What a creative title, huh? I've also changed my background (again!)
I got the idea for this post after reading this extensive book list of 2009 from this great blog.
I'm including a list of the books I read in 2009. Not nearly as extensive as the other, but I wanted to share. I've kept a book that lists the books I've read since 2004, but sometimes I forget to record them. Tell me what you think about the books on my list. I'd love to hear what you've read also and what you recommend.
I pretty much only read fiction. I'm a social studies teacher and the two large bookshelves in my home are filled with mainly non-fiction. I always purchase them yet never read them. Why? Well, when I actually get to sit down and relax, I'd rather not think very much or try to learn. I do that every day at school. When I read, it's purely for entertainment. That's why I never watch the Histo.ry Channel either.
At the urging of a friend, I finally signed up at paperbac.kbookswap.com. Wow! It's like Christmas all over again.
So, here's my 2009:
Skeletons at the Feast/Chris Bohjalian
Testimony/Anita Shreve
Best Friends Forever/Jennifer Weiner
Dune Road/Jane Green
Indignation/Philip Roth
Twilight/Stephanie Meyer
New Moon/Stephanie Meyer
Eclipse/Stephanie Meyer
Breaking Dawn/Stephanie Meyer
Walking in Circles Before Lying Down/Merrill Markoe
Friday Night Knitting Club/Kate Jacobs
Twenties Girl/Sophie Kinsella
Windless Summer/Heather Sharffadin
Firefly Lane/Kristin Hannah
Black Friday/Alex Kava
Long Lost/Harlen Cohen
The Hour I First Believed/Wally Lamb
One Fifth Avenue/Candace Bushnell
The Senator's Wife/Sue Miller
Revolutionary Road/Richard Yates
My favorites are in green. My favorite books, overall though are: The Kite Runner, She's Come Undone and East of Eden.
Any recommendations?
I do like your new background! I've heard that "Dear John" is really good, by Nicholas Sparks. I guess there is a movie coming out, and being a military wife, I'm sure I'll evenuatlly read and watch it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post!!!
ReplyDeleteMy MUST reads (aka, books that I buy for people and give away frequently) are:
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (this goes on my top 5 books of all time list, it's really beautiful)
Travelling Mercies: Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott. This book will be located in the christian section (usually) which I think is a COMPLETE misnomer. It's a series of short essays about the authors life and while it revolves around her faith, it's also just her life.
And, if you like escapism/romance/vampires, then The Southern Vampire Series (aka The Sookie Stackhouse Series) by Charlaine Harris is super fun.
She's Come Undone was incredible. I didn't like The Hour I First Believed. Did you? I did like the other one by Wally Lamb about the mentally ill brother.
ReplyDeleteKite Runner was incredible too. Did you read A Thousand Splended Suns by him? That was just as good.
Wow good job! My list would be SO sad! I haven't read any of those either =(. I'm ashamed to tell you some of my list.
ReplyDeleteChelsea Handler's "My Horizontal Life" and "Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea"
Janice Dickinson's "No Lifeguard On Duty"
Tori Spelling's "Mommywood"
Sprinkled in with plenty of IF books but the rest have been strictly trashy. =) PS-I love the background. Green is my fav color!
Great idea! I'll have to wait until all of my books are out of storage to make my list! I have read almost everything by Jane Green and Jennifer Weiner. I always liked that most of her books are in Philadelphia. It's fun to see some local things. I read the Twilight series too. I too love to just escape when I read.
ReplyDeleteOh I did want to share my favorite book of all time...The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It's not trashy at all ;)
ReplyDeleteHmm...JC I'll check that one out. Thanks to the rest of you for your suggestions also! I'm going to look into those!
ReplyDeleteDawn, do you mind if I ask where you live? I'm wondering how close it is. If that's not ok though, that's fine.
Nixy, I don't usually read vampire books but my students and the book club that I lead kept pesting me to read Twilight so I did.
ReplyDeleteDawn, no, I didn't really like The Hour I First Believed. The other Lamb book I enjoyed though. I've read A Thousand Splended Suns also. Have you ever checked out Reading Lolita in Tehran?
I love Sophie Kinsella. I'm now currently obsessed with Jane Green novels.
ReplyDeleteI read "East of Eden" years ago and I loved it. Though I can't remember anything about it now. I love reading the classics (in addition to anything Stephen King, lol) "Tess of the D'ubervilles" is one of my favorites and so was a Louisa May Alcott novel I think was called "A long fatal love affair" or something similar.
I'm trying to find "The reluctant wife" and "too much happiness" but my library is never in stock with those. They made NPR's list of best books for 2009, so I may have to hit up Barnes and Noble for them. I'll totally check out some on your list!
My favorite book that I always recommend to others is "The Year of Wonders" by Geraldine Brooks. Its a book of hope and love and tragedy.
ReplyDeleteI love your lists.
alright, i LOVE this post, and I may steal the idea for my own blog.
ReplyDeleteI hear you about the "vampire books." Twilight was like the pot that led me to crack (sookie books) on that one. they are good airplane books.
I second The Alchemist. It also makes my top 10 list.
Thanks for posting all your favorite reads :)
ReplyDeleteI love Jane Green and finished The Beach House not long ago, which I loved. And, I want to read She's Come Undone and Fire Fly Lane :)
Just finished the Art of Racing in the Rain, and its a great read...narated by a dog, so it's intresting. And, The Kite Runner remains one of the BEST books I have ever read...and Night by Elie Wisel.
Thanks for all the tips!
On a more important note, I do hope that you are feeling better and recovering from your surgery. Let us know how you are.
Many Hugs,
What a great post. I must admit I did not read many books in 2009, but I always love lists of books. I will definetly have to check some of them out. I hope you are feeling better, relaxing, and enjoying a good book!
ReplyDeleteFirst, thanks all for asking how I am. I'm doing well. Hopefully that continues! :)
ReplyDeleteAndrea, I actually just got rid of The Art of Racing in the Rain. I just kept sobbing as I read it and I was only half through. It was so good but I didn't want to be sad and felt like I didn't even want it in the house. Crazy, I know.
Nixy, "steal" away. :) That's two votes now for The Alchemist. Looks like that will move to the top of my list.
And Jin, thanks for the head's up about the NPR lists. I love book lists :)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE to read and since my hubby got me an E-reader for my birthday I've been reading a LOT. Unfortunately I love both fiction and non fiction...so I don't have a really good list for you right now...BUT i have HEARD that "The Wednesday Letters" is supposed to be fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly, I just got your message! We live in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Are you more central?
ReplyDeleteKelly: One of my favorite fiction books is Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. It's a little emotional at parts, but it's a really powerful book.
ReplyDeleteOne fiction book I read this year and loved was Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell. It's a comedic thriller. Don't read if you have a weak stomach! :)
Dawn, I lived in Berks County all my life until a few years ago. Now I'm about an hour south of State College.
ReplyDeleteWow, that list seems really LONG to me! I'd be so embarrased to post my own list for 2009 next to it. :-[
ReplyDeleteA few I read this year stand out:
ReplyDeleteOlive Kitteridge, Elizabeth Strout
The Heart is Lonely Hunter, Carson McCullers
The Alienist, Caleb Carr
Belong To Me, Marisa de los Santos
A Life, Guy de Maupassant
I just reread The Shining, Stephen King. So much better than the movie!
Rita, I LOVE Caleb Carr. Have you read any others?
ReplyDelete