Happy Booker Award

Grace Tierney of the Woodfoolery Blog  http://wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/wordfoolery-nominates/ has tagged me in The Happy Booker Award check out the link above to see Grace's choices which are fab.

I decided to make two lists, one for adult books and one for YA. These are some of my all time favourite books.

Top 5 Adults Books

The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirezvani

This is a stunning book set in Seventeenth Century Persia about a young girl with a talent for weaving beautiful rugs who seeks to assert herself in a world dominated by men. It is a sensual and lyrical debut which fans of Khaled Hosseini and Dina Nayeri will be enchanted by.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield 

A fabulous book perfect for fans of Daphne du Maurier or Charlotte Bronte. Biographer Margaret Lea travels to interview reclusive writer Vida Winter and learn the secrets of Angelfield House. A sumptuous gothic tale. I loved it.

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

I first read this book nearly twenty years ago and it was already a classic then. It was the first in Bradley's Avalon series which Diana L Paxson has been continuing since her death. It is a retelling of The Arthurian tales through the eyes of his half sister Morgaine. It presents a feminist and Pagan version of the story as Morgaine sees the old ways pushed out and women's wisdom devalued. A must read for Fantasy fans especially if you enjoy the work of Juliet Marillier and Mary Stewart

The Kingdom of Shadows by Barbra Erskine

I have read almost all of Barbara Erskine's books she is a fantastic author who writes historical fiction with a paranormal element. This was my introduction to her writing way back in the 1990s. It weaves together the stories of present day Clare with her Scottish ancestor Isobel Countess of Buchan from the Fourteenth Century blending historical fact and fiction. If you are a fan of Diana Gabaldon then this a must.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

One of my favourite recent reads. I adore the supernatural element and the romance is beautifully done. It's Twilight for grown ups. Historian Diana Bishop discovers a manuscript in the Bodleian Libray which has been missing for many years and there are many magical creatures who want to get their hands on it, including centuries old vampire Matthew Clairmont. This has been a huge hit amongst fans of Diana Gabaldon, Carol Goodman and Elizabeth Kostova.

I will post up my top five YA picks asap and tag some bloggers to get their choices. In the mean time feel free to comment here.