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At the beginning of the year I shared with you that one of my 2008 goals had been to read 100 books in 2008. A rather lofty goal as in 2007 I had only read 28.
As you know, I didn’t make my 2008 goal but I did read 31. I have revamped my goal for 2009 to 50 books. Hopefully a little more doable but still a push!
I figured I would need to read at least 4 books a month with a couple of extra thrown in somewhere. As an update – I did read 4 in January and think I will make 4 in February too!
I have been wanting to share the list of books I read in 2008 with you for a while now but just kept finding other things to post about instead but today you are getting the list.
So here is the list – in order read. I have to say that my favorite book of 2008 was the first one I read – Molokai. My friend Jody had recommended it, her book club read it. I read it, loved it and presented it at my Book Club.
I am a huge historical fiction fan and this book was perfect. It was fascinating learning about the Leper Colony in Hawaii and the history of leprosy.
So what was your favorite read in 2008 – please leave a comment and let me know!
Molokai by Alan Brennert
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - my feeble attempt at reading some classics
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Freakonomics by Levitta Dubner
A Year by the Sea by Joan Anderson - another favorite
Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos
Belong to Me (the sequel to Love Walked In) by Marisa de los Santos
The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig – another Book Club read that I really enjoyed
An Unfinished Marriage by Joan Anderson
Eat, Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom – a re-read that I loved as much this time as the first 3 times!
7 Habits of Effective People by Stephen Covey - another re-read
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
The Holy Secret by James Ferrell
The Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith – another fun read in the Ladies Detective Agency series
Just Who Will You Be by Maria Shriver - a fast read
A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen
Being Perfect by Anna Quindlen
When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka - about a Japanese Internment Camp
Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan – enjoyed this book about Frank Lloyd Wright’s love affair
A Walk on the Beach by Joan Anderson
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld – YA fiction we listened to in the car on the way to take Cali to college – enjoyed by all!
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows - loved this book. Our Book Club also read it.
Distant Shores by Kristin Hannah. Takes place at the Oregon Coast.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – another historical fiction that takes place during WWII – YA Fiction. Loved it!
How to be Lovely by Melissa Hellstern – about Audrey Hepburn
An Elegant Spirit, A Son Remembers by Sean Hepburn Ferrer – I got on a little bit of an Audrey Hepburn kick!
The Second Journey by Joan Anderson
and I ended 2008 with
John Adams by David McCullough – I love history!
So out of all the books you read in 2008 – what was your favorite? Let me know by leaving a comment – thanks!
What are some of the first books you are reading in 2009?
Happy reading in 2009
My favorite so far in 2009 has been “Firefly Lane” by Kristin Hannah.
I have never thought about listing out the books I read over the course of a year. You have inspired me to go look at my bookshelf and keep a log this year!
What a great idea!!! I read a lot but never thought of pushing myself to 50 a year. Thanks for the inspiration. I’ll have to start keeping track of my books.
Oh wow, thanks so much for this great list. I am also in a book club and we are always on the lookout for a good clean read.
I read quite a few great books last year and it is really hard to pick just one favorite. I narrowed it down to two: “Schooled” by Gordan Korman (a YA book with a great message), and “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee (I’ve read it at least four times over the years and always love it.)
Two of my all time favorites that I recommend to everyone are “A Sweetness to the Soul” by Jane Kirkpatrick (a wonderful historical fiction) and “Goodnight Mr. Tom” by Michelle Magorian (one of the most touching books I’ve read in a long time).
Good luck on your reading goal this year!!
I loved the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer
Well I didn’t read too much in 2008 even though I love to read. I highly recommend The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns if you have not read them by Khaled Hosseini.
My 2009 list is already getting long. I have The Shack started, Gorgeously Green skimmed, Eat Pray Love on the IPod, In Defense of Food, and The Dream Giver.
What an inspiring post. I love to read, but never find/make the time. I think I am going to rethink my schedule. While I cannot do 4 books a month, I should be able to do two. I love the classics and history.
Right now I’m reading Walden or Life on the Pond by Henry David Thoreau. So far it’s great!
Jill
I usually read two books a month and listen to two on CD each month while I am driving around in the car. It’s amazing how much reading you can get done in the car!!
One of my favorite books this past year was “The Agony and the Ecstasy” by Irving Stone. It is a biographical novel about Michaelangelo. Our family took a trip to Italy this past year and I was fascinated with all the art and architecture. When we got home, my dad recommended this book. There is also a movie of this book with Charlton Heston in it. It only covers a small portion of the book (mainly the Sistene Chapel) but was very well done.
