Last year I selected 9 books I was glad I read and decided to make it an annual feature. This year is was difficult to select only 9, so I ended up cheating a little—rather than list each book in two series which I loved I listed only the first book, but assume I liked the whole series.
Books I Wish I Read As a Kid
- Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt: It makes me wonder how my views about immortality would have varied between childhood and adulthood.
- Siberia by Ann Halam: I could read Stephen King and not get frightened, but this book…I’ll admit that this book would have scared younger me. There’s a realness that would have warped my young mind.
Series Which Held Me In Thrall
- Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi: This graphic novel series was just pure fun. Well illustrated, beautifully colored, entertaining story, and good editing make this an exemplary series.
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: Words still fail me. This series left me wounded and raw.
Books That Lingered
- Still Missing by Chevy Stevens: Every so often I’ll think about this book and Annie and her ordeal and I’ll wonder if a book will come along that will grip me as tightly as this one has.
- Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh: I don’t care what anyone else says, Mr. Ken Kimble was an opportunistic sociopath. But every cloud does have a silver lining even if it’s not readily apparent.
- Broken by Karin Fossum: I don’t understand why this was pegged as a mystery, but it’s an excellent character (and philosophical) study.
Odd Books Out
- The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Duncle: The first book in a very long time that scared me. A good old fashioned scare, one that made me double check my doors and windows.
- The Clearing by Heather Davis: This book restored my faith in good old fashioned romance.
# Lenore wrote on December 31, 2010 at 7:11 pm:
The Clearing and Still Missing are two faves of mine too! And I’ve been meaning to read Siberia forever.
.-= Lenore´s last blog ..Audio Book Review- Zombies Vs Unicorns by Justine Larbalestier and Holly Black =-.
# Ann-Kat wrote on December 31, 2010 at 9:47 pm:
Lenore, I lucked out with Siberia. It was sitting on a dept. store shelf and I decided to get it because it was only $.99. I’d actually send you my copy if it weren’t already on loan (to be honest, I don’t remember who has it at this point), but if you can get your hands on a copy I’m sure it will be well worth it. And if I ever see my copy again, I’ll drop you an email.
# Melissa wrote on January 6, 2011 at 2:46 pm:
I first read Tuck Everlasting in 6th grade and it’s been one of my favorites ever since. I’m sure it wouldn’t have been quite as powerful if I’d read it for the first time as an adult though.
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday- Ljubljana =-.
# Carol M wrote on January 20, 2011 at 7:51 pm:
Still Missing is a book I’ve heard lots of good things about. I really want to read it.
# The Girl from the Ghetto wrote on January 23, 2011 at 2:58 pm:
I had to go with 30 books for 2010. How did you manage to narrow it down to 9?
# Ann-Kat wrote on January 23, 2011 at 5:20 pm:
Still Missing is one of those books that I still think about months later. Every person I’ve loaned it to (in fact, it’s still floating around on loan…may never see it again *sigh*) has said the same thing. You just need to have a strong stomach, though.
# Ann-Kat wrote on January 23, 2011 at 5:21 pm:
Narrowing it down to 9…yeah, that was a tough one. It started out with more, but I had to get strict with myself and really consider which books were entertaining, well-written, and stayed with me long after I finished.