What a year it’s been! I started blogging in July, and since then, I’ve read 59 books. (I’ll be reviewing The Remains of the Day, the 59th book, tomorrow). I’m averaging 10 books per month, which is a rate I’m more than happy with, and it means I should be on track to meet my goal of 100+ books in 2009. I enjoyed almost everything I read this year, which is great, but it makes it difficult to identify just a few favorites….so, I’m going to break it down into my own categories for the year-end review. Each cover is linked to my review (except for Unaccustomed Earth, which I read in my pre-blogging days, and Bridge of Sighs, which simply left me speechless.)
Best New Fiction (published in 2008)
Best Backlist Fiction
Best Nonfiction
Best Memoirs
These may not match up exactly with my ratings or with the best-of-the-month books I selected in each monthly wrap-up, but they are the ones that stand out, that I’ve spent the most time talking and thinking about, and that I recommend most highly as I reflect back on a year of great reading. Ask me on a differetn day, and some of the answers might be different.
With 2009 approaching, I’m pondering how to best organize my book review archives. Here is my list from 2008. And here’s a poll:
What do you think?
What were the best books you read this year?
Filed under: Year-in-Review | Tagged: 2008 books, 2008 reading wrap-up, best books of the year, books, Favorites, fiction, memoir, nonfiction, reading, Year-in-Review
What an excellent list! I still have Lace Reader here on the pile — was thinking of moving if to the “someday but not soon” pile, but maybe ….
I loved Revolutionary Road and The Longest Trip Home — as I know I’ve told you a hundred times, probably
— and have Interpreter of Maladies and Guernsey Literary . . . patiently waiting in my stack. There are so many great books out there, I find it almost impossible to choose my next read sometimes!
My favorite reads this year included Belong To Me, the Twilight series, Marley & Me and Garden Spells. Looking forward to more reading and blogging in 2009!
Ann–Move it to the “someday soon” pile! It’s a quick, engrossing read, and I think you’d really enjoy it.
Meg–Belong to Me was wonderful, but it didn’t quite make my list…and you know how I felt about the Twilight series. I have Garden Spells on the TBR..may need to bump it up now.
My favorites of 2008 were Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close , Beautiful Boy and Those Who Save Us . I hated the two books I read in the Twilight series, though.
I did finish the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series this year and I loved it and I also really enjoyed reading the old-school Tales of the City series.
Gargoyle and Time Travelers Wife would both be at the top of my 2008 reads.
Two books I wish I had gotten to this year are Unaccustomed Earth and Hurry Down Sunshine – but they will be the perfect books to buy with my christmas gift cards
I haven’t read all of the books you’ve selected, but I loved every one that I have read.
We have many of the same favorites. Bridge of Sighs was amazing, I thought, as was Unaccustomed Earth (and I was never one to read short stories until I joined my first challenge last year.)
I like the way you organized this post. Very nice
I’m glad to see Lahiri on your list, as I was blown away by her two short story collections this year. I’m saving up The Namesake.I also enjoyed the Guernsey book.
Aside from that my picks of the year (excluding re-reads) were A Pair of Blue Eyes by Thomas Hardy,
all the Alice Munro collections I read starting with Dance of the happy shades, My reading life by Bob Carr and The ode less travelled by Stephen Fry.
I’ve ordered Soldier’s heart after reading your review, and am looking forward to it.
Great list Rebecca! I’m so glad that my favorite book of the year (Guernsey) is on here too!
Happy New Year!
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