So many books, so little time-part three

My son started keeping a reading list in third grade, so I did too. This is the third year we’ve done this. For the last two years I’ve set a goal to read better (i.e. more literary or more challenging books) but I keep finding that more and more I tend to read to escape, rather than be challenged, which is kind of sad.

My favorite book of 2009 was probably either The Help by Kathryn Stockett or The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. Both, ironically, were my book club books and were slow starters that I was reluctant rather than anxious to dig into. I guess that just goes to show me that persistence can pay off.

I’ve also been trying to read chick lit, and chicklet lit (young adult) more regularly because I’m hoping to take a stab at that genre myself in about a year and half, when my son goes to Junior High and I have a little more time. I’m thinking this might help explain why there are so few male authors on my list.

Anyway, I’d love to hear about other people’s favorite books this year.

1. The Pagan Stone – Nora Roberts
2. The Friday Night Knitting Club – Katie Jacobs
3. Fade – Robert Cormier
4. Comfort Food – Katie Jacobs
5. Queen of Babble in the Big City – Meg Cabot
6. The Liars Club – Mary Karr
7. Eclipse – Stephenie Meyer
8. Dreams From My Father – Barack Obama
9. Knit 2 – Katie Jacobs
10. The Mediator: Darkest Hour – Meg Cabot
11. The Beach House – Jane Green
12. Change of Heart – Jodi Picoult
13. My Best Friend’s Girl – Dorothy Koomson
14. Blade Runners, Deer Hunters & Blowing the Bloody Doors Off: My Life in Cult Movies – Michael Deeley
15. Salvation in Death – J.D. Robb
16. The Mediator: Reunion – Meg Cabot
17. Promises in Death – J.D. Robb
18. ABC’s of Love – Sarah Salway
19. The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted – Elizabeth Berg
20. Handle With Care – Jodi Picoult
21. Sundays at Tiffany’s – James Patterson
22. Belong to Me – Marisa de los Santos
23. Love Walked in – Marisa de los Santos
24. Parties & Potions – Sarah Mlynowski
25. Loving Frank – Nancy Horan
26. Vision in White – Nora Roberts
27. 20 Wishes – Debbie Macomber
28. Swapping Lives – Jane Green
29. Shopaholic & Baby – Sophie Kinsella
30. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan – Sophie Kinsella
31. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle – David Wroblewski
32. Slummy Mummy – Fiona Neill
33. Flying Changes – Sara Gruen
34. Love Stargirl – Jerry Spinelli
35. Bitter is the New Black – Jen Lancaster
36. Housekeeping – Marilynne Robinson
37. Harvesting the Heart – Jodi Picoult
38. The Lace Reader – Brunomia Barry
39. Will Write for Shoes: How to Write a Chick Lit Novel – Cathy Yardley
40. Love the One You’re With – Emily Giffin
41. Beginners Greek – James Collins
42. Black Hills – Nora Roberts
43. Girls Night Out – Meg Cabot, et al (about 50 different short stories)
44. The New Yorkers – Cathleen Shine
45. Foreign Tongue – Vanina Marsol
46. Bras & Broomsticks – Sarah Myonowski
47. One Fifth Avenue – Candace Bushnell
48. The Giant’s House – Elizabeth McCracken
49. The Letters – Luanne Rice & Joseph Monninger
50. Susannah’s Garden – Debbie Macomber
51. Something Blue – Emily Giffin
52. Happiness Sold Separately – Lolly Winston
53. Blossom Street – Debbie Macomber
54. The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
55. Back on Blossom Street – Debbie Macomber
56. Stargirl – Jerry Spinelli
57. Good Dog Stay – Anna Quindlen
58. Annie’s Attic – Steve Luxenberg
59. Second Chance – Jane Green
60. Babyville – Jane Green
61. This Matter of Marriage – Debbie Macomber
62. Nell’s Cowboy – Debbie Macomber
63. Such a Pretty Fat – Jen Lancaster
64. That Summer Place – Susan Wiggs & Debbie Macomber
65. Moon Over Water – Debbie Macomber
66. If You Could See Me Now – Cecilia Ahern
67. Texas Two-Step – Debbie Macomber
68. The Little Book – Selden Edwards
69. The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo – Steig Larsson
70. Montana – Debbie Macomber
71. Coming Unglued – Rebecca Seitz
72. Can This Be Christmas? – Debbie Macomber
73. 8 Sandpiper Way – Debbie Macomber
74. Olive Kitteridge – Elizabeth Strout
75. We’re Just Like You Only Prettier: Confessions of a Tarnished Southern Belle – Celia Rivenbark
76. 50 Harbor Street – Debbie Macomber
77. Bed of Roses – Nora Roberts
78. Can You Keep a Secret? – Sophie Kinsella
79. Free Range Kids – Lenore Skenazy
80. 74 Seaside Avenue – Debbie Macomber
81. Christmas Letters – Debbie Macomber
82. Knit the Season – Katie Jacobs
83. Back to the Bedroom – Janet Evanovich
84. The Glass Castle – Jeannette Walls
85. For Better or Worse – Carole Matthews
86. Pretty in Plaid – Jen Lancaster
87. The Other Woman – Jane Green
88. The Help – Kathryn Stockett
89. Summer on Blossom Street – Debbie Macomber

Originally posted on January 6, 2010.

Click to read The Books of 2008.

Click to read The Books of 2007.