2011 Book List
Cotillion - Georgette Heyer
One I've read before, this is unusual for Georgette Heyer in that the male lead isn't the richest, the cleverest, the most handsome man in the book. He's actually a bit of a dandy, and that gives an entirely different play on the lovely romance that develops between Kitty and Freddy as they bumble their way through the bizarre schemes they find themselves embroiled in.
The Nonesuch - Georgette Heyer
Perhaps the one with the strangest names that Georgette Heyer assigned to characters (and she has some which do push the limits of credulity) with Sir Waldo Hawkridge. He's a pretty cool character, a sportsman and secret philanthropist who plays things very close to the chest. It tells the story of his inheritance of a delapidated manor house, and the people he and his young cousin Lord Lindeth meet whilst inspecting the property who cause them to stay a little longer than intended - the beautiful and stroppy Tiffany Wield, and her governess, Ancilla Trent. Good fun, some lovely banter which Heyer is a master at, and an easily re-readable story.
Charity Girl - Georgette Heyer
Not one of my favourites, I keep mistaking it for another of her books which I like much better, and then continue reading it because I've started so I might as well finish, and I can never remember the name of the other book anyway. A drippy heroine in Cherry, and a pairing who spend the majority of the book in totally different places does not lead to a satisfying romantic interlude. Kills the time.
Friday's Child - Georgette Heyer
The one I keep thinking 'Charity Girl' is, this one is good fun and a bit different. Hero Wantage marries Lord Sheringham at the start of the book, so he can spite the beautiful Isabella who has turned him down. But as the book progresses, their marriage of convenience turns into a real understanding and love. A different dynamic from a lot of the stories and some great fun characters.
These Old Shades - Georgette Heyer
My favourite Georgette Heyer book, set somewhat earlier than the rest. The Duke of Avon buys the young orphan Leon with clear plans for his use. Particularly when Leon turns out to be Leonie... I love this novel, Leonie is a fantastic heroine, a mixture of fire and innocence, and she brings a wonderful element to the Duke of Avon's disfunctional family that makes this a delightful read, and the romance is so touching. And the Duke of Avon is teh sexxx.
The Boy with the Cuckoo Clock Heart Mathias Malzieu
A boy is born on the coldest day of the year, so cold his heart freezes. The midwife who delivers him attaches a Cuckoo Clock to his heart to help it beat, and adopts him. This is a funny, sad and sweet story, beautifully realised, with fantastic imagery and just such raw emotions pasted into it. And also, a bit-part for one of the Gods of the Silent Film - Georges Méliès. Fittingly, I hear it's being adapted into a film.
Fragile Things Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman's writing is so utterly lyrical and brilliant that I find myself in awe of him every time I hold one of his books. It's not often I notice the poetry in prose, but his is amazing. I must say I prefer his novels to his short stories, as his short stories tend to by much darker, more sinister, more harrowing... But they are still wonderful to read, and certainly something I aspire to in my own writing! (also, he's pretty fit)
Anne of Windy Willows L. M. Montgomery
J bought me Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea as an omnibus edition for my bithday the other year. I'd never read it (shameful!), but I instantly fell in love with it. I love that Anne is a dreamer and her whims and fancies are almost universally charming, but I also love the bemused pragmatism of everyone else around her. But I think the first two are easily the strongest books. Anne's whimsy lessens in the later books, and what does occur feels a little forced. Equally, maybe it was just the edition I had, but the print was very large and the pages quite thick, so what looked like a hefty book took me barely more than a couple of hours to read.
Earth, Air, Fire and Custard Tom Holt
A follow on from 'The Portable Door' (and possibly another in between them, but I couldn't work out which one), it's a very grounded view on the fantasy world. J.W.Wells is a company specialising in magical solutions, a very Fortune-500 company style workplace. Paul and Sophie have found themselves part of it - Paul because his parents sold his soul to the company as a baby - and are constantly struggling to keep on top of the machinations of their superiors. I love Tom Holt's work, I really need to read more of it. He has such a pragmatic approach to fantasy, and some wonderful turns of phrase.
Sprig Muslin Georgette Heyer
Not one I've read previously, and not one of my favourites as the two romantic leads spend the better part of the book in two completely different places. It doesn't really get going until the last quarter, when the banter kicks off and the characters all really start to interact. A pleasant enough read but not my favourite.
Retribution Falls Chris Wooding
This is one of those books where reading it, I knew it was a good book, I just didn't like it. I didn't really get on with the characters, the plot didn't grab me, and the setting was a bit... meh. At least for me. But I could tell if was very well paced, crafted and developed. I guess it's just a case of different strokes for different folks.
Heartless Gail Carriger
The Graveyard Book Neil Gaiman
Storm Front Jim Butcher
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe Charles Yu
The Night Circus Erin Morgenstern
Cinderella: Ninja Warrior Maureen McGowen
Who Censored Roger Rabbit? Gary K. Wolf
Fool Moon Jim Butcher
Fruits Basket v1-23 Natsuki Takaya
Total: 19
I wouldn't have normally counted Manga, as they take me just under an hour to read per volume, but as it was the complete series of 23, I counted Fruits Basket as 1 book. So not a bad year!