Yesterday I listed my Top Ten Favorite Mysteries of 2018. (Click on this link to see which books made the list - just a reminder, they were books I read in 2018, not books published in 2018). Today is my list of the Top Ten books I enjoyed in 2018. Four of them are from my Mystery list, so I won't add the reviews for those books.
So, here we go.
Bill's Top Ten Books of 2018.
"Can You Forgive Her? is the first book in the Palliser series written by Anthony Trollope. The book was initially published in 1865. It is a long book; my Oxford University Edition, published in 1972 is 1,000+ pages. While it is a long book, it is definitely not a slow book. On paper, it's not my type of story at all but that makes it even better.
The story centers around 3 women, Alice Vavasor, Lady Glencora and Mrs Greenow, a widow. If you want to look at in its simplest form, each is sorting out her relationship, each has two suitors and must decide between them. But, of course, there is so much more to it than just that, politics, and an exploration of English life.
The main character is Alice. She had previously been engaged to her first cousin, George Vavasor. This engagement, which was not supported by her father, was broken off when it was discovered that he had cheated on her. When the story begins she is now engaged to John Grey, a sturdy, dependable man, but one who Alice finds it difficult to love. Going on a trip to Switzerland with George's sister, Kate, and escorted by George as well, her relationship is turned upside down as she once again agrees to wed George and to help him financially with his run for Parliament. (Yes, George is money-poor and has a bad relationship with his grandfather whose estate and wealth he stands to inherit. What you have here is a woman who must decide between a steady, somewhat boring man and a 'bad' man.) Breaking her engagement is the premise for 'Can You Forgive Her?' Can Grey forgive her? Can Alice forgive herself?
The other relationships involve Lady Glencora, Alice's cousin, and her aunt, Mrs. Greenow. Lady Glencora, a wealthy woman, loves Burgo Fitzgerald, a handsome wastrel, but was pressured by her family to instead marry, Plantagenet Palliser, a wealthy Member of Parliament with designs on the position of Chancellor of Exchequer. Having a beautiful, young wife who might provide him an heir will only help him. Glencora still loves Burgo and wants to run off with him. Mrs. Greenow is a wealthy widow. Two men are her suitors, a penniless Capt in the Army, Capt Bellfield and a farmer, Mr. Cheeseacre. Mrs. Greenow plays the two off against each other as she doesn't need any money.
This is the gist of the story, which moves between the three women at a leisurely pace. It's well - written and kept me reading throughout. The men are all different with George Vavasor being the surliest, hardest to like. I particularly liked Lady Glencora, funny, a trouble maker but so likable. She brings me to mind of Carolyn Enys of the Poldark series. I also particularly liked George's sister, Kate who sets up her brother and Alice and comes to see him for what he is.
There is so much to the story that it's hard to describe in toto. But you have to discover that for yourself, don't you. There are 5 more books in the series. I will hopefully get to try them as well. Please check out Can You Forgive Her? (5 stars)"
"What a perfect book Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott is! It reminded me of books I read back during my university years when I took my Canadian Lit course; books like Who Has Seen the Wind by W.O. Mitchell or Why Shoot the Teacher by Max Braithwaite. It's a gentle, loving, caring story that had me smiling and crying at different moments.
Clara Purdy lives in Saskatchewan and while driving home gets into an accident with a young family. Clara lives alone, her mother having passed away and is in a rut. When she goes to the hospital to check on the family, she discovers that the mother, Lorreine has to stay because they've discovered she has cancer. The family; Lorreine, hubby Clayton, grandmother Mrs. Pell and three kids; Dolly, Trevor and Pearce are basically homeless, living in their van as they drive to find work.
Clara makes a big decision and lets the family move into her house while Lorreine is in the hospital. Clayton takes her mother's old car and leaves (to find work somewhere?) and leaves Clary to fend with the rest. That is the gist of the story and we follow Clary (her nickname) as she recreates herself, rearranging her home to accommodate them all, learn to live a life with children (she is a divorcee who never had the chance to have children of her own) and all the things that entails.
