I'm trying to read unread books from my shelves this year (she says, in the midst of an intense reading slump) so I'm here today to share 16 books from my bookshelves that I want to read in 2016. Some of the books in this selection have been sat, patiently, for years waiting for me to turn my attention to them, whilst others have merely just begun to settle in.
Inspired by Amanda and her concise book hauls, I thought I would share three short phrases about each book that allude to either what drew me to the particular title, what it is about or what I hope to get from reading it. No rambles from me today, pals. Miracles do happen!
m train by patti smith
It's not so easy writing about nothing.
BELOVED, SAVOUR, INSPIRING.
READ MY M TRAIN REVIEW.
americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie
Princeton, in the summer, smelled of nothing, and although Ifemelu liked the tranquil greenness of the many trees, the clean streets and the stately homes, the delicately overpriced shops and the quiet, abiding air of earned grace, it was this, the lack of a smell that appealed to her, perhaps because the other American cities that she knew well had all smelled distinctly.
PROLIFIC, OVERDUE, JUXTAPOSITION.
I first saw Hundreds Hall when I was ten years old.
REVERED, MYSTERIOUS, PAGE TURNER.
meridian by alice walker
Truman Held drove slowly into the small town of Chicokema as the two black men who worked at the station where he stopped for gas were breaking for lunch.
ALICE WALKER, MULTIPLE LEVELS, OPPRESSION.
revolutionary road by richard yates
The final dying sounds of their dress rehearsal left the Laurel Players with nothing to do but stand there, silent and helpless, blinking out over the footlights of an empty auditorium.
HAUNTING, CHARACTERS, RELATIONSHIPS.
the book of strange new things by michel faber
'I was going to say something,' he said.
OMNIPRESENT, DIFFERENT, CURIOUS.
special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl
Dad always said a person must have a magnificent reason for writing out his or her Life Story and expecting anyone to read it.
BEAUTIFUL COVER, ENGROSSING, SUMMER READ.
going to meet the man by james baldwin
Across the street from their house, in an empty lot between the houses, stood the rockpile.
TO BE CONTINUED, EVOCATIVE, IMPORTANT.
cathedral by raymond carver
This friend of mine from work, Bud, he asked Fran and me to supper.
FAVOURITE, OBLIQUE, MASTERFUL.
beloved by toni morrison
124 was spiteful.
UNIVERSITY, MISSING OUT, ICONIC.
vampires in the lemon grove by karen russell
In October, the men and women of Sorrento harvest the primofiore, or "first flowering fruit," the most succulent lemons; in March, the yellow bianchetti ripen, followed in June by the green verdelli.
ST LUCYS HOME FOR GIRLS RAISED BY WOLVES, SHORT STORIES, BIG IDEAS. BELOVED, SAVOUR, INSPIRING.
READ MY VAMPIRES IN THE LEMON GROVE REVIEW.
the girls by EMMA CLINE
I looked up because of the laughter, and kept looking because of the girls.
SUMMER RELEASE, CULTS, NEXT READ.
the handmaid's tale by margaret atwood
We slept in what had once been the gymnasium.
TO BE CONTINUED, DYSTOPIA, WOMEN.
wuthering heights by emily bronte
I have just returned from a visit from my landlord - the solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with.
KATE BUSH, GOTHIC CLASSIC, THE BRONTES.
things fall apart by chinua achebe
Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond.
THE AFRICAN NOVEL, INNOVATIVE WRITER, POWERLESSNESS.
READ MY THINGS FALL APART REVIEW.
the people in the trees by hanya yanigahara
I am Ronald Kubodera - but only in academic journals.
AWARD WINNER, ANIMALS, THRILLING.
What books are you aiming to read in 2016? Furthermore, I'd love to know which of the aforementioned books you adored so I can bump them up to the top of the list! I'm off to enjoy this Spring day..and probably play some videos games too. Let me live!
want more?
Read my other books with bee posts
Check out my 14 BOOKS TO READ IN 2014 post
Great list, I'll definitely check a few of these out. That copy of Wuthering Heights is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThe Girls is so dreamy - really beautifully written. Great selection!
ReplyDeleteAmericanah, The Handmaid's Tale and Wuthering Heights are all faves of mine; but I've heard so many good things about all of these. Really intrigued by all the buzz that The Girls is getting.
ReplyDeletethese look like some great picks!
ReplyDeletehttp://wiltedxfaded.blogspot.co.uk/
I always love your book recommendations - even more for my long list! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteLucy xoxo
http://lucyannblog.blogspot.co.uk
Such a good post and great idea! Lots of titles to add to my ever-growing list :)
ReplyDeleteOrlagh
orlagh-mc.blogspot.co.uk
xoxo
I loved The Little Stranger, but I would say maybe approach it as more of a strange/creepy social history than a ghost story - the ghostly stuff is really excellent but there's not much of it. I would have enjoyed it much more if I hadn't been expecting a proper ghost story!
ReplyDeleteThe Handmaid's Tale really freaked me out! Great book though. Wuthering Heights is so good too! Also, I know you're not supposed to judge books by their covers, but the editions you've chosen have such great cover art!
ReplyDeleteCOLLEENWELSCH.COM
I studied The Handmaid's Tale in college, and although I didn't fully appreciate it at the time, I now realise just what an interesting novel it is! x
ReplyDeleteThe Kate Bush comment made me laugh out loud :') Loved this post!
ReplyDeleteI'll be keeping my eyes peeled (ew) for your thoughts on The Girls. I'm intrigued but it's one of those that could go awry, curse of the hype perhaps. x
ReplyDeleteI share some of these unread books! I need to read The Handmaid's Tale this year for sure and there are a couple of Donna Tartt's that have been gathering dust for far too long!
ReplyDeleteI've also added a few of these to my TBR :)
Sarah
http://www.sarahschapter.co.uk