My 2016 Favourite Books: Or, Why I Haven’t Read Your Book Yet…

books-of-the-year-2016

I only began blogging in February 2015 so 2016 was going to be THE YEAR. I would read at least three or four books a week and get the blog really buzzing with reviews.

Well, you know what they say about the road to Hell, and what a hellish year it’s been. I wasn’t even going to compile an annual round up, but then I thought that wasn’t fair to the wonderful authors I have met and read this year, so this blog post is a celebration of the books that have affected me most along with an explanation of why I probably haven’t got round to your book yet, for which apologies. There are so many books I wish I’d read that are sitting on my TBR, but life hasn’t allowed it.

January

So, the Hill household began 2016 anxiously awaiting the lymph node biopsy results from my husband’s cancer surgery on 10th December 2015. We couldn’t settle to anything much and reading took a back seat. However, there were two books I thought were outstanding. The first was In A Land of Paper Gods by Rebecca MacKenzie, reviewed here and Amanda Prowse’s Another Love, reviewed here. Both took me on emotional journeys. It was my privilege to interview Amanda later in the year too.

February

After a couple more anxious weeks we finally got the results we wanted. Steve’s biopsies were all clear and he was cancer free. With that huge relief I felt able to read a bit more and my favourite book that month was The Ballroom by Anna Hope which I raved about here and which almost became my Book of the Year. I loved the sense of history behind the prose.

The Ballroom

March

So, life was back on track and all was going to be fine after all. Wrong. Having been quite ill all the second week my Dad was rushed into hospital on 11th with life threatening sepsis as his gall stones hadn’t been diagnosed. We were told that ‘Anyone else his age would have succumbed by now’ and not to expect him to live. However, he survived and spent several weeks in hospital.

Whilst Dad was recovering we had the awful task of telling him that, on 17th March, our much anticipated great niece Emma Faith was still born at full term. Our (emotionally and geographically) close knit family was devastated. With an inquiry to be carried out we couldn’t have Emma’s funeral, so again I found settling to reading difficult. Luckily I had already been thoroughly entranced by The Finding of Martha Lost by Caroline Wallace and had reviewed it here.

martha lost

April

Once we got through Emma Faith’s funeral on 15th April, and leaving aside the terrible car accident my cousin had where he was lucky passers-by pulled him clear before his car went up in flames, I was able to read a bit. I found Lyn G Farrell’s The Wacky Man absolutely stunning. You can see why here.

wacky man

When I’m not reading I love to travel but as life kept getting in the way at least I was able to do so vicariously through Isabelle Broom’s wonderful My Map of You, reviewed here.

My Map of You

May

Well, well. 2016 wasn’t all bad after all. Off to Japan and Taiwan on holiday so there was little chance to catch up on reading as we were so busy. However, I’d previously loved Amy Snow (reviewed here) by Tracy Rees and was delighted when I found her follow up novel Florence Grace was just as good and I reviewed it here. Tracy also wrote a guest post for the blog you can read here.

Florence Grace

June

At last, a month where we were at home, no-one was taken ill with life threatening injuries or illnesses and I could read. Read I did! It was back to my normal reading habits for a whole month, devouring several books a week. I was intending on choosing a book of the month, but there were so many stunning books read that month I’ll simply list my favourites with links to their reviews:

lying in wait

The fabulous psychological thriller Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent reviewed here. Having so loved the book I was excited to interview Liz too here.

Valentina

Another fantastic thriller, the debut Valentina by S.E Lynes reviewed here. Once again I was so excited to interview the author here and I’ve since met Susie who is a real star.

last dance in havana

A gorgeous trip to Cuba with Last Dance in Havana by Rosanna Ley reviewed here and a dip into history as well as passion.

The joyce girl cover

The amazingly well researched and written The Joyce Girl by Annabel Abbs reviewed here along with a fascinating guest post. I had no idea about James Joyce’s daughter until this fantastic book.

Also in June as I was sitting in a field at Burghley House waiting to see my idol, Bryan Ferry, in concert for the umpteenth time, a message came through to say that I had won the Best Book Review Blog in the Bloggers Bash Awards. I was amazed and very proud.

