The Books of 2012

The Night CircusSo many books, so little time—part six.

My son started keeping a reading list in third grade, so I did too. This is the sixth year we’ve done this.

My favorite book of 2012 was probably The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It will make a gorgeous movie if the right director get ahold of it.

I also loved The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender, and Wonder, a young adult book by R.J. Palacio.

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 when 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.

Overbite Cabot Meg
Declaring Spinsterhood Brezel Jamie Lynn
Plum Wine Davis-Gardner Angela
The Last Time I Saw You Berg Elizabeth
Abandon Cabot Meg
Treachery in Death Robb J.D.
Summer Rental Andrews Mary Kay
Love Mercy Fowler Earlene
Moby-Duck Hohn Donovan
Red-Hook Road Waldman Ayelet
Another Thing to Fall Lippman Laura
Hissy Fit Andrews Mary Kay
The Hunger Games Collins Suzanne
Dirty Blonde Scottoline Lisa
The God of Small Things Roy Arundhati
By a Spider’s Thread Lippman Laura
A Turn in the Road Macomber Debbie
Living the Creative Life Freeman-Zachery Rice
Twilight Whispers Delinsky Barbara
If You Ask Me White Betty
The White Album Didion Joan
The Best Awful Fisher Carrie
Eat, Drink, and Be Married Bloom Rebecca
Bleachers Grisham John
Slouching Towards Bethlehem Didion Joan
Mocking Jay Collins Suzanne
Catching Fire Collins Suzanne
Moneyball Lewis Michael
Home Game Lewis Michael
Breaking All the Rules Taylor Bradford Barbara
Girl Nearly 16 Absolute Torture Limb Sue
Three Cups of Deceit Krakauer Jon
Falling Together de los Santos Marisa
State of Wonder Patchett Ann
Happy Accidents Lynch Jane
Being Perfect and A Short Guide to a Happy Life Quindlen Anna
Real Life & Liars Riggle Kristina
It’s My F__ing Birthday Markoe Merrill
Swim Back to Me Packer Ann
An Accidental Woman Delinsky Barbara
The Last Boyfriend Roberts Nora
Leeway Cottage Gutcheon Beth
Nursery Crimes Waldman Ayelet
Gimme A Call Mlynowski Sarah
Painted Pages Ahearn Bellemare Sarah
The Witness Roberts Nora
The Big Nap Waldman Ayelet
So Much For That Shriver Lionel
Girls in White Dresses Close Jennifer
Celia and the Fairies McQuestion Karen
Drift Maddow Rachel
Everyone’s Reading Bastard Hornby Nick
The Art of Personal Imagery Moortgat Corey
The Book of Tomorrow Ahern Cecilia
Girl In Translation Kwok Jean
Don’t Look Down Crusie Jennifer and Bob Mayer
Probable Future Hoffman Alice
The Goddess Lounge Finnegan Margaret
The Rest of Her Life Moriarty Laura
Wonder Palacio R.J.
Another Piece of My Heart Green Jane
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake Bender Aimee
The Three Weissmans of Westport Schine Cathleen
Maybe This Time Crusie Jennifer
When We Were Orphans Ishiguro Kazuo
All These Things I’ve Done Zevin Gabrielle
Last Night in Twisted River Irving John
A Kiss in Time Flynn Alex
The Night Strangers Bohjalian Chris
An American Wife Sittenfield Curtis
New York to Dallas Robb J.D.
Little Night Rice Luanne
Wishful Drinking Fisher Carrie
The Beginner’s Goodbye Tyler Anne
The Secret Between Us Delinsky Barbara
Then We Came to the End Ferris Joshua
1225 Christmas Tree Lane Macomber Debbie
London is the Best City in America Dave Laura
Poke the Box Godin Seth
Boomerang Lewis Michael
The Night Circus Morgenstern Erin
Cream Puff Murder Fluke Joanne

Originally posted January 13, 2013.

Click to read The Books of 2011.

Click to read The Books of 2010.

Click to read The Books of 2009.

Click to read The Books of 2008.

Click to read The Books of 2007.

The Books of 2009

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.

The Books of 2007

The SportswriterSo many books, so little time

My son started keeping a reading list and so I decided to try it last year as well. Though I didn’t calculate pages, or get any prizes when I got around “Mrs. Brown’s Brook” every time I read 1,000 pages like he did.

When it came time to put this all together I was surprised both by how many books I read—I thought 44 was pretty impressive—but also how many not particularly challenging books I read.  There’s obviously a connection. So my reading goal for 2008 is to be a little more selective about what I read.

My favorite book of 2007 was probably The Sportswriter, by Richard Ford.  It’s one of those very male books that men are always talking about loving, so I resisted it for a lot of years. It’s a little dated, circa 1986, but definitely worth picking up.  Another favorite this year was The Wife by Meg Wolitzer. Go figure, both of these books are about writers.

