Most writers are also keen readers. So I thought it might be interesting to start a thread about books you have most enjoyed reading this year (not necessarily first published in 2005). I'm hoping to gain a few good recommendations from members for my reading pleasure in 2006! To kick off, here are a few from me.
The Liveship Traders trilogy by Robin Hobb (Voyager paperbacks)
I'm not normally a big fan of 'pure' fantasy - on some level I prefer my fiction to be connected to a reality I recognise. However, I make an exception for the American author Robin Hobb. She writes beautifully, and her characters really do come to life as you read about them. Her world is described with vigour and imagination, and there is also a strong and intriguing plot which compels you to go on reading from chapter to chapter, book to book. What more do you want from fiction?
The Traveller by John Twelve Hawks (Random House)
This is a first novel by an author who prefers to remain a man of mystery. If you can get through the slightly shaky first chapter or two, it really is a terrific, imaginative conspiracy thriller. The book should be out in paperback in 2006, so I recommend buying it then. It has film, TV and computer game rights written all over it. Just one word of warning, though - don't expect all the loose ends to be tied up by the end of the book. I would guess that this is the start of a trilogy or longer.
Painter Man by Jeff Phelps (Tindal Street Press)
OK, so I'm biased, as Jeff is a friend of mine, and the book is set in the part of Britain where I live. However, this is another of the titles I most enjoyed in 2005. Painter Man is the story of an aspiring artist, Malcolm, who tries to follow his dreams while also supporting his young wife and family, set against the backdrop of the industrial Black Country. It is a gentle, wryly humorous novel, with some surprising twists and turns.
Finally, a quick nomination for my most disappointing book of the year: Labyrinth by Kate Mosse. I know this book is well regarded in some circles, but though it is competently written I found it dull and plodding. None of the characters came to life for me, and I found the twin-stranded narrative (the book is partly set in 2005, partly in Medieval times) frustrating - just as I was starting to get interested in one story, we switched to the other strand and all the momentum was lost. I also think Labyrinth is at least a third too long. Onviously, that's just my view, but this is not a book I can ever envisage re-reading.
OK, so that's me. What about your favourite (and maybe least favourite) reads this year?
Nick GM
