I am closing in on my goal. Think I’ll make it????
Here are the latest:
- 1994 – The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields – not my usual type of reading, but a really lovely book about loss; if you’re looking for something uplifting, this is *not* for you.
- 1995 – The Mermaids Singing by Val McDermid – I had no idea this was the story upon which Wire in the Blood was based so this was a double bonus – awesome story, plus an incentive to re-watch the series. As my daughter would say, awesomeness!
- 1996 – Undaunted Courage by Steven Ambrose – History at its best, this story of the Lewis & Clark Expedition is based on primary source material. Hear my little librarian heart beating….
- 1997 – Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone by J.K. Rowling – I remember getting an ARC of this and letting it sit on my desk for a couple weeks, before I started hearing buzz online about how good it was. I took it home and stayed up all night reading it. This is one of those rare books you wish you hadn’t read so you could have the experience of reading it again for the first time.
- 1998 – Hellfire by Diana Gabaldon – I never quite understood the appeal of Gabaldon’s books. Still don’t.
- 1999 – Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson – If there is only one book on this list that you read, make it this one. Powerful.
- 2000 – A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers – Meh. Sorry, I know there are a lot of folks out there who liked this, but…meh. Really.
- 2001 – Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks – a Plague story set in the same town in which one of my favorite children’s books, A Parcel of Patterns, is set. Very good.
- 2002 – Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd – Overhyped.
- 2003 – Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss – anyone who appreciates good writing will love this book.
- 2004 – Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark – an odd but compelling story about magic, reality, reason and unreason.
- 2005 – The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova – a skillful reimagining of the Dracula legend. Excellent.
- 2006 – The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman – after 2004 and 2005, I needed something light and Hillerman is that.
- 2007 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling – my “best of the year” for 2007. A skillful ending to a masterpiece series.
- 2008 – The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie – I’ve tried to appreciate Rushdie’s work, but alas, I still find it nearly unreadable…
This has been quite an adventure, not to mention a crazy-busy year. Although I have loved exploring 20th century literature this year, I am more than ready to delve into all my wishlisted books from this year. So, I have 10 days to finish three books. Given my schedule between now and then, they may indeed be picture books….
It's All About the Book 