Thanks for your book list. My sister just went to Molokai last week. That one is going on my “to read” list.
I love lists:
Water for Elephants
The Time Traveler’s Wife
This I Believe
The Glass Castle
anything by Marian Keyes whenever I’m looking for a quick, easy girly read
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
The Almost Moon
The Lovely Bones
Memoirs of a Geisha
Bee Season
Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life
A Fine Balance
Interpreter of Maladies
She’s Come Undone
I know this much is true
and I’ll stop there.
We have a lot of the same books that we read last year! My faves were Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver and Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides.
I’ve read a lot of the same books that you have, but have not thought to keep a list. Joan Anderson is a favorite author. Perhaps one of my favorites of all times is Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
I read a lot of non-fiction, many recommended through Charlie Rose and/or Bill Moyer. This year, for instance, to name just a few:
Slavery by Another Name
Medical Apartheid
Revolution by Ron Paul
Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope by Sister Joan Chittister
Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Millman
The Measure of My Days by Florida Scott-Maxwell
The Origin of Financial Crises by George Cooper (Timely!)
The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein (Also very timely)
Q’s Legacy by Helene Hanff (author of 84 Charing Cross Road)
The Post-American World by Fareed Zakaria (Great book!)
I appreciate reading what others are reading and enjoying. Thanks for the list…
I love to read and actually read two off your website recently – The Boy in Striped Pajamas and The Book Thief. I set a goal for myself this year to read 9 new to me authors in ’09. My husband said it wasn’t much of a challenge since I have already read 5 new authors and it is only the end of February. Favorite books for 2008 were Water for Elephants, The Glass Castle and Kite Runner. I am currently reading A Mercy by Toni Morrison. Thanks for some new books to put on my list.
I read a lot of great books recently, but I would have to say that my favorite book so far is a great historical fiction titled, “Two Brothers: One North, One South,” written by David H. Jones. What I loved is that this book is firmly based upon historical fact and not mere melodramatic device. The real characters and events portrayed are expertly brought to life in this novel and become quite unforgettable as the story unfolds.
Wow 50 eh?! Good for you!
I love to read, but find that I go through seasons where I chew through tons of books and then go into a season where I don’t pick one up for months. I’m in that lazy reading season now, I think it’s high time I pick one up!
Thanks for your list, I’m always looking for good recommended books!
Wow, lots of great book recommendations!
My fave books of ’08 were:
Magic Street by Orson Scott Card
The Christmas Sweater by Glen Beck
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Love Smart by Dr Phil
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
On the list for ’09 so far:
Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It by Patricia Love and Steven Stosny
Everything I Need to Know I Learned From Other Women by BJ Gallagher
Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
Gluten-Free Girl: How I Found the Food That Loves Me Back…And How You Can Too by Shauna James Ahern
I’m going to have to bookmark this page to snag everyone else’s faves
Wow you gave me some good ideas for the year ahead. I am always looking for a good book to read but it seems with two little ones all I can get thru is my fav blogs and maybe a magazine. I did read Water for Elephants last year and loved it! It was recommended to me and I did not think I would like it at all. I ended up reading our whole vacation because I couldn’t put it down. I also read all the twilight books after I heard about them on your site. Oh one other book I loved… Shepherding a child’s heart.
Have fun reading!
I loved the Twilight series the very best from last year, for sure! This year, I’ve enjoyed so far reading Wideacre and The Other Queen, both by Philippa Gregory. If you like historical fiction, they are really great!
I love, love, love Love Walked In and Belong To Me. Try House and Home by Kathleen McCleary. I think you would really like it.
I am a huge Jodi Picoult fan and am reading her newest one right now. I also just discovered a new writer Therese Fowler– her book is Souvenir and I am waiting on her new one, Reunion.
I wrote a blog post this week about Reader’s Diaries. Check it out!
This is kind of random and forward from someone who has never commented here before, but is there any room in your book group for one more? I think I live near you (Hillsboro, OR) and I’ve been trying for ages to find/start a book group with little success. I would LOVE to join one and from the books you mentioned in your list your group sounds like a good fit.
I’m loving your blog…a friend of mine just introduced me to it. She recommended I try your apple dip – the one with toffee bits in it. It’s so yummy!
My favorite from our book club last year was probably The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore. I love all his books and this one featured characters from his other books in a hilarious Christmas tale. Anything he writes is a fun ride.
Thank you Leigh for your very wonderful post. I would love to read all the books that you have mentioned. But my favorite is the books of Stephanie Meyer. I will be happy to hear from you again. Regards
Ten Boom