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Simon Haisell's avatar

Ah you've read so many stunning books this year. I raise a 🥛 to Milkman and a 🥃 to War and Peace. A category of its own indeed. And The Marriage Portrait and Cuddy were my only two DNFs this year, for different reasons. I've read far less this year, but far more in many ways. And it has been a pleasure to grant myself and others the permission to read slowly. Looking forward to the next year, and thank for the shoutout for the readalongs!

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Anne Thomas's avatar

Thanks Simon! Yes it's certainly a fruitful change of pace. Are you still planning to finish Cuddy?

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Matthew Long's avatar

Anne - great list. I see a few I might add to my own reading list. I am reading Demon Copperhead this year, immediately following David Copperfield. Should be quite interesting. Also, I am joining in both of Simon's slow-reads. Should be a great year.

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Anne Thomas's avatar

I’m sure it will be!

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Bea Stitches's avatar

That’s given me so many prompts for books to read! Good to see Homegoing, Ness, and Little Dorrit there; I rate them very highly. And I was thinking of re-reading Wide Sargasso Sea in 2024. Mmm, maybe that’s now less of a priority. And glad you enjoyed Friday’s Child. And now there’s a list of books to add to my list thanks to you!

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Anne Thomas's avatar

Your recommendation to try Georgette Heyer was useful for me!

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Connor McGovern's avatar

Great list and insights, thanks so much for sharing!

Giovanni's Room is a favourite of mine, the desperation and torment of them both just reeks off the page. Really powerful. And good to see An Immense World on there, too - funnily enough the story I posted this morning on my Substack was inspired by the book and some of those fascinating case studies, of which I am trying to remember as many as possible. And kudos to Yong for his tireless research, as you say.

Une très bonne année to you, may it be full of good books 📚

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Anne Thomas's avatar

Oh and I had to take notes on An Immense World, which I almost never do for an audiobook--but there were just too many gems to let them fade!

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Anne Thomas's avatar

Thanks Connor, glad you enjoyed those too! And same to you :)

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Victoria Stanham's avatar

I've added 3 more books to my 2024 tbr just based on your gorgeous reviews of them... thanks!

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Anne Thomas's avatar

Hooray!

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Thomas Winward's avatar

What a great list, thanks for the recommendations. My to-read list is growing rapidly!

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Anne Thomas's avatar

My pleasure, and same! 😅

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Ann Kennedy Smith's avatar

Anne, I love the way you've set out this list into very appealing categories, and made me think about what I've read recently (and plan on reading in 2024) in a new way. 'Uneven' is a great way of describing a book you look forward to, and others think is brilliant, but you find a tiny bit disappointing.

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Kenneth Mills's avatar

What a year in Reading! Thanks for sharing..

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Anne Thomas's avatar

My pleasure!

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Robert Walrod's avatar

Have read and enjoyed Robert McFarlane's The Wild Places (and actually quoted from it in something I wrote). I guess I have the rest of his bibliography to dig into.

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Anne Thomas's avatar

Absolutely! Underland is excellent and I also really enjoyed Landmarks and The Old Ways. Still have to finish Mountains of the Mind and The Wild Places.

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Diane’s Blue Forum 👩‍💻's avatar

What a glorious variety of books for devouring! Your commentary is what makes the list so effective! I’m saving!

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Anne Thomas's avatar

Hooray!

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Linnhe Harrison's avatar

Ness sounds right up my street... that’s going on my 2024 to read list!

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Anne Thomas's avatar

It’s a beautiful book!

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Jeffrey Streeter's avatar

A great list of books! Good to see Little Dorrit on your list. I'm very fond of that one. And yes, the Circumlocution Office and its Barnacles are priceless, aren't they?

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Anne Thomas's avatar

Yes indeed!

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Robert Walrod's avatar

Have you read any other Ishiguro books?

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Anne Thomas's avatar

I’ve read a few--Remains of the Day, Never Let Me Go, and the short story collection Nocturnes. Never Let Me Go is my favorite!

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Robert Walrod's avatar

Would highly recommend An Artist of the Floating World.

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Anne Thomas's avatar

Cool, it’s on my list!

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