2010: The Year That Was
I can remember my mother telling me that the older you get, the faster time passes. I figure I must really be getting old, because 2010 has just flown by for me. It seems the year just started and here I am, writing a wrap up post. This has been an great year for me in the blog and books department. I was lucky enough to attend BEA and SIBA where I got to meet lots of wonderful authors and fellow bloggers. For the first time, I became a challenge host – I’m co-hosting the Reagan Arthur Books Challenge with Julie of Booking Mama and I’m hosting The Okra Picks Challenge – it’s not too late to sign up for either of these challenges. I’ve continued with my on-line book club and started my first in person book club! This year I managed to read 186 books and while I find it difficult to choose favorites, I’m going to give it a try. I looked through my reading list over and over and (in no particular order) these are the books that stand out for me:
Adult books:
- The Summer We Fell Apart by Robin Antalek
- Marriage and Other Acts of Charity by Kate Braestrup
- The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar
- So Cold the River by Michael Koryta
- Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian
- The Madonnas of Echo Park by Brando Skyhorse
- City of Veils by Zoë Ferraris
- The Human Bobby by Gabe Rotter
- Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
- Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
Middle-grade and Young Adult books:
- The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
- The Heart is Not a Size by Beth Kephart
- Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan
- 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
- Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins
- Countdown by Deborah Wiles
- The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk
- Leaving Gee’s Bend by Irene Latham
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
- Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A. S. King (watch for review in January)
These are books that I read in 2010, they weren’t necessarily published in 2010. I hope you’ve read some great books this year too and that 2011 brings even more great books into our lives. Happy New Year!
You’ve had a fantastic year! Best wishes for an equally great 2011.
I really need to read more Shaun Tan. Happy New Year, Kathy!
Great lists. The Human Bobby is on my must read in ’11 list.
Wow, you read a ton of books this year! Hope next year is as good for you, or even better!
2010 was a great reading year and i hope 2011 will be amazing too
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I loved the Sherman Alexie book. I have to read some other books by him. Happy reading in 2011!
Kathy, your Mom was right about the time passing faster the older you get. Somedays it’s hard to believe my babies are in their 40′s – where has the time gone? Looks like you had a terrific year of reading. Here’s wishing you a Happy New Year filled with good books, good friends, good health and much happiness.
Next year I should try to write a post like this. I struggle so much to come up with just 10 or so…
I’m surprised by how few of the adult ones that I’ve read!
Yes, time does seem to move at warp speed these days — for me, 2010 went even more quickly as this was the year my daughter started college.
You’ve certainly had a great year reading wise, and I wish you all the best for the coming year
You read some great books in 2010. I love anything by Thrity Umrigar. Happy Reading in 2011.
My mom used to tell me the same thing – and she was RIGHT!
I am glad that you had such a wonderful year, Kathy, and I wish you an even better 2011!
An amazing list, and a super 2010! Mom is always right, isn’t she?
The year went by too fast. I need another few weeks! It has been a pleasure reading your blog again this year, meeting you at BEA, and being a part of this wonderful community of book lovers, of which you are at the core. Thank you!
Imagine the wonderful books we will be discussing in the weeks and months to come!
hope you had a wonderful year–it flew by here, too! love your list–i’ve been seeing please ignore vera…everywhere and am frothing to read it! may have to download it for my kindle one of these days…
Kathy, I’ve only read 2 of your best books for this year, but I have many more of them in my TBR piles. Maybe in 2011? Wishing you a very Happy New Year! Hope this next one is filled with much joy and a lot of good reading! Hugs!
You have had a really great year in books, haven’t you? I am liking all your choices and am adding a few to my list. I agree with you that this year has flown by, and I have to say that I have really enjoyed getting to know you on a more personal level this year. My thoughts are with you this New-Years and I am still praying. Take good care, my friend. I look forward to seeing more of you in 2011!
So glad to see Ella Minnow Pea on your list! It’s one of my all-time favorites.
Wow, I’ve only read #Water for Elephants and Ella Minnow Pea from your best of list. I will have to look into the others!
Really enjoyed finding your blog this year. Thanks for the recommendations and as always, so happy that you include YA. I might just be up for that Okra Challenge.
Hi! I’m passing on the Stylish Blogger Award to you. If you don’t do awards, that’s ok. I just wanted you to know I enjoy your blog. If you do, you can visit me at Tribute Books Mama to find out what to do for the award.
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2010/12/stylish-blogger-award.html
Happy New Year!
Mary Ann
I don’t know what I have been reading since I have read virtually nothing on anyone’s list. Including yours..
