Here’s this week’s Booking Through Thursday question:
It’s a week or two later than you’d expect, and it may be almost a trite question, but … what were your favorite books from 2008?(It’s an oldie but a goodie question for a reason, after all … because, who can’t use good book suggestions from time to time?)
My original intention was to the list the Top 5 Books I Read Last Year… and then as I started flipping through my reviews, the number became the Top 10 Books I Read Last Year… and I finally was able to settle on the title you see above.
I chose those works that seemed reinvent their genre somehow — doing more with the same ol’ words we all use — and those works that made me look at the world differently. Then I decided to rank them! So, 2 hours later, here is my list:
- The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
- The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
- The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
- Sea of Poppies
- Home (read Gilead first)
- The Road
- Outliers
- Freakonomics
- there is no me without you
- We Need to Talk About Kevin
- Absalom, Absalom
- Disgrace
- The Book Thief
- In Defense of Food
- Man of the House
- Love Walked In
Now it’s YOUR turn!! What book(s) are you glad you read last year?
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Dang I forgot the Book Thief on my list. I really enjoyed it also. Hope you have a wonderful New Years.
So many people seem to have The Book Thief on their lists. Guess I need to put it on mine for this year. Yes, I agree – it’s really hard to narrow it down to just a few favorites!
My husband really liked The Road. He keeps telling me to read it already! Maybe it’s time.
Home and The Book Thief are two all time favourites for me. I did enjoy Edgar Sawtelle, Oscar Wao, and Absalom, Absalom too. I will be reading Sea of Poppies and We Need to Talk About Kevin this year. My BTT list couldn’t be kept to just a few either.
I have to admit, I read The Book Thief reluctantly… but was very pleasantly surprised and impressed! It is so original…
Beth — Let me recommend that you read The Road in one sitting. It is very dark and disturbing (I sobbed at the end), but well worth the harrowing journey!
Sandra — Sounds like we have similar tastes! I was happy to find many unfamiliar titles on your BTT list — lots of new stuff I’ll probably enjoy, as well!
2 and 13 are on my tbr list.
I just finished The Book Thief and it will be on my 09 list!
This is a great site! Thanks for sharing. I’m putting “The Road” on my TBR list for the new year. Here are my top 5 choices:
http://quambrevetempus.wordpress.com
Thanks for sharing, I will be keeping up on this site! So many goodies!!!!
The Book Thief
The True Story of Hansel and Gretel
Suite Francaise
The Kite Runner
A Thousand Splendid Suns
All Over But the Shoutin’
Ava’s Man
The Prince of Frogtown
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
Lisa — I have been sitting on Suite Francaise for months… since it’s on your list (and I liked the 5 titles on your list I have read), I’ll finally stop sittin’ on it and start readin’ it… Thanks for stoppping by!
I loved it, perhaps all the more considering her tragic story. I was touched by how she conveyed the range of human responses to horrible situations. On my list for 2009 is The Zookeeper’s Wife, which will be a fine companion to the other three books.
Zookeeper’s Wife is another title I’ve been meaning to read for too long… I’ll add it to my 2009 list!