N. Bulawayo, We need new names (2013)
D. Cadbury, The dinosaur hunters (2000)
S. Cooper, The Dark is rising (1973)
S. Hill, Howards End is on the Landing (2010)*
L. de Lisle, The white king (2018)R. Ozeki, A Tale for the time being (2013)
A. Patchett, State of wonder (2011)
E. Ruete, Memoirs of an Arabian princess from Zanzibar (1868)
C. Toibin, Testament of Mary (2013)
P.G. Wodehouse, Sunset at Blandings (1977)
E. Zola, L'Assommoir (1877)
S. Zweig, Genius and Discovery: Five Historical Miniatures (1927 and 1940. New translation 2016)
Perhaps fittingly, Susan Hill's book about rereading, which I remember being underwhelmed by the first time I read it, I loved this time. For a while, I thought it would get book of the month, but I had a late surge of reading while in Wales. Astute readers will note that much of that surge was the remains of the 2013 Booker shortlist, which they really did get wrong, but has definitely confirmed me in my intention to read all the shortlists. Best of that remaining list and best of this month's reading was The Lowland. The write up isn't promising - it's plot is triggered by the Naxalite rebellion in India, but plays out in a domestic apartment in Rhode Island - but it's a cracking story and gently, wistfully, sad, though with shocking moments. It's a reminder too of the complex stories around each individual migration, and in this case especially about identity and obligation.
The surge also means I can give a definitive ranking of the 2013 Booker shortlist. Although they got the ranking wrong, it was a good list, with only Toibin's terrible Testament of Many undeserving of a place. My ranking:
- Crace
- Lahiri
- Catton
- Ozeki
- Bulawayo
- Toibin
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