Top Five Favorite Reads of 2009

[nancy324]

What were your favorites of the books you read in 2009?

Rules:
1. You can include books that were published prior to 2009, as long as you read them in 2009.
2. Fewer than 5 is okay, but don't list more than 5.
3. It is not necessary to list them in preference order, but you can if you want to.

 

[TeTe]

I've read only two books that were published in 2009, and both were by Nick Hornby: Juliet, Naked and An Education (which was really a screenplay). I enjoyed them both, very much.

 

[nancy324]

I've read only two books that were published in 2009, and both were by Nick Hornby: Juliet, Naked and An Education (which was really a screenplay). I enjoyed them both, very much.

And I thought the rules were short enough that everyone would read them. Ah, well.

 

[zoesmom]

What were your favorites of the books you read in 2009?

Rules:
1. You can include books that were published prior to 2009, as long as you read them in 2009.
2. Fewer than 5 is okay, but don't list more than 5.
3. It is not necessary to list them in preference order, but you can if you want to.

I'm always working so it's hard for me 2 sit down an read a good novel. However, I do LOVE audiobooks especially series. So heres my audiobook list:

1. chris grabenstein's- john ceepak and danny boyle mystery series (6 books)
2. stephanie lauren's- cynster series (16 books)
3. j.d. robb's- eve dallas & roarke series (37 books)
4. lisa gardner's - quincy/rainie series (6 books)
5. louise penny - chief inspector armand gamache series (5 books)

plus the public library is a great place 2 go to pick up audiobooks as well.

Also I found this great website that gives you most or all the searches for fiction authors and book. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/

 

[TeTe]

Oops! Maybe I had too many martinis at the open house I just came back from!!!

Okay, my favorite books that I read this year are:

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Tess of the d'Ubervilles by Thomas Hardy
The Ghost in Love by Jonathan Carroll
My Life in France by Julia Child & Alex Prud'Homme
Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby

 

[spyrosmom]

hmmmmmm.......

The Autobiography of Santa Claus (can't recall the author)
The Owl Killers (blanking on the author again)
The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series (JR Ward, several books, though, Lover Unbound was my favorite)
Acheron (Sherilyn Kenyon)
Song of Ice and Fire Series (George RR Martin, again, several books)

I love to read, but I generally don't read too many "serious" books. I read to escape, so I tend toward more entertainment than heavy.

The worst book I read would have to be "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" The original was a total snore, and I thought the zombies would make it better, but NOPE!

Nan

 

[nancy324]

The worst book I read would have to be "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" The original was a total snore, and I thought the zombies would make it better, but NOPE!

Nan

Pride and Prejudice a snore? I think that may be my favorite novel of all time. Interesting!

 

[spyrosmom]

Pride and Prejudice a snore? I think that may be my favorite novel of all time. Interesting!

Whoops No insult to you meant. I couldn't get into any of her books. Didn't like any of the Pride and Prejudice movies, either. I was going to try "Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters" but since I didn't like the zombie book, I passed.

Nan

 

[Gayle]

Oye...I can't come up with five for this year.

1. The Quiet American - Graham Greene
2. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer
3. Under the Black Flag - David Cordingly...yarrr!

 

[lioness]

1. Curse of the Spellmans - Liza Lutz
2. The Glass Castle - Jeanette Walls
3. Marathon Woman - Kathrine Switzer
4. Unfinished Business - What the Dead Can Teach us About Life - James Van Praagh
5. Gardenias - Faith Sullivan

 

[banslug]

WOW! This was very tough for me to pick only 5, but I guess that's the fun of it, hugh? Here are mine, in numbered ordered; and BELIEVE ME that they are all very close to #1 and that there are a few others that were tough to leave off this short list!

1. Sarah's Key, Tatiana de Rosnay
2. Year of Wonders, Geraldine Brooks
3. The Good Earth, Pearl S Buck
4. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Jules Verne
5. Mary, Janis Cooke Newman

Nancy, great post and idea!!!

Gayle

 

[Fembot40]

#1. The Book Thief (I can't wait to read it again!)
#2. The Grapes of Wrath
#3. The Host

I read a few books this year that were really not my taste at all, thankfully there were these three. I have to say The Book Thief is my favorite all time book, it even tops Gone with the Wind.

 

[bakert]

Two series which I discovered from this terrific forum and I absolutely love them (and Amazon now adores me

1. The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series - books 1-5 this year
2. The Outlander Series - will finish the first book today and start number 2 instantly

Cheers,
T.

 

[Beavs]

Three of the books I chose were actually published in 2009, Colum McCann's being the recipient of the National Book Award for 2009 in fiction.

1.) Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann

2.) Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill

3.) Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and its Aftermath by Elizabeth & Michael Norman

4.) A Fiery Peace in a Cold War: Bernard Shriever and the Ultimate Weapon by Neil Sheehan

5.) A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

 

[dixiedog6]

The Book of Negroes-Lawrence Hill (the best book I have ever read)
The Glass Castle-Jeanette Walls
The Help-? ( can't remember)
Push-Saphire

 

[Beavs]

The Book of Negroes-Lawrence Hill (the best book I have ever read)

FYI in the States this book is entitled "Someone Knows My Name"

 

[dixiedog6]

I didn't know it had a different title in the U.S. I have another book by lawrence hill on my night stand to read. I am looking forward to it. Thanks for the info on the alternative title.

 

[TeTe]

Beavs,

I'm so glad you read Confederacy of Dunces!!! One of the funniest books I've ever read. Did you have some laugh out loud moments?

 

[Beavs]

Beavs,

I'm so glad you read Confederacy of Dunces!!! One of the funniest books I've ever read. Did you have some laugh out loud moments?

Yes! People were staring at me on the train like "WTF is wrong with that chick?!"

 

[Fitnessfreakk366]

I only read one series this year - The Twilight Series. Hands down, the best books I've ever read to date.