Each year Readings Bookstore compiles a list of 100 ‘great reads’ published in 2018 by Australian women. The list is a mix of fiction (popular, genre, & LitFic), memoir and non-fiction.
Links on titles are to Readings bookstores, and there are links to my reviews and those of other trusted LitBloggers (if/when I remembered that they’d reviewed the book, additions always welcome!) Updated 27/9/19 to link to additional reviews.
And before we start, here are some books that IMO should have been on the list…
It’s always difficult to choose books for lists like this, but these ones are highly recommended, (links are to my reviews):
Dustfall, by Michelle Johnston
The Sweet Hills of Florence, by Jan Wallace Dickinson
Elizabeth Macarthur, a Life at the Edge of the World, by Michelle Scott Tucker
Shadow Sisters, by Shelley Davidow
Book of Colours, by Robyn Cadwallader
We Are Not Most People, by Tracy Ryan
1. The Lost Man by Jane Harper
Another stunning rural crime thriller from Jane Harper. Set against the searing backdrop of outback Queensland, this is the story of two men struggling to come to terms with the mysterious death of their brother.
2. Close to Home by Alice Pung
A warming collection of essays on the themes of home, family, culture and identity. Alice Pung is an Australian treasure, who writes with great thoughtfulness and intelligence.
3. The Wasp and the Orchid by Danielle Clode
In the first half of the twentieth century, Edith Coleman was known as a celebrated expert on Australian nature, but her work is now largely forgotten. Discover her story in this beautifully written biography from Zoologist Danielle Clode.
4. Amelia Westlake by Erin Gough
This rollicking novel sees two unlikely teen girls pair up to fight inequality at their posh Grammar school. This uplifting, queer romance is highly entertaining and bound to be a hit with teens and adults alike.
5. Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor Book 2) by Jessica Townsend
Morrigan Crow is back! This magical, page-turning novel will draw you back into the amazing world of Nevermoor, and the fabulous magic that abounds there.
6. The Year Everything Changed: 2001 by Phillipa McGuinness
In 2001, the Western world changed irreparably with the fall of the Twin Towers. Phillipa McGuinness’s life changed too – she went through the unimaginable pain of losing a child. In this memoir, she places that year under a microscope.
7. The Fragments by Toni Jordan, see my review
The lives of Inga Karlson, a forgotten novelist from 1930s New York, and Caddie, an academic-turned-bookseller in 1980s Brisbane, connect via the mystery of a scorched manuscript.
8. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
In Liane Moriarty’s latest juicy and addictive novel, nine people attend a wellness retreat and find themselves in a tricky situation.
9. Waiting for Elijah by Kate Wild
Journalist Kate Wild attempts to unravel the case of Elijah Holcombe, a twenty-four-year-old man who was fatally shot by police in rural NSW, and explores the stigma attached to mental health troubles.
10. Blakwork by Alison Whittaker
Alison Whittaker blends memoir, fiction, journalistic writing and various other styles to create poetry that is unique and unapologetic.
11. The World Was Whole by Fiona Wright
In this, the second deeply affecting collection of essays from Fiona Wright, the author meditates on the spaces we live in – our homes, bodies, and suburbs.
12. Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko, see my review
Kerry is on the run. When she returns back home to visit her dying Pop, she’s not planning on staying for long, but Bundjalung country has different plans for her. This novel is hilarious, intelligent, feminist, and thought-provoking.
13. The Escape Room by Megan Goldin
When four Wall Street high-flyers become trapped in an escape room, they must put all their workplace tensions aside to make it out alive.
14. Bohemia Beach by Justine Ettler, see Bill’s review at The Australian Legend
Catherine Bell is a concert pianist who has a marriage on the rocks and a troubled history with alcohol. A tale to keep you on the edge of your seat.
15. No Country Woman by Zoya Patel
Zoya Patel, founding editor of Feminartsy, writes about migration, culture and belonging in this debut collection of essays.
16. What the Woods Keep by Katya de Becerra
College student Hayden must return to her childhood home in this dark young adult novel that’s simmer with supernatural secrets.
