I have avoided compiling such lists myself although I did post my favourite cookbooks over on my food/wine/cookbook blog.
However I have had a numbers of calls and e-mails from readers of my blog saying they were waiting for my best of selection so I have decided to compile short lists of books I especially enjoyed/admired this year. Interestingly the non-fiction titles are entirely NZ publishing while the fiction is largely imported.
Here goes:
Fiction:
Eastbourne - an anthology - Makaro Press
Cockroaches - Jo Nesbo - Harvill Secker
The Luminaries - Eleanor Catton - VUP
Saints of the Shadow Bible - Ian Rankin - Orion
The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith
Never Go Back - Lee Child
The Gods of Guilt - Michael Connelly
Cross My Heart - James Patterson
The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion - Text
Non-fiction:
Peter McLeavey: The Life and Times of a New Zealand Art Dealer- Te Papa
Coast: A Journey Around New Zealand - Bruce Ansley & Jane Ussher-Godwit
The Life & Art of Lynley Dodd - Finlay Macdonald - Penguin
Lights in the Landscape"New Zealand Lighthouses - Grant Sheehan - Phantom
His Own Steam - The Work of Barry Brickell - David Craig & Gregory O'Brien - AUP
Promoting Prosperity - Peter Alsop & Gary Stewart
Craig Potton Publishing
Landscape Paintings of New Zealand - Christopher Johnstone - Godwit
Molesworth - Harry Broad & Rob Suisted - Craig Potton Publishing
45 South - Laurence Fearnley & Arno Gasteiger - Penguin Books
And my overall favourite book of 2013 ?
Hands down winner is Self portrait - Marti Friedlander - AUP. A truly wonderful, delightful and inspiring read; an utterly gorgeous book filled with photographic gems, a joy to hold.
Congratulations Marti, Hugo Manson and publishers AUP.
4 comments:
Interesting list Graham. Some great reads there (and ones I need to read). Curious about the James Patterson choice there... was a bit surprised to see one of his on your list, given his recent factory-like mass production. Is that one back to his earlier days best?
Thanks Craig. This is one of James Patterson's Alex Cross series and I always enjoy these.
I've never heard of Graeme Simsion, however, looking up the The Rosie Project it has a lot of appeal, so that'll go onto my wish list.
Did 'text' after that entry mean anything in particular?
Yes Mark, Text is the name of the publishing company - Melbourne-based.
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