2016 on Goodreads

Goodreads has changed my reading habits over the past few years. Previously my reading of fiction was very limited but has expanded due to exploration of others reading habits. I now look forward to actually reading fiction! From previously reading very little local literature, Australian, I have found to my surprise how much I have enjoyed it. The discovery of David Ireland lead me to finishing 6 of his books this year and consider The Unknown Industrial Prisoner to be a undiscovered classic. [a:David Ireland 455672 David Ireland https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1429734516p2/455672.jpg] [bc:The Unknown Industrial Prisoner 8486492 The Unknown Industrial Prisoner David Ireland https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470573855s/8486492.jpg 3771780] [b:The Unknown Industrial Prisoner 8486492 The Unknown Industrial Prisoner David Ireland https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470573855s/8486492.jpg 3771780]His other book The Glass Canoe was also a wonderful read and is the epitome, for me at least, of that I believe is called Comparative Literature. Fantastic book. [bc:The Glass Canoe 13613776 The Glass Canoe David Ireland https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1335187926s/13613776.jpg 3838042] [b:The Glass Canoe 13613776 The Glass Canoe David Ireland https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1335187926s/13613776.jpg 3838042] I have a couple more of Ireland's to get through and will be doing so in 2017. Both Don Quixote and Flowers of Algernon were as good as suggested by the critics and readers. I enjoyed them thoroughly. All The Light we Cannot See was also a very good book and will, I think, be remembered well into the future. This review here by Will Byrnes sums this book up for me. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/980327343One other fiction work deserves to be mentioned. I loved Pavane by Keith Roberts with a passion. The poetical and lyrical writing was spellbinding for me personally. I reread chapters, called Measures by the author, being absolutely sucked into his alternate world. Why he tacked on the last chapter left me astonished. My advice to those that like descriptive fiction of the alternate style is read this book but do not read the last chapter. [bc:Pavane 6468464 Pavane Keith Roberts https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1333722239s/6468464.jpg 743079] [b:Pavane 6468464 Pavane Keith Roberts https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1333722239s/6468464.jpg 743079]On the non fiction front two stand-outs for the year. Tony Judt's Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 was superb. Well written, informative, thoughtful and maybe as good an attempt at being historically even handed as I can think of. [bc:Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 29658 Postwar A History of Europe Since 1945 Tony Judt https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388276992s/29658.jpg 1979891] [b:Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 29658 Postwar A History of Europe Since 1945 Tony Judt https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388276992s/29658.jpg 1979891]The Making Of The British Landscape: How We Have Transformed The Land, From Prehistory To Today by Francis Pryor was also an exceptional book. This book has changed the way I look at my surrounds, what I see on a day to day basis be that going for a morning walk in my local forest or taking my car to the shopping centre. [a:Francis Pryor 57943 Francis Pryor https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1381263587p2/57943.jpg] [bc:The Making Of The British Landscape: How We Have Transformed The Land, From Prehistory To Today 8476806 The Making Of The British Landscape How We Have Transformed The Land, From Prehistory To Today Francis Pryor https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1408937985s/8476806.jpg 13341715] [b:The Making Of The British Landscape: How We Have Transformed The Land, From Prehistory To Today 8476806 The Making Of The British Landscape How We Have Transformed The Land, From Prehistory To Today Francis Pryor https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1408937985s/8476806.jpg 13341715]I also had the “pleasure” of reading the worst history book I have ever read. Band of Brothers by Stephan Ambrose is without a doubt appalling. It rates high on Goodreads and I put that down to the very good TV serious that brought to life the individuals for the average reader. 2017 I am aiming for 45 books read. I have six WW2 books lined up for book club read. In between I will finish out David Ireland and a couple of other Australian authors. I also hope to read more Stuart and English Civil War/War of the Three Kingdoms. A period I enjoy and have neglected recently. Yours in good reading