17. Love Makes A Family by Sophie Beer
This vibrantly colourful book from Brisbane-based artist Sophie Beer shows that what makes a family isn’t who’s in it – but the love that holds it together.
18. The Endsister by Penni Russon
The Outhwaites are a large family, who uproot and move from rural Victoria to London, England. But the house they move already has inhabitants – ghostly ones – and there’s something particularly sinister up in the attic.
19. The Book Ninja by Ali Berg & Michelle Kalus
This fun, book-ish, Melbourne-based romcom comes from the founders of the Books on the Rail project.
20. Wintering by Krissy Kneen
Jessica lives in rural Tasmania with her unpredictable partner, Matthew. When he disappears into the wilderness one day, Jessica is contacted by a group of women who believe something unnatural has occurred. A chilling tale from a highly inventive author.
21. Those Other Women by Nicola Moriarty
This dramatic, compulsively readable novel considers what happens when social media conflict breaks out into real life.
22. In the Garden of the Fugitives by Ceridwen Dovey, see my review
This artfully written novel follows a correspondence between an elderly philanthropist, Royce, and a filmmaker, Vita, who was once his protégé, and explores their tumultuous shared history.
23. Redemption Point by Candice Fox
After being falsely accused of kidnap, former cop Ted Conkaffey is trying to disappear. But the father of Ted’s alleged victim has a plan for revenge, and he’s determined to succeed.
24. Boys Will be Boys by Clementine Ford
In this powerful and groundbreaking follow-up to her bestselling Fight Like A Girl, Clementine Ford writes on toxic masculinity* and the strife it causes in society.
25. Lenny’s Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee
A big-hearted and heartbreaking novel about two siblings who discover the world through the pages of a periodical encyclopedia.
26. Flood Damages by Eunice Andrada
Australian Filipina poet Eunice Andrada tackles migration, family, intergenerational trauma and the female body.
27. Teacher by Gabbie Stroud
Former teacher Gabbie Stroud presents a shocking expose of the Australian education system, unpacking the plight of those working within it and the outcomes for the children going through it.
28. After the Lights Go Out by Lili Wilkinson
In this tense young adult thriller, Pru Palmer’s father is a doomsday prepper and she and her twin sisters live in readiness for the end of the world. When all power in their small town goes out in a serious global event, Prue has to make some difficult decisions about survival
29. The Children’s House by Alice Nelson, see my review
The lives of two very different families converge in New York in the late 1990s. This is a beautiful and hopeful story about the meaning of home.
30. The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell
Set in a fading family estate nestled within the Chiltern Hills, this is the story of two summers that took place sixty years apart.
31. Wedderburn by Maryrose Cuskelly
In late 2014, Ian Jamieson took a hunting knife and brutally murdered his three neighbours. Here Maryrose Cuskelly takes a razor-sharp look at this killing, and the events surrounding it.
32. Hoodwinked by Kerry-Anne Walsh
Veteran political commentator Kerry-Anne Walsh investigates how Pauline Hanson was able to gain power and popularity in our political system.
33. Beautiful Revolutionary by Laura Elizabeth Woollett
Laura Elizabeth Woollett draws readers into the terrifying world of Jim Jones’s People’s Temple through the eye of the leader’s imagined right-hand woman, Evelyn (based on real-life People’s Temple inner circle member Carolyn Layton).
34. Nganga by Aunty Fay Muir & Sue Lawson
Many words used by Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders have become part of the wider Australian vernacular – dreamtime, Elder, deadly, and many more. This wonderful little book collects these words and phrases, and explains their meanings and origins.
35. Hive by AJ Betts
Hayley lives in The Hive – a regimented society full of unbreakable rules – but she’s about to discover that her home is not necessarily the utopia she thinks it is. A sinister work of science fiction for teens and adults alike.
36. One Good Turn by Mary Leunig
This is Mary Leunig’s first book in nearly 25 years, collating a sampling of her sharp, funny and poignant cartoons in full-colour.
