Books Read in 2010

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!