The year in books, Part 2 January 4, 2008
Last year, I read 74 books, only three of which were non-fiction. That surprises me - I thought I’d read more than that. The year before, I’m almost certain I did. Anyways, here’s my list of the most notable books for one reason or another.
Best Food Book
It’s a tie between Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma (May), Rudolph Chelminski’s The Perfectionist (October), and Timothy Taylor’s Stanley Park (September)
Best Canadian Book
A tough call, but it’s a tie between Taylor and Jeffery Moore’s The Memory Artist (May)
Best Young Adult Book
I want to say Rachel Cohen and David Levitan’s Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, but that was last year’s book. So, for this year, I’d have to say John Green’s An Abundance of Katherines (March).
Biggest Surprises (in terms of better than I was expecting)
Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series. Stephen Fry’s The Liar (September). Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (May). Mark Haddon’s A Spot of Bother (June).
Book Which Made Me Feel Stupider For Having Read It
Sophie Kinsella, Can You Keep a Secret? (February)
Most Improved Author
Christopher Rice - I was pleasantly surprised by Light Before Day (February) because the last book of his I read was terrible.
Most Likely to be Reread This Year
Anything by Christopher Moore or Tanya Huff.
Author Who I Keep Forgetting to Write Down
For some reason, whenever I read Meg Cabot, I forget to write it down and then months later I can’t remember the title of whatever it was I read. This happened twice this year - Queen of Babel and Size 14 Is Not Fat Either - and a couple of times the year before.
Best Book Overall
I honestly don’t know.
74 books??? Yikes. And I was proud of myself for having read 33 books last year, upping the 2006 record of 31, and 2005’s 29. At the rate I’m increasing, I’m still going to be a long, long way off from you - LOL
Do you ever read Ann Patchett? She was my new thing until I read Penelope Lively. I need to stay focused.