37. The Year of the Farmer by Rosalie Ham, see my review
The queen of Outback Gothic transports reader to rural NSW, where a small town is being torn apart by the various rivalries that plague it.
38. A Superior Spectre by Angela Meyer, see my review
A genre-bending work, this is a story of Scotland, time travel, feminism and identity.
39. Marcia Langton: Welcome to Country by Marcia Langton, see my review
A travel guide unlike any other you’ve seen before, Marcia Langton offers an introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culture, and places of interest.
40. Alfred’s War by Rachel Bin Salleh & Samantha Fry
This significant picture book exposes the lack of recognition given to Australian Indigenous servicemen who returned from the WWI battlelines.
41. Pink Mountain on Locust Island by Jamie Marina Lau
Jamie Marina Lau’s writing is electric. Her debut follows a teenage girl in a highly digitised world and is a highly recommended firecracker of a novel.
42. The Helpline by Katherine Collette
Germaine’s maths skills are unparalleled but she struggles to connect with other people. Forced to take a new job working on a senior citizens helpline, her life takes an unexpected detour in this warmly funny read.
43. The Spotted Dog by Kerry Greenwood
Kerry Greenwood delivers another delicious mystery with baker and sleuth Corinna Chapman, complete with danger and baked goods.
44. Mirka & Georges: A Culinary Affair by Lesley Harding & Kendrah Morgan
Lesley Harding and Kendrah Morgan explore the lives of two of the most beloved figures in the cultural and culinary life of Australia.
45. Stone Girl by Eleni Hale, see my review
This harrowing and raw young adult novel ruminates on themes of betrayal, loss and what happens when your life is running off the rails.
46. Everything I’ve Never Said by Samantha Wheeler
Written from the perspective of eleven-year-old Ava, who has Rett syndrome, this is a beautiful, empathetic story suitable for ages 9 through to adults.
47. The Arsonist by Chloe Hooper, (see my review)
In this masterful work, Chloe Hooper attempts to decipher the life of Brendan Sokaluk, the man charged with lighting some of the worst fires of Black Saturday.
48. Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia edited by Anita Heiss, see my review
This wide-ranging collection of essays brings together the voices of many Indigenous Australian’s telling their stories in their own words, and on their own terms.
49. Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein
This is creepy and disturbing young adult thriller blurs the line between reality and fantasy. Ideal for those who want to be scared out of their wits.
50. Trace: Who Killed Maria James? by Rachael Brown
Expanding on the award-winning ABC podcast of the same name, this is the riveting inside story of Brown’s cold-case investigation of the 1980 murder of Melbourne bookseller Maria James.
51. Man Out of Time by Stephanie Bishop
Stephanie Bishop’s third novel shifts time and perspective to explore the complex relationship between Stella and her missing father Leon, touching on the inter-generational effects of mental illness on a family.
52. Axiomatic by Maria Tumarkin
This boundary-defying and award-winning book combines narrative reportage and storytelling to examine five axioms as applied to stories from the margins of society.
53. Into the Night by Sarah Bailey
A gritty and enjoyable metropolitan police procedural with a memorable cast of characters.
54. The Portrait of Molly Dean by Katherine Kovacic
This mystery story is inspired by a real unsolved murder. Art dealer Alex Clayton stumbles across a portrait of Molly Dean, an artist’s muse who was brutally slain in the 1930s, and sets out to uncover the truth.
55. The Geography of Friendship by Sally Piper
Three young women set off on a hike through the wilderness for the adventure of a lifetime but the experience is marred by a threatening presence. Now in their forties and estranged, they decide to revisit their original hike in an attempt to salvage what they lost.
56. Shell by Kristina Olsson, my book of the year, see my review
This big, bold and hauntingly beautiful new novel from Kristina Olsson captures a defining moment in Australia’s history.
57. Between Us by Clare Atkins
An extraordinary work of young adult fiction that eloquently critiques Australia’s current immigration policies.
58. The Rúin by Dervla McTiernan
Set in Ireland, this character-driven police procedural maintains a rip-roaring pace while also grappling with the country’s history and politics.
