~Andrea~ Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I've had a great year so far: I started off well with The Stand (Stephen King) which I loved. Other highlights include The Ghost Writer - John Harwood Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J K R This Sweet Sickness - Patricia Highsmith. The Day of the Triffids - Wyndham I also did well getting stuck into a bit of non-fiction which was a goal for the year. I really enjoyed: Dinner with Mugabe - Heidi Holland The Mind of God - Paul Davies Top read of the year has to be the Highsmith. Absolutely fab. Can't wait to read more by her. Disappointments were The Virgin Suicides - Jeffery Eugenides I was most surprised by Bridget Jones the edge of Reason - Helen Fielding which I really didn't expect to enjoy at all, but really liked. So, how was it for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 It was a good year overall. I discovered some wonderful books: All Quiet on the Western Front (Erich Maria Remarque), Betty Blue (Philippe Dijan) and Mudbound (Hillary Jordan) were the best books I have read this year. There have been numerous books which I have enjoyed, but too many to list here! However, as always, there have been a couple of ones I haven't liked. Working Knowledge (Petr Kral) and The Almost Moon (Alice Sebold) are a couple that immediately spring to mind, but I can't complain - there have been far more good than bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Well, I've gone through an awful lot this year, so I've really slowed down and now that the festive season is fast approaching I'm finding that my mind is harder to distract. However, of what I have read, most of it's been quite good. The funniest: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison Dancing In My Nuddy Pants by Louise Rennison And That's When It Fell Off In My Hand by Louise Rennison Stop in The Name Of Pants by Louise Rennison The best: The Sixth Wife by Jean Plaidy The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory I, Coriander by Sally Gardner Waves by Sharon Dogar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iagegu Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 It's been a slow year this year. Hoping to read more in 2009. Of what I've read I think it would be difficult to choose an overall top book. Whilst I have not quite finished Score by Jilly Cooper I do think it would have to feature somewhere in the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueK Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I've been chain reading this year. I have not been without a book - one always comes with me in my handbag. (it's a big bag:blush:). I think my favourites were the two by Robert Alexandra: The Kitchen Boy and Rasputin's Daughter, they both stayed me for a long time afterwards. I hope to keep it up next year too! I've certainly got enough to keep me out of mischief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexiepiper Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I didn't read as many books as I would have wanted to for this year, but definitely going to read more next year. My favourites were probably the Twilight saga and the Jane Rizzoli series by Tess Gerritsen which was fantastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcow Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I've managed to read more than in 2007 but not quite reached my target of 50 . Books which stood out for me this year are: Water For Elephants by Sarah Gruen Footprints In The Sand by Sarah Challis Confessions of An Ugly Stepsister - Gregory Maguire Isles/Rizzoli series - Tess Gerritsen New authors discovered: Tess Gerritsen, Linda Gillard & Sam Hayes Here's to 2009 and hitting the 50 target Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I've read less than ever before this year, but there have been some great reads in there including: Terry Pratchett - Nation - 10/10 Stuart Macbride - Flesh House - 9/10 Mario Puzo - The Godfather - 9/10 John Boyne - The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - 9/10 Stef Penney - The Tenderness of Wolves - 8/10 Pierre Choderlos de Laclos - Les Liaisons Dangereuses - 8/10 Kelley Armstrong - Exit Strategy - 8/10 Terry Pratchett - Making Money - 8/10 Christopher Brookmyre - Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks - 8/10 Ben Elton - Blind Faith - 8/10 Simon Scarrow - Centurion - 8/10 Kelley Armstrong - Personal Demon - 8/10 Marie Mongan - Hypnobirthing - 8/10 Stuart Macbride - Sawbones (novella) - 8/10 Ben Mezrich - Bringing Down the House: How Six Students Took Vegas for Millions - 8/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rach.at.the.disco Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 It's been quite a good year for me book wise. I've been keeping a book journal for the first time ever. At the start of the year I set myself a target of reading 50 books by the end of the year and I'm 2 away - although this does include 4 plays I've read for uni. A few of my favourites include: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer. The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory. The Virgin Suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides. The Hours - Michael Cunningham. No Time For Goodbye - Linwood