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

  1. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
  2. Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA by Ellen Meister
  3. Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie
  4. Sandcastles by Luanne Rice
  5. Silver Tongue by Steven Crandell
  6. Wives Behaving Badly by Elizabeth Buchan
  7. Fool Me Once by Fern Michaels
  8. Pretty Woman by Fern Michaels
  9. Chicken Soup for the Scrapbookers Soul
  10. Digging to America by Anne Tyler
  11. Smart Vs. Pretty by Valerie Frankel
  12. Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts
  13. Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts
  14. Forever in Blue by Ann Brashares
  15. Wild Swans by Jung Chang
  16. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
  17. Leaving Normal by Stef Ann Holm
  18. Humanities by Eric Anzalone
  19. Avalon High by Meg Cabot
  20. Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen
  21. Shopaholic and Baby by Sophic Kinsella
  22. Mom CEO by Jodie Lynn
  23. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
  24. Bungalow 2 by Danielle Steel
  25. Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
  26. High Noon by Nora Roberts
  27. A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
  28. The Wife by Meg Wolitzer
  29. Innocent in Death by JD Robb
  30. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
  31. The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love
  32. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophic Kinsella
  33. Goodbye Without Leaving by Laurie Colwin
  34. Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophic Kinsella
  35. Straight Talking by Jane Green
  36. Angels All Over Town by Luanne Rice
  37. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
  38. The Sportswriter by Richard Ford
  39. The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian
  40. Paint it Black by Janet Fitch
  41. Poemcrazy by Susan G. Wooldridge
  42. Bump in the Night by JD Robb
  43. The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon
  44. Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes

Originally posted January 1, 2008.

The Books of 2010

That Old Cape Magic by Richard RussoSo many books, so little time—part four.

This was the year I started keeping my list in Excel format. I think I also got an iphone and was able to read digitally in those car pool lane, doctor’s office waiting room, etc. moments that moms seem to have so many of. My favorite books included That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo (always a favorite author) and Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker.

title author last author first
The Daring Game Steele Danielle
Kindred in Death Robb J.D.
Where Angels Go Macomber Debbie
The Ivy Chronicles Quinn Karen
Confessions of a She-Fan Heller Jane
Dirty Girls Social Club Valdes-Rodriguez Alisa
The Last Summer (of You and Me) Brashares Ann
What My Mother Doesn’t Know Sones Sonya
Starter Wife Levangie Grazer Gigi
Princess Charming Heller Jane
Everyone Worth Knowing Weissenberger Lauren
Easy on the Eyes Porter Jane
Away Bloom Amy
What I Did for Love Phillips Susan Elizabeth
Allie Finkle’s Rules For Girls Cabot Meg
Life of Pi Martel Yann
Good Faith Smiley Jane
Chasing Harry Winston Weissenberger Lauren
Three Willows Brashares Ann
The Women Boyle T.C.
Lost in the Meritocracy Kirn Walter
B is For Beer Robbins Tom
Sleeping Arrangements Wickham Madeleine
First Lady Phillips Susan Elizabeth
An Uncommon Reader Bennett Alan
Speaking With the Angel Hornby Nick
Natural Born Charmer Phillips Susan Elizabeth
Ain’t She Sweet? Phillips Susan Elizabeth
Fever Pitch Hornby Nick
Things I’ve Learned From Women Who’ve Dumped Me Karlin Ben
Snobs Fellows Julian
Just Imagine Phillips Susan Elizabeth
Sweet Potato Queens’ First Big Ass Novel Conner Browne Jill
The Thirteenth Tale Setterfield Diane
Not a Star Hornby Nick
Lady Be Good Phillips Susan Elizabeth
Starburst Pilcher Robin
Life Sentences Lipman Laura
Quilters Homecoming Chiaverini Jennifer
Nurture Shock Bronson Po and Ashley Merryman
Manhood for Amateurs Chabon Michael
What Now Patchett Ann
The New Year’s Quilt Chiaverini Jennifer
Animal Husbandry Zigman Laura
The Girl Who Played With Fire Larsson Stieg
This Book Will Change Your Life Homes A.M.
Bright Lights, Big Ass Lancaster Jen
The Quilter’s Legacy Chiaverini Jennifer
The Debutante Divorce Sykes Plum
That Old Cape Magic Russo Richard
Mr. and Mrs. Anonymous Michaels Fern
The Safety of Objects Homes A.M.
Summer Reading Wolitzer Hilma
The Geometry of Sisters Rice Luanne
Basic Black Black Cathie
Best Friends Forever Weiner Jennifer
Little Giant of Aberdeen County Baker Tiffany
Dune Road Green Jane
Bright-Sided Ehrenreich Barbara
Savor the Moment Roberts Nora
Glitter Baby Phillips Susan Elizabeth
The Hummingbird’s Daughter Urrea Luis Alberto
Heart of the Matter Giffin Emily
Bed Rest Bilsten Sarah
The Carrie Diaries Bushnell Candace
Agnes and the Hitman Crusie Julie and Bob Mayer
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Shaffer Mary Ann and Annie Barrows
Angels at Christmas Macomber Debbie
Comfort and Joy Hannah Kristen
How to Read Literature Like a Professor Foster Thomas C.
The Search Roberts Nora
The True and Oustanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters Robinson Elizabeth
How to Santa Barbara Graffy de Garcia Erin
The Lost Quilter Chiaverini Jennifer
Animal Kingdom Greenleaf Barbara
The Mum Hunt Hunter Kelly
The Winding Ways Quilt Chiaverini Jennifer
The Wedding Sparks Nicholas
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest Larsson Stieg
The Aloha Quilt Chiaverini Jennifer
The Sugar Camp Quilt Chiaverini Jennifer
The Dead Joyce James
Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral Radish Kris
Circle of Quilters Chiaverini Jennifer
Anybody Out There Keyes Marion
Juliet Naked Hornby Nick
The Christmas Quilt Chiaverini Jennifer
Never Let Me Go Ishiguro Kazao
Fantasy in Death Robb J.D.

Originally posted January 5, 2011.

Click to read The Books of 2009.

Click to read The Books of 2008.

Click to read The Books of 2007.