59. Arcadia by Di Morrissey
A modern mystery born in a timeless Tasmanian forest from one of Australia’s favourite storyteller
60. The Slightly Alarming Tale of the Whispering Wars by Jaclyn Moriarty
A whimsical, spellbinding and wickedly adventurous magical adventure for voracious young readers of 10 and up.
61. Unfettered and Alive by Anne Summers
Anne Summers discusses her remarkable life in this candid and stirring memoir.
62. Lost Lake by Bella Li
In her exhilarating second poetry collection, Bella Li disassembles boundaries and challenges expectations of what a work of literature can be.
63. Inappropriation by Lexi Freiman
A wildly irreverent take on the coming-of-age story that turns a search for belonging into a riotous satire of identity politics.
64. All the Ways to be Smart by Davina Bell & Allison Colpoys
A radiant and glorious celebration of the many different talents children can have, and perfect for nurturing confidence.
65. Jungle Without Water by Sreedhevi Iyer
This is the debut collection from Sreedhevi Iyer, and it’s a immersive look at shifting boundaries and human displacement of our era.
66. The Witch Who Courted Death by Maria Lewis
Based on the story of Corvossier ‘Casper’ von Klitzing, the world’s most powerful medium, this thrilling tale dives headfirst into the supernaturally secretive world of spells, charms and covens.
67. Shine Mountain by Julie Hunt
A magical tale of courage and perseverance from the inaugural winner of the Readings Children’s Book Prize.
68. Her Mother’s Daughter by Nadia Wheatley, see Sue’s review at Whispering Gums
Author Nadia Wheatley grew up in the crossfire between an independent woman and a controlling man. This memoir encapsulates this experience with love and honesty.
69. The Biographer’s Lover by Ruby J Murray, see my review
This elegant and engrossing novel asks how we value and celebrate art and artists’ lives.
70. Brontide by Sue McPherson
Sue McPherson weaves the perspectives of four very different teenage boys living on the Sunshine Coast together to craft a compelling read for reluctant teens.
71. The Wolf Hour by Sarah Myles, see my review
This searing novel sees an Australian family in crisis against the backdrop of war-torn Africa.
72. You Daughters Of Freedom by Clare Wright, see my review
The award-winning historian shares the story of the fight for the right to vote for women through the lives of five of Australia’s pioneering suffragettes.
73. Eggshell Skull by Bri Lee
This groundbreaking work examines how Australian society and its legal system are failing women and victims of sexual assault.
74. The Lucky Galah by Tracy Sorensen, see my review
Lucky the Galah wryly narrates this story of a key moment in Australia’s past – when the Parkes radio telescope brought pictures of the US moon landing to the world.
75. His Name Was Walter by Emily Rodda
One of Australia’s best-loved storytellers presents a new children’s novel about a prophecy, a long-buried secret – and five people who will remember this night as long as they live.
76. Miss Ex-Yugoslavia by Sofija Stefanovic, on loan from the library, will (try to) read it soon see my review
A hilarious and heartfelt memoir about growing up between war-torn Yugoslavia and suburban Australia, complete with warlords and beauty queens.
77. Trick of the Light by Laura Elvery
In this accomplished story collection, Laura Elvery reveals the fears and fantasies of everyday people searching for meaning.
78. Cedar Valley by Holly Throsby
Set in the 90s in a small town a couple of hours south of Sydney, this is a quiet and satisfying mystery from the much-loved musician.
79. Small Wrongs by Kate Rossmanith
An intellectual and thoughtful consideration of remorse, and whether we can ever truly know it when we see it.
80. A Trillion Tiny Awakenings by Candy Royalle
An uncompromising collection from the late spoken word poet Candy Royalle.
81. The Art of Persuasion by Susan Midalia
Susan Midalia cleverly brings modern day politic tactics and the plot devices of 18th century comedy to explore our moral right to persuade others of our opinion.
82. Wide Big World by Maxine Beneba Clarke & Isobel Knowles
A brilliant picture book about our diverse and wonderful world from author Maxine Beneba Clarke and illustrator Isobel Knowles.