July

Having been proud of my Bloggers Bash award I was thrilled to find in July that I had posted 500 blogs on Linda’s Book Bag in 14 months of blogging. Well, you know what pride comes before don’t you?

We’d been in Valencia for a few days and returned home to find my wonderful Dad had had a massive stroke the evening before. He was completely paralysed except for his left forearm, left thumb and two fingers. He could swallow only pureed food and thickened liquids, seemed unable to see properly, he was doubly incontinent and couldn’t speak. He was also in terrible pain. Sometimes he appeared to know us and sometimes he didn’t. We spent between three and six hours a day supporting Mum and visiting him in hospital which was going to be our daily routine for the next 17 weeks. All reading time pretty much disappeared but I had read the fabulous The Trouble With Henry and Zoe by Andy Jones on holiday so reviewed it here.

henry and zoe

Before I’d gone away I had read Owl Song at Dawn by Emma Claire Sweeney ready for the blog tour and that was another of my favourite books in 2016 that almost became a Book of the Year. Here is my review.

Owl Song

There was another book that really spoke to my soul this month; The Day I Lost You by Fionnuala Kearney – but more of that later.

The day I Lost You

August

Life had its pattern now. Visit Dad, support Mum (especially as it was her birthday month too) and deal with the hospital and authorities. I found it almost impossible to find time to read and only really picked up the wonderful Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley because it was thin and looked like a quick read! It was brilliant and I reviewed it here.

Lily and the Octopus

September

Dad still wasn’t improving and neither was life or the time I had to devote to reading and blogging. Steve had another, thankfully benign, growth removed and we waited anxiously for the results. That said, two of the books I read in September were amazing. One is ostensibly a children’s book, Fir For Luck by Barbara Henderson but which is an enthralling historical read for all ages, reviewed here, and the other was also an historical story, this time by William Ryan, The Constant Soldier, reviewed here. Barbara also wrote a smashing guest post for Linda’s Book Bag about publication day that you can read here.

fir-for-luck Constant Soldier

October

What an emotional month. My niece shares her birthday with my Dad on 1st so not only had she and her husband lost their little girl, there was the reminder on this day of the link between birth and family. Also in October, my parents had their 65th wedding anniversary, having first met when Mum was 4 and Dad 8 was and he gave her his teddy because she was upset. With Dad still in decline this was not easy.

However, I was beginning to get used to the daily routines now and reading a little more with two books really standing out for me this month. I loved Lily’s House by Cassandra Parkin, reviewed here and Sue Moorcroft’s The Christmas Promise, reviewed here because both had an emotional pull. I’d been highly entertained by an interview with Sue in which she told me about her ‘compost heap’ approach to planning and you can read more about that here.

lilys-house-cover christmass-promise

November

I haven’t catalogued all the deaths of family and friends this year in this blog post, but I began the month with a funeral which kind of summed up how the year had been. It was to get worse. On 9th November at 12.38 PM my Dad died with me and my sister with him. His funeral was on 24th with another friend dying that very day. Dad’s passing was a relief as he was no longer suffering and at last time was regained for some reading.

Two books really stood out for me in November. The first was a wonderful homage to Shakespeare, For the Love of Shakespeare by Beth Miller which has such a lively style it cheered me up considerably and which I reviewed here. The second was another brilliant historically based novel from Cesca Major, The Last Night, reviewed here along with an interview with Cesca. I had previously loved Cesca’s The Silent Hours my review of which can be found here.

for-the-love-of-shakespeare  the-last-night

December

So, another funeral over this month, the third in four weeks, and I’m ending the year with a book of the month by an author I featured at the beginning of the year – Amanda Prowse. This time it is The Food of Love and another highly charged emotional read, reviewed here.

basic-cover

In Summary

So, whilst I read very little in 2016 compared with my normal habits, the books kept arriving – sent by hopeful self-published authors via email, by post from publishers and established authors whom I’ve read or featured before and the pile has grown to well over 700 awaiting reading. This is why I probably haven’t read your book. And I’m sorry. I understand the importance of reviews. But life took over this year as you can see – and I haven’t told you all the people we’ve lost, mostly to cancer, this year. I’m aiming to get back on track and read as many of these books as possible in 2017.

