Great list and a great reading year! I went to a pub recently in Dartmoor that claimed to be where Dickens wrote part of The Pickwick Papers when he stayed there - The Oxenham Arms in South Zeal. Very old pub and was lovely to stop for a mulled wine. Have some footage to share at some point. Looking forward to diving into some Anthony Trollope this year.
Love this list and your synopses for each. I’ve only read “The Last Chronicle of Barset”. I already have The Forbidden Notebook on my wish list. It’s so encouraging to hear how much you enjoyed it. It sounds like you had a wonderful year for reading. Best wishes for 2025 reading 📖 👀!
@@mame-musing I hope you enjoy The Forbidden Notebook as much as I did. I lent it to Tilly my daughter as I said in the video and it was one of her top books of the year too.
I have loved The Pickwickpapers, The Last Chronicle of Barset, and The Stone Angel, too. The House in Paris I struggled a bit with, but your explanation makes me want to reread it, so thanks for that! My top books were a trilogy by Lewis Grassic Gibbon, called A Scots Quair and a translation of the Russian autobiography of Konstantin Paustovski The Story of a Life. These will stay with me forever. 😊
JG Farrell and Elizabeth Bowen are on my list of authors to read - the former is a recommendation from my volunteer, so I'm pleased to hear more about one of his books, especially considering it has made it onto your favourites from last year. I've heard that Bowen was a contemporary of Elizabeth Taylor, as such I want to read her works, although I've heard that her books are entirely different. And Anthony Trollope as well - I really must get that final book read. I look forward to seeing some more of your favourites.
@@CharlesHeathcote The Siege of Krishnapur is my absolute favourite by Farrell. I love both Taylor and Bowen. They are different but they are both good at hinting at what is beneath the surface of polite society.
Thank you Ros for this video! What a terrific year of reading you’ve had. Excited to hear your plays and poetry and modern works lists. My favourite classic this year was Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, read for Faulkner in August. I was completely immersed in that book and the way the characters related to each other. For modern, it would have to be James. And for nonfiction it’s Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal about end of life care and choices to give the best quality of life possible. So many other great books too! Hope you have a wonderful 2025!
@@jf8559 As I Lay Dying would have been on this list if I didn't exclude rereads. I read James and appreciated it but didn't absolutely love it. I am the odd one out though. Being Mortal is stunning.
Hi Ros, thank you for introducing me to Elizabeth Bowen. I love that era and I also get so many good recommendations from Sarah. Also, I read a few Margaret Lawrence books, not Stone Angel though thanks to Lindy. I highly recommend her other books and one of her books got into my top 10 a short story collection a bird in the house. Aloha friend.
Hi Roz, again a great list. Last year I also read Forbidden Stories and the Stone Angel and loved them both. Marzahn mon amour I read the year before and also loved. Going to look at the Elisabeth Bowen one and maybe J.G. Farrell. I read the first book of the Barsetshire series this year so I ahve many to go.
I love everything about this video, Ros! I don't know how it is that I've never read Trollope; that's a major gap in my reading. You and a few other booktubers have put him on my radar, and I'm going to read him with Jack at spread book joy this year. So many great recommendations here.
Hi Ros - I agree with your choice of Human Acts for a slot on your top ten - it is still very much in my mind too, especially with the recent events in South Korea. I did reply to your comment on Marc’s channel about Tyranny of the Flies - very happy to buddy read sometime after the latest Han Kang 😊
I'm feeling inspired to read Pickwick papers and maybe also an Anthony Trollope novel? If l start them in the summer l might finish them by the end of Victober!
This year i too read The tale of genji and it was a marvellous experience! From this video i think you like classical novels, and modern ones, and contemporary that are maybe unusual and have a unique view on things or talk about hard topic. Books worth some recognition for its words mastering. If om not mistaken and you dont hate magical realism Emma Andijewska and her A novel about a good person might be and interesting read for you. It was the most unique for me this year that past. It was a pleasure watching a video, thank you! Hope a new year will bring a lot of interesting books!
@@DaughterOfThoth thank you for the recommendation. I hadn't heard of it and went and looked it up. A Ukrainian book from 1973 about the immediate aftermath of World War 2 sounds fascinating. I hope 2025 is full of good reading for you too.
I discovered Irish author, Claire Keegan. Her book titled Small Things Like These was brilliant. And just after reading it, I found it had been made into a movie starring Cillian Murphy. As usual, the book was better…but what a great movie.
Very interesting list. Many years ago I read a number of novels by Margaret Laurence and thought she was wonderful. The first book of hers I read was the one made into a film called Rachel, Rachel with Joanne Woodward - I think the book was called A Jest og God.
