I’m not really into making reading lists, but I do make lots of reading piles of books I think I might read next, which often then get changed, as I’ll read a great review of a book I have on the shelf and be convinced I have to read it sooner, now it’s come to my attention.
So here are five books on my pile at the moment and five waiting on my kindle to start the year with, though don’t be surprised if you find me reading and reviewing something entirely different!
Five From The Shelf
Island of a Thousand Mirrors, Nayomi Munaweera (Sri Lanka) – Last year I read her second novel What Lies Between Us and it made my top 5 fiction reads and this one is her debut which was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, the Dublin Impac Prize and won the Commonwealth Regional Prize for Asia. It’s about two families on either side of the conflict during the long civil war, told though the eyes of the eldest daughter of each family.
Cereus Blooms at Night, Shani Mootoo (Trinidad) – Part of my fascination with reading stories by women from the Caribbean culture, this one came to my attention last year and is said to be a fascinating narrative propelled by vivdly drawn characters, set on a fictional island, a mystery about a reclusive old woman accused of murder.
A Sense of Wonder, The World’s Best Writers on the Sacred, the Profane, & the Ordinary, edited by Brian Doyle– a beautiful Christmas gift from a dear friend containing an anthology of powerful stories, essays and reflections from some of the world’s best writers including Pico Iyer, Mary Oliver, Barry Lopez, Helen Garner, Cynthia Ozick
The Founding’s War, Michel Déon (France) #RIP – the French writer who lived in Ireland, with over 50 novels, plays and essays published, just passed away Dec 28 at the age of 97 years. Having read his novel The Foundling Boy, translated into English by Gallic Books, I’m going to read the sequel A Foundling’s War as a tribute to his lifetime of considerable achievement.
Do Not Say We Have Nothing, Madeleine Thien (Canada/China) – no need to say much about this one, shortlisted for the Man Booker 2016 and I would say it was The People’s Choice, the book most people loved most from the list and one I picked to read when the longlist came out. Secrets from the revolution, a pianist and a composer, intimate and political.
5 on the Kindle
Three Daughters of Eve, Elif Shafak (Turkey) – I’ve been a fan of Rumi scholar Elif Shafak since she wrote The Forty Rules of Love and have since read The Bastard of Istanbul, Honour and her essay The Happiness of Blond People – A Personal Meditation on the Dangers of Identity so I’m looking forward to her latest which she says tackles the confusion of Turkey, faith and God from Turkey to Oxford and back.
Exit West, Mohsin Hamid (Pakistan) – literary novel of new love in a time of war which causes them to immigrate when the world is in crisis – by a renowned author, with a couple of rave reviews, time to get on the band wagon, a timely novel.
The Good People, Hannah Kent (Australia/Ireland) – well I missed Burial Rites, her debut historical novel set in Iceland, about a woman who was executed, so I’m going for her second novel, this one set in Country Kerry, Ireland in 1825 in a time of traditions and superstitions surrounding those born a little different, and women who are vilified for having anything to do with them. I hope it’s as good as her debut!
Breaking Connections, Albert Wendt (Samoa) – Reading around the world brings me down under to leading Pacific writer Albert Wendt’s new novel by the excellent Huia Publishers. A group whose members refer to themselves as the Tribe, mainly Polynesian grow up together, rise from poverty and become successful professionals, bound by love and fierce loyalty. When one of them is killed, they face an ensuing crisis.
Train to Pakistan, Khushwant Singh (Pakistan/India) – a classic set in the partition, that was recommended me to me last year after reading Where The River Parts by Radhika Swarup.
Plenty to choose from there, I hope you are looking forward to some exciting reads to start the new year as well.
Let me know what you’re looking forward to!
Cereus Blooms at Night is definitely a good one to read. I wanted to reread it last year but wasn’t able to. Maybe I will this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh that’s so great to hear from someone who has already read it, I think it’s going to be my next read after Island of a Thousand Mirrors.
LikeLike
Mini masterpiece pile!
You can relish in a cloud of contentment with these choices!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why thank you Nancy, I do love making piles of books and then remaking them again! Capturing this one in a picture before it gets rearranged, must stop reading reviews and get back to the book before the pile changes again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am really looking forward to Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien and the Hannah Kent too. You have certainly given me some more to add to my already enormous 2017 TBR pile!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the Madeleine Thien is going to be great I’m sure, always good to have a couple of guaranteed great reads on the pile. I can’t wait to get into the new Hannah Kent, love her choice of era and place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Piles are a much better idea than lists! Interesting titles there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay for piles of books! Like mini bookshelves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy New Year, Claire! Wishing you health and wealth, and a fabulous year ahead with that great selection!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Rayna, Happy New Year to you too! If I remember correctly, I think you’re a fan of Elif Shafak too aren’t you? Has her new book come out there yet?
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Islands of Identity and commented:
Some great travel fiction here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing my piles of books, some island fiction here for sure! I have a bit of a passion for Caribbean literature at the moment, well the last couple of years actually.
LikeLike
You are most welcome! I will re blog your island reviews. If I stumble on any Caribbean gems I will send them your way. Happy 2017 and happy reading xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very interesting pile. I have to admit to having only heard of one of them. Thanks for heads up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ll be hearing about them soon 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Claire, those plans sound great! I haven’t read any of those myself, but there are a couple of authors whose other work I’ve read and enjoyed (Elif Shafak, Mohsin Hamid). Look forward to seeing what you make of those. And thanks for introducing me to a new name (for me) in Shani Mootoo 🙂 Have a great reading year in 2017!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
She’s a new author for me too Shani Mootoo, so I’m looking forward to finding out if her work lives up to the recommendation and all the great comments from the back cover! Have a great reading year, you too Andrew, thanks for commenting.
LikeLike
Wishing you an amazing year ahead. I have fifty pages to go in Do not say we have nothing. I cannot remember what made me put it down. I am eager about the Elif Shafak book as well
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, does that mean it didn’t really grip you? Elif Shafak rarely disappoints, looking forward to her latest, though missed out on reading has last book.
LikeLike
I’ve read both Three Daughters of Eve and Good People – they were both new authors to me – and enjoyed both. Hope you do too when you get around to reading them.
LikeLike
Oh great, that’s good to know! Thanks for letting me know, I look forward to following your reads too Cathy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They all sound amazing, especially A Sense of Wonder – how long will it take to work through this wonderfully eclectic pile, and then the kindles ????
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, my aim every year is the same, to read a book a week, so I guess that’s 10 weeks worth there, all going well and not too many distractions, although there already are a lot of those with my three jobs, 2 kids and everything else I juggle, reading is my dose of sanity and escape! I don’t really make reading plans, but since I’m reading everyone else’s plans, I decided to share my latest pile for fun! I keep the dust from the shelves by regularly pulling out books to make a new pile, of “you might be next” books to read!
LikeLike
I’ve only read Do Not Say We Have Nothing, but it made my best-of list for the year. I think you’ll like it!
About a year ago I started Cereus Blooms at Night, but had to send it back to the library before getting very far. I’ll wait for your review, then decide whether or not I should go back and get it again. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So gar so good and heard from someone today who has read all her books and said they enjoyed Cereus Blooms the most. Watch this space!
LikeLiked by 1 person