(reading Fables by Andre)
Hi everyone!
I’m back in Brussels after the Holidays. I’ve noticed most blogs were active but I’ve decided to really take a break and just veg-out on the couch, eat, see friends, shop and eat some more. I did manage to get some reading done, but I’ll just make short reviews in the next couple of days to come up to speed.
Meanwhile, I’ll do the classic 2010 round-up.
It’s been a good reading year, but mostly it will go down in History as The Year I Started Book Blogging. I’m already noticing that many of my choices were influenced by you and the trend will increase in 2011 for sure. Exciting times ahead!
I’ve read 88 books and 5 graphic novels. Of the books, 33 were audiobooks (not surprising considering I had laser surgery in April and couldn’t read for weeks), 1 play and only 6 non-fiction (these 6 were probably more than the last couple of years put together). I gave up on 5 books and 1 audiobook.
Top 10 fiction (in no order)
- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
I know the last book of The Hunger Games disappointed a lot of people, but for me Collins was right on target. A great ending to a great trilogy. - Gigi by Colette
Thank you book blogosphere for keep bringing up Colette. I’m in your debt! - The Tennant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
After reading Agnes Grey, this one settled Anne as my favorite Brontë. So different from her sisters and in my humble opinion, the most ground-breaking of the three. - The Spring of the Ram (The House of Niccolò #2) by Dorothy Dunnett
I bow my head to the genius of Dunnett. - Notwithstanding by Louis de Bernières
My second de Bernières and he might enter my top 5 authors if Birds Without Wings is as good as I expect it to be. One of those authors that seems to be writing just for you. I only ever got that feeling before with E.M. Foster. - Room by Enna Donoghue
Yep, I also surrendered to Room. The page-turner of the year. - Wolf Hall de Hilary Mantel
Innovative novel of the year. Who said historical novels can’t bring anything new to literature? - When you reach me by Rebecca Stead
Short YA book but full of well-developed characters, intriguing plot, humor, depth, mystery and meaning.
Runners-up
Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome; Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov; Niccolò Rising (House of Niccolò, #1) by Dorothy Dunnett; Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins; Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini; Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini; Agnes Grey de Anne Brontë; The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett; The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Great new authors
Dorothy Sayers, Anne Brontë, Colette and Rafael Sabatini
Only read one, but suspect they’ll become favorites as well
Brandon Sanderson. P.G. Wodehouse and Sarah Addison Allen
Biggest disappointments
Parrot & Olivier in America by Peter Carey, An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis; City of Bones by Cassandra Claire
Top 3 non-fiction (in no order)
- The Mitford Girls by Mary Lovell
It wasn’t a masterpiece of literature, but it got me hooked and it made me want to know more, which is the best compliment I can pay a book. - The Monuments Men by Robert Edsel
The best non-fiction of the year. A gripping account of the men and women who worked to preserve art during WWII and afterwards chased after the stolen masterpieces. - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Barbara Skoot
What’s in a cell? A lot! For instance, meaningful debates on the ethics of science and about how far is your body really yours.
Top 3 graphic novels (in no order)
Again, a big thank you to all the bloggers out there who are great graphic-novels enthusiastics.
- Les Murailles de Samaris (Les Cités Obscures, 1) by Francois Schuiten, Benoît Peeters
Straight into my “favorite graphic novel artist” category. - Legends in Exile (Fables #1) and Storybook Love (Fables #3) by Bill Willingham
Fun and incresingly dark. Looking forward to what’s to come!
14 comments
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January 3, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Christina
I have got to get my hands on a copy of Room as it seems like everyone who has read it loves it. I’ve always been more intrigued by Anne Bronte’s book than her sisters but have yet to read any of her or her sisters’ books.
January 3, 2011 at 11:47 pm
Vasilly
You had a great reading year! I see that you’re not the only blogger to have been disappointed by Pete and Olivier in America. I hope 2011 is just as great! Happy New Year!
January 4, 2011 at 9:41 am
Alex
Thanks Vasilly, the same to you! I’ve also read some negative reviews of P&O. it’s a shame because I really had my hopes up…
January 4, 2011 at 12:33 am
Arti
I’ve enjoyed reading this post. You have quite a variety of reading interests. Do you know the movie adaptation of The Help will come out later this year. You might be interested to see and review it. All the best for another year of great reads!
January 4, 2011 at 9:39 am
Alex
Thanks Arti! I’ll look out for it. There’s a lot of movie adaptations coming out this year. For instance, books I’ve read and am looking forward to seeing on TV/cinema: Game of Thrones; ; Jane Eyre; The Adventures of Tintin; The Giver and of course Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Books I plan to read before watching the movie: One Day and Neuromancer
January 4, 2011 at 7:03 pm
Arti
I’ve posted a list of “Upcoming Books into Films”. You might be interested to check it out. 😉
http://rippleeffects.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/upcoming-books-into-films/
January 4, 2011 at 3:00 am
Steph
I read Mockingjay aloud to Tony as we drove home from Minnesota and while I had far less invested in the series than most readers (since it made me cranky more often than not), I did think this last book was probably the least annoying of the three. That said, I think there were problems with its ending… namely I wanted it to end right after the vote is taken and a decision is made (being vague in case someone should stumble across this and not have read the book yet). I think if it had ended there, the ending would have had a lot more impact and been more powerful… everything that came after that kind of was a huge letdown, I think!
January 4, 2011 at 9:31 am
Alex
You might be on to something there! True, more powerful, but I think she felt people needed definite closure. How long did it take you to read the whole thing?
January 5, 2011 at 4:06 am
Jay
Good to see you’re back, Alex! I’m glad to see that you read and liked The Tenant of Wildfell Hall this year. That’s always been one of my Bronte favs. I’ve been wanting to read Wolf Hall for a long time too; I’m glad it has your endorsement.
-Jay
January 5, 2011 at 10:23 am
Joanna
Oh no! An Instance of the Fingerpost was a disappointment? I have it to read this year and have heard such good things!
I’ll have to get that French graphic novel and expand my horizons, I think…
January 5, 2011 at 4:45 pm
amymckie
Great lists and wrap up, I want to read more of these 🙂
January 8, 2011 at 4:39 am
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