The Books of 2009

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The HelpSo 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.