83. The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton
Told by multiple voices across time, this is a story of murder, mystery and thievery, of art, love and loss.
84. I Am Out With Lanterns by Emily Gale
A group of interconnected young people narrate this young adult novel that weaves together themes of family connection and dysfunction, bullying, love and crushes, and identity.
85. Blue Collar Frayed by Jennifer Rayner
Drawing on extensive research and dozens of interviews, this work examines the role and importance of blue-collar jobs in enhancing Australia’s future economy.
86. The Relic of the Blue Dragon (Children of the Dragon Book 1) by Rebecca Lim
Dragons, ancient vases, kung fu and crime syndicates come to life in this page-turning fantasy set in Melbourne.
87. Staying by Jessie Cole
This tender and heartbreaking memoir digs into family, loss and trauma.
88. The Spite Game by Anna Snoekstra
A taut and revenge-soaked crime novel about the consequences of bad behaviour.
89. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris, see my review
A fictionalised account of the incredible true story of the Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist.
90. Tricky’s Bad Day by Alison Lester
A delightful picture book about the joy that can be found through an outside adventure.
91. Songwoman by Ilka Tampke, see my review
This gripping novel follows one woman’s quest to defend her culture in Iron-Age Wales during the turmoil of Roman invasion.
92. The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village by Joanna Nell
A moving and heart-warming tale of love and community, despite everything.
93. Serving our Country by Joan Beaumont & Allison Cadzow
The first comprehensive history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s participation in the Australian defence forces.
94. Ice Wolves (Elementals Book 1) by Amie Kaufman
The first book in a breathtaking middle fiction fantasy adventure from YA superstar Amie Kaufman.
95. The Darkest Web by Eileen Ormsby
Investigative journalist Eileen Ormsby shines a light on the darkest corners of the internet: a place of hitmen for hire, illegal drugs, and markets that will sell anything a person is willing to pay for.
96. Dyschronia by Jennifer Mills, see my review
An electrifying story about an oracle, a small town, and the end of the world as we know it.
97. The Book of Ordinary People by Claire Varley
This multi-layered novel follows the separate stories of five ordinary people whose lives occasionally intersect as they go about their everyday business.
98. Neverland by Margot McGovern
A clever and powerful work of young adult fiction about mental illness, myth and navigating tricky feelings and families.
99. Live and Let Fry by Sue Williams, see Sue’s review at Whispering Gums
This funny crime read is set in the tiny Australian town of Rusty Bore and stars an intrepid takeaway shop owner as its unofficially-official investigator.
100. Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales
Award-winning journalist Leigh Sales examines what happens when ordinary people are caught up in terrible situations, from terrorism and natural disaster, to simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
*Update 1/6/19: In the light of this article about Meryl Streep’s objection to it, I’ve been thinking about my own use of the term ‘toxic masculinity’ and I’ve decided not to use it in future.
ANZ LitLovers LitBlog 
Thanks for linking my review. I read this list on Facebook, posted by MST and ironically, failed to notice she wasn’t on it. I think I have 4 of the 100 and may even have read 2.
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By: wadholloway on November 25, 2018
at 4:32 pm
I know… what were they thinking!
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By: Lisa Hill on November 25, 2018
at 10:02 pm
Thanks as always for the link. I’ve also read Live and let fry – a review copy from Text. Here’s my link: https://whisperinggums.com/2018/10/13/sue-williams-live-and-let-fry-bookreview/ My reading group meets on Tuesday and we’ll be choosing our first 6 books for next year. I’m going to “push” growing up Aboriginal in Australia. And, my brother has just read Axiomatic, and liked it a lot.
I agree with you re some of those omitted but I guess we are not all going to agree on big general lists like this are we? They’re always interesting to see. Are they based on Readings sales – though I suspect not because some books were published in January and some very recently.
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By: whisperinggums on November 25, 2018
at 5:29 pm
Thanks for the link, I must have missed that one!
