#AMonthofFaves, hosted by Traveling with T, Estella’s Revenge, and GirlXOXO, is back for a second year! The prompts will again cover a wide variety of fun, end-of-the year-ish topics. I plan to participate a few times throughout the month of December... you know I can't resist a good list.
5 POPULAR BOOKS WORTH THE HYPE
The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante
The hype surrounding The Neopolitan Novels even has its own name, #FerranteFever! This fourth and final book deserves every bit of it.
Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg
I didn't read much contemporary fiction this year, but am so glad I made time for this title! (my review)
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Everyone should read this book. Better yet, listen. (my book brief)
Yes, that's only three.
I didn't read nearly as many new releases this year... probably because I spent so much time "Trolloping with friends" in Barsetshire. If I absolutely had to come up with two more titles, I would add
- Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
- Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast
These book pair nicely, making them good companion reads, but they weren't really hyped like the first three.
Or... I could add two hyped books which I purchased, but haven't read yet.
- Purity by Jonathan Franzen
- The Nightingale by Kirstin Hannah
I'll read them in 2016. I promise ;-)
Have you read any books that lived up to their hype? How about some that didn't?
I am still in the long library line for the Coates book. I know it will be a tough read but I'm really looking forward to it. Some point I will try Ferrante, just because so many bloggers I trust have loved her books.
ReplyDeleteLisa - The Coates book will definitely be worth the wait... it's not exactly an uplifting read, but there is so much to think about! It took me a while to warm up to Ferrante, but that series is really remarkable.
DeleteI haven't read any of those but hope to get to Between the World and Me after the holidays.
ReplyDeleteKathy - It's such a worthwhile read!
DeleteJoAnn, I am just over halfway with Did You Ever Have A Family and it's so good; I feel like I'm a member of the family, too, just waiting to see how I fit in. Thank you for the recommendation to listen to the Coates book; I will see if I can get it in audiobook version because I'm always looking for good ones! I've heard such great things about The Nightingale; I've enjoyed previous novels by the author, so I may need to pick that one up, too.
ReplyDeleteTara - I ended up reading Did You Ever Have a Family in just two sittings... just couldn't put it down! The Coates book is excellent on audio. Can't recommend that one highly enough.
DeleteDid You Ever Have a Family is on so many lists - I'm so upset I haven't gotten to it yet! I loved Between the World and Me, too, in heartbreaking ways. But I can't say I'm a Ferante fan - I've tried and her style just sets my teeth on edge!
ReplyDeleteGreat list -can't wait to read the others!
Katie - Loving the book in heartbreaking ways is the perfect way to describe my feeling for Between the World and Me, too. It took me a while to warm up to Ferrante. After reading My Brilliant Friend, I wasn't sure whether I'd continue the series. After 3 months, I couldn't get the characters out of my mind and picked up book two. Something clicked and I blew through the last three books very quickly.
DeleteDid You Ever Have a Family -- it's one of those that I was worried was over-hyped. I'll push it a little closer to the top of the pile.
ReplyDeleteBeth F - I was really worried about Did You Ever Have a Family, too. Hope you decide to read it soon :)
DeleteAhahaha, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who didn't make it to five! I read a ton of 2015 books this year, but there were only four I really wanted to highlight. Great list!
ReplyDeleteJenny - I was really tempted to add Station Eleven and The Girl on the Train, but they were 4 star reads for me.
Deletehmm, so maybe I'm finally going to try Ta-Nehisi Coates
ReplyDeleteEmma - Yes, yes, yes... give it a try!
DeleteThe Clegg book was very hype-worthy, in my opinion The Coates is on my Audible wishlist. I'm probably the only person who hasn't read any of the Ferrante series, but I have the first three in my possession now, so I will start in 2016. I'm on the fence about getting the Hannah book and am wondering whether or not it is worth the hype.
ReplyDeleteSharon - I just downloaded The Nightingale yesterday, it was a $1.99 kindle daily deal. They get me every time!
