My favorite books of 2015

Last year I read a lot of books. In total I read 168. This seems like a lot, but I also read a lot of thin books, a Patrick Modiano for example is mostly around 200 pages. And during a reading slump during the Summer I read a lot of Agatha Christie, and I can easily read three of those in one day.

I read 20 books from French authors (I really discovered French literature this year!), I read 17 books about Italy or by Italian writers. I read 33 non-fiction books and 21 thrillers.

So, what are my favorite books of 2015?

Fiction
First the fiction, my absolute favorite was Monsieur Linh and his child by Philippe Claudel (here). I think this will also be in my list of favorite books of all times, so very very beautiful. If you have not read it already, I urge you to do so!

I also loved A private affair by Beppe Fenoglio (here)

The two Dutch covers of my favorite books of 2015.

There is also a Dutch book in my top-3, but since this was not translated, I did not review it over here.

Non-fiction
As for non-fiction, three books come to mind immediately.
First the excellent and definate biography about Marilyn Monroe Icon by Gary Vitacco-Robles (here)

Secondly another biography, this time about Caravaggio by Andrew Graham-Dixon (here)

And finally The edge of the world by Michael Pye, such a good recount of Europan history (here)

The non fiction top 3

Other categories
I also loved the thriller The Axmans Jazz by Ray Celestin  about a serial killer in New Orleans during the roaring twenties. (here)

I had a few books I absolutely hated this year, but on the whole I read more books I liked than books I disliked.

So what are my plans for 2016? I do not make plans where reading is concerned. I do not make a plan to match the amount of books this year, or to read a certain type of books.
I intend to go on as I did this year, just to read the books I want to read when I want to read them.

So, here is to a lot of new and beautiful books in 2016!!

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