Authors are always welcome to a guest post or interview whilst they are waiting for a review that may, or may not, ever happen.

Despite 2016 genuinely being the worst year of my life, I want to finish this blog post with a positive – my Book of the Year 2016.

Book of the Year

The day I Lost You

There were many contenders for my Book of the Year. I think 2016 has seen some exceptional texts published and I’m only sorry I haven’t read them all. But there is one book that has resonated with me so captivatingly it has to be my book of the year, and that is The Day I Lost You by Fionnuala Kearney. It isn’t my favourite psychological or historical genre. It isn’t the most literary book I read. It isn’t even the most entertaining book I read. But The Day I Lost You is the book that most touched my soul – and that’s what makes a great book for me.

Thank heavens I read, and reviewed here, The Day I Lost You by Fionnuala Kearney in the first half of July. I’d never have coped had it come later in the year. I read this with tears streaming down my face almost from beginning to end. Its emotion touched me and I have thought about The Day I Lost You almost continuously throughout all the events that have happened this year. It is heartbreaking and matched my life in 2016 perfectly.

I would like to thank the fantastic blogging community for all your wonderful support this year. I hope you had a better 2016 than I did and that 2017 is a gloriously happy, healthy and bookish year for us all.

Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year

120 thoughts on “My 2016 Favourite Books: Or, Why I Haven’t Read Your Book Yet…”

  7. So sad to hear what a stressful year it was for you – and well done for keeping going with the reading. Books often offer some solace for difficult moments, but it’s not always easy to sit down during these periods and let yourself be taken away from your own life (because of that awful second of realisation when you get back). This is a great round-up of a year’s books. Thanks so much.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. What a year, so many sad events to cope with. Beautifully written review of a difficult year and I’m amazed you’ve managed to be as busy on the blog as you have, even if you haven’t read as many books as you’d have liked. Here’s to a happier 2017. Hugs xx

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Thanks Joanne and one of the highlights was meeting you in person – I’m hoping to join in again more in 2017! Thanks for all your support over 2016. Have a lovely Christmas and a haappy, healthy 2017 x

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Anne Williams says:

    Such an excellent summary of your year from hell, Linda, but good to see that books – as always – were able to bring some joy. May 2017 be a better one. Much love xx

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Thanks you so much Barbara. It hasn’t been easy but I have had so much support from wonderful bookish people like you. Hope to see you again soon. Have a lovely Christmas – and you never know -I might even get round to your books in 2017!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Linda, your strength is an inspiration to all of us. I’ve had the great pleasure of meeting you in person, and even though you were coping with so much you were always so gracious, encouraging, and lovely. I hope 2017 brings you love, laughter, and happiness in abundance. Xxx

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Thanks so much Shelley, for your lovely words. It has been my pleasure to know you. Thanks so much for all your support and I hope you have a fabulous Christmas, that your Dad is on the mend and that 2017 is all you could wish for.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Mary Grand says:

    Dear Linda
    I am so sorry you have had such a difficult year, to experience so much loss in one year must be devestating. Thank you for keeping going with your blog , your reviews are always interesting and insightful. I shall definately read your book of the year.
    I do wish for you and your family a peaceful Christmas and New Year,
    with best wishes
    Mary

    Liked by 1 person

  21. markewest says:

    Quite a year! And that’s a lot of books too – I remember saying to you in Birmingham that I was impressed to hit sixty or so… 🙂 All best wishes for 2017 and I look forward to meeting up with you again.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Good riddance to 2016. What a horrid, testing, exhausting year, Linda. But despite what you say you did read a lot of books. I love your reviews and my own TBR list had grown because of them. Have a lovely, love filled Christmas and be kind to yourself. And here’s to a happy new year for you.

