Broadwindsor WI 100 Challenge
OUR 100 FAVOURITE BOOKS
In alphabetical order by author, followed by title and contributor
1 ALCOTT, LOUISA MAY LITTLE WOMEN Camille Newall
2 ARCHER, JEFFREY The Clifton Chronicals- ONLY TIME WILL TELL Diana Stothard
3 ARCHER, JEFFREY The Clifton Chronicals- THE SINS OF THE FATHER Diana Stothard
4 ARCHER, JEFFREY The Clifton Chronicals- BEST KEPT SECRET Diana Stothard
5 ARCHER, JEFFREY The Clifton Chronicals- BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR Diana Stothard
6 ARCHER, JEFFREY The Clifton Chronicals- MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD Diana Stothard
7 ARCHER, JEFFREY The Clifton Chronicals- COMETH THE HOUR Diana Stothard
8 ARCHER, JEFFREY The Clifton Chronicals-THIS WAS A MAN Diana Stothard
9 ASHTON, JULIET THE GUERNSEY LITERARY & POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY Brenda Smith
The story is based on a Book Club which becomes a refuge for its members during the Nazi Occupation of Guernsey. Now being made into a film being released in April this year.
10 ATKINSON, KATE BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE MUSEUM Sandra Burrows
11 ATWOOD, MARGARET ALIAS GRACE Lynne Staff
The story fictionalizes the notorious 1843 murders of Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery in Upper Canada.
12 AUEL,JEAN M. EARTH’S CHILDREN Valerie Jones A series of six books set in the Palaeolithic era, the first being The Clan of the Cave Bear
13 AUSTEN, JANE PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Dorothy Rowe
14 BALDACCI, DAVID THE WINNER Lynne Staff The novel tells the story of LuAnn Tyler, a destitute mother living in a trailer park, who meets with Jackson, a man running a massive lottery scam from inside the National Lottery. He offers her a chance to win the lottery, which she initially refuses until she finds herself falsely accused of murder and needing to run for her life with her young daughter in tow.
15 BARKER, CICELY MARY THE BOOK OF THE FLOWER FAERIES Mandy Selhurst
16 BINCHY, MAEVE NIGHT OF RAIN AND STARS Carole Loudon
17 BJORK, SAMUEL I’M TRAVELLING ALONE Ann Harris Crime Novel- flawed characters, gritty storyline with some violence, many different strands from mental illness, religious sects, and child neglect, lots of twists, page turner.
18 BLYTON, ENID FIVE GET INTO TROUBLE Clare Wilson
19 BRYSON, BILL NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND Donna Heys
Any book by Bill Bryson is a winner, but this one takes an affectionate look at Britain through the eyes of a newly-arrived American. Bryson’s dry, intelligent wit resonates well with the famous British sense of humour.
20 CATTON, ELEANOR THE LUMINARIES Lynne Staff The story follows Walter Moody, a prospector who travels to the fledgling West Coast settlement of Hokitika to try to make his fortune on nearby goldfields. Instead, he stumbles into a tense meeting between twelve local men, and is drawn into a complex mystery that is covering up a series of unsolved crimes
21 COLE, MARTINA THE FAMILY Camille Newall
22 COLLINS, SUZANNE THE HUNGER GAMES (Trilogy) Donna Heys
Teen/young adult fiction, but a good read for adults. An adventure series set in a Dystopian America of the future, where life is cheap and teens fight to the death for the entertainment of the wealthy. Well-written and now made into a series of films.
23 CHAMPION, BOB CHAMPIONS Clare Wilson
24 CHATTO, BETH and CHRISTOPHER LLOYD DEAR FRIEND AND GARDENER Sue Eccles
A correspondence on life and gardening.
25 CLAVELL, JAMES SHOGUN Lynne Staff An epic saga of one Pilot-Major John Blackthorne, and his integration into the struggles and strife of feudal Japan.
26 CORNWELL, BERNARD STONEHENGE Valerie Jones
27 DICKENS, CHARLES GREAT EXPECTATIONS Donna Heys, Ann Slee
‘Great Expectations’ is the tale of a young orphaned boy whose life changes when he receives the help of a mysterious, anonymous benefactor.- Donna Heys
28 DICKENS, CHARLES LITTLE DORRITT Valerie Jones
29 DICKENS, CHARLES THE PICKWICK PAPERS Ann Slee
Dickens heads my list – such complex and intricate stories and characters.
30 DOERR, ANTHONY ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE Diana Stothard
31 DONOGHUE, EMMA ROOM Ann Harris
Once you get your head around this it being narrated by a five-year-old, this book is very readable, much better than the film.
32 DE BERNIERES, LOUIS CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN Dorothy Rowe
33 DU MAURIER, DAPHNE REBECCA Diana Stothard
34 DUNMORE, HELEN THE BETRAYAL Ann Harris Following from The Siege, set in Stalin’s Russia of the 1950’s. About ordinary people (caught in the awful regime), coping during hard times; good historical novel.
