What a strange year it has been, full of changes, new adventures and, as far as this blog is concerned, very abnormal reading habits. But, however altered my reading schedule may have been, the quality of books remained excellent and it was not at all difficult to pick my ten favourite books from 2013:
10. The Talisman Ring (1936) – Georgette Heyer
Having discovered Heyer a decade ago, I thought I’d read all her best works. But no, other bloggers assured me, I still needed to read The Talisman Ring. Nonsense, I thought, but it was Heyer so I was determined to read it anyways. Of course, I discovered that everyone was right and that this hilarious tale of a fanciful young woman, a dashing smuggler, and their put-upon elders is indeed one of the greatest things Heyer wrote.
9. Alif the Unseen (2012) – G. Willow Wilson
I struggled to review all the books I wished to this year and that included some of my favourites, like Alif the Unseen. An extraordinary combination of fantasy, religion, and 21st technology, this story of an Indo-Arab hacker who finds himself on the run from the corrupt state authorities is powerful, timely, and above all, engaging. It was one of only two books this year that kept me reading until late into the night (the other is #6 on this list).
8. The English Air (1940) – D.E. Stevenson
Stevenson is an author whose quality varies dramatically from book to book. I love her but most of her novels are merely good rather than excellent. The English Air is one of those excellent exceptions, sensitively following the struggles of a young German man who finds himself torn between England and Germany at the beginning of the Second World War. Stevenson paints as alluring a portrait of the domestic charms of middle-class pre-war England as anyone but it is her intelligent handling of Franz’s divided loyalties that makes this rise above most of her other works. 
7. The Rosie Project (2013) – Graeme Simsion
This quirky and touching romantic comedy about a socially inept Australian scientist’s search for love was an absolute delight. I loved it so much in fact that I read it not once but twice this year and am now busy pressing everyone I know to read it too.
6. Under Heaven (2010) – Guy Gavriel Kay
Kay, the master of historical fantasy, has now published two books inspired by Chinese history: Under Heaven and River of Stars. I read both this year and both are extraordinarily good but Under Heaven was, to me, the most absorbing. Kay is astonishingly good at balancing character development, political intrigue, and action, making for a book that left my pulse racing and my mind whirling.
5. London War Notes (1971) – Mollie Panter-Downes
The fact that I was even able to get my hands on a copy of this all-too-rare book was a miracle; as anyone who has had the privilege of reading this will agree, it is a travesty that it has not yet been reprinted. During the Second World War, Mollie Panter-Downes’ “Letter from London” was published every second week in the New Yorker magazine, giving her American readers a glimpse of the wartime experience in London. In typical Panter-Downes fashion, she is observant and articulate, intelligent and unsentimental. These letters capture Londoners at their best and worst and are an extraordinary historical record as well as examples of first-rate journalism.
4. Framley Parsonage (1861) – Anthony Trollope
I had some reservations but, for the most part, I adored the fourth book in Trollope’s Barsetshire series. Trollope’s handling of the virtues and failings of his young men reminded me once more of the truthfulness of his writing (and the consistency of human beings, regards of the century) while his female characters, young and old, were delightfully strong, funny, and sympathetic.
3. The Harold Nicolson Diaries (2004) – edited by Nigel Nicolson
An absorbing and revealing collection of wonderfully-written diaries and letters, I loved getting to glimpse all the different facets of Nicolson’s character, from youth to old age.
2. A Time of Gifts (1977) – Patrick Leigh Fermor
In another year, this might have grabbed the top spot. Fermor’s account of the first leg of the charmed journey he took across Europe as a teenager is beautifully written and had me longing to set out on adventures of my own. 
1. Speaking of Jane Austen (1943) – Sheila Kaye-Smith and G.B. Stern
All the other titles on this list were wonderful but not nearly as wonderful as this collection of delightfully eccentric Austen-focused essays. And, of course, it is the only book I have ever come across that spends a sufficient amont of time lavishing praise on the deserving Emma (if you are looking for the fastest way to my heart, look no further).
The Captive Reader 
A lovely list, of course, although I have only read two of ’em (one has been on a previous Top Ten list, the other will be on this year’s list). I think it’s interesting that half of these are non-20th century – you’ve obviously been choosing well between ACOB years! I think I’ve barely read out of the 20th century this year anyway….
It was fun to spend a year not thinking about when a book was published (or rather only thinking about what I might want to save for ACOB 2014) but I am very exciting to be starting ACOB again !
What lovely books! I should really stop reading your blog, as I just end up with every growing wishlist. And I think that sticking with the 20th century for your reading can’t be bad…… 🙂
Always happy to help grow a bookish wishlist!
That is a wonderful list. I’m so pleased that more readers are finding copies of London War Notes, but I’m still very cross with the Cornish Library Service for losing its copy of The English Air.
That is very rude of the Cornish Library Service! My library doesn’t have a copy but I was very lucky to be able to get one via inter-library loan, which is also how I found a copy of London War Notes. Thank goodness for ILL!