DeleteCoates and Ferrente are on my list, glad to hear they are as good as everyone says :)
ReplyDeleteBina - I loved them both and hope you do, too!
DeleteI have wanted to read Elena Ferrante's books. Her name even sounds wonderful :)
ReplyDeleteHave a good day!
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My A Month of Faves
Elizabeth - Part of the fun with Ferrante is that her/his(?) true identity is a mystery!
DeleteThe Ferrante Quartet is definitely worth the hype, a lot of which has been literally word of mouth and blogs such as yours. I've only recently seen a copy of The Story of the Lost Child readily available on my library's New Fiction shelf, so a lot of readers are just now learning of Ferrante. Hopefully they have the first three available as well, else who would want to read only the 4th in the series. My library brings in the new stuff pretty quickly, but in this case I just couldn't wait and bought them all. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteJudyMac - My library is really good about getting new books, too, but sometimes the wait is just too long. I ended up just buying the Ferrante books. Will probably explore more of her backlist in 2016.
DeleteI am convinced that I MUST try Did You Ever Have a Family. Since I'll #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks in 2016, looks like it'll be a library pick. lol
ReplyDeleteAndi - I just love your hashtag!! We'll see how things go after the TBR Dare... may end up joining you April 1. Hope you get a chance to read Did You Ever Have a Family.
DeleteYay for Did You Ever Have A Family!! Made my list too :) And - I just finished The Nightingale. I thought it was good, but didn't blow me away commensurate with the hype. Wonder what I would have thought had I read it before the hype...
ReplyDeleteSarah - The hype surrounding The Nightingale has certainly heightened my expectations. I just picked it up as a kindle daily deal yesterday, so if I like it at least $1.99 worth, I'll be happy ;-)
DeleteI have the Ferrante books on my list because of your reviews but I don't think I've read too many hyped books. I read a lot of books I enjoyed this year but I can't think of any real standouts yet.
ReplyDeleteKatherine - It took me a while to succumb to the hype surrounding Ferrante. Initially I wasn't sure about continuing the series beyond My Brilliant Friend, but I couldn't get the characters out of my mind.
DeleteI seem to miss hype more than I catch it...not read any of these book...
ReplyDeleteEmma - I try not to succumb to the hype, but sometimes I just can't help it!
DeleteThose are really great choices, JoAnn. They've all been on my radar, but I haven't read them, yet. I'm STILL waiting on my number to pop up on the library holds list for Did You Ever Have a Family. shheesh! I've been waiting for months on that book!
ReplyDeleteKathy - It will be worth the wait!!
DeleteWaiting for my turn for, Between the World and Me = rave reviews.
ReplyDeleteDiane - Hopefully you'll get the book soon. It's very short.
DeleteAll of these books seem so worthy of a read. I have not read any of them but I really want to read them all for several reasons. One of these reasons is that I do not read nearly enough of contemporary literature as I would like to.
ReplyDeleteAt the very least, I am going to try to read Between the World and Me in the coming months.
Brian Joseph - Between the World and Me is definitely the most important book of the bunch. I'd be interested in your thoughts if you read it.
DeleteDefinitely with you on Did You Ever Have a Family and Between the World and Me! I'm almost finished with Being Mortal right now and it's really, really incredible, too.
ReplyDeleteShannon - I'd be hard pressed to pick the most important book of the year, but Being Mortal and Between the World and Me are at the top of my list!
DeleteI really think that although I love almost everything I choose to read...very few of them live up to thir actual hype! Perhaps there is too much hype?
ReplyDeletePatty - There is definitely too much hype... and a whole industry built around manufacturing it!
DeleteBooks that lived up to the hype that I read this year: Everything I Never Told You; Station Eleven; and The Dinner.
ReplyDeleteThecuecard - I almost added Station Eleven to this list, but rated it 4 stars and not 5. Everything I Never Told You was my favorite audiobook last year and I couldn't stop reading The Dinner!
Delete