35 EATON BARRY DOMINANCE: FACT OR FICTION? Sandra Burrows
This was one of the first books I read in my quest to better understand canine behaviour; it’s only a little book but it thoroughly debunks the dominance theory that we hear so much about; a must read for any dog lover.
36 ELLIS, SAMANTHA HOW TO BE A HEROINE Sue Eccles
A humorous look at fictional heroines.
37 FLANAGEN, RICHARD THE NARROW ROAD TO THE DEEP NORTH Ann Harris Story set in POW camp in Burma and after war, building of the Burma railway, the cruelty of the Japanese and also a love story; hard to read in places but well worth it.
38 FOLLETT, KEN A COLUMN OF FIRE Lynne Staff The story follows the romance between Ned Willard and Margery Fitzgerald over half a century. It commences at a time when Europe turns against Elizabethan England and the queen finds herself beset by plots to dethrone her.
39 FOLLETT, KEN PILLARS OF THE EARTH Valerie Jones
40 FOWLER, KAREN JOY WE ARE ALL COMPLETELY BESIDE OURSELVES Ann Harris Funny in parts, with a serious moral question, unsettling and emotionally taxing.
41 FRANCIS, DICK COME TO GRIEF Irene Francis Thriller.
42 FRANCIS, DICK TO THE HILT Irene Francis Thriller.
43 FRANCIS, DICK BONECRACK Irene Francis Thriller.
44 GIBBONS, STELLA COLD COMFORT FARM Ann Slee A book published in 1932 which still makes me laugh. A young woman with no means or qualifications to make a livelihood goes to stay with her great aunt Ada Doom and her strange family the Starkadders, whom she has never met before.
45 GOLDING, WILLIAM LORD OF THE FLIES Donna Heys
A chilling study in human nature, as a group of school boys become stranded on a deserted island and make an attempt at self-government.
46 HARDY, THOMAS THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE Mandy Selhurst
47 HARDY, THOMAS FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD Dorothy Rowe
48 HARDY, THOMAS TESS OF THE D’URBERVILLES Donna Heys
49 HARPER, JANE THE DRY Camille Newell
50 HASHIMI, NADIA WHEN THE MOON IS LOW Ann Harris Set in Kabul-it follows a family trying to escape for a better life, all the trials of a refugee and how they try and overcome all adversities with hope.
51 HAYES, TERRY I AM PILGRIM Ann Harris Thriller- lots of twists and turns (part could be left out without detracting from the plot). Quite a long book.
52 HEALEY, EMMA ELIZABETH IS MISSING Sue Eccles
Thought- provoking.
53 HERRIOT, JAMES ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL Diana Stothard
54 HIGASHIDA, NAOKI THE REASON I JUMPED Ann Harris True life, written by a 13-year-old autistic boy, challenges preconceptions of this condition.
55 HISLOP, VICTORIA THE ISLAND Ann Harris, Carole Loudon, Diana Stothard Linked well with the history and leprosy colony and effects on families, based on true life.- Ann Harris
56 HISLOP, VICTORIA THE RETURN Brenda Smith
I enjoyed living in the area (where the novel was based) in the sixties. The story was historically researched and based on the Spanish Civil War of which I knew nothing about so thoroughly enjoyed this as so many places 'came to life' whilst reading.
57 HOSSEINI, KHALED KITE RUNNER Brenda Smith
58 HOSSEINI, KHALED AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED Brenda Smith, Ann Harris
59 HOSSEINI, KHALED A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS Brenda Smith
All three by Khaled are brilliant books, all heartbreaking, full of hope and bonds of love.
60 HOSKINS, W G THE MAKING OF THE ENGLISH LANDSCAPE Mandy Selhurst
61 ISHIGURO, KAZUO NEVER LET ME GO Ann Harris, Donna Heys A boarding school with children there for a special reason. Somewhat disturbing, slightly science fiction, but makes you think this could happen. Excellent.
62 JEFFERIES, DINAH THE TEA PLANTER’S WIFE Irene Francis Life in Ceylon.
63 LAWRENCE, D H SONS AND LOVERS Mandy Selhurst
64 LEE, HARPER TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Donna Heys, Camille Newall
Racial and social injustice in the American south as seen through the eyes of a child, Scout Finch. According to a BBC report, this book came top in a survey of British librarians as being the book they would be most likely to recommend.- Donna Heys
65 LEWIS, SUSAN TOO CLOSE TO HOME Brenda Smith
Jenna & Jack Moore have moved their family to Wales for a fresh start. For their vivacious happy-go-lucky daughter, 15 year-old Paige, the future was full of promise. But suddenly everything changes & she becomes more & more withdrawn. This is a modern novel based on family problems especially around teenagers' use of internet and social media. Very thought provoking in this day & age, especially when one knows of family & friends who have youngsters spending hours in their rooms using the internet.
66 MORPURGO, MICHAEL BOXED SET OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS Brenda Smith
I bought this for my grandsons who are keen readers. They are now older and have read them all so I started reading them but was quite surprised how true to life's history they are, also very sad and disturbing – very different to my young days of reading Enid Blyton!
