What I read in the Year 2015

The notebook in which I recorded my reading for 2019 is hard backed and spiral bound with a turquoise cover featuring a design of hot air balloons. There originally was some glitter applied to parts of the design and even nine years later there is still the odd sparkle. There are 491 books recorded as having been read during the year which reflects the fact that I started a new job in April which was part time and significantly less pressured than the role which I had been doing for the past twelve years or so.

My new job required commuting more than I had been and I became an avid listener to book related podcasts which were filled with book ideas and caused me to read more literary fiction and more American books.

The first book that I read in the year was The Future Falls by Tanya Huff. I like this Canadian writer whose books are mainly urban fantasy. This book is the third in a trilogy about a family of witches and their connection with a junk shop in Calgary. It’s very female centric and not at all predictable.

The final book that I read in the year was Children of God by Mary Doria Russell. This is the sequel to The Sparrow which is about a survivor of an interplanetary trip who has been mutilated by an alien race. The first book is harrowing and the second even more so as a new mission is planned. These books are about religion, faith and moral boundaries and are great science fiction and beautifully written.

I notice that in this year my previous habit of reading slight and totally forgettable books on my Kindle has begun to wane. I recognise more of the titles I have recorded and they are more mainstream – I did continue with random Kindle books to a lesser degree.

Notable titles this year include The Martian by Andy Weir which I loved (see a review here), Beloved by Toni Morrison  which is gruelling to read but worth it, The Beach by Alex Garland which I found to be very self-indulgent, Life of Pi by Yann Martel which I hated, Children of Men by PD James which I found to be an excellent dystopian novel, The Last King of Scotland by Giles Foden which is an interesting novel, Gilead by Marilynne Robinson which was exquisite and thought provoking, and Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn which is clever and great fun to read.

I also read quite a lot of biography and history (and historical biography) and I notice that this is more than in recent years. Titles included Agent Zigzag by Ben MacIntyre about spying and war, The Cruel Mother by Sian Busby about post-partum psychosis and the death of children in her family, Empress CiXi by Jung Chang about a rare female Chinese ruler, Joan of Arc by Helen Castor about the martyr, Forensics by Val McDermid about investigating crime, and Zealot by Reza Aslan which looks at the historical Jesus.

It was certainly a very varied year !