Oldies But Goodies!
Happy Tuesday! This week we are showcasing older books that we adored. Several years ago, I made a big push to read older books. It's so easy to be distracted by new and shiny books that we often forget about all those unread books from earlier years. I started participating in Carole's Books from the Backlog meme in order to hold myself accountable, and this has resulted in me reading at least one backlist book a week.
But you know what happened? I discovered all these great authors and have been working through their backlists. So many gems out there that I missed when they first came out, and I am thrilled that I have embarked on this mission to read more backlist books because it has resulted in some outstanding reading for me. I will admit that it's sometimes a bit nerve-racking to delve into older contemporaries. One can never be too sure how the book will age, and it's important to not judge the books by today's standards, but rather, but the standards of its time. I have been pretty lucky with most books, though I recall being put off more by older YA. Maybe "put off" is not the best way to describe it, but surprised, rattled.
For today, this list was assembled from the non-new release books I read this year. Though some may not be that old, they were not new releases (and I am a new release ho, believe me!), and thus, they qualify.
- You Me Everything by Catherine Isaac - 2018
- Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber - 2019
- The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick - 2019
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig - 2020
- Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore - 2020
- Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen - 2007
- The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce - 2017
- Family Tree by Susan Wiggs - 2016
- The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane by Kelly Harms - 2013
- The Summer that Made Us by Robyn Carr - 2017
What older book did you discover this year?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
Great choice for you backlist post, Sam. I enjoy several of these authors and have read 5 of these. I still have that Rachel Joyce book on my TBR and really need to finally read it. I still haven't read anything by Sarah Addison Allen, but I do plan to someday.
ReplyDeleteI read my first Allen book last year and went on a binge. She does small towns with a bit of magic and lots of connection. It's a winning formula for me.
DeleteI haven't read any of these.. though I have been on the fence about the Midnight Library.
ReplyDeleteIt was good. I cannot stop screaming about that book
DeleteI love discovering older books, too, although you're right, sometimes they don't age well.
ReplyDeleteAlways scary with the changing standards in society, but like I said, I read it with the proper lens.
DeleteYou're always great at sharing your backlist reviews. It's fun to read them. I'm glad you finally got to Garden Spells.
ReplyDeleteIf a book rates high for me, I will always want to share it. It doesn't matter how old it is. I am sad that I have no more Sarah Addison Allen books to read. They were all so good
DeleteBlackbird Cafe and Garden Spells are two that I remember hearing about when they came out, and I thoguht they both sounded fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI was not pleasure reading again until 2013, and then, I was reading mostly YA. It's been great discovering these amazing backlist books
DeleteI LOVE Oldie but Goodies! You have a great list there. Glad these were all to be such a great experience for you. I haven't read any of these, but have heard of them and seen the love for these stories.
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to read ALL the books, and I missed out on a lot by being such a new release-ho. Embracing my backlist and the library has been great for me
DeleteLoved The Summer That Made Us! I have The Midnight Library on hold right now.
ReplyDeleteThe Summer That Made Us was quite the family drama. My emotions! I am excited to hear what you think about Library
DeleteI'm not sure how, but I still haven't managed to read GARDEN SPELLS or anything else by Sarah Addison Allen. Her books have been on my TBR list for forever. It's about time I actually read her! Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
I had requested her last book from NG, and it was love at first page. I have read all her other books since then and have adored them all.
DeleteThese are all amazing choices!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteGreat list! Glad to see Oona Out of Order on it :)
ReplyDeleteI really liked it. It hit me in such a big way
DeleteI've heard really good things about Oona Out of Order although I also don't see many people talking about it. I've got it on my TBR and should definitely push it up the list at some point. 😂 Great list!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember seeing much about it back in 2020 when it came out, but I had seen a great review this year (maybe Ali?), and I finally read it. It so good
DeleteI'm currently in the boat you were a few years ago, I'm reading books off my backlist, and I'm enjoying it so much. But you're absolutely right about not judging books by today's standards. I've had to do that with the Bridgerton series, especially. So many gems out there I still haven't discovered! ;)
ReplyDeleteWell, that's a whole different world they lived in back then. I primarily read contemporaries, and there is some stuff in contemporaries from the 90s or early 2000s that I know people would flip about.
DeleteFun post. Almost everything I read is an oldie these days. In the Midnight Library is one on my list. I have it on my Kindle but my loans keep coming in so I have to do those first.
ReplyDeleteKaren @For What It's Worth
I understand that. I always prioritize my loans. I like to think there will be good karma for me when I am waiting for books if I am diligent in reading and returning my loans.
DeleteThanks for linking my blog, Sam! I tend to always be distracted by new books but this year I have had some luck with King's backlist and have been enjoying the Charley Davidson series quite a lot.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great when we find older gems? It is hard to read them all when they come out, but I know I am glad I have made time for more older books.
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