Relyn's Best New Reads of 2008
10 Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
9 Martina, the Beautiful Cockroach by Carmen Deedy
8 The Arrival by Shaun Tan
7 Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
6 Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
5 Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
4 Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card
3 Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar
2 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
and the winner is....1 History of Love by Nicole Krauss
What books did you love this year?
Image: The image above is just a taste of all the goodness you'll find when you click on pinkbelt's photostream. What: 217 books recorded either in my journal or Goodreads, from a variety of genres and all age levels How: I choose my top ten based on the rating I gave each book upon completion. I sorted my top ten and placed them in order of preference based on my thoughts of the book after some time has passed. More Details: Click on the Goodreads icon in the sidebar to read my reviews of each of these books.
21 comments:
I need so much more time to do nothing but read...how do you do it !!!
I started "the middle place" that laura had on her list and I can already tell that it's one I won't be able to put down....
thanks for making my reading list even bigger !!!
So far I've read:
Becoming A Better You by Joel Osteen
100 Ways To Simplify your Life by Joyce Meyer
Twilight
New Moon
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I have 5 books waiting to be cracked open this year so far. :)
Well...I am just so honored to be mentioned in this post! Thanks.
I will be checking out all the books on your list....we both agreed on the Sherman Alexie. He was an author that I just discovered for myself last year and he is quite the writer....would love to have dinner with him.
Reading is truly my #1 passion in life and I am so blessed that we can share our love of it together!
Hi! I love your list and I love that you really read and review your books in such depth! You know my issue with books this year, but I DID finally finish Sarah's Key the other night. I am anxiously awaiting The Middle Place and I KNOW I will be able to finish THAT one! My all time "OMG" book is There's Something About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. It really stays with you (not a happy book but has you reading and curious until the end). Happy Reading.
Patti
Hello
It seems like an interesting list. I love reading, even though I don't blog about all the books I read.
The two books that stood out for me during 2008, which was a year requiring a lot of courage are: The Last Lecture and Go Kiss the World. Am currently reading Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman and I do want to pick up Po Bronson's book: What should I do with my life. Some sample chapters are up here:www.pobronson.com with some real gems to be unearthed.
Cheers
Lubna
Beth, I am excited for you because I keep picturing you on a balcony with a comforting drink, a pillow, an ocean breeze, and a fabulous book. If you really want to know how I do it, here it is. 1) I read a lot of children's and young adult literature. Much quicker reads, though that's not why I love it so much. 2)We don't have a TV. This is largely so that we have plenty of time for reading.
Tabby, Are you saying that so far this year you've already read 5 books? My hero.
Laura, That's a wonderful comment. Now I, too, am longing to have dinner with Sherman Alexie. Have you read Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight In Heaven? I loved it.
Patti, I am going to my library website as soon as I am finished here to look for There's Something About Kevin. Sounds intriguing. The Adoration of Jenna Fox is exactly the way you described ...Kevin.
Lubna, Do you do Goodreads? I'm a big fan, and I'd love to see you there. It seems that we generally read very different books. Maybe we could expand each other's tastes a little. I am already inspired just by the title, Go Kiss the World. I must check those books out. Must go now. Am off to visit the website you shared.
Happy Reading, everybody.
Relyn, I am so glad you shared your list today. I have been searching for a good read and for some reason the books I'm picking up lately just aren't keeping my attention. I'm going to check out some that you mentioned. I respect your opinion and feel sure I'll find something I like here. Thanks.
Dear Relyn,
These are my favorite recent books:
Bel Canto
Loving Frank
The Maltese Falcon
Paula Pryke's Flower School
Flower Confidential
Suite Francaise
The Girls
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night
This is such a good idea; I may have to do a post on this. Thanks!
The best books I've read lately are:
The Ascent of Humanity - Charles Eisenstein
The Great Awakening: Buddhist Social Theory - David R Loy
The Hundred Secret Senses - Amy Tan
*and*
The Pesthouse - Jim Crace
~*
Now I am looking for more good books to read! :)
~*
OH yes a book list, I am always on the look out for new and interesting reads. I am terrible at remembering titles so I will have to go away and think on this a bit, but I will be back when I remember them.
Cheers
There is something for you at my place!
I kept a list of books I read last year and I really enjoyed looking back upon it. Now I need to read your number 1-everyone has told me it is wonderful!
Painted Deserts, is the book I am getting through now.
I am SO loving your list.
As a family we are starting a few of your favorites. : ) Wink.
I am so jealous - I need to find more time to read. Maybe if I didn't spend so much time on the computer blogging!
I read alot of children's books, does that count?
Me again, here are the ones I can remember:
Eat Pray Love-Elizabeth Gilbert
This one was a gift from my husband, he is so thoughtful.
First Darling of the Morning- Thrity Umrigar
I love to read stories based in/about India
Astonishing Splashes of Colour- Clare Morrall
Couldn't put this one down
:-) S
Garden Spells also. I was, in fact, looking for it yesterday - I wanted to check something - and could not find it because books are piled everywhere in my house, and I never tracked down the exact spot - lol! What else this year? A Summer of Hummingbirds, The Wild Trees. I re-read Atlas Shrugged (aloud! with Michael). Many others. I cannot think of them all. But thank you for this list - I will know what to look for in the bookstore!
:) Debi
Leslye, I hate it when I get in ruts like that and nothing I pick up pleases me. Luckily, those are few and far between. I seriously, seriously recommend History of Love. Be warned, it is serious and sometimes heartbreaking. Read it only in the right frame of mind.
Dutchbaby, I loved Bel Canto. It was an audiobook for me and I was spellbound. I remember sitting in my car till Jeffrey came out to check on me more than once. I just couldn't stop listening. That was in my pre-iPod days, obviously. Also, Curious Incident... is amazing. I have taught several autistic children over the years. I kept checking the back cover and the internet to see if the author really was autistic, or had Aspergers. The narrator's voice is so authentic.
Thailandchani, I do love Amy Tan. My favorite of hers in Joyluck Club. I reread it every year. Someone else recently recommended Jim Crace to me. I'll have to check him out.
Jessica, I would be very interested to know your top ten, too. Do read History of Love and tell me what you think. I think it is nothing less than a work of genius.
Christina, I've been meaning to tell you. You must read Watson's Go To Birmingham, 1963 now. It is a perfect January book. Not kidding. Now. Please.
Caren, Of course children's books count. What's your favorite? I have way too many to list here. But, I do love children's books. Today I read The Other Side to my class in preparation for studying about Martin Luther King, Jr. That is one amazing book. Do you know it?
Suvarna, I had never heard of those last two books. I am off on a search for them. Especially the last one. Can't miss a can't-put-it-down read. Whatcha readin' now?
Debi, Did you also read Sugar Queen? I liked it, but perhaps not as much. I just love magic realism. I should have known you would. That's what you write, after all.
Hi Relyn
I gave up on goodreads owing to lack of time. I am on LinkedIn and it allows for a similar display of current reads. If you are on this forum as well, we could connect. It is always interesting to pick up new books and I am glad you posted this. I am sure all the lists here make for an interesting read.
Happy reading all.
Lubna
I am finding myself immersed in 15th century England... The other Boleyn Girl was delicious and I am now reading The Boleyn Inheritance.
I just started History of Love and couldn't stop reading it last night. I love the author's wonderful use of words to describe his life. I can't wait to pick it up again!
I am always in search of a good read. Lately I feel the need for books that suck you in, and take you into another world...books that you can't put down. Stories of a deeper level.
This looks like a perfect reference list when I am ready for my next read!
Thank you :):)
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