Ah, 2010. What a year you were. You almost kicked my readerly butt, you did, but 2011 is here and ready to refresh and renew me and, hopefully, this pitiful little blog. I managed to read (or listen) to 107 books last year. There were some highs (finally reading Dracula!) and some lows (uh, Beatrice and Virgil anyone?). My goal of challenging myself more was, pretty much, a success. I did challenge myself some, but not as much as I hoped. I hope to do that even more in 2011, where the new motto is quality of quantity! If I make it to 100 books, GREAT, but if I make it to 100 AWESOME books, even BETTER! So, without further ado, here are some of the highlights of 2010 for me. In no particular order, of course.
- Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue - I couldn’t put it down.
- Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons – I will forever love this book. I’m still in love with Jack and Sadie and their lovely, lovely story.
- Waiting for Columbus by Thomas Trofimuk - I read this book in like, one day, I think, or maybe two. It was for the new year readathon and it is still with me a year later. I’m so glad my Secret Book Blogger Santa person (who are you??? I want to thank you!!!) sent me my very own gorgeous copy. My love for this book remains strong.
- The House of Tomorrow: A Novel by Peter Bognanni - I can’t even remember how I got my advanced copy of this, if it was unsolicited or if I asked for it on a whim. It was definitely on a whim that I picked it up and I was blown away. Sebastian still melts my heart and Jared makes me want to rock out with my, um, hair down?
- Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork – my not-so-secret blogger Santa Chris for last year, sent me this for Christmas last year and it was with giddy relief that I finally picked it up. I had wanted it for ages and It. Delivered.
- Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness – HOW did I NOT review this book??? Monsters of Men was the conclusion to what has become my hands-down, heart-a-thumpin, favorite series of all time. Except for maybe Harry Potter. Maybe.
- The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters – Ah, Little Stranger. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Oh yeah, I already did. I will be rereading you this coming RIP VI.
- Dracula by Bram Stoker – Oh Dracula, you cold-hearted little mucker. What took me so long? I promise, it won’t be that long again. I personally hold you responsible for mucking up the fourth quarter of reading for me.
- The Fox Woman by Kij Johnson – another I haven’t reviewed yet. I wasn’t technically supposed to read it until this year for my challenge from Nymeth, but when I read the description I couldn’t wait. For good reason. Elegantly written, this book is a little jewel. I’ll review it soon.
Top Audio:
- The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister, read by Cassandra Campbell - great story, but for me the reader was kill here. Campbell is definitely one of those readers I would listen to read anything.
- Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson, read by Peter Altschuler – Delightful story, delightful reader, in every way delightful. I adored this book.
- Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook, written and read by Anthony Bourdain – Another I should have reviewed. I adore Bourdain, he delivered Bourdain and then read it to me. Bourdain FTW!
- White Cat (Curse Workers #1) by Holly Black, read by Jesse Eisenburg - Haven’t reviewed (drat! another one?!) but I really enjoyed it. Jesse Eisenburg better be back for the next one!
- Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, read by Lee Horsley – An all time favorite book made even more epic by a great reader. Good Lord above but I love Gus.
- We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson, read by Bernadette Dunne – Dunne gives this creepy tale a whole ‘nother level of creepy. She oozes the creepy. It’s fantastic.
- The Color Purple by Alice Walker - Not only am I so very happy I finally read this book, I’m even happier I let the author read it to me. I’m absolutely certain that took it to a whole new level of awesome.
- Nation by Terry Pratchett - I haven’t gotten around to reviewing this one yet, but I adored it. I adore Terry Pratchett and he was without a doubt my best discovery (authorwise) of 2010. I will be reading many, many, many more Pratchett books in the coming year.
So there she is. Here’s to 2011, a year of no reading slumps, no blogging slumps, just lots of fun. Hey, a girl can hope, right?
What were your favorite books of 2010?
I've only read a few of those books, but have others in my TBR. I bought Major Pettigrew's Last Stand for my sister for Christmas – I hope she loves it too. Happy New Year!
Ooh I should try to listen to an audio of We Have Always Lived in the Castle! That one made my best of the year too!
Happy New Year to you too Kathy! And I hope she does too!
Yes you should Amanda! It was so deliciously creepy, one of the best ever.
You had a fantastic year! I hope 2011 treats you just as well
Oh how I want to read sooo many of the books on your list.
Happy New Year! I'm wishing no reading slumps either considering how many DNF books i had last year. Oh well we can always hope right?
I'm so glad to see The Little Stranger made your list of favorites too! Wishing you a great reading year ahead Heather!
