I went through and sorted out which books I’ve read (so far) this year that were actually published this year (in the United States, anyway). I was surprised to find that a little over half of the books I’ve read this year were published in 2009, so I had a lot to choose from!
1. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer (nonfiction, memoir, international, cause)
2. Saints in Limbo by River Jordan (Christian fiction, magical realism?)
3. Nothing but Ghosts by Beth Kephart (YA literary fiction)
4. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese (fiction, international)
5. The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry (fiction, mystery)
6. Lost Mission by Athol Dickson (Christian fiction, faith)
7. The Only True Genius in the Family by Jennie Nash (fiction)
8. Nine Lives: Death and Life in New Orleans by Dan Baum (nonfiction)
9. Sweeping Up Glass by Carolyn Wall (fiction, southern)
10. Faces in the Fire by T.L. Hines (Christian fiction, suspense)
Books I haven’t read yet, but think might make my list: The Help. I’m inching up the wait list at the library, but I don’t know if I’ll get it finished in this calendar year. I’m sure there are others, but this is a big one, and I’m not thinking of other titles.
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December 4, 2009 at 10:56 am
bermudaonion
I’ve only read a few of those, but I’ll be watching out for a few others, particularly Sweeping Up Glass.
December 4, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Mrs. Chili
This is wonderful – I always love hearing the top-ten (or any other number) lists of people whose opinions I trust!
One of my resolutions for next year is to keep a running list of the books I read for the year. On my list of to-read is Toni Morrison’s a mercy (I started it the other night), Long Way Gone (a memoir of a child soldier) and Three Cups of Tea. There are plenty of others, but those are the top three on the stack…
December 4, 2009 at 2:33 pm
wordlily
I had always attempted/started/intended/wanted to keep a running list of all the books I read, but every year I failed (I usually didn’t even make it all the way to February!) until I started the page on my blog listing all my reads. A Mercy has been on my list of books I must read for too long.
December 4, 2009 at 3:05 pm
gautami tripathy
Few of those are in my wishlist!
Weekly Geeks: Top Books of 2009
December 4, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Sarah at SmallWorld Reads
I’ve been reading through the Top 10 lists and am amazed at how varied they all are! The only one I’ve read from yours is Cutting for Stone, and that was at the top of my list. Thanks for the ideas!
December 4, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Florinda
I REALLY need to read Nothing But Ghosts and The Only True Genius in the Family – they’re both languishing in the TBR stacks right now. But fortunately, the year’s not over yet!
December 5, 2009 at 8:07 pm
L.L. Barkat
I just never get ’round to fiction. Maybe someday again. On a beach, or in a forest-hugged cottage…
December 6, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Natasha @ Maw Books
The Only True Genius in the Family is also one of my favorite reads from this year. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is one that I’d like to read this next year.
December 9, 2009 at 11:16 am
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)
I haven’t read any of the books from your list, but am sure Cutting for Stone would make mine too. Hopefully I’ll get a copy soon.
I’m going to keep an eye out for the rest of these books as they look like a great selection.
December 14, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Susan James
Thanks for the post and the tweet. I put it in my favorites so I can check these out when I get to the library.
December 19, 2009 at 12:05 am
Rebecca
I really want to read Nothing But Ghosts. I am glad to see it made your top 10 list.
December 19, 2009 at 9:56 am
Beth F
We are going to have two books alike: Nothing but Ghosts and Sweeping up Glass. I’m not full sure of my other choices.
December 21, 2009 at 8:52 am
stacybuckeye
Over half is a great number! I haven’t looked at mine yet, but it is sure to be a fairly paltry number.
December 24, 2009 at 5:20 am
Gnoe (on Graasland)
Eeks, haven’t read any of them! But of course I’m in another language area
Still haven’t figured out my 2009 favs…
December 26, 2009 at 10:37 am
Bookjourney
Great list! The Help was one that would make my list and took maybe two days to read as it was hard to put down. I hope you get the opportunity to dive into it soon!
I am planning a recap post as well…. just not sure when it will hit…. either the 31st or the 1st.
December 29, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Bookjourney
Great list! The Help will be on mine – I think you will really enjoy it.
January 2, 2010 at 10:41 am
Beth F
We overlap on a couple of top 2009 reads. Happy, happy new year.
January 6, 2010 at 9:44 am
Organic Mama
This list is WONDERFUL. I haven’t had time to even drool over the books in the library or bookstore – I buy them and then can’t make time to read them. That said, this list is great for me, as a few of these titles have managed to penetrate the fog anyway, particularly The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (I love his story!) and The Only True Genius in the Family.
January 6, 2010 at 9:47 am
wordlily
Thanks!
January 11, 2010 at 12:16 pm
End of 2009 meme « Word Lily
[...] Um, I posted about this several weeks ago — my best 2009 reads [...]