    Liked by 2 people

  27. Linda, what an emotional read and what a year you’ve had! You’re an inspiration and hugely deserve all the good things 2017 has to offer you. Much love to you and an enormous hug to go with it! 🙂 Xx

    Liked by 1 person

  28. What a horrendous year for you. I expect Christmas will probably thoughtful and reflective, but hopefully it will be a sharing of happy memories and toasts to absent friends. Wishing you all best wishes for the coming year. xx

    Liked by 1 person

  29. I am so sorry Linda. Sounds like it was a tough year.

    Sorry to hear about your dad and niece. I do pray that 2017 will be a good year for you and that it will be filled with love, laughter and dreams coming true. All the best. Hugs from Kenya ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  30. Oh goodness Linda, what a terrible year you have had. I had some inkling, seeing the odd comment here and there, but no idea as to the extent of it. I wish you and all your family the very best for a lovely Christmas, a healthy New Year and a much, much better 2017. Hugs x

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Wow. What a blog post! I’m surprised you were able to read ANY books in 2016. 2017 can only be better (fingers crossed!!!)
    And you got Top Blogger Award, too!
    You are doing a marvellous job for the writing community. x

    Liked by 1 person

  35. Kathryn Freeman says:

    Oh Linda, what a horrid year. I sincerely hope 2017 is filled with positives – and plenty of books. Sending my best wishes for a peaceful Christmas xxxx

    Liked by 1 person

  47. My sympathy and thoughts are with you, Linda. I hope the coming year is more positive and peaceful for you. 2016 is a year I want to put behind me as well; after over twelve months of regular travelling over two hundred miles to see my mother on end of life care, she finally passed five weeks ago. A blessing for her but I so miss her. The only solace has been my writing and reading good books. I admire the way you have soldiered on. This is a admirable amount of books you’ve reviewed, many of which i will be adding to my TBR pile. Certainly I will be buying The Day I Lost You. Wishing you the best Christmas you can have.. Take care of yourself.

    Liked by 1 person

  48. Oh Judith, I’m so sorry to hear that. I know exactly what you’re going through. I hope 2017 treats you more kindly. Thanks so much for all the support you’ve given my blog over the year. I really appreciate it. Take care x.

    Liked by 1 person

  50. It’s been quite a year for you. Sorry to hear about all the bad news. Sometimes everything seems to come at once. Wishing you a Merry Xmas and a year 2017 full of peace and good reading. ♥

    Liked by 1 person

  51. So sorry for your losses this year, I’m amazed that you have been able to blog at all, this was such a thoughtful summary of your year. I just discovered your blog a couple months ago and have enjoyed reading your reviews. I wish you a peaceful Christmas and a happier 2017.

    Liked by 1 person

  52. Just found your blog via Twitter. What a year you and your family have had. So much sadness. I do hope 2017 is kinder. Reading at times of stress can be healing – it can give balance. I know I’d be lost without it at difficult times. Thank you for all your recommendations. I have Owl Song at Dawn on my TBR very soon list.
    Best wishes for Christmas and 2017

    Liked by 1 person

  53. Oh, Linda, what a year you have had. I think you have done an absolutely amazing job with the blog considering everything that has been going on in your life. I really hope 2017 will be a better year.

    Liked by 1 person

  70. What a tumultuous year for you. I know only too well how hospital visits and dealing with doctors, nurses and therapists is truly life-sapping even though every one is trying to help. Let’s hope 2017 is a much better year and I look forward to reading your reviews!

    Liked by 1 person

  77. Pingback: Happy New Year and Thank You Giveaway | Linda's Book Bag
  78. annabelabbs says:

    Linda – you’re an utter inspiration! Throughout 2016 i woke up (almost every morning – well, not quite) to find a post from you in my inbox. Who would have thought you managed all this during such a sad and difficult year. I hope 2017 is much, much better for you

    Liked by 1 person

  79. What kind words. Thanks so much. I didn’t like 2016 if I’m honest so here’s to a happy, healthy 2017 for everyone. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment – and for being one of my books of the year x

    Like

  80. Pingback: The Missing | acrimereadersblog
  82. Pingback: Writing Through Emotions, a Guest Post by Morton S. Gray, author of The Girl on the Beach | Linda's Book Bag
  83. Hannah Robinson says:

    Thank you for writing this very personal post and for all the reviews you do. Publishers and authors are very grateful. With best wishes for a happier 2017.

