Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Reading Through 2010.

And so we find ourselves here again, winding down another year, reflecting on all that we did or didn't do, thinking about what memories we'll carry with us in to the New Year and which ones we will gladly let fade into the back of our brains.

As most of you know by now, I keep a running list of the books I've read throughout the year. It's funny, the things you start without giving them much thought; and then one day you realize they might be one of the best traditions you've got going. I love looking back through these lists every year, recalling which reads were favorites, which ones I'd recommend in a heartbeat, and...which ones I wish I'd never cracked open. I like recalling what was going on in my life when I was reading certain novels; thinking about where I was or what I was doing as another world unfolded among the pages.

I made it through 22 books this year, which is on par with my other annual lists. I'm adding a 23rd with a little asterisk. I've got about 120 pages to go in Great House and I have the utmost confidence I'll finish it off before the calendar officially turns to a new decade.

My favorite read of the year? Easy. The Hunger Games. I adored the whole trilogy, but if I'm to pick just one I have to go with the first one in the series. (But rest assured they are ALL amazing.)

Runner(s)-Up? The Power of One and Peace Like a River. Both fabulous.

And the worst read? Based on this 2010 list? I have to go with Special Topics and Calamity Physics. All in all, this was a pretty stellar year for reading and I didn't hit on too many duds. (Great thing #345 about growing up: recognizing a bad book about 50 or 60 pages in and knowing life's too short to keep pushing yourself to get through it.) Still, it took me a LONG time to get through this book and there's a part of me that would have rather spent that time reading something else. But, eh? Now I know.

So, here she is - The Annual Book List. Do you have favorites of your own from this year? Let's hear 'em!

2010 Books

1.) Sarah’s Key – Tatiana de Rosnay
2.) The Call of the Wild – Jack London
3.) Peace Like a River – Leif Enger
4.) We Need to Talk About Kevin – Lionel Shriver
5.) The Gathering – Anne Enright
6.) The Power of One – Bryce Courtenay
7.) Meeting Your Half-Orange – Amy Spencer
8.) The Girl with the Dragon TattooSteig Larsson
9.) Reasons for and Advantages of Breathing – Lydia Peelle
10,) Boston Noir – Edited by Dennis Lehane
11.) Number the Stars – Lois Lowry
12.) The Big House – George Howe Colt
13.) The Geography of Bliss – Eric Weiner
14.) The Devil’s Arithmetic – Jane Yolen
15.) Special Topics in Calamity PhysicsMarisha Pessl
16.) One Day – David Nicholls
17.) The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
18.) The Art of Racing in the Rain – Garth Stein
19.) The Girl Who Played With Fire Steig Larsson
20.) Interpreter of MaladiesJhumpa Lahiri
21.) Catching Fire – Suzanne Collins
22.) Mockingjay – Suzanne Collins
23.) Great House - Nicole Krauss

1 comment:

heidikins said...

I loved The Power of One, such a FANTASTIC read!

xox