It's a rich, wonderful story. The book is peopled with a wonderful cast of characters, starting with the lovely Clary. The kids are great as they try to adjust to living with her, trying to cope with their mother's illness. Grandma Pel is a cantankerous old biddy but a great character. Lorreine is brave, hard put. Her brother Darwin shows up, moving in with Clara and is fantastic, looking after his sister, helping Clary, recreating her home. And you've got so many others, the local priest, Paul, trying to cope with divorce and finding solace with this strange put - together family. I could go on; her neighbour, Mrs. Zenko, who helps so much and Clary's sister Grace, her hubby Morland and their daughter, Fern. There is something about them all to love and cherish.
The story is so well-written, and it draws you in. I wanted it to end a certain way, but it took a twist at the end and then another. I can't recommend this book more. It's a must read. Beautiful story and characters. (5 stars)"
"What a wonderful story The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is. I've had it on my book shelf for a year or so and added it to my 12+ 4 reading challenge on the recommendation of a Goodread's friend.
It was so nice to read an uplifting, joyous story such as this. It's a story of growing up, discovering friendship and love and it leaves you feeling very positive and happy. (well, there were a few tears shed at the end but only because it was a positive ending.)
Young Mary Lennox is growing up in India. Her mother abandons her to the care of an Indian governess; she never really wanted a child. Mary becomes a loner, a temperamental, selfish young girl. When her parents die due to a cholera epidemic, she is sent to England to live with an uncle who resides at his estate in Misselthwaite Manor. Her uncle is basically a hermit who has never recovered from the death of his wife. He wants nothing to do with Mary, heading off to Europe and other places as soon as she arrives. Mary is once again alone but she slowly begins to make 'actual' friends, firstly her maid, Martha, a young Yorkshire lass, then a robin, etc. She then discovers the entrance to a locked garden; her uncle had closed it down when his wife died. It was her favorite and she died when a branch fell on her. Mary also discovers another resident in the manor, who turns out to be her cousin, Colin.
Without ruining the story by telling you anymore, suffice it to say that the two develop a close relationship and learn about friendship and love as they grow. The link with the garden, their development as the garden grows and multiplies, is most interesting. The story is full of wonderful characters; not the least Mary and Colin but also Martha, Martha's brother Dickon, their mother and even the old gardener, Ben.
I was so pleased to read this story, to read a perfect little story that left me feeling positive and happy at the end. Everyone should read! Thanks for adding to my challenge list, Alissa. (5 stars)"
"As I told my wife this morning.... stupid book! But what I really meant was what a wonderful, happy / sad, heart warming book Anne of Green Gables by Canadian author, L.M. Montgomery is. My wife and I have been enjoying the reprisal of the original TV series; Anne with an 'E'. Last Christmas I discovered almost the whole book series, 6 of the 9 books and bought them for my wife. To end 2018 Anne of Green Gables was one of the books I chose to finish the year.
Anne of Green Gables tells the story of young orphan, Anne Shirley, who is brought to Green Gables on Prince Edward Island, to live with and help work on the farm of the Cuthberts, brother and sister, Matthew and Marilla. Unfortunately for Anne, the Cuthberts had asked for a boy. While Matthew is entranced with Anne's spirit and imagination, Marilla isn't. She wants to send Anne back. She finds Anne, talkative, distracting and somewhat irritating. But at the same time, she finds her refreshing and she bends to Matthew's will and lets Anne stay.
What follows are a series of vignettes that describe Anne's life with the Cuthberts and her developing friendships, with her bosom friend Diana Berry and others, as well as her enmity towards Gilbert Blythe, who makes the mistake of teasing Anne about her red (carrots) hair. There are tragedies, upsets, wonderful stories, joy and sadness. It's a wonderfully, rich, lovely book. Anne is such an imaginative, delightful character. She wins the love of Matthew and Marilla. The book reminds me of so many other 'coming of age' stories, Who Has Seen the Wind, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, etc. It made me smile, cry and just warmed my heart.
