Difference between revisions of "Top Ten General Fiction Books of 2013"
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We'e tried to give you a selection of the best General Fiction books of 2013 and we hope that there's something here for all tastes. | We'e tried to give you a selection of the best General Fiction books of 2013 and we hope that there's something here for all tastes. | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{Frontpage |
|author=Jami Attenberg | |author=Jami Attenberg | ||
|title=The Middlesteins | |title=The Middlesteins | ||
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|genre=General Fiction | |genre=General Fiction | ||
|summary= A superb novel based around life in an American Jewish family; it's light, very funny, poignant, angry, thought-provoking… In fact everything that people are, but put together with greater perfection. | |summary= A superb novel based around life in an American Jewish family; it's light, very funny, poignant, angry, thought-provoking… In fact everything that people are, but put together with greater perfection. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=1846689325 |
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|author=Suzanne Bugler | |author=Suzanne Bugler | ||
|title=The Safest Place | |title=The Safest Place | ||
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|genre=General Fiction | |genre=General Fiction | ||
|summary= When Jane Berry persuades her husband and two children to move from London to the country, she thinks they will all be living the dream. The house is perfect and the schools are better; it’s only a slight inconvenience that David has to commute over two hours each way every day to work. Jane convinces herself that their new life is perfect, choosing to ignore the fact that the other family members are not so thrilled. It’s obviously bound to take some time to settle in but when she makes friends with fellow mum, Melanie, and her family it feels like everything is finally going to work out for them. Yet appearances can be deceptive and there’s a danger that the dream might start turning into a nightmare. | |summary= When Jane Berry persuades her husband and two children to move from London to the country, she thinks they will all be living the dream. The house is perfect and the schools are better; it’s only a slight inconvenience that David has to commute over two hours each way every day to work. Jane convinces herself that their new life is perfect, choosing to ignore the fact that the other family members are not so thrilled. It’s obviously bound to take some time to settle in but when she makes friends with fellow mum, Melanie, and her family it feels like everything is finally going to work out for them. Yet appearances can be deceptive and there’s a danger that the dream might start turning into a nightmare. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0330544969 |
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|author=Sarah Butler | |author=Sarah Butler | ||
|title=Ten Things I've Learnt About Love | |title=Ten Things I've Learnt About Love | ||
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|genre=General Fiction | |genre=General Fiction | ||
|summary= A touching, lyrical story that refuses to be put down until the end, making you want to believe that miracles happen as easily as synaesthesia. Pass the tissues? | |summary= A touching, lyrical story that refuses to be put down until the end, making you want to believe that miracles happen as easily as synaesthesia. Pass the tissues? | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=1447222490 |
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{Frontpage |
|author=Lucy Cruickshanks | |author=Lucy Cruickshanks | ||
|title=The Trader of Saigon | |title=The Trader of Saigon | ||
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|genre=General Fiction | |genre=General Fiction | ||
|summary= A touching, sometimes brutal slice of life from the Saigon that remained when the war correspondents went home. Authentic, beautiful and highly accomplished; all novels should aspire to be this good. | |summary= A touching, sometimes brutal slice of life from the Saigon that remained when the war correspondents went home. Authentic, beautiful and highly accomplished; all novels should aspire to be this good. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=1782063218 |
}} | }} | ||
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|author=Sophie Divry | |author=Sophie Divry | ||
|title=The Library of Unrequited Love | |title=The Library of Unrequited Love | ||
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|genre=General Fiction | |genre=General Fiction | ||
|summary=A simply charming yet powerful love letter to books, and a book in honour of unsent love letters, all in one. | |summary=A simply charming yet powerful love letter to books, and a book in honour of unsent love letters, all in one. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0857051415 |
}} | }} | ||
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|author=Jonathan Evison | |author=Jonathan Evison | ||
|title=The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving | |title=The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving | ||
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|genre=General Fiction | |genre=General Fiction | ||
|summary=Ben Benjamin has a hidden secret that's tearing his life apart while he's helping someone else to put theirs back together. Not a worthy-worthy type book for those who worry it is (Ben's more Vince Vaughn than Daniel Day Lewis) but one that's really funny, hugely touching, well-written and just plain amazing. | |summary=Ben Benjamin has a hidden secret that's tearing his life apart while he's helping someone else to put theirs back together. Not a worthy-worthy type book for those who worry it is (Ben's more Vince Vaughn than Daniel Day Lewis) but one that's really funny, hugely touching, well-written and just plain amazing. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=1781851751 |
}} | }} | ||
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|author=Will Ferguson | |author=Will Ferguson | ||
|title=419 | |title=419 | ||
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|genre=General Fiction | |genre=General Fiction | ||
