I messaged my book group about us doing ‘the last meeting of the decade’, and everyone had a panicked meltdown. It feels quite a big deal that NONE of us are ready for, right?? Not least because the current state of politics in the West doesn’t exactly make one feel optimistic about the next decade… but we can only hope and pray.
Anyway, I thought it would be a good opportunity to share my books of the decade – or, rather, the nine books that I chose as my Book of the Year from 2010-2018. 2019’s to be added when I’ve decided it!
Some of those years were better reading years than others, so my ultimate books of the decade might not exactly these. But it’s intriguing to see what rose to the top each year – follow the links for the full lists each time :)
What I wrote: “An early read in 2010, but my lasting favourite – a very talented writer who, but for Mass Observation, would never have had courage to put pen to paper. I’m looking forward to reading her later diaries in 2011.”
2011: The Slaves of Solitude by Patrick Hamilton
What I wrote: “From the first page onwards, Hamilton’s writing was so good that it left me actually astonished. How could an author be this talented? He is the 1940s missing link between writers as disparate as Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. A shy woman bullied in a boarding house is an unlikely topic for great literature, but this is one of the best novels I’ve ever read – and Hamilton one of the most exceptional writers.”
2012: Guard Your Daughters by Diana Tutton
What I wrote: “I was only a couple of pages into this heavenly book when I knew it would be my book of the year. Morgan narrates the bizarre life of her isolated family of sisters. It certainly owes a debt to I Capture the Castle, but is perhaps even better – the most charming, lively, lovable, and eccentric family imaginable, I couldn’t believe how good it was, while I was reading. Others have been quite lukewarm, but causing a mini-revival for this glorious novel has been one of my proudest blogging moments.”
2013: London War Notes 1939-1945 by Mollie Panter-Downes
What I wrote: I was so lucky to track down an affordable copy, after borrowing from the library, and I know that it isn’t available easily – but I can think of no more accomplished, humane, and plain useful record of the wartime home front from a contemporary’s viewpoint. It changed the way I think about the day-by-day events of the second world war, and (like Guard Your Daughters at the top of 2012’s list) I think it is scandalous that it’s out of print. [2019 Simon adds: and now they’re both Persephones!!]
2014: The Sundial by Shirley Jackson
What I wrote: “An extremely funny and surreal novel about an extended family who will survive the apocalypse by staying in the family home together. Brilliantly, they are all rather unconcerned about the impending fire-and-brimstone, and Jackson gives us their squabbles and passive aggression instead. A superlatively inventive, amusing, and bizarre book.”
2015: The Shelf by Phyllis Rose
What I wrote: “And, in at number one – this wonderful book about a reading challenge! Rose chooses to read all the books on a (more or less) random shelf from a New York library, and the various ventures it leads her on. A joy for any bibliophile.”
What I wrote: “Once I’d remembered that this was one of my first reads in 2016, how could anything else come top of my list? It’s rare to read a novel this funny, joyful, and charming – about two young women setting up a flower shop, and their witty adventures. Even better – it’s coming back into print from Scott and the Furrowed Middlebrow imprint at Dean Street Press!” [2019 Simon adds: and Penguin too! What riches.]
2017: Merry Hall by Beverley Nichols
What I wrote: “It truly has been the Year of Beverley. I’ve read quite a lot of books by him this year, but I had to pick the one which kicked off my Beverley love affair – I read Merry Hall for the 1951 Club, and never looked back. This (presumably heightened) account of buying a house and doing up the garden is hilarious, charming, and (praise be!) the beginning of a trilogy. Don’t wait as long as I did to read Beverley – if you haven’t yet, make 2018 the year you read him!”
2018: The Sweet and Twenties by Beverley Nichols
What I wrote: “For the second year in a row, my favourite book of the year was by Beverley Nichols! This time, it’s his retrospective of the 1920s that Karen and I discussed when she was a guest on ‘Tea or Books?’. From the Thompson/Bywaters case to the fashions of the period, it’s historically rich and fascinating, as well as being soaked in Nichols’ inimitable style. A total delight!”
I’m very bad at commenting but just to say how much I enjoy your blog. Some of these books of your decade and new to me. There is still time to get them on my Santa list!
Seasons greetings
Jane
Thanks very much Jane! Happy Christmas :D
Thanks for sharing. I just started reading The Shelf so was tickled to see it on your list. I love a good book about reading and books, and her comments about different editions, prior readers’ notes, etc are both funny and perceptive. I’ve got London War Notes on my TBR pile for next year. And two years for Beverley Nichols? Must give him a try next.
Oh lovely! I’ve thought about The Shelf a lot since I read it, so must re-read. And yes, it took me years to break my Nichols duck, and now I adore him.
Neat to see a mention of The Shelf here — I’ve been thinking of starting a blog challenge inspired by it. I might call it 4 in a Row. It would be an encouragement for bloggers to read more of the books on their shelves (since many of us get our heads turned by new books and never get around to the ones we own!).
