Friday, January 1, 2010

A Bookish Year




Every year, every day really, is bookish for me. But, this post is about 2009. Last year I recorded my thoughts on each book I read. I'm sure I missed a few professional books, but this basically covers a year's worth of reading for me. I read 259 novels, memoirs, shelter books, art books, childrens' stories, graphic novels, fairy tales, teen novels, reference books, and a few biographies.

Each year my friend Laura posts her top ten reads of the year. I joined her last year and enjoyed it so much it's become a tradition for me, too. Can I call it a tradition if this is only my second year?

Relyn's Best New Reads of 2009

10 The Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane Brocket
9 Postmark Paris by Leslie Jonath
8 Oystercatchers by Susan Fletcher
7 All Over Cofee by Paul Madonna
6 Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
5 The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
4 Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stout
3 Graceling by Kristin Cashore
2 The Help by Kathryn Stockett


and the winner is...

1 Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell



Image: The image above was painted in 1910 by Ramon Casas. I found it here originally. Click here to learn more about Casas. What: 259 books recorded on 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.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

thank you for your list...i am constantly reading. i should keep track every year like you do. thank you for inspiring. have a wonderful weekend! cheers to a new year of fabulous reading!

Jana said...

WOW muffin, you read alot!!! how did you do that??!! no wonder your so well spoken I bet you have vocabulary skills...major ones.

cristie said...

liked THE HELP very much. thanks for sharing your list. i too love to read. xox

Gigi Thibodeau said...

I am so excited, Relyn! You have given me treasures to add to my must-read list. Thank you, and happy new year!! Oh, and thank you so much for your sweet comments on my last post. I was feeling a bit like a crazy woman as I clicked "publish," but I couldn't stop myself. Your words meant a lot. xo Gigi

Roban said...

Thanks! I've been trying to decide on a new book to read. The Help was one on my list. I may have to start with your #1 though!

Dutchbaby said...

259 books is impressive! I loved "The Help" and I'm currently reading "Olive Kitteridge" which I'm enjoying but it's not as wonderful as "The Help". Other favorites from this year: "The Housekeeper and the Professor", "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly", "Loving Frank", and I finally read "Bel Canto" and loved it too.

Here's to reading great books next year!

Jeanne said...

I love you and your book list is fabulous.
Love and hugs and New Years Wishes
Love Jeanne♥

JUST ME said...

Have a great new year Relyn.....

Wishing you and your family the best.

Angelica

Rita said...

That is a lot of books. I used to read like that, but have not in many years now. I absolutely adore the picture you found for the post! I can see you laying there reading! Love ya!

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing, never heard of Winter's Bone.
I'm rereading The Kiterunner today. So going back to Kabul now ... see you later :)

Mrs. E said...

You've given some great titles for this year. (I'm a fan of Hunger Games and Catching Fire, too!) Stop by today. You are mentioned on Easy Street- though I couldn't find the exact post I needed to link to you. (Got a headache trying, but I did find the 6 word short story post and saved it for future use.) Who knew you could give this teacher so much help?!!

Kirsten Steen said...

Wow, alot of books! I am impressed. I've never counted but am sure, even though I wish it was, that my count would not be anywhere near that! That is one of my biggest frustrations. Not enough book time. Will have to change that this year. Maybe make it a New Years Resolution (since I haven't made one). That sounds perfect! And one I can easily live with. Thanks for that!!
And for that list.
Happy New Year to you love!
Kirsten

beth said...

off to read the reviews....

I need a new book, now and with my gift card from barnes and noble....well, I'm giddy !

Laura said...

Wahhh!!! How exciting!!! First of all, that image!!!! I clicked and found the blog it was on. How cool! I will be visiting there daily now.

Your books are great! I have 2 of them upstairs (Olive and Hunger Games) so I will get on those soon! Don't know your #1 so I am off to check that out.

I LOVE your reviews on Good Reads. It is always a highlight when I get that update in my email!

You read a lot of books last year! Is that what life without TV is like? I would love that! Alas, my husband is a total TV man. (actually he has gotten me into some really great shows).

Anyway, wishing you a wonderful 2010, may it be a year of many good books!!!!

Yolanda said...

I have added Winters Bone to my list for 2010. I loved The Help and loved your reviews also.

A Box of Chocolates said...

Wow that's a lot of reading, time must be on your side. Amazing. I also am posting my list of books to read this year, nowhere near 259 though. Have a fantastic 2010
hugs
xo

Unknown said...

Thanks for your list. My book club just finished the Help and we loved it! I will be passing on these titles to the ladies. Gave up tv several years ago, love reading, but found blogging ;) must limit my time here for 2010!

Char said...

more to add to my 'to read' list!! yay!

Marilyn Miller said...

What a great tradition even if it is only 2 years. I think I should keep a list of the books I read in 2010.

Lubna said...

Hi
Someday, I hope to read the books you read. We do read very different books.

My top three choices for the year 2009 are (Apart from The Professional the other books were released earlier, I just happened to read them in 2009):

1) Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson;
2) The Professional by Subroto Bagchi;
3) The Road Less Travelled by Scott Peck

Wish you tons of happy and fruitful reading, this year.

Best,
Lubna

gkgirl said...

259!?!!!??!

wowzers!
that is amazing!!
i am blown away by this...
and inspired!
i am definitely going to
check into some of these!
:O)

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

I am going to try to read a little every day in 2010 and have 3 books waiting for me on my nightstand...a good way to end each day. If I read 3, then it will be 3 more than last year...

Bee said...

Do you keep a reading journal? Funny, but I was just writing about this very thing. It is one of my resolutions/goals for this year, as I am reading all of the time, but it just washes over me.
259 is an impressive number, especially considering your teaching, mothering and other jobs and hobbies.

I haven't read much on your list, but I LOVED Olive Kitteridge and would top ten that one, too.

Patti said...

Loved The Help and Olive and really really want to read Hunger Games! Great list, my Bookish Friend!

Unknown said...

There are several on that list that I want to read. I LOVED Hunger Games and it's sequel, Catching Fire and Graceling. I can't seem to wrestle the sequel to Graceling away from my students to read it myself yet! Thanks for the list!

Elizabeth Halt said...

I thought I was a crazy reader - you have me beat by a mile!

I started using GoodReads, and I think I used it consistently in 2008, but last year I gave up. :) I write book names down in a notebook. That seems to work the best for me.

Isabel said...

Oooo....another reading list. Some I read, but others I didn't...guess where I'm going this afternoon ;)

Don't you just love bookstores and the smell of books...mmm...

elsa said...

we have not known each other long so you don't know that i loooooooooove recommendations! i just love them!
about everything but especially books!
i love at my first visit to a restauraunt to say to the waiter, what would you recommend? i just love it.
but like i said, my favorite recs are books and movies. thank you for sharing your list.

Jaime said...

Ever since I signed up with goodreads, I have been ASTOUNDED by the number of books you can read in such a short period of time. You amaze me!
I am a slow reader, but love following in your wake, listing the titles that you have found so wonderful. I just paused to write down a few of these titles that I will have to add to my *to read* list.

Dandy said...

Oh I just bought Graceling!

Oldies, but Goodies