    Liked by 1 person

  85. Pingback: Cover Reveal: Just for the Holidays by Sue Moorcroft | Linda's Book Bag
  86. Pingback: The Idea of You by Amanda Prowse | Linda's Book Bag
  87. Pingback: Penance by Theresa Talbot | Linda's Book Bag
  88. Pingback: The Sender by Toni Jenkins | Linda's Book Bag

  89. Wow, what a well-written post! Thanks for sharing all those personal experiences during 2016 and haha, 700 of ARCs is seriously A LOT. 😛 Just curious, do you receive physical copies or ebooks for those books (mostly)? I hope you’ll be able to read as many great ones as possible this year! Happy reading, Linda! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  90. Thanks! Actually, I have very few e-books as I usually decline them because I tend to forget I’ve got them! It’s mainly physical books and since I wrote that post they’ve v=been turning up at about 6-20 a week so I’m well over 900 now! Hope you enjoy your reading too x

    Liked by 1 person

  91. Pingback: BEHIND THE BLOG: MEET THE BLOGGER SERIES – Linda from Linda’s Book Bag @Lindahill50Hill – Clues and Reviews
  92. Pingback: Spade, Seed & Supper by Martin Spice | Linda's Book Bag
  93. Pingback: #BookLove: Linda Hill @Lindahill50Hill – Jen Med's Book Reviews
  94. Pingback: Why A Book Launch Matters: A Guest Post by Barbara Henderson, Author of Punch | Linda's Book Bag
  95. Pingback: Book Bloggers and Reviewers: Linda Hill – Linda’s Book Bag – RNA
  96. Pingback: Afternoon Tea with Rosanna Ley | Linda's Book Bag
  97. Pingback: Her Mother’s Secret by Rosanna Ley | Linda's Book Bag
  98. Pingback: Wilderness Wars by Barbara Henderson | Linda's Book Bag
  99. Pingback: The Book of Love by Fionnuala Kearney | Linda's Book Bag
  100. Pingback: My Memories of Richmond: A Guest Post by Tracy Rees, Author of Darling Blue | Linda's Book Bag
  101. Pingback: Linda’s Book Bag Top Reads of 2018 from @CatherineIsaac_, @HilsRobinson and @Martin_Impey, and @fionnualatweets | Linda's Book Bag
  102. Pingback: The Lemon Tree Hotel by Rosanna Ley | Linda's Book Bag
  103. Pingback: Expectation by Anna Hope | Linda's Book Bag
  104. Pingback: A House of Ghosts by W.C. Ryan | Linda's Book Bag
  105. Pingback: Black Water by Barbara Henderson | Linda's Book Bag
  106. Pingback: The House at Silvermoor by Tracy Rees | Linda's Book Bag
  107. Pingback: From Venice With Love by Rosanna Ley | Linda's Book Bag
  108. Pingback: The Siege of Caerlaverock by Barbara Henderson | Linda's Book Bag
  109. Pingback: Staying in with Rosie Blake | Linda's Book Bag
  110. Pingback: Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church by Tracy Rees | Linda's Book Bag
  111. Pingback: The Chessmen Thief by Barbara Henderson | Linda's Book Bag
  112. Pingback: The Orange Grove by Rosanna Ley | Linda's Book Bag
  113. Pingback: The Rose Garden by Tracy Rees | Linda's Book Bag
  114. Pingback: The Little Christmas House by Tracy Rees | Linda's Book Bag
  115. Pingback: Linda’s Book Bag 2021 Books of the Year | Linda's Book Bag
  116. Pingback: The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs | Linda's Book Bag
  117. Pingback: 7th Blog Anniversary Giveaway | Linda's Book Bag
  118. Pingback: The Reluctant Rebel by Barbara Henderson | Linda's Book Bag
  119. Pingback: The Little House by the Sea | Linda's Book Bag
  120. Pingback: The Elopement by Tracy Rees | Linda's Book Bag

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.