My Year In Books
This time last year I devoted a blog post to the books that I had read in 2013. I have decided to do the same for 2014. In addition to releasing my second novel, the satirical black comedy Necropolis, I read 34 books.
Here is a breakdown of the books I read in 2014. Click on the links to read my reviews.
Non Fiction
If you are interested in African history you might like:
King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild – The Belgian King, Leopold II, had grown envious of his European neighbours’ portfolio of colonies, and longed for a colony that he could call his own… (More)
Classics
I read a couple of books that could be termed Classics in 2014, including:
The Brother Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Transgressive Fiction
Click here for a definition of Transgressive fiction. Here are 3 very different Transgressive novels that might be of interest if you haven’t read them already.
Post Office by Charles Bukowski
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Black Comedy
I read a couple of books that could be termed black comedies, including:
Death and The Penguin by Andrey Kurkov – Kiev resident and journalist Viktor lives in a small flat with Misha, his pet Emperor Penguin, purchased from the near destitute city zoo…(More)
I also wrote a black comedy, which I would highly recommend.
Necropolis by Guy Portman – Dyson Devereux is Head of Burials and Cemeteries for the local council … (Click here to read Crime Fiction Lover’s review of Necropolis)
Crime Fiction
I read a fair bit of Crime fiction in 2014 including:
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Chasing The Game by Paul Gadsby
Real Crime
The best Real Crime book that I read this year was Helter Skelter. It is about the Manson murders.
Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi – In one of the most infamous mass murders in history, Sharon Tate, the Hollywood actress and pregnant wife of film director Roman Polanski, is brutally slain in her home,…(More)
Best Novella
The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway – Set in the Gulf Stream off the coast of Cuba, this is a tale about an old man, a boy and a colossal Marlin…(More)
Books about Drug Addiction
I read some good books about drug addiction in 2014 and some not so good ones. I would highly recommend these 3:
Novel with Cocaine by M. Ageyev
Biggest Disappointments
I am a big fan of Easton Ellis and Palahniuk, but these two books failed to meet my lofty expectations.
Lunar Park by Bret Easton Ellis
Favourite Book
Post Office by Charles Bukowski – Henry Chinaski is a heavy drinking, womanising, race track frequenting low-life, who works at the post office. The story follows his menial existence of twelve-hour night shifts, sorting post, …(More)
