Ten Best Books I’ve ‘Started’ This Year…
Wednesday is about books and reading. (And writing). Today, the ten best books I’ve started this year, but as yet have not finished…
My reading this year has been dominated by Stephen King — for our little podcast project, and the books from the two English courses I crammed into my life as I take on Honours part time (foolishly) while working. So, Contemporary Fiction and Modernism got me reading a bunch of novels I probably wouldn’t have got to otherwise, and I loved that. But reading with a hand on the top of your head, holding your eyes in front of the book, is never a good idea. And that’s how it sometimes felt. Self-inflicted of course.
I’m a pretty big, voracious reader still — and I tend to get through a hundred books or more each year, that’s always loosely the goal. But that also means I have a lot of books started and unfinished. Now is the time in the year to get back to them, the courses completed, the podcast in a good place…
I also had this funny thought that we always want to take recommendations from people that have read the book, and risk only having it spoiled. So I’m choosing my likely top 10 of the books I started but have not yet finished. I’m recommending you read them. And reminding myself to do the same. Some of these I’m nearly finished, others I’ve only just started. At any rate, I cannot spoil them, I do not know how any of them finish. But I think they’re still worth recommending. So, in no particular order, here goes:
Huge fan of Carl’s work. Absolutely loved A Mistake, and his very first book, The Lazy Boys, is one of the defining texts for me. An amazing writer, with a couple more books I’m yet to get to. I purchased The Royal Free early, on the promise of A Mistake, and from seeing Carl talk about it and read from it. The book sounds entirely my cup of tea, and yet I’ve stalled on it due to other commitments. I attended the official launch last week and was reminded that this has to be one of my novels for summer. I’ve started it, and I’ve heard Carl read a couple of amazing extracts from it. He also said at his launch that this is his best work to date. Makes sense for a writer to say that at the launching of a brand new book, sure. But I believe him.
Several People are Typing by Calvin Kasulke
Bought this on a whim, liked the premise, decided it would be my first post-study book. It’s written entirely in chat — a group of pod workers interacting via Teams-styled messaging. It’s so far very funny. A light read. And suitably bonkers. I won’t say any more than that, largely because I can’t of course, I’m only about 40 pages in. But I need to rip through this as I feel like it’s going to be one of those books constantly on loan, in and out of our house.
Why Sinead O’Connor Matters by Allyson McCabe
Big fan of this series, read a couple this year (Beach Boys, Ramones) and have a couple more on the go (Mariah Carey, and this). It’s so far great, heartbreaking though, given the loss of O’Connor. But I think I picked this up so I could get back to hearing the music with ease. Loved O’Connor’s memoir, but sometimes you actually want insight from someone not connected to the person, an independent writer/research, a fan too, sure. But yeah, so far, I’m loving McCabe’s approach. I’ll probably finish this book today!
Remembering(s) Sinead O'Connor
The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis, by Lydia Davis
Huge fan of Lydia Davis. Adore here work. As I said here:
I somewhat foolishly bought her new book of stories, only to get home and realise I had already read it (different editions, different covers; did I mention it’s been a very tiring year!) So when I went back to return it the next day I decided to get the collection, which I’ve dipped in and out of — which is what a collection like this is for. But I need to sit and read it cover to cover, A) because she’s brilliant, and B) because what I’ve written here in explanation/justification is easily as long as about 50% of the stories in the book. She possesses a strange genius that I adore.
Loaded — The Life (and Afterlife) of The Velvet Underground, by Dylan Jones
Went on a big VU kick this year, all the solo albums, all the band albums — several times — including the live records, compilations, bonus tracks. Just sponging up Velvet Underground for the first time in a while. A band I’ve adored since I was about 13, arriving at them via being an early Lou Reed fan (thanks Mum!) Anyway, one of the things I love to do when getting hooked back into a particular band is read some of the newer takes. Last year it was The Beatles. This year it’s the VU and I’m looking forward to Dylan Jones’ oral history. He does them well.
Birnam Wood, by Eleanor Catton
I have never read Eleanor Catton. Not for any great reason, beyond assuming she’s not for me. But on a whim I bought this, was absolutely loving it, and then, due to course work getting more hectic, and assignments threatening, I dropped this down the side of the bed, and have yet to lift it back up to the top of the pile. But I was absolutely loving it. Had a Stephen King-does-backstory vibe to it. Which I’m an absolute sucker for.
The Girls In The Red House Are Singing, by Tracey Slaughter
I’m already a fan of Tracey Slaughter — triple threat: Novelist, Short Story Writer and Poet. A couple of weeks ago I saw her read at an event which featured about six top tier poets. And she was by far the best. No one was bad. They were all good or great. But Tracey was just on another level. I went straight out to buy the new book after hearing her read from it. And though I usually fly through poetry books (returning to them if they’re truly great) this one is a tough read. Which I love. So I’ve stalled halfway through, and yet I’m still sure it’s one of the very best books I’ll read all year. And easily the greatest book of poetry I’ll read this year.
You Like It Darker — Stories, by Stephen King
Our wee podcast is novels only, we’re saving the stories and collections and non-fiction for after, if we continue. But I still had to get King’s brand new collection of short stories. And I have read a few. It’s so far brilliant. There’s a novella-length ‘sequel’ to the novel Cujo, called Rattlesnakes, which is my favourite story I’ve read all year, and one of the best thing I think King has ever written. Seriously. We talked a bit about Rattlesnakes in our ep with Pip Adam about Cujo. And now, of course, I want to fly through the rest of the book:
Nine Minds — Inner Lives on the Spectrum, by Daniel Tammet
Another book I bought as a reward, for finishing an assignment. When you no longer drink alcohol you need such rewards. This just feels like it’s going to be brilliant, talked about non-fiction. I started it on a plane, and the writing is great, the stories are fascinating. I have far too many books on the go, as this whole newsletter shows. But yeah, I totally need to prioritise this one, I think it’s going to be something very special.
Finally, big Al. Well, this is fun. Already. But I’ve paused because two separate people — completely unconnected, but both friends of mine — have recommended the audiobook, which Al reads. His who-are! styled improvs an added delight, apparently. And I can already hear that. So I’m currently deciding whether I park this and go all in on the audiobook. Sometimes that can work very well with autobiography/memoir.
Okay, so that’s the starter for ten, based around ten books I’ve only started…
See anything there you like? Or have already read? What books are on your list before the end of the year? Any you care to recommend me that you’ve loved this year? And any that you’ve only just started but really want to plug?
Definitely listen to the audiobook. He is so very humble and immediate.
Stopping drinking - oh the pure delight of having more time for reading!
I haven't read any of your books.
I try to buy 2nd hand and this year's fixation was Neil Gunn. But right now I am reading (non-fiction) Snowball Earth by Gabrielle Walker. Last novels read were Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk and er... forgot the writer and the name of the book... doh!