During recent Audible sales I have downloaded buckets of audiobooks, so one could argue I have enough books to keep me going for a while. However, it isn’t really possible to get enough books, is it? So I thought I would finish the year the same way as last year, with a Dear Santa post including books I would love to find under the Christmas tree.
1. The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal
This dark and gothic read takes place in Victorian London and has art and unhealthy obsessions at its core. Ever since Inge put it on her list of favourite books in 2019, I’ve been meaning to read it. I would be surprised if I don’t end up loving it.
2. Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
According to Goodreads, Transcendent Kingdom is a powerful, raw, intimate, deeply layered novel about a Ghanaian family in Alabama. It revolves around themes such as depression, grief, love and also includes the debate of science vs. religion. Many fellow bloggers have recommended it, including Jee Wan. I can’t wait to read it.
3. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
I just saw over at Thoughts on Papyrus that Kazuo Ishiguro has a new book coming out (@santa – available for preorder 😉). Obviously, the name Ishiguro triggers sky high expectations, not lessened by the fact that an AI character will be a central part of the novel. I really hope this one won’t disappoint!
4. Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
Having enjoyed Convenience Store Woman, I have been curious about Sayaka Murata’s Earthlings. Apparently, the latter is bolder and more unusual. According to Callum it descends into full-tilt madness, but he still recommends it. Yup, definitely curious.
5. The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higahino
Last year I decided to read more Japanese literature in 2020. This was a great decision which led to some excellent reads. Some people asked why I don’t combine my fondness of Japanese writers and crime fiction and give Japanese crime fiction a try? When googling, The Devotion of Suspect X pops up everywhere. Let’s hope it’s a good one, otherwise my venture into this genre may be over before it really begun.
These were some of the many books, I would be happy for Santa to deliver. Have you read any of them? Which books are on top of your wish list?
Great list! I read The Doll Factory this year as well and loved it! 📚😊
Thanks Callum. Yes, I do remember your excellent review of The Doll Factory, I think that was the one which gave me the final push deciding to read it! I hope you get a wonderful Christmas and acquire some lovely books for the holidays! ⛄️🌲🎅
Thank you! Same to you 😊📚🎄✨
I cannot wait for Klara and the Sun!! The Doll Factory and Transcendent Kingdom are both fantastic. I hope you find them under your tree!
Neither can I, hopefully it will be a good one! Glad to hear you enjoyed both The Doll Factory and Transcendent Kingdom. I hope you will get some great books as well for Christmas to keep you entertained during the holidays!
Hi, and thanks for the list, hope you get them all! I’m looking forward to The Doll Factory – I love the title and anything dark and gothic appeals to me. I will also read Klara and the Sun – I’m a fan of Ishiguro. Other than that, for Christmas, I have already dropped hints about volumes 4 and 5 of A Song of Fire and Ice. And anything by Graham Norton. Review of A Keeper tomorrow.
You are welcome! Good to meet another Ishiguro fan, I believe there are quite a few of us around in the blogging community. I hope you will get the books from A Song of Fire and Ice. They should keep you occupied for a while! I never got started on that series (neither the books nor the tv adaptation). At some point when I have a lot of time, I will definitely read the books. Merry Christmas Elizabeth, hope you get a wonderful time even if it might be a bit different this year.
Thank you, Stargazer. And a very Happy Christmas to you too. Stay safe.
Perfect list, Stargazer💜 I have Transcendent Kingdom to listen to, also.
Sounds good, hopefully we will both enjoy it! I hope you get a wonderful Christmas Jonetta and perhaps a few more books! 😊
Same to you!
Ah I do hope you end up loving it! Seems like the other readers are backing me up too so I’m feeling confident ;-). I read The Devotion of Suspect X as well and although not as brilliant as The Doll Factory, I also enjoyed reading that one. On top of my list… The Shadow Man by Helen Fields, Deity by Matt Wesolowski and The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard. Only this last author is new to me but it’s a book about a serial killer with the killer reading the book at the same time. I think it’s original and everyone seems to love it.
