and now I get to start a new list, which rocks on so many levels
I just finished a book (reading, not writing), and as I started to open the Word document in which I capture all the books I've read in 2009 and what I thought of them, I realized it's actually 2010. It felt kind of like I'd turned in an assignment and suddenly realized I hadn't actually finished it. I didn't remember where I'd left off - if I'd even remembered to write down the last few books I'd read. And I was afraid the list would seem very, very small.
To my surprise, it was okay. And it was so fun going back and remembering my year based on the books I read during it. Very fun. You're dying to hear about it, right? At least the highlights? Well, you know I'm gonna share:
P.S. I LOVE YOU - Remember when I read that one after adoring, adoring, adoring the film? And much to my chagrin, I ended up finding the book mediocre comparatively? I still don't know what I think of that. I have every intention of getting all of my books made into film, of course, (provided I defy ALL odds and a certain dominion of eternal punishment gets really, really cold) so I really need to learn to accept them as separate mediums and appreciate each on their own. (As does the author of this book, Cecelia Ahern, who seems delightful.) I plan to practice this healthy outlook on other people's books and the movies adapted from them. Until it's my turn.
THE TWILIGHT SERIES - Oh yes I did. And now I own them all.
IT SUCKED AND THEN I CRIED - (And then the very strict filter where my mom works blocked my blog because I wrote "sucked") This book is by Heather Armstrong of dooce.com, a blog I frequent and frequently admire. She can get rather colorful and sometimes downright Cover Your Eyes Did She Just Say That, so I don't talk about her much. Still, I love her humor. I love her authenticity. And I love how much she loves her husband and her children. It's a beautiful thing. (This book is about her postpartum depression with her first daughter, Leta.)
THE LAZARUS PROJECT by Aleksander Hemon - 'Member that one? The one I was not really educated enough to review and barely smart enough to read? That was awesome.
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO - I love my girls, Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt, and I really liked their main character in this book. I liked the spiritual element. I also liked that the MC's faith wasn't tied up with a neat little bow. Number four in this series comes out this year, and I'm so looking forward to it.
JANE AUSTEN RUINED MY LIFE - Sometimes I pull this one out just to adore the cover. It was sent to me by a real live editor friend and can therefore be buried with me if you'd like. Such a great title. Such a pleasant read. SUCH a beautiful cover.
BEFORE GREEN GABLES - Solid effort, Budge Wilson. Very solid effort. Even though your Anne didn't like trees, which was just wrong. Otherwise, she was just about perfect.
CHURCHED by Matthew Paul Turner - About a boy who grew up Fundamental Baptist. He witnessed a Barbie being torched as a picture of hell. Watching a movie with a cussword in it was compared to eating brownie batter with just a little poo. (BEEN THERE). He was scared of his pastor. He graduated, "Person most like Christ." And after all that and more, he still loves Jesus and Christians. I related, I laughed my head off, and I was amazed.
SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson - one of the most moving of the Young Adult books I read this year.
A MILLION MILES IN A THOUSAND YEARS by Donald Miller - Read it. Period.
WHISTLIN' DIXIE IN A NOR'EASTER by Lisa Patton - This is the first book I've read by an author who shares my agent. I loved every minute of this read. A southern girl transferred to a Vermont Inn? So. much. to love. And I did.
FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan - Holy Apocalyptic Zombie Land, Batman.
THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY - Heavenly.
I read (at least, I remembered to list) thirty-three books. I figure it's a shameful number in some ways. But it's the first time I ever kept count. This year I'll do better. And I'll try not to write a novel at the end, so I can cram and make the number even better. I can't wait to fill that list to brimming.
I heart books.