|summary= This novel won Canada's version of the Booker Prize. As far I can tell, it was a completely deserving winner. This is what happens when great writing and great story collide. | |summary= This novel won Canada's version of the Booker Prize. As far I can tell, it was a completely deserving winner. This is what happens when great writing and great story collide. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=1781855056 |
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|author=Mike Gayle | |author=Mike Gayle | ||
|title=Turning Forty | |title=Turning Forty | ||
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|genre=General Fiction | |genre=General Fiction | ||
|summary= Mike Gayle doesn't write novels, he writes little slices of life. If you're 40-ish and don't find something you can relate to here, you've not been paying enough attention. To life, as well as to the book. | |summary= Mike Gayle doesn't write novels, he writes little slices of life. If you're 40-ish and don't find something you can relate to here, you've not been paying enough attention. To life, as well as to the book. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0340918535 |
}} | }} | ||
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|author=Matt Greene | |author=Matt Greene | ||
|title=Ostrich | |title=Ostrich | ||
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|genre=General Fiction | |genre=General Fiction | ||
|summary=Reading ''Ostrich'' is an experience that your emotions will thank you for. It has sad, sweet and funny moments all at once and an ending that takes the breath away. It's close to being the perfect book for adults and younger readers alike. | |summary=Reading ''Ostrich'' is an experience that your emotions will thank you for. It has sad, sweet and funny moments all at once and an ending that takes the breath away. It's close to being the perfect book for adults and younger readers alike. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0297869523 |
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{Frontpage |
|author=Alain Mabanckou | |author=Alain Mabanckou | ||
|title=Tomorrow I'll Be Twenty | |title=Tomorrow I'll Be Twenty | ||
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|genre=General Fiction | |genre=General Fiction | ||
|summary= A novel that speaks to us via the eclectic thoughts and differently experienced life of a boy growing up in the Congo. Funny, bitter-sweet, very touching and full of the child-like logic that would make the world a much better place if we were all that age again. | |summary= A novel that speaks to us via the eclectic thoughts and differently experienced life of a boy growing up in the Congo. Funny, bitter-sweet, very touching and full of the child-like logic that would make the world a much better place if we were all that age again. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=1846685842 |
}} | }} | ||
Revision as of 15:23, 2 February 2024
We'e tried to give you a selection of the best General Fiction books of 2013 and we hope that there's something here for all tastes.
|
|
Review ofThe Middlesteins by Jami AttenbergA superb novel based around life in an American Jewish family; it's light, very funny, poignant, angry, thought-provoking… In fact everything that people are, but put together with greater perfection. Full Review |
|
|
Review ofThe Safest Place by Suzanne BuglerWhen Jane Berry persuades her husband and two children to move from London to the country, she thinks they will all be living the dream. The house is perfect and the schools are better; it’s only a slight inconvenience that David has to commute over two hours each way every day to work. Jane convinces herself that their new life is perfect, choosing to ignore the fact that the other family members are not so thrilled. It’s obviously bound to take some time to settle in but when she makes friends with fellow mum, Melanie, and her family it feels like everything is finally going to work out for them. Yet appearances can be deceptive and there’s a danger that the dream might start turning into a nightmare. Full Review |
Review ofTen Things I've Learnt About Love by Sarah ButlerA touching, lyrical story that refuses to be put down until the end, making you want to believe that miracles happen as easily as synaesthesia. Pass the tissues? Full Review |
Review ofThe Trader of Saigon by Lucy CruickshanksA touching, sometimes brutal slice of life from the Saigon that remained when the war correspondents went home. Authentic, beautiful and highly accomplished; all novels should aspire to be this good. Full Review |
Review ofThe Library of Unrequited Love by Sophie DivryA simply charming yet powerful love letter to books, and a book in honour of unsent love letters, all in one. Full Review |
|
|
Review ofThe Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan EvisonBen Benjamin has a hidden secret that's tearing his life apart while he's helping someone else to put theirs back together. Not a worthy-worthy type book for those who worry it is (Ben's more Vince Vaughn than Daniel Day Lewis) but one that's really funny, hugely touching, well-written and just plain amazing. Full Review |
Review of419 by Will FergusonThis novel won Canada's version of the Booker Prize. As far I can tell, it was a completely deserving winner. This is what happens when great writing and great story collide. Full Review |
Review ofTurning Forty by Mike GayleMike Gayle doesn't write novels, he writes little slices of life. If you're 40-ish and don't find something you can relate to here, you've not been paying enough attention. To life, as well as to the book. Full Review |
Review ofOstrich by Matt GreeneReading Ostrich is an experience that your emotions will thank you for. It has sad, sweet and funny moments all at once and an ending that takes the breath away. It's close to being the perfect book for adults and younger readers alike. Full Review |
|
|
Review ofTomorrow I'll Be Twenty by Alain MabanckouA novel that speaks to us via the eclectic thoughts and differently experienced life of a boy growing up in the Congo. Funny, bitter-sweet, very touching and full of the child-like logic that would make the world a much better place if we were all that age again. Full Review |
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