I have high hopes for that one and I am sure I will love it. Good to hear you also enjoyed The Devotion of Suspect X. Wow, The Nothing Man sounds highly unusual with the killer reading along. I love stuff like that. Hopefully you will get it plus the others on your wish list. Merry Christmas Inge, I know it might be an usual Christmas this year, but hope it’s going to be a good one anyway!⛄️🤶
Cathy at 746 Books reported that Santa has been declared an essential worker and is being exempted from quarantine, so you could be in luck! So long as you’ve not been naughty this year, that is. 🎅 The only one I’ve read is the Japanese one, which in truth wasn’t my favourite Japanese crime fiction, but I was in a tiny minority. Hope it works for you!
Good to hear that Santa has been declared an essential worker, I did wonder… 😁 Ok, so if I don’t enjoy the Japanese one, I will give Japanese crime fiction another try and select one of your recommendations. Hope you get a nice Christmas, FF, even if it may be a bit different this year! ☃️🌲🎅
Great picks!
Thanks Meggy!
Of these, I only knw The Doll Factory, which I enjoyed. My own book choices change on a daily basis. All these pesky book review blogs I will insist on following!
Good to hear, you enjoyed The Doll Factory, I am sure I will as well. I know, after I started blogging a lot of my selected books are recommendations from other bloggers. But I love it!
The top of my wishlist is taken by the boxed edition of Mantel’s Cromwell trilogy 😀 I’m interested in this new Ishiguro, it sounds promising indeed!
I remember how much you liked the Cromwell trilogy, so the box set makes sense! But honestly, have you checked the measurements, not to mention the weight? Not sure it fits into the Christmas stocking – or even under the tree! 😲😁🌲
I know, I know… Might have to wait till my birthday in March! 🤣🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣 I hope you will get it for Christmas and that nobody, including Santa, will incur any back pain in the process of delivering it to you!
🤣🤣🤣
I need to read some more Ishiguro, I’ve only read “The Remains of the Day”.
My favourite Ishiguro is Never Let Me Go, but I should say, it’s very different from The Remains of the Day. I love both of them. Thanks for stopping by and hope you get a nice Christmas.
Christmas here is marked by believers with a vigil in church from 6 to 7 January…New Year is the bigger celebration, thanks for the wishes. Have a great Christmas.
So maybe it would have been more appropriate to wish you happy new year! In any case, I hope you get a nice December and hopefully some time to relax.
Happy Christmas, Happy New Year. Happy Holidays. I’m just happy you sent a greeting, the content is not so important, I think most people are happy if you wish them Happy Christmas, whether they have a faith or none.
So cool to remember your Dear Santa post from a year ago! Insane how time flies… 😛 Of all of these, The Devotion of Suspect X is the one that has been on my own TBR for countless years too! Hope you get some of these soon! 😀
Yes, time really does fly! And even if the time of Christmas is one of the few predictable features in an uncertain world, it seems to sneak up on me every year. I look forward to The Devotion of Suspect X and hope it can live up to the positive reviews! Have a great festive season, Lashaan!
Oh wowwww….the Suspect X cover got me intrigued! Can’t wait to read your review! And thank you for listing one of my favorite books! 😀 I hope you enjoy it and that Santa will grant all your wishes! Ho Ho Ho 😀 SANTA! MAKE SURE YOU GRANT ALL HER WISHES OK!!! 😀
It’s an interesting cover and I’m also intrigued by the fact that is’s an inverted mystery, i.e. the solution to the crime is revealed in the beginning rather than the end. Thanks Jee, I hope you get a wonderful Christmas and perhaps a few more books as well! ⛄️🌲🤶
Thank you! xoxo
Nicely Done!
Thanks! 😀
I hope you found all of these under your tree, Stargazer! I’ve only read The Doll Factor (creepy good), but I want to read all the others too!
Ah, I am so glad you liked The Doll Factory, I really look forward to reading it. I spent the Christmas days reading Transcendent Kingdom, I can highly recommend it. Hope you had a nice Christmas as well!
i read devotion of suspect X and it was beautiful ❤✨
I am glad to hear that, thanks for letting me know. I really look forward to reading it! 😀
The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino is fabulous, like all the books by him I read. I hope Santa was nice to you
Good to hear you enjoyed The Devotion of Suspect X! I didn’t get that particular one for Christmas, so I will have to buy it for myself. I am looking forward to read it!