I'm not going to post a "top 10" list this year, although I thought about it and shared some great books with both my book groups. I will share my top two "regular" reads and top two mysteries. I didn't do reviews for the two mysteries, but trust me, both were winners.
REGULAR FICTION
by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
2. MIDDLESEX
by Jeffrey Eugenides
MYSTERY FICTION
1. FRACTURED
by Karin Slaughter
2. THE COLD DISH
by Craig Johnson
I also want to share my personal reading challenge for 2009. This seems to be the time that many challenges are beginning and lots of people are talking about what new challenges they have selected. I respect that and wish everyone luck. I'm not much of a challenge person. I really need to have flexibility in my reading and it's almost more than I can stand to read the books each month for my book groups. And I'm the leader and moderator of both!
My dear husband and I were talking about the economy (who isn't these days) and what we might do to tighten things up a bit. We have been blessed with the resources that we need and don't have to forgo too many things that we really want. He enjoys participating in many sports, golf especially. I have my books. He told me that I could just read the books that live already in our house and I would have enough for the next few years. I laughed and agreed. My bookshelves are overflowing, double stacked, and way too full. Books live in all kinds of places in my home. He asked how many books I had read in the last year and I told him. He estimated that I had enough books, if I concentrated on what I had not yet read in the house, to last for the next 10 years. I said there was no way I had that many. He countered with the figure of 1,223 books on the shelves (his estimate). I again said no way. Well, I counted my books. Dare I confess? There are 1,314 books in my home. Hmmmm....I said. Enough indeed for 10 years.
My personal challenge is to not purchase any books and read from own shelves for the year 2009. I am allowed to check out books from the library still. Since I work at the library and also have the fun duty of processing all the new books for our branch, that would be cruel and unusual punishment if I added a library ban to my challenge. I have nothing against others purchasing all the new books they need and can afford and have certainly done my share of that in the past. I just feel like it is time to sort out what I own, read a bit of it, and make sure that I still want all these lovely books that I felt I just "had to have". At the end of 2009, I will reevaluate. That's it. My personal challenge. I will succeed!! Now, back to my book.....
I loved Guernsey and did not care for Middlesex. I have The Cold Dish on my TBR list, so it's great to see it on your list.
ReplyDeleteFocusing on my own bookshelves is something I will be concentrating on as well; however, I am not banning myself from any purchases. :)
A very worthy personal challenge! I know I'd never be able to do it. :-) Though the ability to check out of the library would make it a bit more tolerable!
ReplyDeleteLezlie
Loved Guernsey, but haven't read Middlesex. Haven't read either of the mysteries.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your personal reading challenge...you have plenty of books to choose from!
I loved Guernsey, too, and must read Middlesex (so many friends have told me so!). I admire your goal of reading from your own stash of books. I'm trying to do more of that, also.
ReplyDeleteHi Kay--Glad to see you're posting again! Good luck with reading from your own shelves--I want to do lots more of that as well, though I don't think I'll be able to cut myself off from new book purchases (and with several holiday book gift cards I can do without feeling too guilty). I loved the Guernsey book, too, and gave it to my mom for Christmas! Must check out your other favorites now!
ReplyDeleteJoy, I seem to remember that you didn't care for Middlesex. Do try The Cold Dish. Such a good mystery.
ReplyDeleteLezlie, yes, the library part will help when my resolve gets low. All those lovely books flowing through my hands first!
Jenclair, when you get some time you should try Middlesex. It's such a unique book. Yes, I have my own personal bookstore here!
Robin, you should try Middlesex. It is truly unique.
Danielle, I just lent my copy of Guernsey to my daughter. She is not much of a reader, but I had enthused so much about it, she said she would try it. Hope she likes it.
I was quite impressed with Middlesex when I read it too and am really looking forward to reading the Shaffer and Barrows book. Hopefully this year!
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased to see The Cold Dish on your list of mystery favorites! Craig Johnson is awesome. :-)
I think it's a good idea to not purchase any more books, but rather to take from our own personal shelves. I'll follow your example on that goal! I do have to say, though, that I didn't like Middlesex at all. There's one small point where we disagree. Can we still be friends? ;)
ReplyDeleteI probably have enough for several years as well, and yet....I still buy. It's a sickness. :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you though, I hope you find some treasures among the books on your shelves!
I admire your efforts, I really do, and good luck with no book buying. I thought I might try that too but realise I probably won't be able to manage it. I'm going to settle for trying to read more from my present tbr pile and from the library and cutting back on actual buying. I think I ought to be able to manage that.
ReplyDeleteA nice personal challenge -- I've done a bit of shelf clearing this past year, and hope to do a bit more. However, I can't hope that many follow your example. In this time when publishers are laying off people by the dozens, cutting back on the books they are publishing and on contracts when they do, I only hope that those who can, buy as many books as possible.
ReplyDeleteP.S. - nice site. I wandered here more or less randomly.
Wendy, Craig Johnson is awesome. I am planning on catching up with his series throughout this year. My mystery group loved THE COLD DISH. Even the lady that only loves English police procedurals!
ReplyDeleteOf course we can still be friends, Bellezza. I wasn't expecting to like MIDDLESEX as much as I did.
Amy, I know I have a number of treasures there. Even some I can't find yet. I just needed to reign in my buying habits for a while. AS you can see, I have been a good customer to all kinds of bookstores!
Bullwinkle, thanks for stopping by. No, I'm not advocating that anyone else follow my example. This is a personal challenge. I know times are hard for publishing. I just needed to reign in the impulse for a while. I've definitely done my share to stimulate the economy in book buying! :-)
Cath, sorry, I didn't mean to leave you out. I think suspect that will be my way after this year.
ReplyDeleteI loved both of your favorite fiction titles!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your personal challenge. I'll try to do the same. I've only bought one book this year. Not bad. Of course, it's only the 6th of January. ;)
I'd love to say that I'll join you in not buying books this year as I've got plenty to keep me going for quite a few years as well, but I can already feel my resolve weakening. I'm going to try it one month at a time and see how I get on.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way I could go a whole year without borrowing books from the library - I know that would be completely impossible.
Good luck with your challenge.
I've felt such freedom, such real peace ever since announcing my no-buy year. It surprises me daily. I cleared out the shelves of books I didn't want to read (so why, oh why, did I buy them - I'd love that money back) and there were 4 bags. I find that so sad and almost reprehensible of me. What a waste of good money. Anyhow, this feeling of lightness, of calm is one I've never experienced with regard to books. I've also let audios go. I did decide to read two at a time though because my nonfiction book was so exciting to me I couldn't sleep. It's about Sylvia Beach and her Paris bookstore. So, I've got the first Miss Read Fairacre book to lull me off. :<) I'm psyched we are kind of doing this together though separated by the many miles.
ReplyDeleteLes, as I recall, you've done pretty well with this for the last few years. Especially since you work surrounded by books!
ReplyDeleteMargaret, one month is a lot. I'm not advocating others to join me, just trying to make my own life more simple and organized this year. Yes, I'm treating the library like a bookstore now! Ha!
Nan, you were my inspiration on this. Do you mean you won't be listening to audios? Can't imagine that. Like you, I am enjoying discovering what has been hiding on my shelves.
Kay have you caught up with The Agatha Christie Reading Challenge Carnival at http://acrccarnival.blogspot.com/ yet?
ReplyDeleteIf you've written postings about any Agatha Christie's you might like to submit them to the Carnival