I don’t normally read a ton of backlist books and this year was no exception. Every year, I say I will make more time for older gems, but seem to find myself enticed by all the shiny new releases. But, my stats tell me some of my best reading comes from the backlist. I read ten backlist books this year and half of them were either 4.5 or 5 star reads. There is no other category of reading that has that kind of success ratio for me. So, 2016, I swear you will include more backlist books!
I still plan to fit in at least one more backlist title before the year is out, but I’ll just include it on next year’s Best of the Backlist if it’s up to snuff!
The Best of My 2015 Backlist Reading
The Dinner by Herman Koch (review)
Best Social Commentary
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The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Best World-Creating
Biggest “WTF is Going On Here” Feeling
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The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg (review)
Best Investigative Journalism
Best Look Into an Unfamiliar Culture
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The Wife by Meg Wolitzer (review)
Best Book About Marriage
Most Gorgeous Writing
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To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (review)
Best Life Lessons
Most “Good and Pure” Character
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Thanks for sharing your list. It makes sense that the ones you chose to read would be highly rated.
The books you have chosen are all on my TBR. I want to read some book by Margaret Atwood (Imagine! I haven’t even read one yet). I heard The Handmaid’s tale is amazing. And Herman Koch too. I did enjoy Mockingbird as a child. And I haven’t read the sequel yet
I hadn’t read her at all until now – and I’m so glad I did! I highly recommend The Dinner…it would have made my overall Best Books of the Year list if it had been published in 2015 (I only include 2015 books in that list, which is why I do this separate one).
And – I wouldn’t bother with the Mockingbird sequel…I don’t even really think it’s a “sequel”..more like a pre-quel, but a totally unfinished version. It’s interesting as an historical artifact, but I didn’t think it was a good novel. If I’d read it blind without knowing the author or backstory, I’d definitely have DNF’d it.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Biggest “WTF is Going On Here” Feeling
*dies*
True story.
I have read To Kill a Mockingbird! lol My wish list is groaning with all these lists out there.
This is the first year I have mostly consumed by new releases. For next year I’m being choosy and limiting them to about 10-12, them my TBR will take over. I have just too many old books that need attention, and like you that’s from where the best stuff comes.
It’s so hard to come up with the ratio of new/backlist that works well! I’m still trying to figure out mine 🙂
I’m so glad that you were able to read The Handmaid’s Tale this year; while I certainly enjoyed her newest release, I’m not sure that any of hers will top this one for me. I STILL have not read The Wife, which is so crazy because I know many have said they enjoyed it much more than The Interestings (which I really liked); maybe one of these days? I, too, fall into the trap of the new, shiny things – hahaha!
From everything I’ve heard, her latest wasn’t up to her usual standards and Handmaid’s Tale is her best – so I definitely think you should read it! AND – I think you’d LOVE The Wife..it’s super short too, you should throw it in over the holidays!
How’re you recovering?!
My theory about the backlist books is that we’ve had more time to consider whether or not they are ones that we would love. More people have read them, more people have reviewed them, and we’ve had more time to think about them. The new ones are shinier, but more of a risk. I love it when the good ones keep coming back and showing up on people’s lists!
I agree – more time to let them simmer and see what stands up over time. And the outliers kind of fall away, leaving you with the best.
My 2016 will be primarily backlist books because that is my next challenge. I own so many that I snatched up and never got to read and know I’m missing out – The Dinner being one of them. There’s a reason I bought them, right? I just hope my interests in them holds on until I get to them. lol
Good for you! I don’t have that same willpower! And I can’t wait to hear what you think of The Dinner…I think you’ll really like it!
Yes! The backlist holds the amazing books. But after all, that is where the new books come from!
Agreed!
I love all of these that I’ve read. I have a much better success rate with backlist which is why I think I’ve more or less settled into that groove as a blogger. I’m also pretty comfortable with ReadMyOwnDamnBooks for that reason. I hope I have lots of 4- and 5-star reads ahead, and I hope you do, too!
I hope you do too! And I agree about the success rate…I just wish I had the willpower to avoid shiny new things to focus on backlist (or for there to be a 6 month moratorium on new releases to allow all of us crazies to catch up!).
I read so few backlist books these days that I cannot say whether I have greater success with them or not. I do feel more satisfied when I get around to reading a backlisted book that has been languishing on my shelves for year. Perhaps that sense of accomplishment is what leads to greater enjoyment of such novels?
I hadn’t thought about it that way – could be! And the fact that the backlist titles that make it off the TBR list tend to be more than flashes in the pan if my interest in reading them has survived however long they sat on the TBR.
You have some of the same books that are currently on my backlist! I also read To Kill a Mockingbird this year! I am really wanting to catch Herman Koch’s book at some point….sigh….how to get to all the amazing books out there!
Oh my gosh – definitely read The Dinner! It was one of my favorite books I read all year. But, it’s definitely controversial.
I *really* need to read ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ – actually, I just need to read something by Atwood full stop.
I’ve definitely more new releases this year than I normally would (probably has something to do with signing up to NetGalley this year) and my stacks of backlist books has grown and grown and grown. Next year I’ll be trying to focus on them more.
Ha – sounds like you’re about where I was a few weeks ago! Handmaid’s Tale was my first Atwood.
And I bet NG did cause your backlist reading to take a hit – that happened with my when I first signed up.
I read The Dinner a while ago but it was such an interesting read. This year I finally read The Life Of Pi after hearing so much about it from everyone.
I remember really enjoying The Life of Pi, but it’s been so long since I read it that I can’t remember much about why I liked it!
The Wife and Girls in Kabul are both on my backlist TBR, so maybe I’ll have to move them up a little!
Both excellent books – The Wife has really stuck with me.
The Handmaid’s Tale was one of my fave backlist reads, tooooo!
It was so amazing and I can’t believe I hadn’t read any Atwood before! I’m now trying to decide what my second Atwood should be!