favorite books | Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers

Bibliophile’s Collective Tuesday – A New Year’s Reading Challenge

January 4, 2022
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I use the Goodreads annual reading challenge to track the books I read and review each year. Sometimes I hit the target, other times I exceed it. This year I began with a novella, To Rome, With Love by D.P. Rosano, which was a Christmas gift. I am now onto my next read The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker.

I have set my challenge for 20 books this year.

Do you set a target for your books?

What are you currently reading?

What was your favorite book of 2021?

I enjoyed If It Bleeds and Billy Summers both by Stephen King – as you all know I love his story telling expertise. These books were very different in genre, but both equally compelling. The other book that rates on my long list is The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick. It was a delightful tale of self discovery and mystery.

Bibliophile’s Collective Tuesday – Favorite Books

October 19, 2021
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Do you have a favorite book?

Which is the book you regularly return to? Why?

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

My review: A powerful story of chance, decisions, love and loss for a woman caught in an impossible position, trying to survive and finding courage where others fled. Beautifully constructed and written.

I am returning to a favorite book, Ferney by James Long. No matter how many times I read it, I am always transported to the world of Ferney and Gally, their connection across time, their love spanning decades in different guises. For me it is the consummate reincarnation story. It was decades before I began writing after reading it and more years before I wrote my own reincarnation novel, The Twesome Loop. It is homage to Mr. Long’s perfect story and my own decades long interest in reincarnation and life after death.

I wondered what famous authors chose as their favorite book, and found these.

‘Ship of Fools’ by Katherine Ann Porter, Chosen by Stephen King

‘Love Medicine’ by Louise Erdrich, Chosen by Tana French

‘The Mill on the Floss’ by George Eliot, Chosen by Ken Follett

Victory by Joseph Conrad, Chosen by Joan Didion

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury, Chosen by R.L. Stine

Emma by Jane Austen, Chosen by J.K. Rowling

Bibilophile’s Collective Tuesday – A Bookshelf Tour

April 14, 2020
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I hope this blog post finds you well and safe. Reading is an important portal into other worlds, where we can all escape for a while.

With the opportunity to read a lot more, I have been looking at my book shelves for inspiration. Re-reading a book after a number of years can surprise and delight us once again. It maybe because we have life experiences to reflect on or the story has new meaning.

As you can see it is an eclectic mix of authors, genres and publishing dates. There are a couple of childhood books that I have kept, such as Hiawatha, The Illustrated Book about Africa and Grey Rabbit and the Wandering Hedgehog as well as a history of Bucklebury.

I also have a lovely collection of fellow authors books, which I have bought, won or been gifted. I love reading emerging author’s work as they have such unique viewpoints and narrative styles.

Why not share your bookshelf?

Writing Prompt Contest – My Favorite Book…

August 27, 2016
mandyevebarnett

books

Write about your favorite book.

Enjoy this prompt and leave your response in the comments. 1000 words maximum for prose. Poems can be any length, if you can regale your book review in rhyme!

A quarterly prize will be given for the most voted for response.

The Booker Award…

January 26, 2013
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My fellow blogger Christi Gerstle at Novel Conclusions (http://novelconclusions.wordpress.com/about/) has been kind enough to award me this award. You will find her blog interesting as well as fun, covering a multitude of aspects of this writing life we live – pop on over.

the-booker-award

Now for the award rules : The Booker Award is for book and literary blogs that are at least 50% about books, reading, etc. On being awarded with the Booker Award, you must share your top five books (and that’s the trouble!) How does a book fanatic chose only five? Each decade of my life I have had books I re-read time and time again and I can assure you that would be a very long list. So I am going to list the ones I return to because they delight me. You will notice one is a children’s book and I’m not ashamed to admit I still love reading it.

1. Stig of the Dump by Clive King

2. The Dome by Stephen King

3. Ferney by James Long

4. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

5. The Lilac Bus by Maeve Binchy

Now the next hard question…who is your favorite author and why?

I will have to say Stephen King tops my particular bill. His expertise in creating a relationship between reader and character has me in awe. Each character, whether good or bad provokes a reaction and that is great writing.