Now here we
are…..on the last day of 2014, and this would also be the last post of Book
Kaleidoscope 2014, as well as my last post of year 2014. It has been another
great year in term of reading, I have read 41 books; 19 of them are classics (less
than 50%...but I’m going to catch up next year!). Most of them were great books,
and it’s quite difficult to pick only 5 from these tough candidates. But at
last I came to this…
#5 Greyfriars Bobby by Eleanor Atkinson
I enjoyed
this book very much; it is light, memorable, and adventurous, but also
touching. It taught me about love and loyalty, without patronizing.
#4 The Last of Mohicans by James Fenimore
Cooper
Its rich
sentences might be slightly intriguing, but beyond that, this book is quite an
epic. While reading it, I wished it never ends, so that I could spend more time
with Uncas and his father.
#3 The Debacle by Emile Zola
This is
Zola’s only historical fiction, and as always, he ‘painted’ the brutality of
the war very vividly. His criticism of France’s incapability and the Emperor’s
indecision struck deeply in mind—as is usual with Zola’s books.
#2 Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
This book’s
emotion is so thick and intense, it felt like reading a personal diary of an
intimate friend. And knowing his strength and weakness throughout this coming
of age story, I can only love him, despite of his many flaws.
#1 The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Reading this
book was a blissful moment for me. The story is great, and Wharton’s beautiful but
mind-blowing prose has made her another (female) ‘Zola’. She has become one of
my favorites, and I can’t wait to read more of her books.
What are yours? Share in the linky below, and Happy
New Year everyone!
Yay for #1! The House of Mirth was my favourite book last year. I've heard that The Age of Innocence is even better.
ReplyDeleteYay to Edith Wharton! :)
DeleteI've been wondering which one should I pick next, Ethan Frome or The Age of Innocence. And you didn't make it easier, because I have just decided to have Ethan Frome. But I'm sure I would come to both of them eventually...
I almost, almost, almost bought a used copy of Of Human Bondage from my library yesterday, but it was hard cover and huge, and I thought I'd rather have a paperback of that one. So I left it.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
You must read Of Human Bondage, Ruth, you'll love it. Sometimes it reminds me of David Copperfield (the same coming of age story of an orphan boy), but it's much more real than DC.
DeleteI'm so glad you loved The Last of the Mohicans, it means that I gave the book to the right person :) I haven't read all of those books, but I'm curious about Of Human Bondage and The House of Mirth..
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm grateful to have swapped my book (what was it? I forgot...) with The Last of the Mohicans.
DeleteHope you'll read Of Human Bondage & House of Mirth; they are my favorites.