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Best Books READ in 2009
I'm still overrun with books in every room, too, Ruth, but I did regret some I had to leave in Switzerland. I need to organize my books. I'll buy one I've been meaning to read, only to find out I already have one or two copies of it...somewhere. I even bought two copies of the hardcover edition of Edith Grossman's translation of Don Quixote. I don't know how that happened! LOL I should give one away, but I can't find anyone who likes Don Quixote
Those of you who are getting rid of your books ought to consider Bookcrossing. The concept is simple: Register your book at bookcrossing and then set it free at some public place where someone can pick it up.http://www.bookcrossing.com
Sometimes I will leave them at the doctors office, especially magazines or paperbacks
Hello! New to this board, but definitely have three "best books of 2009" to share!Why the Devil Chose New England for His Work - Jason Brown
Replay - Ken Grimwood
In Cold Blood - Truman Capote
The Help - Kathryn Stockett
In Cold Blood was one of his best writings, it really had an impact emotionally for him. I have The Help ,but have not read it yet . I will try to get to it in Feb.
Gabrielle wrote: "I don't know what will happen to mine, Carol. When I'm gone, my family will probably sell them to Half Price Books, if they're still around (Half Price Books that is, not my family). I'd like to ..."Oh, don't worry - I don't think Half Price Books will ever go away. :)
In Cold Blood is the only Capote I've read and then I immediately watched the recent movie with Philip Seymour Hoffman. Both outstanding. The Help is fantastic - a quick read, very entertaining, but Stockett deals with serious issues very well.
Jennie, thanks for posting about the Jason Brown book. I had not heard of it and it looks interesting. I'll be taking a peek at that one as soon as I can unearth myself from beneath the pile of books [im:]patiently waiting for me to read.Capote is good, if you have a chance to read any of his fiction.
El, let me make the argument that you should move the Jason Brown stories to the top of your pile! Of course, I know nothing about your taste in books, but these stories are riveting. Dark, somewhat creepy, but incredible! Was the "[im:]" a link to your list?
El wrote: "Gabrielle wrote: "I don't know what will happen to mine, Carol. When I'm gone, my family will probably sell them to Half Price Books, if they're still around (Half Price Books that is, not my fami..."Well, I hope it is still some time before I pass away and my family carts the books, which they consider "clutter" off for pennies on the dollar. LOL I should find someone who wants them and leave them to that person in my will.
I gave away my extra art books to the art department of the college where I taught. The other books went to my local library. A nice deduction for my income tax return, and a nice feeling that my books went to good places.
Harley wrote: "Those of you who are getting rid of your books ought to consider Bookcrossing. The concept is simple: Register your book at bookcrossing and then set it free at some public place where someone ca..."Bookmooch is also great! Although, the concept is to accumulate points to get more books which may defeat the purpose. Hospitals and thrift stores always need books as well.
Just went to halfpricebooks web site. You can buy books by the yard. It might be fun to see what kind of books you get. You can chose from 3 categories,reference, mixed books and law books. I am thinking to order, just to see what I get. I am a sucker for grab bags. I will let you know if I do.
Ruth wrote: "I gave away my extra art books to the art department of the college where I taught. The other books went to my local library. A nice deduction for my income tax return, and a nice feeling that my..."When I have to get rid of books, I usually give them to the library, too, Ruth. That way a lot of people will get to enjoy them.
Carol, I'm not one for grab bags, I'm too particular in my choice of reading material, but I'm going to take a look at that site.
I like any grab bag. Even the tourist grab bags at museums and such. I am as curious as a kat hehehehe
I've given boxes of books to the local Good Will store, but they were books that were either no longer my taste or extra copies that friends didn't want. The trouble with my giving them to the library is that more than likely they'd end up at the monthly Library Sale, and I'd buy them back. :?: LOL
I know my donations to the library went to their shop and not to their shelves--but still, others who want them will buy them and read them, and the $ will go to the library.I've always wondered though, why the library doesn't cull through them first.
My friend works for the library. When you donate books you are donating to the Friends of the Library and as you say the library gets the benefit.
Oh, I know that's true, only trouble is, I don't want to "accidentally" buy them back myself! Which I'm just liable to do. :)
I couldn't bear to give them away a second time! After all, I constantly second guess myself...should I have, or not? /sigh/
I couldn't bear to give them away a second time! After all, I constantly second guess myself...should I have, or not? /sigh/
I must add the book I just finished to my Best of '09 short list. I encourage everyone to read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
My favorite books and plays read in 2009:New translations by Pevear and Volokhonsky of:
War and Peace
Anna Karenina
Remains of the Day -- Kazuo Ishiguro
Homage to Catalonia -- George Orwell
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof -- Tennessee Williams
Things Kept, Things Left Behind -- Jim Tomlinson
The View from Castle Rock -- Alice Munro
The Piano Lesson -- August Wilson
Favorite audiobooks listened to in 2009:
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamad
BBC Audiobooks, Read by Satya Bhabha
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Recorded Books, Read by Julia Gibson
The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and Drown
Penguin Audio, Read by Jonathan David & Staci Snell
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
Recorded Books, Read by Lisette LeCat
Ghost Train to the Eastern Star by Paul Theroux
Whole Story Audiobooks, didn't record the reader
Ten favorite books read for the first time in 2009:Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
What We Carry by Dorianne Laux (poetry)
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
Tinkers by Paul Harding
The Plague of Doves: A Novel by Louise Erdrich
Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
Unaccustomed Earth: Stories by Jhimpa Lahiri
The Last Uncle by Linda Pastan (poetry)
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
favorite re-read:
Evidence of Things Unseen by Marianne Wiggins
Oh Mina!"Gone Missing," p. 55
"The Answering Machine," p. 12
Yes! "Our own loved children loosed by stealth or accident into the beautiful and unforgiving world" - gets me every time. And I love "Potsy" - p. 25.