Of course, now I'll have to try the other books.. Darn!! Stupid book!! (5 stars)"
"My wife and I got Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel as a gift about 5 years ago. It's sat on the shelf for a long time, as you can see, and I've had quite some trepidation about starting it. I can't say why. It might just have been the size, but in the end that's a pretty poor reason as I've read longer books than it. Suffice it to say, this year it was one of my challenge reads, selected for me by a book club friend of mine.
It's a historical novel, set during the time of Henry VIII in the early 1500's as he fights with the Pope to get his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled so he can marry Anne Boleyn. The story focuses on the rise of Thomas Cromwell from the son of a blacksmith to Henry's chief adviser. We get to see palace intrigue, the life and family of Cromwell, those who people the court of Henry VIII and their dealings and personalities.
That's the story on its simplest level but it is indeed an intricate, complex, fascinating story. As with most large tomes, it took me awhile to get going with the story. I usually have a few books on the go and I can be easily distracted. But as I got deeper into the story, I found myself drawn to the characters, the richness of their personalities, the complexities of the court life and just the portrayal of England at the time.
Cromwell is made very human, as is Henry VIII and the rest of the large cast of thousands, from Cromwell's extended family, to the lords and dukes and ladies who you find at the King's court and in their dealings with Cromwell. The religious aspect is also well - described, the dealings between England and Rome as they try to get the first marriage annulled. Cromwell is everywhere, dealing with Henry, with Anne Boleyn, with Catherine, the lords and archbishops, etc. His rise in power is a fascinating story. His love and care of his family and of those people he seems to pick up off the street and add to his family was especially fascinating.
In the end, I enjoyed the whole story immensely and was pleasantly surprised at how much I did enjoy it. Now I have to dust off the 2nd book, Bringing up the Bodies.. I may wait awhile to catch my breath though. (5 stars)"
"I've read a few books by Josephine Tey. The others have been part of her Inspector Alan Grant Series. Brat Farrar is one of two standalone mysteries by Tey. It was also turned into a TV mini-series and a movie.
I will readily admit that I had an inkling about part of the book when I was fairly shortly into it and this turned out to be correct. However, having said that, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book at all.
Brat Farrar, an orphan, left England at a young age and traveled through France and the US until as he neared the age of 21, he returned to England. Alex Loding sees him by chance in London and realizes that he looks remarkably like Patrick Ashby, who committed suicide as a young boy after a tragic accident which killed his parents. The Ashby's live in Westover County and run an estate that makes its money breeding horses. Simon Ashby, Patrick's younger twin stands to inherit the estate on achieving his 21st birthday. Alex Lodings' proposal is that Brat should turn up at the Ashby estate and claim the inheritance and for his efforts, Alex would receive a monthly allowance from Brat.
Brat allows himself to be persuaded and after training on Patrick's life and that of the family, he introduces himself to the family solicitors to be identified as the true heir.
I won't get into the story anymore except to say that all goes well, and Brat is welcomed into the family as the long lost prodigy. There are of course mixed feelings, especially those of Simon who now loses the inheritance.
The story is an evenly paced work of fiction as we follow Brat through his introductions and new life with the Ashbys. They are wonderful characters, especially Aunt Bea, who has run the estate while Simon, now Brat, grew to the appropriate age to take over. And also, the lovely Eleanor, oldest of the sisters, who trains horses and welcomes Brat.
At times I wondered how this would work out, waiting patiently for some action. But, you know, it wasn't necessary. The story reminded me of watching one of those thoughtful, excellent movies on TCM, the classics, enjoying the characters and the story. Of course, Brat's taking over of the life of Patrick has consequences and it's a joy to see how everything is resolved.
An excellent novel and enjoyable mystery, one of those little surprising gems (5 stars)"
Well, there you go, my top ten for 2018. See anything that interests you? In my next entry, I'll do my annual statistical summary of the year in reading... How exciting!
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