I'm glad you enjoyed The Last Chronicle of Barset so much. Will you go on to read the Palliser novels now? I think I love them even more than the Barsetshire Chronicles, though it is a hard choice! I have just read Orlando, which was my first Woolf novel. I think I will read Mrs Dalloway and To the Lighthouse next..
@@danieljackson3367 I am absolutely planning on reading the Palliser series and looking forward to it, though I might read one or two more of his standalone novels before embarking on another series. Mrs Dalloway and To the Lighthouse are the essential Woolf novels to read I think.
I've been hunting up Stevensons and Goudges, but I should really go for a Bowen! :) Hadn't heard of that title, so will keep it in mind--Paris is always a good idea, after all! ;D
Happy to see a German novel won over your heart so much. 🤗
Katja Oskamp has a new novel out, maybe it will be translated as well.
@ameliareads589 I really loved it as you can tell. I'll hope the new one gets translated.
Great list and a great reading year! I went to a pub recently in Dartmoor that claimed to be where Dickens wrote part of The Pickwick Papers when he stayed there - The Oxenham Arms in South Zeal. Very old pub and was lovely to stop for a mulled wine. Have some footage to share at some point. Looking forward to diving into some Anthony Trollope this year.
@@spreadbookjoy how intriguing. He liked to gad about old Dickens.
@ it was a fascinating pub - built around a 4500 year old menhir!
@spreadbookjoy wow. That's unusual.
House in Paris has really stuck with me, even more than I thought it would. What a great list you have!
@@HannahsBooks when I reflected on it this was the one that stuck with me most too.
Love this list and your synopses for each. I’ve only read “The Last Chronicle of Barset”. I already have The Forbidden Notebook on my wish list. It’s so encouraging to hear how much you enjoyed it. It sounds like you had a wonderful year for reading. Best wishes for 2025 reading 📖 👀!
@@mame-musing I hope you enjoy The Forbidden Notebook as much as I did. I lent it to Tilly my daughter as I said in the video and it was one of her top books of the year too.
I have loved The Pickwickpapers, The Last Chronicle of Barset, and The Stone Angel, too. The House in Paris I struggled a bit with, but your explanation makes me want to reread it, so thanks for that!
My top books were a trilogy by Lewis Grassic Gibbon, called A Scots Quair and a translation of the Russian autobiography of Konstantin Paustovski The Story of a Life. These will stay with me forever. 😊
@@sm-k5513 it's so lovely when we happen on a book that will stay with us. I haven't read either of those.
Just finished the Last Chronicle of Barset, I LOVED IT.
Pickwick papers was marvellous too.
@@maryh4650 I found the Last Chronicle so satisfying. Trollope does consider the needs of his readers.
JG Farrell and Elizabeth Bowen are on my list of authors to read - the former is a recommendation from my volunteer, so I'm pleased to hear more about one of his books, especially considering it has made it onto your favourites from last year. I've heard that Bowen was a contemporary of Elizabeth Taylor, as such I want to read her works, although I've heard that her books are entirely different. And Anthony Trollope as well - I really must get that final book read. I look forward to seeing some more of your favourites.
@@CharlesHeathcote The Siege of Krishnapur is my absolute favourite by Farrell. I love both Taylor and Bowen. They are different but they are both good at hinting at what is beneath the surface of polite society.
You had such a wonderful reading year!!
@@AbiofPellinor it has been a good one. You too?
@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks definitely!
Fantastic video! Thank you so much. Your channel is amazing.
@@CeliaAWhite that's very kind of you to say.
What a fabulous list. I’ve added so many to my ‘want to read’ list. Thank you Ros. This is one of my favourite ‘best of’ videos ever 😊
@@RaynorReadsStuff thanks Debs. I love reading current fiction but there are such riches to mine in the backlist aren't there?
Thank you Ros for this video! What a terrific year of reading you’ve had. Excited to hear your plays and poetry and modern works lists. My favourite classic this year was Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, read for Faulkner in August. I was completely immersed in that book and the way the characters related to each other. For modern, it would have to be James. And for nonfiction it’s Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal about end of life care and choices to give the best quality of life possible. So many other great books too! Hope you have a wonderful 2025!
@@jf8559 As I Lay Dying would have been on this list if I didn't exclude rereads. I read James and appreciated it but didn't absolutely love it. I am the odd one out though. Being Mortal is stunning.
Hi Ros, thank you for introducing me to Elizabeth Bowen. I love that era and I also get so many good recommendations from Sarah.
Also, I read a few Margaret Lawrence books, not Stone Angel though thanks to Lindy. I highly recommend her other books and one of her books got into my top 10 a short story collection a bird in the house. Aloha friend.
