2015 has been a fantastic year for books – especially if you like chunksters as much as I do! All my favourite reads this year have had a massive amount of pages – they may require a big investment of time, but they are worth it.
Here are a selection of my favourites, with award categories invented to ensure I mention all the books I that I enjoyed the most:
![A Little Life A Little Life](http://images.farmlanebooks.co.uk/51WgBXa2BRVfLa_SL160_.jpg)
This book deserves all the hype it’s received. It is gripping throughout and packed with emotion. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this cast of characters.
![I Am Radar I Am Radar](http://images.farmlanebooks.co.uk/61xDAh1GH4La_SL160_.jpg)
I Am Radar should have been showered with awards. It is one of the most intelligent books I’ve ever read and deserves much more attention than it’s received so far. Hopefully this will change when the paperback
is released in March.
![Home is Burning Home is Burning](http://images.farmlanebooks.co.uk/41Vd789DaQLa_SL160_.jpg)
Terminal illnesses have never been so funny! If you can cope with the coarse language, this book will give you an incredible insight into how one family coped with a terrible situation.
![Death and Mr Pickwick Death and Mr Pickwick](http://images.farmlanebooks.co.uk/515vomDjgdLa_SL160_.jpg)
If you enjoy reading about Dickensian England, this is for you! You can almost smell those dirty London streets.
![The Mountain Shadow The Mountain Shadow](http://images.farmlanebooks.co.uk/41UoQ04MExLa_SL160_.jpg)
Shantaram is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Unfortunately the sequel isn’t in the same league and actually makes the original seem worse than it is. I recommend avoiding it!
![Pigs in Clover: Or How I Accidentally Fell in Love with the Good Life Pigs in Clover: Or How I Accidentally Fell in Love with the Good Life](http://images.farmlanebooks.co.uk/51ks0xWRxlLa_SL160_.jpg)
This book is packed with funny anecdotes, but the electric fence/testicle incident had me smiling for days!
![](http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=wwwfarmlanebo-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B00KGJSMSC)
![Blackass Blackass](http://images.farmlanebooks.co.uk/51aFIaOK3vLa_SL160_.jpg)
A black man wakes up to discover that every inch of his skin has turned white, with the exception of his bottom. This satire of race relations in Nigeria makes some very important points, but is also very funny. It deserves more attention that it has received so far.
![All Involved All Involved](http://images.farmlanebooks.co.uk/61bX470PtmLa_SL160_.jpg)
Parts of this book were very disturbing, but it does a fantastic job of explaining why people are drawn into violence. It’s one of the most important releases of the year.
![Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage](http://images.farmlanebooks.co.uk/41gt5J0BVhLa_SL160_.jpg)
Haruki Murakami continues to produce excellent books. Colorless Tsukuru and His Years of Pilgrimage is one of his more realistic stories, but retains the magic of his observational skills. Especially recommended to those who have lost contact with old friends.
Best New Children’s Character: Squirrel Boy![](http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=wwwfarmlanebo-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B00SU6CIDI)
![Squirrel Boy vs the Bogeyman Squirrel Boy vs the Bogeyman](http://images.farmlanebooks.co.uk/517ApZWCcWLa_SL160_.jpg)
Fast paced and funny, Squirrel Boy is a fantastic creation. My boys (8 and 10) were captivated by him!
Books Published in Previous Years
It would be a shame to forget books released in previous years, so here are a few of the best from the back catalogue:
![The Martian The Martian](http://images.farmlanebooks.co.uk/41pdiK-BZELa_SL160_.jpg)
It combines comedy and science with real tension. One of the best audio books I’ve ever listened to.
![Into That Forest Into That Forest](http://images.farmlanebooks.co.uk/51WWpsHoXBLa_SL160_.jpg)
This book about children being brought up by Tasmanian tigers is atmospheric and emotional. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about the natural world.
![Ghost Boy Ghost Boy](http://images.farmlanebooks.co.uk/51inpdtI6GLa_SL160_.jpg)
This is one of the most amazing stories I’ve ever read. If you ever feel that you can’t achieve your dreams, read this and you’ll see that nothing is impossible – if you want it enough.
I love the strangeness of Japanese fiction – you never know exactly what will happen next. This is one of the best example of its genre. Highly recommended!
Have you read any of these books?
Which were you favourite reads in 2015?