[For those who don’t know, I am participating in A Century of Books this year which requires me to read one book from each year from 1919 through 2018.]
2000
The Goodbye Kiss – Massimo Carlotto
The Copenhagen Papers – Michael Frayn
The Pleasure of Their Company – Doris Grumbach
Greene on Capri – Shirley Hazzard
The Foundation Pit – Andrey Platonov
Massimo Carlotto’s hardboiled noir mysteries total page-turning quick reads so The Goodbye Kiss could really float to the top if I am in the mood for something escapist. I really like his books despite how sexist they are. In June we are going to be on boat near Capri so I am kind of tempted to read Greene on Capri.
2001
The Sweetest Dream – Doris Lessing
The Jewish Husband – Lia Levi
A House Unlocked – Penelope Lively
The African Safari Papers – Robert Sedlack
Love in a Dark Time – Colm Toibin
Kyoto – Kate Walbert
I think the Toibin is non-fiction, but I won’t hold that against it.
2002
The Book of Illusions – Paul Auster
Land’s End – Michael Cunningham
Fragrant Harbour – John Lanchester
2003
Oracle Night – Paul Auster
The Lucky Ones – Rachel Cusk
The Sea House -Esther Freud
How the Light Gets In – M.J. Hyland
Timoleon Vieta Come Home – Dan Rhodes
I loved one Dan Rhodes (Marry Me) and DNF’d another one so I’m not sure how I feel about trying this one. Also ambivalent about the Freud, I thought Mr. Mac and Me was just okay.
2004
The Red Queen – Margaret Drabble
Utu – Caryl Ferey
The Second Death of Unica Aveyano – Ernesto Mestre-Reed
I have plenty of other Drabbles and other two are total wild cards to me and are very enticing.
2005
Margherita Dolce Vita – Stefano Benni
Poisonville – Massimo Carlotto
Pearl – Mary Gordon
Making it Up – Penelope Lively
Love Lively. Really like Carlotto. Okay with Gordon. Don’t know anything about Benni.
2006
The Elegance of the Hedgehog – Muriel Barbery
Arlington Park – Rachel Cusk
The Sea Lady – Margaret Drabble
Amazing Disgrace – James Hamilton-Paterson
Forgetfulness – Ward Just
In the Country of Men – Hisham Matar
Moffie – Andre Carl van der Merwe
Washing Dishes in the Hotel Paradise – Eduardo Beigrano Rawson
Gomorrah – Roberto Saviano
The Night Watch – Sarah Waters
Crazy how some years have so many things to choose from. And this one has more diversity than other years: South Africa, Uruguay, Libya, Italy, France, US, UK…
2007
The Road Home – Rose Tremain
Lions at Lamb House – Edwin M. Yoder
I want to like the Yoder but since it has a Henry James theme I am worried about the tediousness factor.
2008
The Rehearsal – Eleanor Catton
Zulu – Caryl Ferey
Rancid Pansies – James Hamilton-Paterson
The Sorrows of an American – Siri Hustvedt
Alfred and Emily – Doris Lessing
Anathem – Neal Stephenson
I will have to really be comfortable with my progress to pick up Anathem. It’s huge. Also big, but not quite huge is Zulu.
2009
The Bradshaw Variation – Rachel Cusk
The Man in the Wooden Hat – Jane Gardam
The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet – Reif Larsen
I read Old Filth so long ago I almost feel like I need to re-read it before picking up The Man in the Wooden Hat. But that probably won’t happen.
The whole list
I read The Bradshaw Variations and really dislike it and gave up on Cusk there and then – I think that’s the one my husband read and hated, too (we were on holiday with not enough books). Some interesting offerings here. I found doing my ACOB that I have hundreds and hundreds of books from 2010. No clear idea why!
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I feel better knowing that I’m not the only person who still hasn’t read The Elegance of the Hedgehog – it’s on my shelf, though. That is the only overlap I’ve got with you in this decade.
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