When the year was half through, I posted about the top five books of the first half of 2010. Now with the year complete, those choices have changed somewhat. These books were so good that I'll be reading more from that author in 2011. In no particular order:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
(will be reading Joy in the Morning
in 2011)
(will be reading Joy in the Morning in 2011)Star of the Sea (will be reading Redemption Falls
in 2011)
in 2011)The Lacuna (will be reading either Prodigal Summer
or The Bean Trees
in 2011)
or The Bean Trees in 2011)Mansfield Park (will be re-reading Persuasion
in 2011)
in 2011)Slaughterhouse-Five (still figuring where to go after this one...? Breakfast of Champions
?)
?)![A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (P.S.) [Paperback]](http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003KP1O2K&tag=vitetver-20)
First come the percentages (thanks to Brenna at Literary Musings for the inspiration):
Books read in 2010: 120
Average number read per month: 12
Total number of "chunksters" (450+ pages): 10
Pages read in 2010: 32,715
Average number of pages per book: 273
Percentage of male authors read: 43%
Percentage of "new to me" authors: 69%
Percentage of books read that are older than me: 28%
Percentage of books read that were published this year: 11%
Average number read per month: 12
Total number of "chunksters" (450+ pages): 10
Pages read in 2010: 32,715
Average number of pages per book: 273
Percentage of male authors read: 43%
Percentage of "new to me" authors: 69%
Percentage of books read that are older than me: 28%
Percentage of books read that were published this year: 11%
Percentage of books read that were read for book club: 13%
LISTED BY GENRE/RATING:
Nonfiction: 21%
Nonfiction: 21%
84 Charing Cross Road, Helene Hanff--5 stars
The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls--4.5 stars
Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis--4.5 stars
Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt--4.5 stars
Black Potatoes, Susan Campbell Baroletti--4.5 starsDumbing Down Our Kids, Charles J. Sykes--4 stars
And the Word Came with Power, Joanne Shetler--4 starsA Dash of Style: The Art and Mastery of Punctuation, Noah Lukeman--4 stars
All New Square Foot Gardening, Mel Bartholomew--4 stars
Skin, Lori Bergamotto--4 stars
Thunderstruck, Erik Larson--4 stars
Deconstructing Penguins, Lawrence & Nancy Goldstone--4 stars
A Girl From Yamhill, Beverly Cleary--4 stars
The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Sixties, Jonathan Leaf--3.5 stars
No Plot? No Problem! Chris Baty--3.5 stars
The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life, Noah Lukeman--3.5 stars
In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan--3.5 stars
Crap. Zest Books--3.5 stars
The Polysyllabic Spree, Nick Hornby--3.5 stars
Developing a Supernatural Lifestyle, Kris Vallotton--3 stars
Catching Their Talk in a Box, Betty M. Hockett--3 stars
Writing Christian Fiction, Ron Benrey--3 stars
Anne Bradstreet, D.B. Kellogg--3 stars
In the Dark Streets Shineth, David McCullough--3 stars
Fitness Illustrated, Brian Sharkey--2.5 stars
Classics: 10%
Mansfield Park, Jane Austen--5 stars
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith--5 stars
Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut--5 stars
The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck--4.5 stars
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens--4.5 stars
Precious Bane, Mary Webb--4 stars
The Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov--4 stars
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou--4 stars
Dubliners, James Joyce--3.5 stars
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll--3 stars
Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll--3 stars
April Twilights, Willa Cather--3 stars
Adult Fiction: 30%
Star of the Sea, Joseph O'Connor--5 stars
The Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver--4.5 starsNo Plot? No Problem! Chris Baty--3.5 stars
The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life, Noah Lukeman--3.5 stars
In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan--3.5 stars
Crap. Zest Books--3.5 stars
The Polysyllabic Spree, Nick Hornby--3.5 stars
Developing a Supernatural Lifestyle, Kris Vallotton--3 stars
Catching Their Talk in a Box, Betty M. Hockett--3 stars
Writing Christian Fiction, Ron Benrey--3 stars
Anne Bradstreet, D.B. Kellogg--3 stars
In the Dark Streets Shineth, David McCullough--3 stars
Fitness Illustrated, Brian Sharkey--2.5 stars
Classics: 10%
Mansfield Park, Jane Austen--5 stars
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith--5 stars
Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut--5 stars
