A year filled with dazzling debuts and dearly loved classics
2018 was the year in which I finally got to see Margaret Atwood in the flesh.
Another diverse and entertaining reading year has come to an end. If the unintended theme of 2017 was First and Second World War narratives, then 2018 became the year of reading fresh works by favourite authors and promising new writers.
The most notable debuts for me were House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara and Home is Nearby by Magdalena McGuire. From established authors came Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss, White Houses by Amy Bloom and my personal favourite, The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker.
I read several classics and universally treasured works, including Around the World in Eighty Days (1872) by Jules Verne, The Little Prince (1943) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, A Month in the Country (1980) by J.L. Carr and Treasure Island (1882) by Robert Louis Stevenson.
For a variety of reasons my reading rate slowed considerably towards the end of the year and I therefore devoured far fewer books than 2017. I was, however, still able to complete my Goodreads 2018 Reading Challenge by the first week in August.
I signed-up for an online course in February: How to Read a Novel and finally succumbed to joining The Classics Club mid way through the year. I also took part in a handful of exciting challenges and events, for which I read the following:
- 1977 Club: Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams (1977) by Sylvia Plath
- 1944 Club: Ficciones (1944) by Jorge Luis Borges
- Margaret Atwood Reading Month: Bodily Harm (1981) by Margaret Atwood
- Nonfiction November: The Year of Magical Thinking (2005) by Joan Didion
- German Literature Month: The Unhappiness of Being a Single Man: Essential Stories (2018) by Franz Kafka
The highlight of my year was attending the Hay Festival, where I obtained tickets for a variety of author events, including those by Margaret Atwood, Rose Tremain and Roddy Doyle (among others) – an experience I will never forget.
Looking ahead to 2019 I’m most highly anticipating The Testaments, Margaret Atwood’s sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, which is due to be published on 10th September; and I’m filled with enthusiasm for the very first Wales Readathon (aka Dewithon 2019), which will take place throughout the month of March.
Here is a brief breakdown of books I enjoyed reading this year:
OUTSTANDING READS BY CATEGORY:
Autobiography/Memoir: The Year of Magical Thinking (2005) by Joan Didion
Biography: In Search of Mary Shelley (2018) by Fiona Sampson
Children’s Fiction: Matilda at 30 (2018) by Roald Dahl.
Children’s Non-Fiction: Great Polar Bear (2018) by Carolyn Lesser
Contemporary: Asymmetry (2018) by Lisa Halliday
Historical Fiction: Walking Wounded (2018) by Sheila Llewellyn
History: Sylvia Pankhurst: The Rebellious Suffragette (2018) by Shirley Harrison
LGBT: The Great Believers (2018) by Rebecca Makkai
Literary Fiction: The Silence of the Girls (2018) by Pat Barker
Nature/Environment: The Library of Ice: Readings from a Cold Climate (2018) by Nancy Campbell
Pleasant Surprise: Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear? 200 birds, 12 months, 1 lapsed birdwatcher (2018) by Lev Parikian
Science Fiction: Brave New World (1932) by Aldous Huxley
Short Story Collection: Her Body and Other Parties (2018) by Carmen Maria Machado
Translation: Bottled Goods (2018) by Sophie van Llewyn
YA Fiction: Where the World Ends (2018) by Geraldine McCaughrean
BIGGEST DISAPOINTMENT:
Scoop (1938) by Evelyn Waugh
BEST-LOVED:
My overall non-fiction pick of the year is The Beekeeper of Sinjar by Dunya Mikhail. In fiction it is Alias Grace (1996) by Margaret Atwood.
May I take this opportunity to wish all my book blogging buddies and followers a very happy New Year!
Categories: Features
I hope your next reading year will be as satisfying and stimulating as 2018, Paula!
Many thanks, Susan. Same to you. 😃
Excellent summary of what seems to have been a very busy reading year!
Thank you, Marina. All the very best! 😃
What a great reading year! Merry Christmas and happy new year to you and yours! 😀
Thank you, Kaggsy. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year! 🤶🎄😃
I also loved Asymmetry and The Library of Ice. Have a great Christmas and New Year!
