Looking back at last year’s Top Ten post ‘Winter 2018 TBR’

Published on by Margaret

In advance of this coming Tuesday’s Top Ten post on our Winter TBRs I thought I’d  look back at last year’s Top Ten post Winter 2018 TBR to see how many of those books I actually read. (Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. For the rules see her blog.)

Links from the book titles will take you to my reviews or to Goodreads.

I finished 6 of them! 

GreenmantleGreenmantle by John Buchan – from my Classics Club list. Yes

It’s the second of five novels featuring the character of Richard Hannay and is an adventure and spy story with a highly improbable plot. It’s pure escapism.

Bitter Lemons of CyprusBitter Lemons of Cyprus by Lawrence Durrell – Yes

I read this nonfiction about Durrell’s time in Cyprus, during the 1950s Enosis movement for freedom of the island from British colonial rule. His writing is richly descriptive and made me wish I could have seen Bellapaix in the 1950s.

The Accordionist by Fred Vargas – Yes

It’s the third book in The Accordionist (Three Evangelists 3)the Three Evangelists series and it’s probably the most puzzling of the three. They are quirky crime fiction novels, with eccentric characters and intricate plots.

The Old Man and the SeaThe Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway – No

I gave up on this book. It just didn’t appeal to me.

Wild Fire (Shetland Island, #8)Wild Fire by Ann Cleeves – No

I am amazed, I thought I had read it! It’s the 8th and last book in her Shetland series. I will read it soon.

The Lost ManThe Lost Man by Jane Harper – Yes

This is a powerful book, a family drama, set in an isolated part of Australia hundreds of miles from anywhere, revolving around the death of Cameron Bright. I loved it.

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield – Yes

Once Upon a River

An intriguing and mystifying book, historical fiction with a touch of magic that completely beguiled me with its mysteries and fascinating characters. A badly injured stranger enters the Swan Inn at Radcot carrying the drowned corpse of a little girl. Hours later the dead child, miraculously it seems, takes a breath, and returns to life. 

The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea – Yes

The Glass WomanSet in Iceland in 1686, this has a dark atmosphere, saturated in sadness, fear and superstition. It’s a story of suspicion, love and violence, as a body surfaces from the ice-crusted sea, a body that had been weighted down with stones. It was too long, too drawn out and slow, especially in the first half of the book for me.

Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold

 

Mythos: the Greek Myths Retold by Stephen Fry – No

I began it but put it aside for a while, can’t think why that was. I will get back to it.

The BrontësThe Brontës by Juliet Barker – No

I did start it, but I found the sheer size of it and the small font made it difficult to read, but I shall persevere.

10 thoughts on “Looking back at last year’s Top Ten post ‘Winter 2018 TBR’”

  1. You did very well to read 6 from the list, far better then I would have done. I realised this year that reading lists are not my thing. I know other people like yourself have great success but I enjoy the making of the list far more than the reading 😂

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    1. Oh, I’m much better at making the lists than reading the books because I often find that the mere fact I’ve listed the books seems to put me off reading them – even though I wanted to read them in the first place. I think it’s because I never really know what I want to read next until the moment actually arrives. I’m a ‘moody’ reader – it has to be the right book for me at the right time … that’s why I was surprised to find I’d read 6 books that I’d listed.

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  2. I thought Wild Fire was a worthy finish of the Shetland series and you should definitely read it. I also enjoyed The Old Man and the Sea, but I can see it wouldn’t appeal to everyone. Finally, I am just writing my post for Top 5 Tuesday next week (Santa wish list) and Once Upon a River is included. It sounds amazing.

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  4. You got through some good books, Margaret. Don’t tell anyone, will you, but The Old Man and the Sea didn’t really appeal to me, either… And the books you did read are nicely varied (but your books always are!) and I’m glad you liked most of them.

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  5. I’m so glad you liked Once Upon a River. I have it on my tbr pile but was dismayed when several bloggers I know weren’t that struck. I’ll be reading it myself in 2020. I think you did very well reading 6 books from the list.

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