The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck--4.5 stars
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens--4.5 stars
Precious Bane, Mary Webb--4 stars
The Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov--4 stars
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou--4 stars
Dubliners, James Joyce--3.5 stars
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll--3 stars
Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll--3 stars
April Twilights, Willa Cather--3 stars
Adult Fiction: 30%
Star of the Sea, Joseph O'Connor--5 stars
The Help, Kathryn Stockett--4 stars
Prayers for Sale, Sandra Dallas--4 stars
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jamie Ford--4 stars
Random Harvest, James Hilton--4 stars
Keeping the House, Ellen Baker--4 stars
Little Bee, Chris Cleave--4 stars
Winter's Bone, Daniel Woodrell--4 stars
Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel--4 stars
High Fidelity, Nick Hornby--4 stars
Tinkers, Paul Harding--4 stars
The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood--4 stars
Sweetie, Kathryn Magendie--4 stars
Room, Emma Donoghue--4 stars
When the Elephants Dance, Tess Uriza Holthe--3.5 stars
Resurrection in May, Lisa Samson--3.5 stars
The Samurai's Garden, Gail Tsukiyama--3.5 stars
The 19th Wife, David Ebershoff--3.5 stars
Prisoners in the Palace, Michaela MacColl--3.5 stars
The Book Thief, Markus Zusak--3.5 stars
The Piano Teacher, Janice Y. K. Lee--3 stars
The Friday Night Knitting Club, Kate Jacobs--3 stars
Sixteen Brides, Stephanie Grace Whitson--3 stars
Daughter of Fortune, Isabel Allende--3 stars
Time Among the Dead, Thomas Rayfiel--3 stars
The Double Bind, Chris Bohjalian--2.5 stars
Flower Children, Maxine Swann--2.5 stars
Gentlemen of the Road, Michael Chabon--2 stars
The Alchemist, Paul Coelho--1.5 stars
Prayers for Sale, Sandra Dallas--4 stars
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jamie Ford--4 stars
Random Harvest, James Hilton--4 stars
Keeping the House, Ellen Baker--4 stars
Little Bee, Chris Cleave--4 stars
Winter's Bone, Daniel Woodrell--4 stars
Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel--4 stars
High Fidelity, Nick Hornby--4 stars
Tinkers, Paul Harding--4 stars
The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood--4 stars
Sweetie, Kathryn Magendie--4 stars
Room, Emma Donoghue--4 stars
When the Elephants Dance, Tess Uriza Holthe--3.5 stars
Resurrection in May, Lisa Samson--3.5 stars
The Samurai's Garden, Gail Tsukiyama--3.5 stars
The 19th Wife, David Ebershoff--3.5 stars
Prisoners in the Palace, Michaela MacColl--3.5 stars
The Book Thief, Markus Zusak--3.5 stars
The Piano Teacher, Janice Y. K. Lee--3 stars
The Friday Night Knitting Club, Kate Jacobs--3 stars
Sixteen Brides, Stephanie Grace Whitson--3 stars
Daughter of Fortune, Isabel Allende--3 stars
Time Among the Dead, Thomas Rayfiel--3 stars
The Kitchen Boy, Robert Alexander--3 stars
Masquerade, Nancy Moser--3 stars
Whitethorn Woods, Maeve Binchy--3 stars
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Aimee Bender--3 stars
The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom--2.5 starsWhitethorn Woods, Maeve Binchy--3 stars
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Aimee Bender--3 stars
The Double Bind, Chris Bohjalian--2.5 stars
Flower Children, Maxine Swann--2.5 stars
Gentlemen of the Road, Michael Chabon--2 stars
The Alchemist, Paul Coelho--1.5 stars
Gods in Alabama, Joshilyn Jackson--1 star
Junior/Young Adult Fiction: 39%
Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson--5 stars
Matilda, Roald Dahl--4.5 stars
Red Sails to Capri, Ann Weil--4.5 stars
The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook, Joyce Lankester Brisely--4 stars
Abel's Island, William Steig--4 stars
The Underneath, Kathy Appelt--4 stars
Dragon Flight, Jessica Day George--4 stars
Dragon Spear, Jessica Day George--4 stars
Black Ships Before Troy, Rosemary Sutcliff--4 stars
Al Capone Does My Shirts, Gennifer Choldenko--4 stars
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan--4 stars
Detectives in Togas, Henry Winterfield--4 stars
Adam of the Road, Elizabeth Janet Gray--4 stars
The Bronze Bow, Elizabeth George Speare--4 stars
Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine--4 stars
Ramona Forever, Beverly Cleary--4 stars
Princess of the Midnight Ball, Jessica Day George--4 stars
Flame Over Tara, Madeleine Polland--4 stars
Strawberry Girl, Lois Lenski--4 stars
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Laura Amy Schlitz--4 stars
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie--4 stars
Smile, Raina Telgemeier--4 stars
Dragon Slippers, Jessica Day George-4 stars
Rabbit Hill, Robert Lawson--3.5 stars
Criss Cross, Lynne Rae Perkins--3.5 stars
