Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books that coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining here!
This week’s theme is a freebie. I thought I could use this mid-year TTT to take stock of the books I have read and enjoyed so far!
Here are the best books I read this year.
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller – I was surprised by how much I liked this book. I never really thought much of Achilles before, but this tender portrait of him through his lover’s eyes was a delight.
- The Wych Elm by Tana French – Generally considered to be the weakest among her books. I can see why. It is a bit slow but very, very satisfying. I loved the characters, and the atmosphere, and my heart just broke for Toby in the end.
- The Ex-Wife’s Survival Guide by Debby Holt – Light-hearted, comic. It’s one of the weaker books in this top ten list, but I enjoyed Holt’s writing style, and sometimes a fun rom-com hits the spot right.
- Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy – Every year I read a classic, which almost always ends up on a top ten list. This year is no surprise. Tess was just such a sublime read!
- The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell – The best thriller I have read this year.
- The Greatest Urdu Stories Ever Told by Muhammad Umar Memon – One of those few short story anthologies where every story is a gem.
- Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – Not as good as Mexican Gothic, but still very, very good. I loved her unique take on vampires.
- The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak – This was a slow one, it took me some time to get to grips with it, but eventually, I liked it very much.
- Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami – This book is about ideas rather than an actual plot. Loved the feminist slant, and one of those books that lingered for a long time after I finished reading it.
- The It Girl by Ruth Ware – I like mysteries set in colleges for some reason – the fancier the college, the better my reading experience 🤷🏻♀️.
What were your favorite books this year?
I haven’t read any of these books, but heard fantastic things about Madeline Miller overall. I should give her books a try sometime! And The It Girl, a mystery set in college?! Count me in! Thank you for the recommendation!! 🙂
Quite a variety! I need to put Song of Achilles on a challenge list sometime, to get me to read it.
I haven’t read any of these yet, but Ware’s book has caught my attention seeveral times. Thanks for sharing your favorites.
Here’s my TTT post.
Ive never read any of Lisa Jewell’s books (I don’t think at least) but I’ve heard great things about all of them so i NEED to!
My TTT: https://www.mollysbooknook.com/top-ten-tuesday-22/
I’m a big fan of both French and Ware. I love me a good thriller and these ladies always deliver! I’m glad you enjoy them too.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
The midway best books of the year list seems to be a popular choice this week! Glad you enjoyed these 🙂
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2023/07/11/top-ten-tuesday-428/
Ahhh I love love love The Song of Achilles! It was a solid 5 stars for me, without any doubt.
For me anything by Lisa Jewel is a thumbs up. I really enjoyed The Family Remains, but I have not had a chance to read The Family Upstairs yet, but it’s on my TBR list for sure. Have a wonderful day, Nish 🌞📚💜
I enjoy reading classics as well, but I haven’t read any of Thomas Hardy’s work. I intend to though! Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
I have seen so much praise for The Song of Achilles. I’ll have to try it sometime. I just read an ARC for None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell and loved it so I’m definitely interested in trying out something else of hers. Maybe the one you mentioned. And I really need to get into Silvia Moreno-Garcia! Mexican Gothic has been on my TBR forever. Great list!
Tess of the D’Urbervilles is one of my favorite classics. I still need to read that Elif Shafak book.
The island of missing trees talks about the armed conflict in Cyprus between the Greeks and Turks. I had no idea about this at all, so it was an eye-opening read for me.
Someday I should read Tess of the D’urbervilles.
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
Tess! That was one cathartic cry-reading experience. Hardy really knows how to throw his characters through the wringer. It’s one of my all-time favorite books, even though I’m not brave enough to re-read it.
I wouldn’t want to reread it either. But I loved how beautifully he describes the rural lifestyle, and Tess herself is such a lovely person.My heart broke for her!
I want to read Song of Achilles so bad. Why don’t I?
you should. It’s really nice 🙂