Another great list, and more books to look forward to, since I want to read them all. I fell for Harold N. when you were quoting from his diaries… Happy New Year, Claire! I hope it’s a great one.
Happy New Year to you, too, Audrey! I hope you’re able to read some of these and that you enjoy them as much as I did.
I loved ‘The Rosie Project’ too. As someone who is low down but definitely on the Asperger’s spectrum I found it really encouraging to read about a life I could identify with.
I’ve been seeing it on lots of Best of 2013 lists and I’m delighted that it is getting so much praise and attention!
Great list! Discovering Guy Gavriel Kay has been one of my highlights of the year and I can’t wait to read both Under Heaven and River of Stars.
You will love them!
I’ve only read the Georgette Heyer (read them all actually!) but it is the Stevenson book that I would love to get hold of. Very unlikely in this part of the world and my getting one was a fluke – but that is how I end up with some gems. All the very very best for 2014.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, Mystica, that you stumble across some D.E.S. in 2014. (Though, given how difficult it is to find her books here too, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for myself too!) Happy New Year!
A wonderful list for rounding out the year, Claire, and one appreciated by me, though my list may groan at its ever increasing weight.
One of the first books I will be reading in the New Year is Karl Capek’s “The Gardener’s Year”, which I first heard about here at The Captive Reader. My garden club selected it for their horticulture committee read in 2014, and off I went to purchase it, knowing we are in for an earthly treat gleaned from your review a few years ago. I tell you this lest you think, even for a second, that your postings don’t play a part in many readers’ agendas.
Happy New Year.
I’m so excited to hear that your garden club (what a wonderful idea for a club!) will be reading The Gardener’s Year! It’s so delightful and I’m sure you’ll all enjoy it. And thank you for your kind words.
Ooh I really envy you that Panter-Downes – I so loved her short stories.
I think Panter-Downes wa marvellous at everything, really. As a novelist, as a short story writer and certainly as a journalist, she’s extraordinarily gifted.
I will have to read more of her work,
Would love to read London War Notes but rather doubt that I’m going to be able to find a copy. What a lovely list of books though.
It is so difficult to find, isn’t it? Which is why we need a reprint!
What a great list. Recommendations duly noted. I do have a bookstore gift certificate to spend, and I did notice The Rosie Project in my most recent browse-through, so perhaps that is what I’ll treat myself to. 🙂
The English Air is already on my TBR list for the Century of Books starting tomorrow. (Are you doing C of B this year?)
And all the rest… hmm …they *all* look intriguing!
Happy New Year, Claire, and Happy Reading!
~Barb
Ooo, a bookstore gift certificate is always a nice thing to have in your pocket (I have a few currently and am having some very happy hours considering how to spend them)!
I’ve heard such good things about The Rosie Project. Must add it to my 2014 tbr list.
You must! It’s delightful.
A great list! Two of my favorites (The Talisman Ring & Framley Parsonage), and some books I’m planning to get to in 2014. I’ve stockpiled some GG Kay, and I’m still waiting out my turn in the long library line for The Rosie Project. And then on the library sale shelves last week was the 1939-1945 volume of Harold Nicholson’s diaries, for only $3! Happy New Year!
Sounds like you have some great reading plans for 2014!
I’ve been seeing Alif the Unseen and the Rosie Project in a number of blogs recently – seeing them on your top ten was the final tipping point for adding them to my to-read list on Goodreads.
Great! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
Wonderful list! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you too, Pat!
I wonder if Persephone would consider republishing The War Notes as they have published Panter-Downes war stories? Definitely adding some of these to my list and hoping my copy of Angela Thirkell’s Christmas stories arrives tomorrow!
As much as I love Persephone, I’d love to see London War Notes reprinted in hardcover and in a good size. It’s a long book and one I’d want to have a sturdy copy of that could withstand frequent reference.
I love The Talisman Ring. And I have borrowed the Panter-Downes from my uni library, so am looking forward greatly to reading that soon. What a lovely list – and Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you, too! I hope you love the Panter-Downes as much as I did!
I’ve only read the Heyer and the Trollope (and loved them both) but I fancy several of these, especially the Speaking of Jane Austen. What a fascinating list – I’m really impressed with your reading! Do you like Jeffery Farnol? I used to love his books and have several of my grandfather’s copies.
I’ve never heard of Jeffery Farnol but, after a quick search, he sounds like someone I might be interested in trying. Thanks for bringing him to my attention!
Very intriguing list, Claire! There are a few I want to try here. Though you and Simon are both very annoying for saying how amazing London War Notes is when I cannot get hold of a copy of it for love nor money!!
We’re awful, aren’t we? To be fair, I think Simon has his own copy now so you can hound him to lend it to you.
So glad you found a copy of London War Notes! And Happy New Year, by the way! And yes, this is a great list, such diversity!
I would love to find a copy to keep but it was great to simply find a library copy to read. Still, it is a book well-worth owning. Happy New Year, Margaret!
The Rosie Project is $1.99 on Kindle today!
[…] The English Air (one of my top ten books of 2013) […]