Barclay. Addition - Toni Jordan. Notes On A Scandal - Zoe Heller. I also discovered some authors I've enjoyed: Sophie Kinsella. Debbie Macomber. Marian Keyes. I also managed to finish The Notebook which made me happy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen1 Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 ^ You have had an excuse Kell. I've been introduced to a fair few new authors myself and have enjoyed reading a fair amount of books this year. On the downside, when my computer crashed the other week, I did lose my book list. The list that I had been keeping with the title and author of every book I've read for the last few years and me being the complete dumbwit that I am didn't have a backup. Luckily I do have the first half of it printed out in hard copy form, but the rest is lost forever and is something that I'm really annoyed at myself about. I've since bought a memory stick specifically for my book list! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biffo Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I've read less than ever before this year, but there have been some great reads in there including: Terry Pratchett - Nation - 10/10 Stuart Macbride - Flesh House - 9/10 Mario Puzo - The Godfather - 9/10 John Boyne - The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - 9/10 Stef Penney - The Tenderness of Wolves - 8/10 Pierre Choderlos de Laclos - Les Liaisons Dangereuses - 8/10 Kelley Armstrong - Exit Strategy - 8/10 Terry Pratchett - Making Money - 8/10 Christopher Brookmyre - Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks - 8/10 Ben Elton - Blind Faith - 8/10 Simon Scarrow - Centurion - 8/10 Kelley Armstrong - Personal Demon - 8/10 Marie Mongan - Hypnobirthing - 8/10 Stuart Macbride - Sawbones (novella) - 8/10 Ben Mezrich - Bringing Down the House: How Six Students Took Vegas for Millions - 8/10 That last book about the students who took vegas for millions, was it really that good? I've read: I can make you rich - Paul Mckenna All of the available Martina Cole titles An illustrated guide of the UK canals - Boring I know but I enjoyed it biffo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nici Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 (edited) This years reading has been very up and down. I only managed to finish 23 books. Most of the below mentioned were read in the first half of the year. Highlights have been: Bag of Bones ~ Stephen King The Book of Lost Things ~ John Connolly The Favoured Child ~ Phillipa Gregory The House at Riverton ~ Kate Morton Jane Eyre ~ Charlotte Bronte No Time for goodbye ~ Linwood Barclay A piece of cake ~ Cupcake Brown Pillars of the Earth ~ Ken Follett Slash (autobiography) The Taken ~ Sarah Pinborough The Vampires Kiss ~ Raven Hart The Vampires Betrayal ~ Raven Hart Angles watching over me ~ Jacky Newcombe Sepulchre ~ Kate Mosse (still reading) Edited December 19, 2008 by Nici Added a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyB Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I've read 42 books this year. My top 3 are: What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn Worldwide Adventures in Love by Louise Wener The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer Most disappointing was the Blackest Bird by Joel Rose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icecream Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Numbers wise, my years are getting worse for reading, having the girls. Next year I'll be lucky if I read anything, but I have read some different books, such as a A Small Part of History,as well as some favourites and classics. There have been thought provoking reads and one or two not very good ones. I have a few ideas for types of books I haven't read before and would like to, so i might get round to organising that next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Andrea~ Posted December 19, 2008 Author Share Posted December 19, 2008 On the downside, when my computer crashed the other week, I did lose my book list. The list that I had been keeping with the title and author of every book I've read for the last few years and me being the complete dumbwit that I am didn't have a backup. Luckily I do have the first half of it printed out in hard copy form, but the rest is lost forever and is something that I'm really annoyed at myself about. I've since bought a memory stick specifically for my book list! Aaah nightmare. I forgot to say - I'll have read 31 -32 books I think by the end of the year, which was way over my target of 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitegold Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 I haven't read too much this year, Im hoping 2009 will be better. Some books that stood out this year: Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory Fight Club and Choke by Chuck Palahniuk The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling For One More Day by Mitch Albom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charm Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 2008 has been a great reading year for me. I've discovered some great new authors and since joining here my desire to read different genres is growing. I've got a book about Buddhism on my wishlist and I'm actually reading an autobiography at the min ... never thought that would happen! My favourite discoveries this year were the Jane Rizzoli/Maura Isles series by Tess Gerritsen and the Jessica Balzano/Kevin Byrne series by Richard Montanari (if you liked Gerritsen you'll like Montanari too ) I've also decided to give the whole re-reading lark a go, didn't think there would be much point, but as I recognise familiar authors and titles I've read years ago I've found myself thinking 'Oh yeah .. I must read that again.' Roll on 2009 .. who knows what that will bring. I might even start reading the classics!