We may have to cancel the parties but today reviewsrevues.com is celebrating six years of posts! That’s six years and 750 posts. I thought it would be fun to mark the day with some quick 6 of the bests. I’m using today to highlight some of those authors, books, musicians, TV programmes and films who have had their part to play over the last 6 years. I’ve chosen 14 categories and six things which are “of the best” rather than the actual “best” which would create far too much pondering and anguish on my part! A couple have sneaked into more than one category and I’m not apologising for that ! I’ve linked to any relevant reviews/info.

Six Of The Best – 21st Century Novels : Atonement- Ian McEwan (2001) ; The Book Of Human Skin – Michele Lovric (2010) ; The Book Thief- Markus Zusak (2007); The Crimson Petal And The White- Michel Faber (2002); The Great Believers – Rebecca Makkai (2018); The Heart’s Invisible Furies – John Boyne (2017)

Six Of The Best – 20th Century Novels– Alone In Berlin – Hans Fallada (1947); The Grapes Of Wrath- John Steinbeck (1939) ; Sacred Hunger- Barry Unsworth (1992) ;The Swimming Pool Library – Alan Hollinghurst (1988); To Kill A Mockingbird – Harper Lee (1960); The Wanderers – Richard Price (1974)

Six Of The Best – 19th Century Novels – Bleak House – Charles Dickens (1853); The Count Of Monte Cristo- Alexandre Dumas (1844); Jane Eyre- Charlotte Bronte (1847); Mary Barton – Mrs Gaskell (1848); Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens (1859), Wuthering Heights- Emily Bronte (1847)

Six Of The Best – Classic Children’s Books – The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne (2006); Krindlekrax- Philip Ridley (1991); The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe- CS Lewis(1950); Northern Lights – Philip Pullman(1995), Quick, Let’s Get Out Of Here- Michael Rosen (1983) ; Winnie The Pooh – A A Milne (1926)

Six Of The Best – Translated Fiction – Alone In Berlin- Hans Fallada (1947) (German- 2010 translation by Michael Hofmann) ; Count Of Monte Cristo- Alexandre Dumas (1844) (French -1996 translation by Robin Buss); Joe Speedboat – Tommy Wieringa (2016) (Dutch- translation by Sam Garrett); The Memory Police – Yoko Ogawa (2019) (Japanese- translation by Stephen Synder) ; Secrets Of The Chess Machine – Robert Lohr (2007)(German- translation by Anthea Bell) ; Suite Francaise – Irene Nemirovsky (2007)(French- translation by Sandra Smith)

Six Of The Best – Diaries and Memoirs– Babycham Night – Philip Norman (2003); Few Eggs And No Oranges – Vere Hodgson (1999); The Kenneth Williams Diaries (Ed: Russell Davies) (1994); The Noel Coward Diaries (Ed:Graham Payn and Sheridan Morley) (1982) ; The Orton Diaries (Ed: John Lahr) (1986); Toast – Nigel Slater (2003)

Six Of The Best – Netflix Shows to ease the stress of Lockdown – Call My Agent (I’m only on season 1) ; Dynasty (I’m towards the end of Season 3 – this is now a five star show) ; Elite (love this, just about to start Season 3- am trying to ration myself ); Riverdale (have been watching this since 2017- I’m up to Season 3, Season 5 has just launched); Schitt’s Creek (it was a sad day in our household when we watched the final episode) ; Toyboy (ditto “Schitt’s Creek comment, but “Elite” has filled this Spanish drama hole)

Six Of The Best – TV Shows I’m Currently Watching – The Bay; The Great Pottery Showdown; It’s A Sin; Junior Bakeoff; Rupaul’s Drag Race UK; The Serpent

Six Of The Best Films from the last Six Years– Dunkirk (2017); God’s Own Country (2017); Green Book (2018); The Guernsey Literary & Potato Pie Society (2018); Ladybird (2018), The Personal History Of David Copperfield (2020)

Six Of The Best Animated Movies of 21st Century – Arthur Christmas(2011); Despicable Me(2010); Frankenweenie(2012); Monsters Inc (2002); Toy Story 3 (2010);Up (2009)

Six Of The Best 80’s Movies– ET (1982); Gremlins (1984); My Life As A Dog (1985); Prick Up Your Ears (1987); Room With A View (1986); Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

Six Of The Best 60’s Movies – Carry On Camping (1969); The Damned (1969); Gypsy (1962);Midnight Cowboy (1969); Rosemary’s Baby (1968); To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)

Six Of The Best Songs with “Love” in The Title – Greatest Love Of All- Whitney Houston (1986); I’m Ready For Love – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas (1966); Love Hangover – Diana Ross (1976); Love To Love You Baby- Donna Summer (1975); Love’s Just A Broken Heart- Cilla Black (1966); When You’re Young And In Love – The Marvelettes (1967)

Six Of The Best Motown Songs – Easy- Commodores (1977); He’s My Man – The Supremes (1975); I Want You Back – Jackson 5 (1969); It’s Bad For Me To See You – Yvonne Fair (1975); Love Hangover – Diana Ross (1976); What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted – Jimmy Ruffin(1966).

I’m stopping now……..I’m arguing with myself too much as to what should be in each list. Thanks for reading and here’s to the next six years!