Best Book I Read Last Year

I think I will start filling out a 30 day book meme I have seen around lately. I won't update every day, so it will take me more than one month, but that's not the point. The point is to remember books I have read, introduce them to the possible someone, who might read this blog, and perhaps even lure in some new readers.

Day 01 – Best book you read last year

I think Emma Donoghue's Slammerkin was the best book I read last year. My decision might be affected by the fact that I have a short memory and I read Slammerkin in the very last days of the year 2010, but I can assure you that it was very good. A historic novel of a young girl, who becomes a prostitute to support herself. Unique, wonderful characters and a lively 18th century London.

The plot is marvellous, but the reason I'm so fond of this book are the characters. The main character, Mary, is a working-class girl with a craving for luxorious things. When she is thrown out of her home, she becomes a prostitute. Her new best friend teaches her the trade, they live together and share their worries and joys. The minor characters, Mary's parents, the nuns that help former prostitutes, later in the novel the habitants of a small village Mary works in, all have a personality, a view of the world, a sense of what they think is right or wrong. I'm amazed at the detail in which Donoghue must have planned her characters.

This is an excellent novel, probably most loved by people who like historical novels or are interested in women's position in different times in the past or those who like Donoghue's other novels.

Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times
Day 03 – Your favourite series
Day 04 – Favourite book of your favourite series
Day 05 – A book that makes you happy
Day 06 – A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favourite writer
Day 14 – Favourite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote from your favourite book
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time