Favorite books of the year

[Ursula]

Here's something to think about for awhile, maybe refer to a list if you have one. I was thinking it would be good to hear what your favorite book(s) was this year and why.

I'll be back later once I've thought about it myself.

[k-mom]

Definitely the LOTR trilogy.

I started the books not expecting much as I am not a big fan of the fantasy genre, but once I started them I couldn't put the darn things down!

[Ursula]

This is a very difficult task, particularly as I didn't give a single book I read this year and "excellent rating." My bests this year were:

For parenting books: How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk" by Adele Farber. Also, I just read:

Smart Mom's Baby-Sitting Co-Op Handbook : How We Solved the Baby-Sitter Puzzle by Gary Myers and am EXTREMELY excited about starting my co-op after the new year. I think it's going to change my life!!! Thanks Lisa Jo for recommending that one!

Best general non-fiction: The Six Wives of Henry the VIII by Antonia Fraser.

Best novel: Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. I really hesitate to say that one, as it wasn't excellent, but it was very good. I also very much liked Judy Blume's Summer Sisters.

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Ursula
Me: 35, Dh: 34 (1989)
<font color="#FF850B"><font size=2pt> Dd: May 2001</font></font>
18 Months
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[k-mom]

Ursula,

I couldn't get through Running With Scissors. It was just too dark and what a screwed up life!! I did like Summer Sisters though.

[Ursula]

k-mom, I can see what you mean! Funny thing, though, is I never could get through LOTR because of the dark battle with evil.

[Caryl]

Ursula, what a wonderful question. I just spent some time looking through my Reader's Journal (and resolving to write more often in it next year!), choosing the titles I should post here. I'm going to post quite a few -- it's been a great reading year for me!

Novels:

~ The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. What a story! Empowering.

~ Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Such a great, comedic romance!

~ Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich. Awesome. Poetic prose.

Drama:

~ Arcadia by Tom Stoppard. Rich, clever, enchanting.

Memoir:

~ Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. Hilarious!

~ Paula by Isabel Allende. Heartbreaking main storyline, but told with such grace and honesty.

Other non-fiction:

~ Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich. Excellent journalism. Witty and wise.

[Bettie]

I didn't read as much as I would have liked this year but I do hope next year will be better.

I would have to say my favorite book was Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood.

It just touched me at so many different levels. It was a great story and I enjoyed reading it almost wished there was more to the book. I must read Little Altars Everywhere now.

[SusanH]

I read a lot this year, but nothing truly special stands out. I found the Outlander series very absorbing, but I wouldn't call them outstanding literature. The House of the Spirits was very good, as was The Red Tent.

[SusanH]

Two more that I enjoyed this year:

Your Competent Child by Jesper Juul - I didn't agree with all of it, but it was a very interesting perspective on raising children

Katherine by Anya Seton - wonderful historic novel. I read almost all of her novels this year and this was the best. I still have one more waiting on my bookshelf.

[Lisa Jo]

I keep a list of all the books I read and movies I see at the end of my journal. Otherwise I'd never remember them all! In order of when I read them, these are the 2002 books that rated a star in my list, meaning that I particularly enjoyed them:
Losing Julia - Jonathon Hull
The Red Tent - Anita Diamant
Summer Sisters (re-read) - Judy Blume
Bridget Jones' Diary (re-read) - Helen Fielding
Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
Stupid White Men - Michael Moore
anything by Janet Evanovich :D

[djk42]

My favorite book this year was Pretense (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1565079450/ref=nosim/storknet00).

A late addition good book is one I read on December 30th, The Christmas Box (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684814994/ref=nosim/storknet00).

[Jer]

I haven't been around much lately, but I've been reading, reading, reading! Ever since we read Minette Walters' "The Sculptress," I've been on a mystery kick, and I've found that all her books are good-- most better (and a few MUCH better) than Sculptress. I loved "The Red Tent," too.

[tandpsmom]

I just finished The Lovely Bones, it was so good. I was hooked by the first page and couldn't put it down. I thought it was told so well and it was such a great idea to tell it the way she did!!!


Erin

[StephanieR]

I don't usually post here but LOVE to read! I belong to 2 book clubs!
I really enjoyed "Good in Bed" by Jennifer Weiner. I can't wait to read her next book. I'm waiting for the paperback to come out.
I like to check in here to see what everyone is reading!!
Steph

[Scout]

My favorite book of the year was: "I Don't Know How She Does It: The Life of Kate Reddy, Working Mother," by Allison Pearson. Fabulous read!

[Shel11]

I loved that book, Whitney. It is definitely one of my favorites.