Comments on: 2008 Book List

By: Traci

Traci — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:38:54 +0000

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.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:55:38 +0000

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!

By: Marybeth Whalen

Marybeth Whalen — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 01:25:11 +0000

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!

By: Ashley

Ashley — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:30:35 +0000

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!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:37:37 +0000

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!

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:27:20 +0000

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

By: Simply Sara

Simply Sara — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:13:02 +0000

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!

By: Becky

Becky — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:50:28 +0000

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.

By: M. Moore

M. Moore — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:20:02 +0000

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.

By: Joan Callaway

Joan Callaway — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:08:57 +0000

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…

By: Clarice

Clarice — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:15:20 +0000

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.

By: Jeannine

Jeannine — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:22:27 +0000

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.

By: Tauna

Tauna — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:36:07 +0000

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.

By: Leigh Anne

Leigh Anne — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:08:06 +0000

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!!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:51:03 +0000

Right now I’m reading Walden or Life on the Pond by Henry David Thoreau. So far it’s great!

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:23:21 +0000

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.

By: Courtney

Courtney — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:18:51 +0000

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.

By: Sheri

Sheri — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:46:00 +0000

I loved the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer

By: Kara

Kara — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:43:12 +0000

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!!

By: Nique

Nique — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:25:27 +0000

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.

By: Kristi

Kristi — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:58:47 +0000

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!