNH80

This really appealed to my sense of humour as American history is turned upside down with hilarious dialogue.

LITTLE BIG BOY by Max Power

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WRP0J8E

This resonated for me, as I was brought up in Dublin and I could so easily relate to many of the incidents and attitudes.

THE INCORRUPTIBLE  by  Margaret Eleanor Leigh

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KC5MZJC

A good adventure story set in Greece, but it was far more for me as I just adore the writer’s tongue in cheek style of writing. There’s a smile in every sentence.

BETRAYAL by Sharon Brownlie

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q29BWCI

A book about a young girl dealt a bad hand in life who seeks to exact revenge – an anti-heroine at her very best.

SUPPER WITH THE PRESIDENT by Ian Mathie

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DD75KX4

OK if it’s about Africa then I’m half way to liking it, but this book is special. I was in awe of a memoir told with such modesty about a man who has rubbed shoulders with more than a few world leaders.

TIME TO LET GO by Christoph Fischer

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K9G8M8W

Possibly the most sensitive handing of a story involving Alzheimer’s that I have ever read – poignant and very moving. I shed a tear reading this.

THE SECRET LIFE OF CAPTAIN X by MrsXnomore

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K5E4GYC

Very close to home, marriage to a psychopath and the effects on family life and the dynamics with children – this was so close to many of my own experiences. An author I would love to meet.

MY STORY AS AN AMERICAN AU PAIR by Linda Kovic Skow

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BG0EV8A

Just another memoir I thought as I began to read, and then I got hooked. A simple, straightforward tale that held my attention.

SQUIRTING THE CHAMELEON by Simon Fenton

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T25TQBI

A delightful tale of Africa which I found enchanting. Yes, the title is weird, but all is explained as we cross cultural barriers.

THINGS FALL APART by Tracy Black

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XWCC66Y

A mother’s worse nightmare, a single parent struggling with teenagers who are going off the rails. This book describes the nightmare faced by so many desperate mothers. Beautifully written from the heart.

SPANISH LAVENDER by Joan Fallon

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EUD5UVC

Set in Spain this had immediate appeal, and although it’s essentially a love story – so not my preferred gender – this book with its descriptions of war, suffering and loss of hope was just too good a book not to include.

SPRING GRASS SERIES – Book 2 Shanghai Winter by Qiyin Emurian

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006S3FE54

After reading book one in the series, I immediately downloaded the next 6. A real story, about China during the cultural revolution. I laughed and cried and was shocked rigid. A fantastic series of memoirs at its very best.

Those are fifteen books which have grabbed me this year. But there has to be one special book yes? I mean if you forced me to choose one? It’s the  one which has four of my favourite locations/themes and it had me rooted to the chair/sofa/couch/bed – and bathroom.

Firstly it’s a simply great story.

Secondly it’s set in a country I’m familiar with.

Thirdly it’s set back in history to a time and a topic that holds a lot of fascination for me.

Fourthly it moves – it moves fast, not stopping to describe a purple flower for half a page. It races forward, immersing the reader in a headlong dash, whisking you along for the ride. It’s one of the few books that I will read again and possibly even a third time – and I don’t often do that. And by the way I’ve enjoyed all the other books by this author, she is the closest modern day writer to Jean Plaidy and Norah Lofts I have found.

The Errant Flock by Jana Petken.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011SJ260S

Thank you Jana for many happy hours spent reading the words you put together so beautifully.

And a huge thank you to all the authors and readers and virtual friends from myself and from Amie.  I’d like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a Healthy, Peaceful and Huge Amazon Stats New Year.