My Year in Reading: 2010

This year has been quite unforgettable.  So much has changed in my life:

I found a full-time job. I decided to share a home with my sweetheart. I adopted two cats. I started this blog.  I created two book clubs in Atlanta--one with local females, and one for a non-profit feminist medical center. My brother announced his family would be welcoming their first child.  My aunt got engaged. I traveled. I baked. I started crafting again. I took lots of pictures. I spent time with friends, family and my darling. 

And amidst all of this excitement I also found time to read.  The fact that I could have read much more is irrelevent.  Once I remembered how much I loved the printed word and decided to make reading a regular stint in my routine, I created Bookworm Meets Bookworm, which has introduced me to wonderful people and MUST READ literature.

Read in 2010:

1. Jude the Obscure- Thomas Hardy

2. Ethan Frome- Edith Wharton

3. My Antonia- Willa Cather

4. The History of Love- Nicole Krauss

5. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close- Jonathan Safran Foer

6. Middlesex- Jeffrey Eugenides

7. The Awakening- Kate Chopin

8. The Art of Travel- Alain de Botton

9. A Voyage Long and Strange- Tony Horwitz

10. Memory Wall: Stories- Anthony Doerr

11. Me Talk Pretty One Day- David Sedaris

12. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake- Aimee Bender

13. Disgrace- J.M. Coetzee

14. The Help- Kathryn Stockett

15. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand- Helen Simonson

16. The Long Song-Andrea Levy
17. I, Capture the Castle- Dodie Smith
18. Emerald City: Stories- Jennifer Egan
19. All is Forgotten, Nothing is Lost- Lan Samantha Chang
20. Little Bee- Chris Cleave
21. A Gate at the Stairs- Lorrie Moore
22. The School of Essential Ingredients- Erica Bauermeister
23. Jane Eyre- Charlotte Bronte

Books that were read up until the last couple chapters (or books that I should have finished):

1. Wuthering Heights- Emily Bronte
2. The Widower's Tale- Julia Glass
3. Great House: A Novel- Nicole Krauss
4. Man Walks Into A Room- Nicole Krauss

The calendar is already filling up in January.  I'm currently tackling The Elegance of the Hedgehog and The Knife of Never Letting Go for fun.  The book club has already picked three months out:

January- The Guersney Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
February- Room
March- Veronika Decides to Die

What did you read this year?  Suggestions for the next? 

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Top Ten Books I'd Love To See Under My Tree

With the holidays just around the corner you're sure to get a few presents under the tree.  However, as I've gotten older, I've noticed less packages (oh! how I miss the beautiful wrapping and delicate ribbons) and more cards with little tabs for cards or money. Often times, a card and cash are just safe gifts- you really can't go wrong.  That being said, it's likely that I won't receive a single book in my gift haul. (Although, my Grandmother did give me a splendid cookbook when we had Christmas this past weekend.)
That's ok, though- I love to buy my own books.  I'm picky when it comes to the condition; not to mention, I believe if you're shopping for me, you should at least be able to check my updates on goodreads!

Nonetheless, here are 10 titles that I'd love to receive from the big guy in red:

1. Dreams Of My Russian Summers: A Novel by Andrei Makine

My Dearest Russia- one day I will venture to your beautiful borders.  Until then, I'll read about it. 

2. Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris

I love his short stories.  Now I want to see the novel. 

3. The Cloudspotter's Guide: The Science, History and Culture of Clouds by Gavin Pretor- Pinney

I love clouds.  I love watching the clouds.  I love taking picture of clouds and making sense of the shapes they make while drifting past.  I heard it's based on a real life cloud lovers society-- and I think that's just  neat. 

4. Faithful Place by Tana French

I'm not usually into suspense and thrillers, but I've heard great things. Plus, it's based in Ireland. I love Ireland.

5. The Four Fingers of Death by Rick Moody

 I featured this title on my most anticipated reads of 2010.  Didn't get it, still want it.

6. The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman

 It was recently listed on the Millions website as one of the top reads of the year.  I need it.

7. The Possessed: Adventure with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them by Elif Bautman

Really?  You already know why I NEED this one.

8. The Diaries of Sofia Tolstoy by Sofia Tolstoy

Yep, again.  Plus, I have this thing for Tolstoy.  We shouldn't speak if you only have ill things to say.  Really.

9. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

I haven't seen a bad reveiw yet.  I usually trust those reviews.  It's a win/win.

10. Dewey's Nine Lives: The Legacy of the Small Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions by Vicki Myron

When I made the decision to move in with my darling, J, I also adopted two beautiful babies: Stevie and Shirley (they're cats FYI).  My love for cats has grown from nothing to may-we never-be-parted. Ever.  I want this book that lifts the load, and reminds you that cats are cuddly and affectionate and everything humans are not.  The end. 

If I don't find these under the tree, no biggie; I'm about to start a whole new year of Thrify Book Finds!  Happy Holidays, bookworms! :)  Many thanks to The Broke and The Bookish for another great Top Ten Tuesday!

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A Look Back: 2010 Reading Endeavors

Jaime over at the Perpetual Page Turner created this survey to see what fellow book bloggers had completed this year. Here are highlights from my 2010 literary journey:


1. Best book of 2010? Technically, I'm cheating because I have about 50 pages to go, but I have to say that Lorrie Moore's A Gate at the Stairs has captured my heart.  I also found my favorite novel, The History of Love, this year.

2. Worst book of 2010? I started Julia Glass's The Widower's Tale and Paul Murray's Skippy Dies, and couldn't finish either.  I loved Glass's Three Junes, so I was surprised that her story, which I found typical, and rather boring, just didn't grab me.  Skippy Dies featured so many superfluous details that I couldn't imagine finishing. 

3. Most Disappointing Book of 2010? Daphne Kalotay's Russian Winter.  I haven't completely thrown in the towel with this one. I just haven't been drawn in yet.  I was even more upset because not only did I really anticipate the title's release, but I also WON it on Goodreads! 

4. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2010? Jeffrey Eugenides's Middlesex.  I didn't know much about the novel going in, and walked away very satisfied.

5. Book you recommended to people most in 2010?  Nicole Krauss's The History of Love.  I literally can't praise this novel enough. 

6. Best series you discovered in 2010? I haven't actually had an experience with a series this year.  Shame on me.  This will encourage me to do so the next!

7. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2010? Again, Nicole Krauss.  Lorrie Moore. 

8. Most hilarious read of 2010? Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close had me laughing out loud.  David Sedaris's Me Talk Pretty One Day was also another great read. 

9. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2010? J.M. Coetzee's Disgrace. It wasn't so much thrilling, as slightly disgusting, and, yet, utterly fascinating.  I appreciated Coetzee's ability to create such depth in so few pages.

10. Book you most anticipated in 2010? Nicole Krauss's Great House: A Novel.  I'm still working on this one, but I couldn't wait for this title to be released. 



11. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2010? Anthony Doerr's Memory Wall: Stories The hardcover, which I ordered right away, is textured!  It's beautiful AND pleasant to hold.










12. Most memorable character in 2010? Tassie Keltjin from A Gate at the Stairs; Leo Gursky from The History of Love.

 13. Most beautifully written book in 2010? Anthony Doerr's Memory Wall: Stories.  


14. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2010?  I absolutely loved The History of Love, and I feel like it evoked the most emotion.  


15. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2010 to finally read? Three books: Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure; Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome; Willa Cather's My Antonia.  All incredible.

I am interested to see what this list will look like this time next year.  

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