Mystery of the Roman Ransom, Henry Winterfield--3.5 stars
Lily's Crossing, Patricia Reilly Giff--3.5 stars
Stardust, Neil Gaiman--3.5 stars
Black Horses for the King, Anne McCaffrey--3.5 stars
The Goose Girl, Shannon Hale--3.5 stars
Henry Huggins, Beverly Cleary--3.5 stars
Family Under the Bridge, Natalie Savage Carlson--3.5 stars
Gray Horses, Hope Larson--3.5 stars
The Return of the Plant That Ate Dirty Socks, Nancy McArthur--3 stars
The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Beverly Cleary--3 stars
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan--3 stars
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan--3 stars
The Bread Winner, Arvella Whitmore--3 stars
Olive's Ocean, Kevin Henkes--3 stars
The Boxcar Children, Gertrude Chandler Warner--3 stars
Ginger Pye, Eleanor Estes--3 stars
The Light at Tern Rock, Julia L. Sauer--3 stars
The Long Winter, Laura Ingalls Wilder--3 stars
Tales of Robin Hood, Tony Allan--3 stars
Whittington, Alan Armstrong--2.5 stars
Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay Asher--2 stars
And a little comparison chart from the last couple of years:
I must note that the Non-Fiction read in 2008 includes a large portion of Junior Non-Fiction, (all Non-Fiction has been lumped together,) thereby resulting in a huge percentage of Junior level reading that year--mostly kiddo/school related. The only stat that I'm not so happy with based on this chart is that my Classic consumption is down from last year (even though my quality Adult Fiction was better). I'm hoping to correct that somewhat in 2011.
So long 2010, it's been great fun. Here's to more good times!
Abel's Island, William Steig--4 stars
The Underneath, Kathy Appelt--4 stars
Dragon Flight, Jessica Day George--4 stars
Dragon Spear, Jessica Day George--4 stars
Black Ships Before Troy, Rosemary Sutcliff--4 stars
Al Capone Does My Shirts, Gennifer Choldenko--4 stars
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan--4 stars
Detectives in Togas, Henry Winterfield--4 stars
Adam of the Road, Elizabeth Janet Gray--4 stars
The Bronze Bow, Elizabeth George Speare--4 stars
Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine--4 stars
Ramona Forever, Beverly Cleary--4 stars
Princess of the Midnight Ball, Jessica Day George--4 stars
Flame Over Tara, Madeleine Polland--4 stars
Strawberry Girl, Lois Lenski--4 stars
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Laura Amy Schlitz--4 stars
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie--4 stars
Smile, Raina Telgemeier--4 stars
Dragon Slippers, Jessica Day George-4 stars
Rabbit Hill, Robert Lawson--3.5 stars
Criss Cross, Lynne Rae Perkins--3.5 stars
Mystery of the Roman Ransom, Henry Winterfield--3.5 stars
Lily's Crossing, Patricia Reilly Giff--3.5 stars
Stardust, Neil Gaiman--3.5 stars
Black Horses for the King, Anne McCaffrey--3.5 stars
The Goose Girl, Shannon Hale--3.5 stars
Henry Huggins, Beverly Cleary--3.5 stars
Family Under the Bridge, Natalie Savage Carlson--3.5 stars
Gray Horses, Hope Larson--3.5 stars
The Return of the Plant That Ate Dirty Socks, Nancy McArthur--3 stars
The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Beverly Cleary--3 stars
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan--3 stars
The Titan's Curse, Rick Riordan--3 stars
The Bread Winner, Arvella Whitmore--3 stars
Olive's Ocean, Kevin Henkes--3 stars
The Boxcar Children, Gertrude Chandler Warner--3 stars
Ginger Pye, Eleanor Estes--3 stars
The Light at Tern Rock, Julia L. Sauer--3 stars
The Long Winter, Laura Ingalls Wilder--3 stars
Tales of Robin Hood, Tony Allan--3 stars
Whittington, Alan Armstrong--2.5 stars
Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay Asher--2 stars
And a little comparison chart from the last couple of years:
So long 2010, it's been great fun. Here's to more good times!
I loved "The Lacuna" too. The only other Kingsolver I have read is "The Poisonwood Bible" (which I also loved), so I'm going to join you in hunting down more of her stuff in 2011.
ReplyDeleteYou read far more nonfiction than I; that's just not a genre I normally gravitate to. I loved A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. I reread it every so often. Happy New Year! Happy reading for 2011!
ReplyDeleteSam--that's the only other Kingsolver I've read too! For some reason I seem to always forget that I like her...maybe having a goal to read her again in 2011 will help me.
ReplyDeleteBellezza--I don't determine to read NF, it just sort of happens...I get curious about something and find a book about it. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn would make a perfect re-read. It's one of those that just sits in my head, waiting for me to revisit it, like To Kill a Mockingbird.