Time really does fly, I don’t think it’s only age that does that! Some great books there, looks like you had a great year
Happy New Year!
Kathy, you’ve had an amazing year! I’m so glad I had the opportunity to meet you and I’m looking forward to seeing you at BEA in May.
Thanks for the many recommendations; you’ve introduced me to a great number of books I might never have picked up otherwise!
I am getting older too because my 2010 also went by in a flash! I’ve enjoyed your blog all year long and wanted to stop by and wish you the best for 2011!
Kathy — what a wonderful list! I am so excited to read the ones I haven’t read yet. I always love following your blog and look forward to it in 2011. Happy new year and happy reading in the new year. xoxoxo
Great lists, Kathy! I hope to read Skeletons at the Feast one of these days as well as Water for Elephants. Both sound so good.
Have a Happy New Year!
What a great year! Time is going by so fast. It seems like just yesterday it was still 2009 and now in a few hours, it’s going to be 2011. Have a great new year!
Amazing how many books you have read.
Happy New Year!!
Also wanted to say…thanks again for encouraging me to start blogging. If it had not been for your encouragement in July, I wouldn’t be having all this fun and wouldn’t have met so many wonderful people.
Thanks again, and have a great 2011.
Elizabeth
186 books is fantastic, Kathy! I haven’t read any of your favorites, but a few are on my wish list already. Look forward to another year of blogging with you
What a great year you had Kathy! I love the YA/Middle School feature too and the books that you read this year!!! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you as well! Wow – 186 books!! I am impressed!
And it was wonderful to meet you at the SIBA show! Looking forward to next year in Charleston!
Yay for Water for Elephants and Heart is Not a Size! Happy New Year, Kathy.
So true about 2010 flying past. I’m just not ready for 2011 yet, and it’s almost here. Haven’t read any of the books on your lists, so I’m adding all of them to my TBR list. Happy New Year and Happy Reading!
Wow, I feel like a nonreader compared to your total. I hope you have an even better year in the reading department next year.
Love this wrap up post Kathy. I am going to have to look more closely at some of the books you mention as the ones that really stood out for you. Happy New Year!
Hi there. I came by from Tribute Books Mama who gave me an
award. I am new to awards. I see you got one to. From the
appearance of your blog, and that collection of books, you deserve
it. Congrats. I would follow you but I have not figured out how
yet. Laurie from Grandma Sez So
Great lists. So glad to see Skeletons at the Feast on your list. It was on my 2009 list.
I see a few books on your list that I’ve read and others I want to read! Happy New Year!
I loved Water for Elephants, actually Mrs Q gave me this as a gift. I love this one and agree it is worthy for Top Reads.
Happy New Year Kathy! Let’s make 2011 our ultimate year for Reading.
Great list of books Kathy. Happy New Year and I wish you all the best in 2011!
Looks like a great year! I was not so fruitful in the numbers department, but I sure did have good quality. I suppose that’s all that matters.
Read some (and I agree), have some in my possession to read and others on my TBR list. Great reading!
Great picks! May you spread your cheer always!
I read 95 books, not bad, considering I was in a reading slump for more than four months.
Happy New Year to you and your family. Have a great reading year in 2011!!!
Here are my Best Reads of 2010
Another great year Kathy. Happy New Year and I wish you a great reading 2011.
I want to read Water for Elephants before the movie comes out.
Great list!
Happy New Year!
All these best of lists have added to my TBR list! I’ve only read a couple of the books on your fav list, but a few of them are on that ever growing list of mine.
Happy New Year Kathy! You are a wonderful on line presence. Thanks for all the comments you’ve left. Here’s to health, happiness and heaps of good reads!
I’m looking forward to Skeletons at The Feast from your list; I own it, but I haven’t read it yet. The best to you in sponsoring two challenges. I’m sure they’ll be a great success! Happy New Year, Kathy!
We loved Countdown too, and will read more of Wendy Mass books. We laughed so hard reading Finally by her.
You’ve had a great reading year! I’m going to look through your list a little more carefully – I’m really enjoying all of these lists!
I’m so glad to see that Skeletons at the Feast is on your list. I pulled that off the shelf to read this year.
Wow — 186 books?! That is completely amazing. Some great picks in here, too; I really loved The Summer We Fell Apart as well.
I’ve only read a couple of the books you put on your favorites list for 2010, I’ll have to look into the others. It did seem like 2010 flew by! You had a great reading year too, here’s hoping 2011 is just as good, if not better.
Fun to see your list! I recently got “The Human Bobby” after so many bloggers raved about it!