You read some wonderful books. I really like Marcelo in the Real World. Waiting for Columbus, The Color Purple, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, and The House of Tomorrow are all on my TBR list for this year. I hope this year is just as great as last year was. (It feels so funny to type that!) Happy New Year!
Dracula is one of my favorite books! I'm so glad to read that you loved it! I wonder if you might like The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova? I feel like it's a nice companion piece to it!
I'm looking forward to reading Sarah Waters this year. I have both Affinity and Fingersmith downloaded so far! Now I just need to start reading it!
Such good favorites you have up there! Dracula, Monsters of Men, The House of Tomorrow, We Have Always Lived in the Castle… all so wonderful!
I really want to read Waiting for Columbus, and if your favorites are any indication, I'm sure I'll love it too.
(I second The Historian)
Here here to no reading slumps. I have Dracula and still haven't read it either, I will this year.
Great list.
Here is mine if interested
http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2010/12/tea-time…
I loved Dracula when I read it last year–I can't believe I thought I wouldn't like it. I'm glad to see you enjoyed it too. Waiting For Columbus is one of those books I was chomping at the bit to own when it first came out and then once I had it . . . Well, let's just say it's still sitting in my TBR room waiting.
I hope your New Year is filled with at least a 100 awesome books.
Happy New Year!
I've been meaning to read We Have Always Lived in the Castle, I like the idea of listening to it!
You've got other books from my TBR pile on your list, I'll bump those up a little
.
Okay, Heather, I have a bone to pick with you, my dear!!! How dare you call your blog "this pathetic little blog"!!! What do you think that says about me, when your blog is without a doubt one of my absolute favorite blogs in the whole dang world?!! Take it back. Take it back this very minute!!!
(You could, of course, simply post the color of the socks you're wearing each day and I'd still read without fail. Because you, dear Heather, couldn't write a "pathetic" post if you tried! Love you!)
What a great wrap up post. I jotted down several titles as I am always on the lookout for awesome audio books (readers make it). Thanks for your lists.
Hope you have a wonderful New Year and read lots of great books in the process
Thanks Michelle! I hope you have a fantastic year as well!
Andiroo! How I WANT you to read ALL the books on my list! For purely selfish reasons, of course
Happy New Year Iliana! The Little Stranger was ALL kinds of excellent. I'm so glad you enjoyed it too!
Happy New Year Natasha! I hope your reading year is all you want it to be. And it will if you read all those books
Coffee and Book Chick – I've read The Historian three times now and I LOVED it each time. It is such a great book and the big, huge reason why I wanted to read Dracula! I hope to read them both this year. Happy New Year!
She, I hope you get to Waiting for Columbus. I adore that book so much. I may even reread it this year too! Happy New Year!
Marce, I hope you love it too! It was so surprisingly good! Happy New Year!
Wendy, you need to get on that Waiting for Columbus! I can't say anything, my TBR would be short indeed, if it weren't for the books I chomped at the bit to get – and then didn't read! LOL Happy New Year!
Laura, you will love it! Listening was the best way for me. It really upped the creepy factor I think. Happy New Year!
Debi, I already emailed you back, but thanks for the laugh. I adore you woman!
Bibliophile, thank you! I love audios so much, are you are exactly right, the readers make it. They can make a bad book tolerable, and of course, make a good book hard to listen to. Happy New Year to you too!
Great post! I could use a year of no blogging or reading slumps too!
Some really great books listed there, especially Waiting for Columbus. I really really loved that book when I read it. Congratulations on making it through the year with so many top books and all the best in 2011.
Every book on your list that I have NOT read is already on my wish list, but now I am itching like crazy to read them all right this minute and understand their true glory. Er, does anyone else ever want to do that? Kind of like the Cookie Monster's crazy cookie chomping/gorging, but with books?
That's a great list of books. Room was simply excellent, wasn't it?
Happy New Year!
I read The Color Purple this year too. I bet the audio version was great!
Happy New Year!
I have had The Knife of Never Letting Go on my TBR stack for awhile now, and since I have been reading so many year-end posts from bloggers proclaming their love for Monsters, I have moved it up the pile and will be reading it this month for sure.
I loved The Color Purple when I read it years ago. If I re-read it, I'll have to get the audio. Happy new year!
Mr Rosenblum made my list too, and I really read it thanks to you, so thanks!
Just finished reading Room last night and was worried I was going to have nightmares about 11×11 ft. spaces, but thankfully — no! Just a rush of good feeling over such a fabulous, unexpected book.
Mr. Rosenblum… is on my wishlist — have to get my hands on it!