These are the books that made up my reading year. I hope you're inspired to pick up a few of them--there really are some great ones listed here. For those who are new to the blog, this analysis is based on what I did this year, not on what hit the markets for the first time. If someone won "Best New Author" it's because he/she was new to me, not to the publishing industry.
* Denotes fiction # Denotes new author + Denotes audio book
1. The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston (A) +
2. Anonymous Lawyer by Jeremy Blachman (A) *#+
3. Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson (A) +
4. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan (A) *#
5. The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler (A) *+
6. My Grandfather's Son by Clarence Thomas (A) #+
7. Baseball by George Vecsey (A) #
8. This Year You Write Your Novel by Walter Mosley (A)
9. The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen (A-) *#+
10. Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell (A-) #
11. All Over But the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg (A-) #+
12. Atonement by Ian McEwan (A-) *#
13. New Bedlam by Bill Flanagan (A-) *#
14. Free-Range Chickens by Rich Simon (A-) #
15. Fraternity by Bob Greene (B+) #+
16. Straight Man by Richard Russo (B+) *
17. Feeding the Monster by Seth Mnookin (B+) #
18. Writing for the Soul by Jerry Jenkins (B+)
19. Reflex by Dick Francis (B+) *
20. 30 Days with Jesus by F. LaGard Smith (B+) #
21. How I Write by Janet Evanovich (B+)
22. Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison (B) #+
23. The Overlook by Michael Connelly (B) *
24. No Way to Treat a First Lady by Christopher Buckley (B) *+
25. They Did It With Love by Kate Morgenroth (B) *#
26. Election by Tom Perotta (B-) *
27. When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris (B-)
28. Way Off the Road by Bill Geist (B-) #+
29. The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen (B-) *
30. Cat O'Nine Tales by Jeffrey Archer (B-) *
31. The Woods by Harlan Coben (B-) *+
32. Built to Win by John Schuerholz (B-) #
33. How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead by Ariel Gore (B-) #
34. Death of a Gentle Lady by M.C. Beaton (B-) *
35. The Appeal by John Grisham (C+) *+
36. 10 lb. Penalty by Dick Francis (C+) *+
37. The Garden of Eden by Ernest Hemingway (C+) *+
38. Why Courage Matters by John McCain and Mark Salter (C+) #
39. The Choice by Nicholas Sparks (C) *+
40. Cross by James Patterson (C) *
41. You've Been Warned by James Patterson (C) *+
42. Dishes by Rich Wallace (C) *#
43. Ten Rings: My Championship Seasons by Yogi Berra (C) #
44. Shattered by Dick Francis (C-) *
45. The Other by David Guterson (C-) *#
46. Feet on the Street by Roy Blount, Jr. (C-)
47. The Disappointment Artist by Jonathan Lethem (C-) #+
48. Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich (C-) *+
49. At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks (D+) *+
50. Judge & Jury by James Patterson (D) *+
51. I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris (D) #+
BOOK OF THE YEAR -- The Monster of Florence BEST in NON-FICTION -- The Monster of Florence; BEST NOVEL -- On Chesil Beach
BEST THRILER -- The Bone Garden; BEST in BIOGRAPHY -- Shakespeare: The World as Stage; BEST in HUMOR -- Anonymous Lawyer; BEST in SPORTS -- Baseball; BEST TRAVELOGUE -- Assassination Vacation; BEST in WRITING REFERENCE -- This Year You Write Your Novel
BEST NEW AUTHOR -- Ian McEwan
BEST FEMALE AUTHOR -- Tess Gerritsen
Other notables: Most reads of a single author -- 3 (Dick Francis, James Patterson); Total male authors -- 35; Total female authors -- 8; 29 paper reads/ 22 unabridged audio reads; 2008 book goal -- 50; 2009 book goal -- 60.
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