Thank you, Laura. I hope you also have a fab Christmas and New Year!
Wishing you another wonderful year of reading ahead in 2019 Paula!
The same to you, Madame B. All the very best. 📚🎄😃
I hadn’t realised Atwood was doing a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale until your blog, I’ll be looking forward to seeing where that goes too! Great review, lots of fab reads and opinions even if your reading did slow a bit by the end of the year, you managed a lot!
Wishing you & yours a very Merry Christmas! ♥🎄
Caz xx
Thank you so much, Caz. Yes, I’m really excited about the Atwood sequel. I hope you and your loved ones have a healthy, peaceful and happy Christmas. 💜⛄
A happy new year to you too 🙂
And to you, Alex! 😊
I’ve got to get the Beekeeper…great to see your list, Paula! Wish you very happy holidays!
Thank you, Rennie. A very Merry Christmas to you – have fun! 🎄📚😊
There was a sharp intake of breath here when I read you had completed that Goodreads goal by August. I set mine lower this year but am still not going to make it. What did you think of that Future Learn course?
Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Thanks, Karen. I thoroughly enjoyed the Future Learn course on How to Read a Novel and I would definitely consider doing another at some point. I wrote a series of posts about it if you are interested:
https://bookjotter.com/category/adult-learning/
I hope you had a lovely Christmas day. All the very best to you. 😊
Clearly, it was a great reading year for you. Here’s hoping 2019 will be full of literary adventures as well.
It certainly was Joyce. I hope it was the same for you. All the very best for 2019! 😊
Thank you! It was a great reading year.
Looks like you had a great reading year! Hope 2019 is good for you, both in books and life! 😀
Thank you so much, FF. I wish you the same. 📚😊
Wishing you another fabulously literary New Year, Paula ♥
Thank you Gretchen – same to you. 💜😊
One of my goals for the new year is reading more classics and literary fiction. I am glad you had a great year and I hope the new year is as great as well.
Thank you, Gayathri. Good luck with all your reading goals in 2019. Have a safe and happy New Year!
Great list Paula, I’m looking forward to Margaret Atwood’s sequel to the Handmaids tale myself. Happy New Year😊 Wishing you a blessed 2019.
Thank you so much, Rose Marie. All the very best for the coming year. I hope it’s everything you want it to be. 😊🎈📚
Thank you Paula, I hope so too😊
Wishing you a very happy, book-filled, New Year too 🙂
Thank you, Calypte. All the very best for 2019! 🥂😊
Oh yes, as far as classics go, you can’t beat Treasure Island. Loved it.
I have never read The Little Prince, and I keep forgetting I need to remedy that!
It looks as if you had a pretty good year. Happy 2019!
I had a really enjoyable reading year thanks, Briana. Little Prince was immensely enjoyable – well worth reading!
I’m very jealous you got to see Roddy Doyle! I’ve seen Atwood a few times, she comes to Boston somewhat regularly (I think because she spent time here).
Congrats on completing the Goodreads goal! I missed mine, but surpassed my reserve goal of 52 books 😀
Thanks Geoff. Roddy Doyle was a really interesting and entertaining speaker with much to say on a variety of subjects. Ooh, you lucky thing. I wish Atwood visited my neck of the woods regularly! 😉
Sorry I missed this when you posted it Paula. That time of hear was just too hectic. I love your list of favourites, particularly because it is so diverse – in form and content, but also in year of publication. Even then I’ve only read a couple of them, but they were standouts for me when I read them and have stuck with me ever since: The year of magical thinking, and Alias Grace.
BTW It’s intriguing how years can have unintended themes. In 2017 Displacement was an a big theme for me, while in 2018 the trend was Young narrators. How does this happen?
Thank you, Sue. I very much enjoyed reading your 2018 highlights too. I’m not sure how the theme thing happens – but it definitely does! 🤔
Fascinating isn’t it.