I just reread "To Penelope" - p. 39. Too good.
This list is not complete; I didn't record my books from mid-March through August of this year. Of the ones I did document:Serena by Ron Rash
Good Night, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian (YA)
The Soul of a Chef by Michael Ruhlman
Under this Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household
Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
Half Broken Things by Morag Joss
The Terror by Dan Simmons
The Elegance of a Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
I think that's eleven, but...
I still haven't read The Terror, but I'm really looking forward to it when I have the time.
Oh, Gabrielle, it was such a treat. Over 900 pages, and I didn't want it to end. Of course, I couldn't get warm while reading it...I should have read it in the Arizona summer. It was a great mix of historical fiction, suspense, cultural contrasts, and characters. I would like to read more Simmons, but I liked The Terror so much more than Song of Kali that I don't want to pick another of his books without knowing more about him. I don't want another read to ruin my experience with The Terror.
Sarah, many people who've read all of Dan Simmons' work tell me The Terror is his best. I'm reading Drood right now, which I think he wrote right after The Terror and it's good, it keeps me turning pages, but I do believe the ending is going to fizzle. I can't wait to get to The Terror. I know I'm really going to be in for a treat then. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much.
Philip wrote: "Ten favorite books read for the first time in 2009:Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
What We Carry by Dorianne Laux (poetry)
Giovanni's Room..."</i>
I got [book:The Plague of Doves A Novel for Christmas, and I'm looking forward to reading it. What did you think of it?
Oh, how disappointing. One of my favorite things about finding a new author is the sense of opening up new possibilities. Apparently, I've started at the top of Simmons. However, I'll probably try Drood soon. Let me know how you feel about the ending.
Oh, Sarah, you might not feel as they feel. Literature is so subjective. I will let you know how I feel about the ending of Drood just as soon as I get there. There are a lot of diversions, but Simmons was writing a neo-Victorian novel, so right now, I'm finding the diversions interesting.
True. I'll poke around Amazon reviews and see what I think. Maybe I'll find one of his titles that calls to me.
Jess, I agree with Mina about The Plague of Doves. I enjoyed it more than the Louise Erdrich books I remember reading years ago, like The Crown of Columbus,
Some people tell me The Plague of Doves is too fragmented. Do those of you who've read it agree? (It seems you don't.) Now, I have to say, I don't mind books that are somewhat Impressionistic, if this is what people mean by "fragmented."
Gabrielle wrote: "Some people tell me The Plague of Doves is too fragmented. Do those of you who've read it agree? (It seems you don't.) Now, I have to say, I don't mind books that are somewhat Impressionistic,..."
I didn't think so at all. It was wonderful storytelling; it wasn't linear, but it didn't need to be. The life of the community is told through multiple viewpoints, but for me this added to the strength of the book rather than detracting from it.
Wilhelmina wrote: "Gabrielle wrote: "Some people tell me The Plague of Doves is too fragmented. Do those of you who've read it agree? (It seems you don't.) Now, I have to say, I don't mind books that are somewha..."
Thank you, Wilhelmina. I like books that are told from several viewpoints. I like books in which the story is non-linear. It sounds very good.
Thank you again and Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you, too, Carol and to everyone else! I hope you all have a wonderful 2010! Me, too! :)
I think I'm just going to bed. I'm not much of a night owl, I'm a lark, and Sebastien has to work tomorrow anyway.
Yes my husband does also. I will probably be awakened by the noise . Talk tomorrow maybe.
I will chime in on The Plague of Doves A Novel - I also really enjoyed it. It was the first time I had read the author and I agree with Mina that the storytelling and all the points of view were definitely the strength of the book, not it's downfall. If you like non-linear, then you'll really enjoy it.Mina, Isn't it interesting to compare and contrast Sherman Alexie and Louise Edrich in terms of Native American storytelling?
I feel fortunate to have read so many good books last year.My favorite books read in 2009 were:
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
The Ancient Shore Dispatches from Naples
Evidence of Things Unseen A Novel
Someone Knows My Name
My Name Is Red
Thinks . . .
Not Me A Novel
Justice Older than the Law The Life of Dovey Johnson
Roundtree
In This House of Brede
Returning to Earth
Olive Kitteridge A Novel in Stories
A Person of Interest A Novel
The Sheltering Sky
The White Garden A Novel of Virginia Woolf
Here's to as much good reading in 2010!
Returning to Earth is one of Jim Harrison's better recent outings, I think. Every time I read Harrison, I find myself thinking I should read more Harrison. I'm looking forward to The Farmer's Daughter which is slated to be relased this month.
I see several people listed Olive Kitteridge -- also one of my favorite reads for 2009, if not quite in my top ten. What a great year for reading it was!
Constant Reader
Books mentioned in this topic
In the Woods (other topics)The Likeness (other topics)
Sula (other topics)
City of Thieves (other topics)
Giovanni’s Room (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Louise Erdrich (other topics)Leo Tolstoy (other topics)
Kim Addonizio (other topics)
Sebastian Barry (other topics)
David Mitchell (other topics)
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Rest assured, we are not deprived, 1200 was only about 1/3 of our total books.