I hope that everyone’s Christmas/holiday celebrations were fabulous, and that you didn’t overeat too much (I know I did). The countdown into the New Year is winding down, which means that I’ve spent the last day or so thinking back over the past year. Despite my occasional grumblings, it’s been a good one — just like all years previous.
It’s been a good year for books too (what year isn’t?) I’ve discovered some new authors, stretched a bit out of my comfort zone and into some new genres, and discovered my love of the audio book.
Some statistics
Books read in 2010: About 55
Pages read: Approximately 17,700
Books reviewed: 49
Books not enjoyed: 8
My top 10 of ’10
Impossible — Lucy Scarborough must complete three impossible tasks before the birth of her daughter, or the curse that has haunted the women of her family for generations will fall upon her. (YA fiction)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians — 12 year-old Percy is a demigod — a son of Poseidon. While the young man struggles to come to terms with himself and his emerging powers, the rumblings of the earth foreshadow dangerous times ahead: the Titan Kronos is awakening, and all hell is about to break loose in downtown New York. (YA fiction)
Something Missing — Martin spends a lot of time in his clients’ homes. Unfortunately, Martin is a thief. Extremely obsessive-compulsive, he lives his life by very strict rules, the overarching theme being don’t get involved. But after a dropped toothbrush and a terrifying half-hour scrunched in a closet, Martin hears something he isn’t supposed to. His first attempt to positively affect the lives of his client goes well, but soon a true bad guy ups the ante, and Martin must decide between his client’s safety and his own. (Fiction)
Bonk — A hysterical, sometimes cringe-inducing always fascinating look at the topic of sex research. Whether you know everything or nothing about sex research, this is a great read, and the author deserves a medal for volunteering to participate in some of these studies. (Non-fiction, Science, Psychology)
The House of Tomorrow — Having spent most of his life in relative seclusion living with his grandmother in a geodesic dome, 15 year-old Sebastian is thrown into the “real world” when his grandmother suffers a stroke and he is left in the care of Janice. Janice’s son Jared is an angry punk rocker, and Sebastian’s introduction to punk rock opens his eyes to a world from which his grandmother had kept him hidden. (Fiction)
Lucy — When Primatologist Jenny Lowe returns from the war-torn African Congo with Lucy, the daughter of a fellow researcher, in tow, she doesn’t know quite what to do. It is only once she reads Lucy’s father’s research that she discovers that the girl is an experiment — the world’s first half-human, half-ape. A psychological thriller in the same vein as Frankenstein, this book pulls you in and doesn’t let go, even after it’s shocking conclusion. (Fiction, Psychological Thriller)
Forever — Katherine never expects to meet The One, but there he is at her friend’s New Year’s party. Katherine and Michael fall in love, and promise to remain so “forever.” But can two 17 year-old high schoolers really make that promise? Forever is a book about love, first experiences, and the pain of a first love’s ending; but it’s also about the sweetness that will forever surround first love. (YA fiction)
Graceling — Having a Grace is both a blessing and a curse, especially for Katsa. Her Grace, killing, both protects and entraps her with her ruthless uncle, a power-hungry king. Strange things are happening throughout the Seven Kingdoms, including the appearance of another Graced human — Po, the Prince of Lienid. Strong feminist themes, and a fair amount of gore, made this novel and its prequel interesting reading. (YA fiction)
The Eyre Affair — First in a series set in an alternate world in which the Crimean War still rages, dodos can be cloned at home, and original manuscripts of classic books are encased in bulletproof glass. Despite all the security, Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre disappears without a trace, and it’s up to LiteraTech Thursday Next to discover its whereabouts. But she gets more than she bargained for when the line between reality and fiction begins to blur. Audio book presented by Audible.com and narrated by the amazing Susan Duerdan. Available on iTunes. (Audio book)
Little Women (unabridged) — A novel which follows the four March girls as they learn and grow — a classic too rich and detailed to be easily summed up here. The audio book I purchased was provided by Recorded Books, presented by Audible.com, and was narrated by Barbara Caruso. Available on iTunes. (Audio book)
Looking ahead
2011 is going to be fun. I’m still on a roll with YA fiction, and am participating in the Gothic Reading Challenge. Santa was good to me this year, and I’ve got a pile of new books a mile high.
Thanks for joining me on my adventure, and for making my first year of blogging a great one. I hope to see you guys in 2011.
In the meantime, check out my nerdy Christmas presents:
Happy New Year!