Oo fun! Any way of getting me to read from my shelves is gratefully received… I did start a challenge for myself after reading this, but predictably failed…
Congratulations at being able to do this, I’ll give it a try, but I may end up doing 1 in each genre, even then, it may be too hard. we’ll see. Alas, I’m not familiar with any of these
Yes, would definitely be too hard to start from scratch and decide a full list now!
I’m bookmarking this so I can come back and look these books up later. You always have such interesting books to recommend.
Thanks Davida!
I reckon I would struggle to do one of these, as I can’t even manage to pick my books of the year properly. However, I’m very pleased to see Guard Your Daughters and two Beverleys in there – you should be proud of GYD! :D
Absolutely!! It was interesting seeing two of these reviews end with ”I wish this were in print…” and now they are! Next stop Beverley…
I’m not surprised they had a panicked meltdown, the end of the decade seems to have completely snuck up on all of us! This is such a good list, there’s lots here that I haven’t read but sound excellent – thank you!
Thanks Jane! Hope you enjoy exploring some of them :D
Oh I do love your list. Funnily enough I have just finished writing my own books of the decade post. We have one book in common though for different years. I have only read three of your list actually but I have four others tbr including those two BN’s. The Sundial sounds so good it’s going on my list.
Oh, The Sundial is tremendous – another one I must re-read.
Your best of reads to my ears! I read The Slaves of Solitude by Patrick Hamilton and Guard Your Daughters by Diana Tutton in the past decade based on your recommendation and enjoyed both, so thank you for that! I read Shirley Jackson’s Hangsaman earlier this year and am really keen on getting to her other lesser known novels like The Sundial. I bought The Shelf but have yet to read it!
Happy new year! Along with you I am hoping that the next decade moves away from the disturbing and intolerant to the progressive and inclusive.
Oh dear Simon, although I’ve got a few of these the only one I’ve read is Nella Last’s War (a handy #projectname title) & I liked it less and less as I reached the end. I found Nella irritating and over-critical, so rude about so many people, and so over the top about her sons. (I did wonder if I’d have had the same reaction had she been a man.)
I bought a beautiful copy of The Sweet and Twenties earlier this year so I’m looking forward to reading that.
Thank you for a year of great blogging! And best wishes for 2020.
Lovely! And I do hope you enjoy The Sundial and The Shelf. Hangsaman is great but SO odd.
More books to add to my ever growing ‘must read’ list. I’ve only read four on your list and as a Beverley Nichols fan I’m ashamed that I haven’t got my hands on The Sweet and Twenties – yet. I’ll have to resort to the internet although I prefer to get my books through serendipitous visits to secondhand bookshops.
I was lucky enough to get that one as a gift, but I definitely recommend doing what you can to get hold of it! Though I’ve not had a bad Beverley yet.
How is it that more than 7 years have passed since you discovered Guard Your Daughters!?! Time should not be allowed to move this quickly.
I love this idea and have now copied it over on my blog and am very happy with my list. It’s been a good decade for reading!
I know?! I was quite surprised with how long it had been… though I have read several times in those years.
I dont think I could do one of these, partly because I havent done one every year as you ssem to have.
But nevertheless I am enjoying this one. It seems I must read more (some) Shirley Jackson in 2020.
Thanks for this.
Caroline
You must, Caroline! All of SHirley Jackson is great, and quite a lot of variety there too.
I love seeing Nella Last given the credit she deserves! Excellent list. I’m in the middle of deciding “favorite book READ each year” and/or “favorite book RELEASED each year” sigh…It doesn’t get posted till January though so I have time to throw darts at the board yet.
Brilliant! And yes, Nella Last is so wonderful – I never got around to the final volume of diaries, so must do that.
Well I’ve read four of these and very much enjoyed them … I don’t know what my books of the decade are, though. Too stressful to work out!
Yes, if I were coming up with my actual list it would have been overwhelming! NIce to be able to just nab the number ones from the decade.
This is such a terrific list, right up my alley so to speak. I loved The Slaves of Solitude, such a brilliant, melancholic book. The suffocating atmosphere of the Rosamund Tea Rooms is perfectly observed. Several of your other choices really appeal, particularly The Sundial, The Lark and Nella Last’s War. I think I shall have to bookmark this post for future reference!
Isn’t it amazing? Must reread, though have currently lent it to someone. Oo I’d love to know your thoughts about The Sundial!
I love Shirley Jackson and The Sundial is right up my list of TBR. The other suggestions are great and as many others have commented, I will come back to this list!
Also, I was drafting a blog post to sum up my favourites of the decade but haven’t finished it yet. Now that I’ve seen your take on it and am commenting on it, it wouldn’t be proper to post it without crediting you – is it alright for you if I simply link back?
I love this! So much. I have a personal goal of reading 100 books a year and have done it every year for the past 4 years except last year I only read 92. Recently I wrote a blog called The Magic of Books. They really do spirit us away! I love your writing!