Devon Book Club discussion

I'm interested to hear about your top read(s) of 2020. Nominations have been coming in all week. What is yours?

Is that books published in 2020 or read in 2020?

Karen wrote: "Is that books published in 2020 or read in 2020?"

Just read in 2020. I don't mind when they were published

The book I enjoyed reading most this year is "Remember Me" by Lesley Pearse. The story is about a young girl from Fowey in Cornwall who is transported to Australia for theft. The book highlights the terrible conditions the prisoners had to endure on their trip across the world, followed by even more hardship when they arrived there. Loosely based on true facts, it is very interesting and well written.

Marcia wrote: "The book I enjoyed reading most this year is "Remember Me" by Lesley Pearse. The story is about a young girl from Fowey in Cornwall who is transported to Australia for theft. The book highlights th..."

Thanks Marcia - Great to have some suggestions here too. Loads coming in on Twitter

I'm still trying to decide! I have read so many books since March - far, far more than my usual allocation - and I have to admit I am having trouble remembering some of them! I do have scribbled notes for most, so I will be back - asap - once I've checked my comments and am sure of the hierarchy!
One which is high in my rankings is The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World, by Maya Jasanoff (a Conrad Scholar). Although it is a non-fiction piece of biography and research, it is also an amazingly readable account of the life and travels of (the immortal) Joseph Conrad. All this takes place before he settled down in London to write his novels and stories, and it is fascinating to see where so many of the themes, locations, inspiration and colour for the fiction originated . Anyone who likes travel, expeditions, history … and Conrad ... will love this and learn a lot.

I'm re reading A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. I read it when the book was originally published but the recent TV adaptation made me want to read it again. It's a hefty tome (1500 pages) but the characters are so well drawn and the description of place and events so fascinating I am drawn into the book and really don't want it to end.
I too would recommend The Dawn Watch by Maya Jasanoff,

I really enjoyed Girl, Woman, Other, she's such a good writer. She also wrote Mr Loverman which was brilliant. Mr. Loverman.

A very easy going read which I enjoyed that was published this year was Miss Benson's Beetle.

I can't chose one! I also really enjoyed Crime and Punishment

Marcia wrote: "The book I enjoyed reading most this year is "Remember Me" by Lesley Pearse. The story is about a young girl from Fowey in Cornwall who is transported to Australia for theft. The book highlights th..."

This sounds very interesting. I'll give that a go. Cheers.

DrMama wrote: "I'm still trying to decide! I have read so many books since March - far, far more than my usual allocation - and I have to admit I am having trouble remembering some of them! I do have scribbled no..."

Sounds fascinating Carol. Thank you

Margaret wrote: "I'm re reading A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. I read it when the book was originally published but the recent TV adaptation made me want to read it again. It's a hefty tome (1500 pages) but the cha..."

I really disliked the TV version but I loved the book. It left me wanting so much more. A Suitable Girl is at least 5 years overdue now. I hope it appears at some point

What is your Top Read of the Year? I've been asking that question throughout December. This is the list of most frequently mentioned titles to date (in no order) for fiction (non-fiction to follow).

Is your favourite title missing (you can give me up to 3)?

I'll publish a final list just before Xmas and ask you to vote at that point and I'll give you the full list in time for New Year.

Hamnet M. O’Farrell
Where The Crawdads Sing D. Owens
Girl, Woman, Other B. Evaristo
10 Minutes 38 Seconds In This Strange World E. SHafak
Once Upon A River D. Setterfield
Under The Pipal Tree A. Chowdhury
The Salt Path R. Wynn
Away With The Penguins H. Prior
16 Trees of the Somme L. Mytting
Midnight Library M.Haig
Medicus R. Downie
The Beekeeper of Aleppo C. Lefteri
The Mirror and The Light H. Mantel
The Bastille Spy C.S. Quinn
Piranesi S. Clarke

Top Reads 2020 - non fiction

Not so many recommendations in NF but some great books here - I'd love to hear of more

Humankind R.C. Bregman
Invisible Women C. Perez
Black and British D. Olusoga
Underland R. McFarlane
The Patterning Instinct J. Lent
Music To Eat Cake By L. Parikian
The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World M. Jasanoff
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race R. Eddo-Lodge

Ian wrote: "What is your Top Read of the Year? I've been asking that question throughout December. This is the list of most frequently mentioned titles to date (in no order) for fiction (non-fiction to follow)..."

Wow, I am totally honoured to see my penguins on this list! Of these (apart from my own) I've only read Hamnet and The Beekeeper of Aleppo, and I'm in the middle of Once Upon A River now. All good, but Hamnet is the best in my opinion. I'd love to read Midnight Library - it sounds fascinating.

Hazel wrote: "Ian wrote: "What is your Top Read of the Year? I've been asking that question throughout December. This is the list of most frequently mentioned titles to date (in no order) for fiction (non-fictio..."

It's a great list but you got as many nominations as the others - well deserved too