Wednesday, December 30, 2009

2009 ~Year end wrap up, thankful thoughts


The year 2009 has been an amazing year book wise. So many wonderful debut titles have crossed my path. My goal for the year was to equal or surpass 2008's 213 books read. I've just managed to squeak past that with 219 books read.

Also, 2009 was my first year of blogging and I want to thank every single person who has stopped by to visit. You have truly enriched my life with your opinions, comments, recommendations and most importantly your friendship and shared love of reading. When my dear friend Barbara passed away and I wrote a short tribute to her, I was overwhelmed with the caring thoughts you left. It meant so much to me. You have also helped me expand my reading horizons and led me to places I might have been too timid to venture on my own.

I also want to take this time to thank all the wonderful authors who guest posted here and were so generous in allowing me to do a giveaway. I was truly honored to welcome such fabulous authors as :

Maria Murnane
L. Diane Wolfe
Caroline Hart
Lynda Coker
J. B. Stanley
Linda Weaver Clarke
Joanna Campbell Slan
Rachel Rene Russell
Gayle Trent
Rolf Hitzer
Laura Childs

Big {hugs} to you all! To publicists who sent me review books, I want to thank you all again, especially Anna and Valerie at Hachette Book Group. You are the best!

In 2009 I joined three challenges: WWII challenge which I technically finished. I did read the required 5 books even though I changed my list but did not review The Moon Looks Down. Originally I had wanted to read 6. I just never got around to reading Guernica by Dave Boling . The Cozy Challenge and The Chick Lit Challenge were also completed. Phew. Finally!
Here's the link to my 6 month post with the best and worst from the first half of the year and here is the link to the full year of books read. Some of my favorites from July to December were:

The Best of Times by Penny Vincenzi (set in London, wonderful characters)
Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo ( kept me on the edge of my seat)
Night of Flames by Douglas W. Jacobson (WWII challenge)
The Red Scarf by Kate Furnivall (set in Siberian labor camp and Tivil)
Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley (set in D.C. laugh out loud book)

A few of my worst (imho) from the same time frame have been:
Trail of Crumbs by Kim Sunee (bored me to no end)
Hot and Irresistable by Diane Castell (way too many flaws to even list)
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (too melodramatic)
Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur (character development flawed)
The title for the worst book of the year for me still goes to Blonde Roots by Bernadine Evaristo. How was your year in reading? Did you accomplish all you wanted and did you find some truly outstanding reads this year? What was your favorite and your least favorite book?

25 comments:

  1. For my favorite, it's too hard to pick - there were so many! For the worst, though, I think I would have to pick Sunday at Tiffany's by James Patterson!

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  2. Cleopatra's Daughter was my favorite, but I agree with you on Night of Flames. I enjoyed that one.

    I agree with Rhapsody about Sunday at Tiffany's, though I didn't read it this year.

    --Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

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  3. Great yea for you :)
    My yea was the best ever book wise, I found so many jewels.

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  4. Kaye, your blog is a go-to for me. I've enjoyed getting to "know" you over the past year : )
    The Help made my fav list. I plan to read Galway Bay in March (it is on the shelf right now).
    Here's to a great year of reading in 2010, along with good health and good friends.

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  5. Wow, it would take me years to read 219 books! Looks like you've had a terrific reading year. I hope 2010 is filled with lots of great reads!

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  6. Great year you had Kaye. I'm thinking about doing a favorites post but I just don't know how I'll pick just a few. As for challenges I'm vowing to do better next year.

    Here's to another year of blogging and friendship!

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  7. Thanks for the mention, Kaye!

    Many blessings to you for a prosperous 2010!

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  8. Great wrap-up! Thanks for the comments on my blog as well. It has been great reading alongside all of you bloggers!

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  9. Congrats on reading so much in your first blogging year! And for sharing your thoughts on many of them. I posted my year in reading this week too!

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  10. The Help and Catching Fire and The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate are top three for me!!

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  11. You are truly a warm and gracious blogger. The feel and tone of your page is so inviting. Wishing you the best year ever in 2010.

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  12. Congrats on a great year of blogging -- and wow on 219 books!!! I didn't even get to 80!!! : )

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  13. You've had a wonderful year of blogging!

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  14. You read a lot of books! Great year for reading and blogging! I haven't done a best of list yet, maybe I will work on that tomorrow.
    Happy New Year!

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  15. What we do without you? Your blog is fun to browse. Your comments are helpful. You write good reviews too. Have another good year!

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  16. Thanks so much Kaye for all the work you put into your blog. Penguin friends are the best friends!

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  17. Wow you have read a ton of books this year. I must be slacking. I hope you have a good reading year next year too.

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  18. You did have a fantastic year Kaye! Congrats on having such an amazing blog and for doing a great job!

    I borrowed Sworn to Silence from the library but regrettably didn't have time to read it!! I'm putting my name back on the waiting list for sure!

    Happy New Year!

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  19. I am totally amazed by the number of books you have read! Hope 2010 is good to you :)

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  20. Kaye....you had a great year; hope 2010 is a wonderful reading year as well. Glad u liked The Forgotten Garden.

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  21. Happy New Year Kaye! What a wonderful post! And a wonderful blog! I've enjoyed stopping by and getting to know you and I look forward to the next year too! Congrats on your accomplishment of 219 books too!

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  22. I agree that Sworn to Silence was a big winner in my list this year. If I had a list, that is....which I do not.

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  23. Kaye,
    your blog is so much fun and I love visiting!! You've done a fantabulous job for 2009...can't believe how many books you've read!! Yahoo for you!!! I have loved our email exchanges and your honesty when it comes to whether you liked a book or not...have a wonderful 2010!!!

    P.S. I received my "autographed copy" of the book the other day..can't wait to read it!!

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  24. What a great wrap up and THANK YOU!!! Happy New Year. I don't have a worst book read...but I am looking up to Rhapsody's worst book giggling because I enjoyed that one. What a great group of bloggers out there!! Happy New Year.

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