I think quite a few of these are popular and genre fiction, so my additions are really about evening up the balance for readers of LitFic, which I think most of my readers are. But also, I’ve already been asked when I am going to do my EOY Best-of-the-Books so this was a way of responding to that, at least partially…
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By: Lisa Hill on November 25, 2018
at 10:12 pm
Haha, yes, a sneaky way of achieving both those things!
And yes, I think quite a few are, from my limited knowledge of the subject, of the more popular vein. I wouldn’t have expected you to remember the Sue Williams, because it’s not really up our usual alleys.
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By: whisperinggums on November 25, 2018
at 11:32 pm
No, though the setting sounds interesting…
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By: Lisa Hill on November 25, 2018
at 11:34 pm
That’s what made it interesting to read for me – but I don’t need to read more now I’ve got the sense of what she’s doing.
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By: whisperinggums on November 25, 2018
at 11:35 pm
Interesting, I went yesterday to a workshop on plotting novels, not because I’m writing one, but because I wanted to see what advice wannabe authors would get. The structure is so clearly defined, it clarified for me why I find those popular novels so unsatisfying: you can see the plot points coming, the ramping up of tension to reach the climax, it’s like an episode of Midsummer Murders, when you are waiting for the third murder to happen…
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By: Lisa Hill on November 26, 2018
at 10:14 am
That would have been interesting … I know what you mean, though. I think some readers (viewers) find that comforting. They read to escape into a world whose order they understand. And that’s fair enough, isn’t it. We all read for different reasons.
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By: whisperinggums on November 27, 2018
at 4:46 am
And good luck to them, I say. This presenter, who I admit I had never heard of, had a slide of her published novels on the screen at the very beginning, and there were heaps of them. She’s obviously doing very well, published here and overseas. I think some of the participants were a bit uneasy about the concepts of these structures and the guide books that help authors to write that way, but it’s just a different kind of writing for a different kind of audience, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
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By: Lisa Hill on November 27, 2018
at 7:45 am
Thanks Lisa! The lovely people at Readings do go to quite some trouble to promote books by women – love it.
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By: Michelle Scott Tucker on November 25, 2018
at 5:50 pm
True, but they need to do better with their history lists, IMO.
I mean, seriously, leaving yours off the list, what were they thinking? There must be countless people hoping to get a copy in their Christmas stocking and just need to be able to point their Santa in the right direction…
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By: Lisa Hill on November 25, 2018
at 10:15 pm
Wow, that’s quite a post! Full of rich pickings.
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By: Claire 'Word by Word' on November 25, 2018
at 6:57 pm
it is indeed, the number of books published each year never ceases to amaze me…
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By: Lisa Hill on November 25, 2018
at 10:15 pm
Thanks for the list + extra 10 reading tips!
I read L. Sales and want to read Hooper, F. Wright, C. Wright, Tumarkin and Bri Lee. Eileen Ormsby’s book sounds a lot like her 2014 Silk Road.
There is probably more to tell about the ‘dark web’ on internet!
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By: N@ncy on November 25, 2018
at 7:56 pm
Hooper is brilliant. I finished reading The Arsonist last weekend, but have been catching up on other reviews and I do want to do it justice. It’s definitely a must read…
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By: Lisa Hill on November 25, 2018
at 10:19 pm
I’ll start it today! :)
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By: N@ncy on November 25, 2018
at 10:23 pm
Oops…E-book is on pre-order….so I’ll have to wait a bit!
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By: N@ncy on November 25, 2018
at 10:24 pm
I’m hoping to pick up some of your top recommendations when I’m in Australia next year.
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By: BookerTalk on November 25, 2018
at 9:17 pm
Are you coming to Melbourne?
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By: Lisa Hill on November 25, 2018
at 10:17 pm
I am – that will be in March. We are going to tour around the coast and then come back to the city for probably about 5 days – then fly out of Melbourne on about the 25th. Any suggestions for good districts in the city to stay?
