The year in books

Thistles and Kiwis,

On Tuesday evening, the book club I am part of met for Christmas drinks and dinner, and the theme this month is our favourite book of the year. I get teased every year for coming to these meet ups with a list of my favourite books, unable to make up my mind, and this year is no exception. Anyway, for the blog, I’ve chosen the same categories as last year, so without further ado, here we go. The time period is from January to November, and I will catch up on the past month in the What’s on Your Shelf post later in the month.

Favourite book by a New Zealand author

My favourite in this category was easy: Eleanor Catton’s Burnam Wood. An eco-thriller, a commentary on our time, or just a great story with a totally unexpected ending. Others I enjoyed were the beautifully poetic Tauhou by Kōtuku Titihuia Nuttal and Sharon Came’s family saga, Peninsula.

Favourite novel

Without a doubt, Ann Patchett’s latest novel, Tom Lake, comes out on top in this category. It was one of those books I didn’t want to end, a wonderful family saga and so beautifully written. Honourable mentions go to Curtis Sittenfeld’s Romantic Comedy and Zadie Smith’s The Fraud.

Favourite detective novel

The winner in this category was Ann Cleeves’ latest book The Raging Storm, which had me guessing ‘who dunnit’ until the very end. An honourable mention goes to Donna Leon’s So Shall You Reap, which is somewhere in the garage so not in the featured image at the top of the post!

Favourite beach read if I had spent time on a beach

There was no beach reading for me this year, but if there had been I would pick Tom Hanks The Making of Another Major Motion Picture for its sweeping story over several decades. An honourable mention in this category is Rebecca F Kuang’s Yellowface.

Favourite re-read

I usually pick a Barbara Pym, but this year I am going for the wonderful George and Weedon Grossmith Diary of a Nobody, which still makes me laugh out loud even though I must have read it over 20 times.

Favourite non-fiction

Shoji Morimoto’s Rental Person Who Does Nothing is the perfect thing to pick up on a dull Sunday afternoon. It will lift your spirits and make you smile – or at least that is how it made me feel. Other good books in this category were Chris van Tullekan’s Ultra-Processed People on the problems of processed food and David McAllister’s fun book Ballet Confidential.

Favourite food/cookery books

I have enjoyed reading Around the Table by Julia Busuttil Nishimura, and the two dishes I have made are definite make again ones. However, the winner without a doubt is The Plain Cake Appreciation Society by Tilly Pamment, a real delight of a book with great recipes. The three I have made already have all been excellent.

And the winner for book of the year? As usual it was a hard decision, but in the end I have gone for Ann Patchett’s Tom Lake. And the cherries? Read the book!

Also entered in the what’s on your bookshelf challenge is hosted by fellow bloggers  Deb, Sue, Donna and Jo. 

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden.

You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com or lofgren@thistlesandkiwis.com

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Published by Thistles and Kiwis

Loves summer, sunshine and cats. Beginner gardener, likes eating, cooking and reading about food

37 Comments

  6. The only one of your books that I have read is the Diary of a Nobody. I would thoroughly agree that it can stand re-reading. I constantly hear echoes of the book in my head when I am writing a post. This may say something about the banality of my life..

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  8. I enjoyed your selection. I always enjoy seeing what other people are reading. I am reading Yellowface for my Bookclub’s January meeting. Diary of a Nobody is an all time favourite.

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  10. Hi Barbara, a great recap on your favourite books this year. I’ve heard a lot about Tom Lake so will be adding this to my list. Some great books included, many thanks for joining us for WOYBS each month, you add a lot to our never ending list!!

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  11. I’ve had Tom Lake sitting here for a while now, just need to put it in the pile on the table and not on the shelf where I can’t see it.

    Oh, Mr Pooter’s Diary aka Diary of a Nobody had me in stitches so maybe like you did it’s time for me to have a reread. So funny reading about the trademen plus his son Lupin giving him a hard time
    Cathy woybs

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  12. I have been searching for Ultra Processed People through our library; I think that sounds like such an interesting book!

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  13. Hi Barbara, thanks so much for linking up with us for the final #WOYBS for 2023. Tom Lake seems to be popular so I will add that to my list. I love Anne Cleeves and any British crime series. Wishing you all the best for the Festive Season and I hope you will join us for the monthly #WOYBS in 2024. xx

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    1. I’m certainly planning on joining #WOYBS next year (and am re-reading To Kill a Mockingbird to report on in January). Wishing you all the best for the forthcoming season too!

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  15. A great round-up of your reading for the year. I’m hoping to get a copy of the Plain Cake Appreciation Society under the tree … (I have a pretty good idea my dog bought it …) Thanks for linking up over the year.

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  17. Lovely picks, Barbara. I love Ann Cleeves and The Raging Storm was my favourite detective novel this year too. I also read Birnam Wood – I can’t think of any other Kiwi author that I have read. I found it a very interesting read. My book club all loved it.
    Favourite South African Novel – Across The Kala Pani by Shevlyn Mottai
    My favourite re-read – A Town Like Alice by Neville Shute. (very old but brilliant)
    My Favourite Beach Read – Still Me by Jo Jo Moyes (I didn’t read it at the beach!)
    My Favourite Novel – Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt
    I read 54 books this year so it is very difficult to choose a favourite but I would highly recommend the following: – The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan, The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn, A Perfectly Good Man by Patrick Gale, Nineteen Steps by Mille Bobby Brown.

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  18. Pingback: If we were having a coffee…or even a cup of tea… – Thistles and Kiwis

  19. Wow, just look at all the wonderful books you had a chance to read last year – I love the bookcover of Ann Patchett’s latest novel, Tom Lake. I have to look up the Diary of a Nobody as it’s been a while since I’ve read an English comic novel. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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