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 2008 was a sucky reading year for me. Thats why I decided to track down a book forum - to encourage me to engage more with my reading hobby!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landevale Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 2008 was an absolutely crazy year for me, so I didn't end up reading as much as I would have liked. There were several stand-outs, though, from the books I did get to: God of Small Things, by Arundhati Roy (one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read) One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez A Separate Peace by John Knowles Ways of Dying by Zakes Mda My goal for 2009 is 52 books--one per week. Keeping my fingers crossed!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charm Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 2008 was a sucky reading year for me. Thats why I decided to track down a book forum - to encourage me to engage more with my reading hobby!!! Oh it will definately do that! Trouble is you get so addicted to the site you end up reading less while your TBR pile and your wishlist grow!! You have been warned ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 My goal for 2009 is 52 books--one per week. Keeping my fingers crossed!! I'd love to do that too, but I doubt it'll happen considering I'm currently lucky to finish a book the same month I start it - LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 I think I`ve read on average, one book per month this year, which I know doesn`t sound much! Compared to 2007 when I`d completely lost my reading mojo and probably barely managed two reads, I think it`s quite good! Like Charm since joining BCF, I`ve discovered new (to me anyway) authors, Tess Gerritsen being one, and I am more willing to give different genres a go, as some of the reviews I read on here make me want to dash out and find these new books. So I`m really looking forward to 2009 and upping my read numbers some more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 Since joining here in May I've read 70 books and put several down as I wasn't enjoying them - however I was off sick all summer so I had plenty of time to read. So this has been a good year for me I would like to hope next year will be the same in terms of reading but I'm not so sure... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kay_loves_purple Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 So far this year I've read 72 books. My favorites were: To Say Nothing of the Dog - Connie Willis <--- the book that made me discover Connie Willis which is one of my favorite authors so far (I've also read her Doomsday Book and Passage, looking forward to get my hands on Lincoln's Dreams) The Quincunx - Charles Palliser <--- I was "wow-ed" by this book, by its complexity and its Dickens-like style Admit One: A Journey Into Film - Emmett James <--- a very fun and captivating book The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory <--- yet another author whom I enjoyed discovering and who's now among my favorites (I've also read her The Constant Princess and The Boleyn Inheritance) The Book of Lost Things - John Connolly <-- loved its world of twisted fairytales Twilight and the rest of the series - Stephenie Meyer A special mention goes to: Out of Africa - Isak Dinesen <--- surprinsingly so not like the movie First Blood - David Morell <---- also surprisingly not like the movie (the first in the Rambo series) especially because Rambo dies in the end , which mightily amused me given that it's the first in a series of four, sharing the same main character Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookBee8 Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 Wow, I've lost count of the amount of books I've read this year and I've still got 30+ on my TBR pile! The books that stand out from this year though, are: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer Double Cross by Malorie Blackman Harry Potter The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom The Last To Know by Melissa Hill Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Lots of Adele Parks, Dorothy Koomson and Ceceilia Ahern books! Overall it's been a pretty great reading year for me. I've got lots I want to read for 2009 too so that will hopefully be a similar year reading wise!! Disappointments/terrible reads? All the Psychology textbooks I've been forced to read Secret lives of Pippa Lee - I rushed it to finish it, not for me! Umm... And there's probably more but I may have forgotten them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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