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By: BookerTalk on November 27, 2018
at 2:26 am
It depends a bit on what you want to do. When Emma (Book Around the Corner) was here she stayed in a serviced apartment near the Victoria Market, on the edge of the CBD and found that it was a good base without being a hotel. Email me privately and give me a shopping list of things you want to do, and I’ll see what advice I can give:)
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By: Lisa Hill on November 27, 2018
at 7:49 am
Thanks for the offer Lisa. I’ll give it some thought and send you an email….
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By: BookerTalk on November 27, 2018
at 8:26 am
Some great books here, and I applaud your additions, Lisa (three of which I predict will be on shortlists in 2019).
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By: amandacurtin on November 26, 2018
at 4:55 pm
Yes, but I predict 4!
When is your new novel coming out?
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By: Lisa Hill on November 26, 2018
at 5:24 pm
:-) Well, they will be hotly contested shortlists, that’s for sure, Lisa. I’ve loved so many novels this year.
I don’t have a novel coming out any time soon, although there’s one in progress. (I’ve just released Kathleen O’Connor of Paris, which is narrative non-fiction.)
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By: amandacurtin on November 26, 2018
at 5:34 pm
Thanks so much for adding me to the list, Lisa. I really appreciate it. I’ve just come back from the UK and the Anglo-Saxon World exhibition at the British Library. Very extensive and thorough, including illuminated manuscripts and info about pigments. Such a treat for me and you would have loved it! But a little frustrating to see a table of novels related to the exhibition (mostly Sansom and perhaps Follett) and thinking, Oh, if only I had a UK publisher, I could be there, too! That’s publishing though, isn’t it!
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By: robyncadwallader on November 27, 2018
at 4:00 pm
Hi Robyn, it was a no-brainer to add your book!
But I’m surprised your publisher (Harper Collins, yes?) hasn’t seen its potential in the UK market…
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By: Lisa Hill on November 27, 2018
at 4:26 pm
Thanks! HarperCollins (as Harper 360, I think) have agreed to distribute it in the UK and US — all still in progress, but will probably be mid next year.
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By: robyncadwallader on November 27, 2018
at 4:30 pm
Well, it would have been nice to have had it out in time for the exhibition, but I suspect that in Britain where history is imbibed with mother’s milk, Book of Colours will get steady sales anyway:)
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By: Lisa Hill on November 27, 2018
at 5:19 pm
I’ve read a fair few of these but isn’t it a little early for a 2018 list? What about the books being published in December? And there are still some, I know, they are on my floor waiting to be read!
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By: Theresa Smith Writes on November 28, 2018
at 2:12 pm
Of course. This is marketing for Christmas, and that’s why it’s a pot-pourri of YA, popular and genre fiction, children’s Lit, NF and fiction.
So yes, I’m not publishing my Best-Of till nearer the end of the year…
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By: Lisa Hill on November 28, 2018
at 3:51 pm
Me neither. Mine will be in the week between New Year and Christmas. How long is your list usually, Lisa?
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By: Theresa Smith Writes on November 28, 2018
at 6:17 pm
*chuckle* It’s just like writing choosing students for prize-giving, I find it really hard to decide…
In the last couple of years I’ve allowed myself a fiction and a NF longlist (45/12, Australia and NZ only) and then I devise a shortlist based on which books I have banged on about to family and friends (17/6). (See https://anzlitlovers.com/2017/12/30/2017-anzlitlovers-australian-and-new-zealand-best-books-of-the-year/) I chose my best book last year for emotional reasons.
So there are no nice tidy numbers or sensible criteria, but anyone looking for a list of beaut books will like my lists, I think.
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By: Lisa Hill on November 28, 2018
at 6:46 pm
I have trouble sticking to set numbers too…
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By: Theresa Smith Writes on November 28, 2018
at 7:07 pm
Well, we don’t have to!
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By: Lisa Hill on November 28, 2018
at 9:51 pm
Just an update….I’m still working on this list ( many thanks for providing it) and have read 11/100!
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By: N@ncy on September 27, 2019
at 5:15 pm
Thanks for the reminder for me to update it, I have a few more reviews to add:)
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By: Lisa Hill on September 27, 2019
at 6:07 pm