67 MORTON, KATE THE FORGOTTON GARDEN Carole Loudon
68 NEW TESTAMENT THE BIBLE Ann Slee
For advice, help and instruction, nearly every experience of life can be found in the new international version of the New Testament.
69 PARIS, B A BEHIND CLOSED DOORS Camille Newall
70 PAVER, MICHELLE DARK MATTER Ann Harris, Sandra Burrows One of the best psychological ghost stories- so atmospheric, really good book.- Ann Harris
71 PHINN, GERVASE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DALE Donna Heys Gervase Phinn did for teachers what James Herriot did for vets. Highly entertaining, any of the books from this Yorkshire-based ex-teacher and schools inspector are well worth reading. Phinn often does lives shows, also worth catching if you can.
72 PICOULT, JODI PICTURE PERFECT Camille Newall
73 PILCHER, ROSEMOND THE SHELL SEEKERS Carole Loudon
74 PULLMAN, PHILIP HIS DARK MATERIALS (Trilogy) Dorothy Rowe
75 PULLMAN, PHILIP LA BELLE SAUVAGE Dorothy Rowe
76 QUINDHEN, ANNA EVERY LAST ONE Ann Harris About a family tragedy- worth reading.
77 QUINN, ANTHONY HALF OF THE HUMAN RACE Sue Eccles
Suffragettes, World War I and cricket!
78 RODRIGUEZ, DEBORAH THE LITTLE COFFEE SHOP OF KABUL Brenda Smith
The story of six ladies from very different lifestyles who meet up in the Kabul coffee shop. Deborah Rodriguez has now written a follow-up novel 'Return to the Little Coffee Shop of Kabul' and also two non-fiction books, 'The Kabul Beauty School' and 'The House on Carnaval Street', which I've yet to read!
79 ROWLING, J K HARRY POTTER (the series) Donna Heys
The first in the series of six books, “Philosopher’s Stone” is the introduction to the magical world of Harry Potter, just an ordinary boy who finds out he’s actually a wizard. Harry grows up over the course of the books, and the themes of good vs evil and friendship intensify as well. A delight for all ages.
80 RUGAAS, TURID ON TALKING TERMS WITH DOGS: CALMING SIGNALS Sandra Burrows
Anyone interested in dog body language should read this- it's a brilliant little book by an author who is highly respected and often referred to; an easy read that explains all of the subtle little signals that your dog gives on a daily basis.
81 SEIERSTAD, ANNE THE BOOK SELLER OF KABUL Ann Harris More factual than expected, life living under the Taliban and its restrictions. Another well worth reading.
82 SEWELL, ANNA BLACK BEAUTY Clare Wilson
83 SHIELDS, CAROL UNLESS Ann Harris This book keeps you guessing right to the last chapter- about a family, deals with all emotions- slow starter but enjoyable.
84 SIMISON, GRAHAM THE ROSIE PROJECT Ann Harris Funny, unusual book; explains Asbergers and quest for love.
85 SOLOMON, NATASHA THE NOVEL IN THE VIOLA Sue Eccles
A Jewish girl escapes from Austria just before the second World War and comes to Dorset.
86 STEELE, DANIELE WONDERLUST Irene Francis
87 STEELE, DANIELE FULL CIRCLE Irene Francis
88 STEELE, DANIELE CHANGES Irene Francis
89 STEELE, DANIELE THE RING Irene Francis
90 STEPHENSON, ROBERT LOUIS KIDNAPPED Ann Slee
91 STEPHENSON, ROBERT LOUIS TREASURE ISLAND Ann Slee Two ‘Ripping Yarns’ from my childhood.
92 STOCKETT, KATHRYN THE HELP Brenda Smith
Set in 1962, the vanished and unjust world in Jackson, Mississippi. The book was incredibly unsettling but sadly the film which came out later glamourised the novel & the situation.
93 STUART, KEITH A BOY MADE OF BLOCKS Ann Harris Author has a son with autism so draws from personal experience, deals with difficulties coping and how through a game called Minecraft a relationship develops.
94 TENNANT, EMMA TESS Carole Loudon
95 THOMAS, DYLAN UNDER MILKWOOD Mandy Selhurst
96 THOMAS, ROSIE THE KASHMIR SHAWL Sue Eccles, Carole Loudon
Mair finds the shawl in her mother’s effects and travels to India to trace its history.- Sue Eccles
97 WHITBREAD, COLSON UNDERGROUND RAILWAY Ann Harris About slavery, quite emotionally tough, disturbing, explains some things about America’s relationship with slavery.
98 WYNDHAM, JOHN THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS Camille Newall
99 YOUNG, LOUISA MY DEAR, I WANTED TO TELL YOU Sandra Burrows
100 ZUSAK, MARKUS THE BOOK THIEF Brenda Smith, Ann Harris
1939 in Nazi Germany, Liezel's life is changed when she picks up an abandoned book in the snow which leads to her love of books, and soon she is stealing from book-burnings. After reading this for the first time it was made into a major film. After watching the film I had to buy the book again as it made such an impact on me!- Brenda Smith