Thursday, January 13, 2011

A Slightly Late Book List

So I really enjoyed reading everyone’s year-ending/year-beginning posts:  favorite books of 2010, picture recaps, favorite recipes or new goals. I want to do some of these posts…it’s not too late, right?

Top Ten Books of 2010:

…in no particular order.  These are books that either made me want to read all day, or change myself in some way or caused me to think long after I was done.  I don’t give synopses, because I like to be completely surprised when I read a book but I’ll give a little review for each.

1. Room by Emma Donoghue (adult fiction)

--genius writing about a horrible situation.  Don’t be put off by the situation or the child’s-viewpoint writing…it’s well-done and is worth every nail you bite.

2. Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka (self-help non-fiction)

--aw, Faith.  How would we be surviving without the wisdom of this book??

3.  The Giver by Lois Lowry (children’s fiction)

--this is my 4th reading of this fabulous book.  This time I read it to my kids and it was instructional, interesting, chilling, thought-provoking.

4.  Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (non-fiction)

--Probably my most quoted book of the year.  It’s the book I bring up on dates with Ryan, in conversations at the dinner table, on runs with friends.  Ryan says the author’s extrapolation with statistics was a little much…whatever, Mr. Engineer—I’m a believer.

5.  The whole Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins (Young Adult Fiction)

--addicting, cannot-put-it-down fiction (with a good moral, too.)

6.  Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott (memoir non-fiction)

--laugh out loud funny.  It was refreshing to see myself and true goodness in someone completely unlike me. 

7.  Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (classic fiction)

--So fun to lose myself in a long, wordy tale of another time and culture.  Very Dickensian.

8.  The China Study by Thomas Campbell (educational non-fiction)

--I didn’t want to be convinced.  I was.

9.  Still Alice by Lisa Genova(adult fiction)

--The author knows her stuff.  The emotions were true to life, the situation felt real.  I actually cried during this one.  It’s a book that makes you cherish your life.

10.  In the Woods by Tana French (mystery fiction)

--Ireland+good writing+murder mystery+good characters.  Really…what’s not to like?

23 comments:

Rochelleht said...

I really think you read more than anyone I know. And that's saying something. Most of those, I haven't read yet, so I'll put them on my to-read. Thanks for the suggestions.

Kimberly said...

I love your list! I always need ideas and haven't read most of these. Thanks. And I'm with you on the China Study...

Katie said...

I appreciate this list
I would love to read more-this list may inspire me to do just that.

Ps I loved the photo in your last post of your basement art corner. I would love to see more of how you did your basement.

Christie said...

Bless you. I am in desperate need of a good book right about now. Heading over to the ibook store for the ipad...

Abbie said...

No everyone is off to update their goodreads.

Thanks!

Carie said...

Never to late for book lists. I am reading another Tana French book right now. Faithful Place. So far so good.

Great list!

ibshell said...

I post a book a month on my blog. Funny thing is, after I posted mine, I came to your list! Can't wait to read some of these. Too late for a book list? Are you kidding?!

Nikki said...

I'm not sure whether to thank you or curse you....I love book recommendations but not the amount of free time I have to read. Thank you for taking the time to write this though.

Jenna Wood said...

I love the Giver it is in my 10 ten favorite books ever.

Outliers is another one I really liked. I think it is interesting and thought provoking. I took a statistics class in college (it was the required advanced math for my major) and I didn't have any issues with his interpretations of the data. That makes me want to discuss with your hubby and see what he was skeptical about. I talk about Outliers all the time.

And the Hunger Games were really good, too. I enjoyed that series a lot. The characters were well developed for a teen fiction.

Thanks for the other suggestions!

D-dawg said...

Great list and thank you! I love to know what other people are reading. I just had to quit the book I started because of too many f bombs so I need something else asap. T hanks Jessica!

Cami said...

I've been wanting to do a similar post. I really enjoyed some great books this past year.

I'll have to look into some of these.

Tammy said...

Ok, based on what you said, even I want to check out THE GIVER. So, please email me more about this book!

Lauren in GA said...

I just said the other day to Mike, "I need a good book." I felt sad when I finished my last one...I just wanted it to go on and on...I truly appreciate the list.

DaNae said...

I just bought the spirited child book to help me with my CRAZY 18 month old little boy. I reread some of your issues with Faith and he is so similiar...so wish me luck!

Shopper Gal said...

I lam loving your book list!! Thanks for sharing Jessica. I'll need to remember these! I know what an avid reader you are and I appreciate your opinions :)
Thanks Friend!

Brooke Romney said...

Have I told you how much I love you for reading so much. I credit you with almost all of my best reads. Without you, reading would be much less enjoyable. Thanks for all your your recommendations. Is goodreads the most wonderful site ever?

Adrianne said...

Now I have a reading list for this year. I hardly read anymore - between unavailabiity of books and my love of "projects" it's gotten pushed aside, but this year I've decided to read more. I already finished one book.

So, are you vegan now?

heidiram said...

So is it super sad to admit that the Intensive Reading teacher has NOT read one book since finishing her master's degree in June? I know. Truly PATHETIC. Thanks for the list. I am going to start reading again.

Margaret said...

I LOVE book lists! Thanks for posting this.

katie said...

I love your book recommendations. I read The Giver this year because of your review on goodreads. Outliers has been on my "to-read" list for a LONG time so I am going to get on that one soon. I also need to read the Spirited Child one to help with my Clark. So many books, so little time...

Elizabeth said...

Thank you so much for this list. I have just picked up Still Alice from the library. I was scared to read Room but after your thoughts on it I'm going to get it too! (pathetic I know).
Thanks again.

Jake said...

"Spirited Child" (along with "The Difficult Child" by Stanley Turecki)got me through three really ugly parenting years.

I have wanted to read "Room" and "Into the Woods" but thought they might be too intense...so I am excited by your recommendation!!!

I want to know what you think of "Battle Hymn of a Tiger Mother" too.

mandy* said...

I'm putting this list in my purse for my future library trips. Thank you!!!