It's that time again! Here is the list of books I read this year:
1) Born In Fire - Nora Roberts
2) Keeping Faith - Janice Macdonald
3) Same Kind of Different as Me - Ron Hall & Denver Moore
4) Peter and the Shadow Thieves - Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
5) Hot Ice - Nora Roberts
6) Bloody Bones - Laurell K. Hamilton
7) The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver
8) Without A Trace - Marion Collins
9) The Vampire Armand - Anne Rice
10) The Mastery of Love - Don Miguel Ruiz
11) Dave Barry's The History of the Millennium (So Far) - Dave Barry
12) The Killing Dance - Laurell K. Hamilton
13) Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury
14) Run - Ann Patchett
15) Breakfast of Champions - Kurt Vonnegut
16) The Ugly Dachshund - G. B. Stern
17) Out of the Depths - Valerie Hansen
18) Blue Smoke - Nora Roberts
19) On The Road - Jack Kerouac
20) Kabul Beauty School - Deborah Rodriguez
21) My Booky Wook - Russell Brand
22) Crescent City Courtship - Elizabeth White
23) The Black Company - Glen Cook
24) The Kiss Murder - Mehmet Murat Somer
25) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Steig Larsson
26) The Girl who Played with Fire - Steig Larsson
27) The Cowboy Next Door - Brenda Minton
28) The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Steig Larsson
29) Scent of Roses - Kat Martin
30) The History of Love - Nicole Krauss
31) The Lost - Jonathan Aycliffe
32) The Four Agreements Companion Book - Don Miguel Ruiz
33) Audition - Ryu Murakami
34) The Martian Chronicles - Ray Bradbury
35) The Hideaway - Dean Koontz
36) Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch - B. J. Daniels
37) The One Minute Manager - Kenneth H. Blanchard & Spencer Johnson
38) The Optimist's Daughter - Eudora Welty
39) Going Too Far - Jennifer Echols
40) The Sirens of Titan - Kurt Vonnegut
41) The Anatomy of Peace - The Arbinger Institute
42) The Grays - Whitley Strieber
43) Amy & Roger's Epic Detour - Morgan Matson
44) Backstage Pass - Olivia Cunning
45) Eat Pray Love - Elizabeth Gilbert
46) The Witching Hour - Anne Rice
47) The Thanksgiving Target - Laura Scott
48) Lasher - Anne Rice
49) Taltos - Anne Rice
50) Some Girls Are - Courtney Summers
And now...for my Top Three Picks:
The Poisonwood Bible
This is one of those books that left me awe-struck by the end, in that it was everything I could ever hope to create as a writer. Told from several different (and uniquely voiced) points of view, this is an epic tale that weaves together excellently developed characters, intense plot, and real-world history. The writing was absolutely top-notch. It was one I savored like a fine wine all the way through.
The Martian Chronicles
I picked this book up at the library on a whim right as I was about to leave with a couple other books in hand. It's a collection of fantastical short stories (though it's labeled as "sci-fi" it really is more fantasy, and it's also fine literature with so many heavy messages). I started reading the first story and wasn't sure if I was going to be able to "get into it," so to speak. But I stuck with it, and I am so glad that I did. These interwoven short stories are not only wondrously creative and well-written, but a number of them left me profoundly affected.
The Sirens of Titan
Wow. What can I say about this book? Every Vonnegut novel I read, I like better than the last. In this one, he combines sci-fi with social commentary to make a must-read classic. It's hilarious, it's creative, it's unique, it's dark, it's heartbreaking, it's ironic, it's beautiful. I didn't want it to end. Thank God there are still many other books of his I have yet to read!
I'm now going to do something a little differently than I did last year, and that is to write reviews of my Bottom Two Picks!
Warning!!! Do Not Waste Your Time Reading The Following Crap:
Keeping Faith
At least I only paid like 50 cents for this awful story. The best thing about it is the cover and the cute little baby at the bottom. I disliked all of the characters. I didn't care what happened to any of them. All that sticks in my head about this book was that the mom drank a lot and there was a stupid love scene in a camper. Truly, don't waste your time with this one!
Backstage Pass
This book was basically a ton of really raunchy sex scenes placed around unbelievable characters and situations. I didn't care about either of the leads. The sex was so outrageous it wasn't even hot. It was truly cringe-worthy. It's like some dirty teenage girl's fantasy: going on tour with a band full of uber-cute boy-toys who magically all want to have sex with her, so much that during one scene they ALL actually beg to come along with her to the grocery store to shop for food. Um...reality check, anyone?
That's all for 2010!
Tune in Next Year for Another List and Reviews!
And Until Then, Happy Reading, Everyone!
50 books! Now that's impressive. And I, your English teacher, maybe read three this year and I can't even name them! All I can tell you is that I read Eat, Pray, Love and now am reading The Help. So glad you put Poisonwood Bible at the top of your list! Good job, Carrie!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sally! I thought you'd like my Poisonwood Bible mention.
ReplyDeleteCarrie,
ReplyDeleteI was a huge fan of Ray Bradbury during my high school years. My best friend read everything that he wrote. I hope your new job works out for you.
Paul
Paul, Bradbury is the coolest! He's still writing, you know? I hope the new job works out, too! Hope to see you soon.
ReplyDelete51) Challenges of Change - Stanley A. Fulham
ReplyDelete