@@MarilynMayaMendoza Bowen is tremendous. There were some exceptional women writers in that period weren't there? I must read more by Laurence.
What a wonderful list! I enjoyed hearing your thoughts about them all. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you for watching and saying that. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I had fun talking about these favourites.
Great video Ros, I like the sound of The Stone Angel and have added that to my list.
@@Ali-AvidReader it's a very striking book.
I love your channel it reminds me of rosemunde Books from my bookshelf channel. You ladies are awesome🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
@@w.a.8825 another Rosamund on BookTube? How lovely! I must check out her channel.
Hi Roz, again a great list. Last year I also read Forbidden Stories and the Stone Angel and loved them both. Marzahn mon amour I read the year before and also loved. Going to look at the Elisabeth Bowen one and maybe J.G. Farrell. I read the first book of the Barsetshire series this year so I ahve many to go.
@@59cubanita I am pretty confident you would enjoy The House in Paris. How lovely to have the rest of Barsetshire to relish.
I love everything about this video, Ros! I don't know how it is that I've never read Trollope; that's a major gap in my reading. You and a few other booktubers have put him on my radar, and I'm going to read him with Jack at spread book joy this year. So many great recommendations here.
@@BookChatWithPat8668 how wonderful to have Trollope to look forward to Pat.
@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks Yes!
Hi Ros - I agree with your choice of Human Acts for a slot on your top ten - it is still very much in my mind too, especially with the recent events in South Korea. I did reply to your comment on Marc’s channel about Tyranny of the Flies - very happy to buddy read sometime after the latest Han Kang 😊
@@ianp9086 it sounded like a book we'd both find interesting. When do you fancy it?
_First!_ Just finished _Leonard and Hungry Paul,_ and going to start _Beautyland_ (How's that for new novels?!!?)
Absolutely up to date Allen. I haven't read Beautyland but have heard interesting things about it.
I'm feeling inspired to read Pickwick papers and maybe also an Anthony Trollope novel? If l start them in the summer l might finish them by the end of Victober!
@@kirstyhatton1857 sounds like a plan. They are long. Those Victorians loved an expansive novel!
I re-read 'A Room of One's Own' this year and really enjoyed it. I'd forgotten how funny she can be.
@@clarepotter7584 she is wonderfully funny but often in a sly or sideways manner. I find that delightful.
This year i too read The tale of genji and it was a marvellous experience!
From this video i think you like classical novels, and modern ones, and contemporary that are maybe unusual and have a unique view on things or talk about hard topic. Books worth some recognition for its words mastering. If om not mistaken and you dont hate magical realism Emma Andijewska and her A novel about a good person might be and interesting read for you. It was the most unique for me this year that past.
It was a pleasure watching a video, thank you! Hope a new year will bring a lot of interesting books!
@@DaughterOfThoth thank you for the recommendation. I hadn't heard of it and went and looked it up. A Ukrainian book from 1973 about the immediate aftermath of World War 2 sounds fascinating.
I hope 2025 is full of good reading for you too.
@scallydandlingaboutthebooks thank you! I hope you'll have a chance of reading it and will enjoy it☺️
I discovered Irish author, Claire Keegan. Her book titled Small Things Like These was brilliant. And just after reading it, I found it had been made into a movie starring Cillian Murphy. As usual, the book was better…but what a great movie.
Keegan is wonderful. I love a writer who packs a rich story into a short book.
Very interesting list. Many years ago I read a number of novels by Margaret Laurence and thought she was wonderful. The first book of hers I read was the one made into a film called Rachel, Rachel with Joanne Woodward - I think the book was called A Jest og God.
I definitely need to read more by her.
I'm glad you enjoyed The Last Chronicle of Barset so much. Will you go on to read the Palliser novels now? I think I love them even more than the Barsetshire Chronicles, though it is a hard choice!
I have just read Orlando, which was my first Woolf novel. I think I will read Mrs Dalloway and To the Lighthouse next..
@@danieljackson3367 I am absolutely planning on reading the Palliser series and looking forward to it, though I might read one or two more of his standalone novels before embarking on another series. Mrs Dalloway and To the Lighthouse are the essential Woolf novels to read I think.
I've been hunting up Stevensons and Goudges, but I should really go for a Bowen! :) Hadn't heard of that title, so will keep it in mind--Paris is always a good idea, after all! ;D
@@MargaretPinard Bowen is elegant but harsher underneath than dear Elizabeth Goudge.
@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks Interesting characterization 🤔🤓
Ros, do you think I might like Elisabeth Bowen? I do own one of her novels, but never got to it.
@@MarcNash I think you might. Her writing is polished but spiky with an almost ruthless streak in exposing her characters.
@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks ok thanks, I'll definitely get to her this year then