Five authors, five books…
To celebrate my fifth blogging anniversary in February 2018, I set myself a new challenge (see my original post here). This master page shows the books I picked for the challenge, and I’ll gradually update it with links to my reviews as I read them.
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The access to new releases via NetGalley and publishers is one of the major perks of book blogging, of course. But I do find it has a small downside, in that I never seem to find time to follow up on authors with extensive back catalogues. I end so many reviews with “I’m looking forward to reading more of his/her books in the future”, and then I never do. So, since I’ve discovered that setting myself a little challenge concentrates my mind, that seems like a good way to celebrate my fifth anniversary.
The Five times Five Challenge
I’ve selected five authors, each of whom I’ve given at least one 5-star review and then failed to follow up on. And for each author, I’ve selected five books I’d like to read. I’m not setting myself any dates or deadlines – this is just for a bit of fun and to keep them in the forefront of my mind when I’m splurging on books to top up my TBR.
Philip Roth
(Photo: Jenny Anderson/Getty Images)
I’ve read Roth’s American Trilogy (American Pastoral, I Married a Communist and The Human Stain) before, many years ago, and recently re-read American Pastoral, giving it not just 5 stars but the title of The Great American Novel. So I’d like to re-read the other two and read a few of his others that have achieved critical acclaim.
The Human Stain
The Plot Against America
Nemesis
Sabbath’s Theatre
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Toni Morrison
Photo: Reuters
Toni Morrison’s Beloved was the second book to earn the title of The Great American Novel, and shamefully I still haven’t got around to reading anything else by her. Some of these have been recommended to me – others I’ve picked more or less at random.
The Bluest Eye
Jazz
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John Steinbeck
I had mixed feelings about The Grapes of Wrath – profound and stunningly written but I really object to the way he sets out to emotionally manipulate the reader, sometimes blurring the line between pathos and bathos. So while I want to read more, I’ve tried to include some lighter ones too.
Cannery Row – abandoned
A Russian Journal
The Wayward Bus
(At this point, I’ve abandoned Steinbeck – too misogynistic and too miserable for my taste.)
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William McIlvanney
Photo: Chris Watt for The Telegraph
I’ve loved everything I’ve read of McIlvanney’s – the three books in his Laidlaw trilogy and Docherty – and really want to explore his work more thoroughly. I’ve pretty much picked these as the ones most easily available, often a sign that they’re considered the best.
The Big Man
A Gift from Nessus
Remedy Is None
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Robert Harris
Harris seems to be pretty prolific and I’ve managed to keep up with his new releases over the last few years, but have still barely scratched his back catalogue. I actually already own two of these, so really ought to get around to reading them!
Lustrum (Cicero Trilogy 2)
Dictator (Cicero Trilogy 3)
Archangel
I’ve deliberately omitted crime fiction since my existing Murder, Mystery, Mayhem challenge is enough to be going on with, I feel. And I was also forced to omit several other authors I’d have loved to include – Daphne du Maurier, Ernest Hemingway, Hilary Mantel, H Rider Haggard, to name but a few.
So what do you think of my list? Do any of them appeal to you? Which writers would you like to find time to explore a bit more?
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