So, as 2023 draws to a close, I can happily say that I at least achieved one of the resolutions and actually got reading! I thought that in case any of you had the same idea I’d round up some of my year’s favourites – happy reading!
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, 1960
This has been on my reading list for ages, and I can honestly confess that it had me fascinated after the first page. Seen through the eyes of six-year-old Scout, it follows her and her elder brother Jem’s adventures as they try to uncover secrets about their reclusive neighbour Boo Radley and find themselves caught in the midst of a criminal trial that rips the town apart. Exploring the violence and hypocrisy of the Deep South, To Kill a Mockingbird examines human conscience in the wake of one man’s refusal to surrender his fight for justice – simply perfect! Or turn to Facebook.
The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro, 1989
Admittedly I was forced to read this book as part of a University course; however, a perk of this is that it does open your eyes to stories you would otherwise ignore. Devoted butler Mr. Stephens leaves his master’s English manor for the first time in decades to visit an old friend in Cornwall. This causes him to reminisce about his prime spent at the manor during its best years in the 1930s, but what also transpires is a realisation of the life and love he lost through his unshakable dedication to his profession. A moving portrait of regret and loss, The Remains of the Day will leave you questioning when to prioritise your career and when to embrace the other elements of life.
The Brave, Nicholas Evans, 2009
Ever since I read his stunning thriller – The Divide – Nicholas Evans has been one of my favourite authors, and this year I finally got around to reading his latest novel. Struggling to cope with the childhood traumas that continue to haunt him, Tom Bedford is confronted with the biggest horror of all when his estranged son is accused of murder. Transporting its reader from 1950s England to Billywood and present-day Montana, The Brave keeps you guessing with several plot twists.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson, 1886
I have a (slightly) embarrassing confession to make – I had no idea this was a short story until I looked into buying a copy online. But it did nothing to undermine the depth of the novella and only makes its lasting legacy all the more impressive! A psychological exploration of the complexities of human nature and the vanity of Victorian society, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is an intriguing mystery that is still compelling even if, like me, you are familiar with its notorious ending.
Before I Go to Sleep, S.J. Watson, 2011
Imagine if you woke up each morning and could remember nothing of your life since childhood. This is Christine’s reality, and it becomes ours as we shift through the pages of S. J Watson’s debut novel, never knowing who to trust or if we can accept the accounts in Christine’s diary as fact.
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