Thursday, December 31, 2009

The Best Books of 2009 - My Picks



December is my absolute favorite month of the year. My Birthday, Christmas, and preparations for the New Year, which includes finalizing lists (oh yeah I'm a list keeper).  Before I even put together My Top my Best Books Read in 2009 list, or checked out how well I did in the (20) challenges I signed up for throughout the year, I was thinking about 2010. There I was, spending hours and hours looking through my book shelves in preparation of my hopes of making 2010 a banner year!  Am I boring or what, or is this what other book lovers do as well?  say yes, please!!!


My #1 pick for 2010 was actually a tie between two books. This is the first year ever that I had two #1 books.  (I'm not taking the easy way out, there were both so memorable that I truly could not decide).  If you have not read my #1 picks, PLEASE make them a priority in 2010...you'll be glad you did!

Top Fiction Picks

1. Cutting for Stone; Abraham Verghese
1. The Help; Kathryn Stockett
2. Little Bee; Chris Cleave
3. The Little Giant of Aberdeen County; Tiffany Baker
4. The Weight of Heaven; Thrity Umrigar
5. That Old Cape Magic; Richard Russo
6. Still Alice; Lisa Genova
7. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt; Beth Hoffman
8. Half Broke Horses; Jeanette Walls
9. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie; Alan Bradley
10.The Book of Bright Ideas; Sandra Kring


Top Non Fiction Picks

1. Christian the Lion; Bourke and Rendall
2. The Time of My Life; Patrick Swayze and Lisa Neimi
3. The House on Sugar Beach; Helene Cooper
4. Have a Little Faith; Mitch Albom
5. The Four Agreements; Don Miguel Ruiz

Have you read and any of these ? If so, did you love them as much as me?

32 comments:

  1. I haven't read any of them, but some are on my "Want, want, want!" list, especially The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. Happy New Year, Diane!

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  2. I've seen Cutting for Stone on a couple of blogs now in lists of favorite books. I have to check that one out.

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  3. The Help and Little Bee definitely deserve their spots! I haven't read the others (except for The Book of Bright Ideas, but that was a few years ago).

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  4. Still Alice is my best pick for 2009, I was so touched by this story almost as if it was a real one... Happy New Year!

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  5. I have to read The Help & Still Alice, so I'm adding them to my reading resolutions for the year. I'll also check out Cutting for Stone as I haven't heard of it before.

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  6. I could have written that entire first paragraph about myself. Yay, December. Birthday, Christmas, New Years and lists. Love the lists. I've been tweaking my 2010 lists since October, so you are definitely not alone.

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  7. Cutting for Stone is the one book I regret not reading this year! The Help was my #1 audiobook this year, and That Old Cape Magic was on my list, too.

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  8. Thanks for picking Still Alice for your Best Books list! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

    I also loved The Help...

    Happy New Year!
    Best wishes,
    Lisa Genova

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  9. I loved "Still Alice" as well, I have "The Weight of Heaven" in my TBR piles and I really want to read "The Little Giant of Aberdeen County"! Happy 2010 to you!

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  10. I've only read one of those books! I do have 5 more of them in my TBR pile, so there's hope for me yet.

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  11. Spending hours in front of your book shelves - nah, you're not alone. Arranging, rearranging, listing, relisting, etc etc etc. The joys of a book lover. Love your stats! Congratulations

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  12. I am so thrilled and honored that you picked Saving CeeCee Honeycutt for your best books list!

    Thank you so much, Diane.

    Wishing you and yours the best for a happy and healthy 2010!

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  13. I've been spending quite a bit of time thinking about what I hope to read this next year as well. So many choices to choose from!

    You've come up with such a great list of favorites. Cutting for Stone is a book I hope to get to one of these days as are several of the others you mention. Still Alice is the only one from your list that I've read so far. I really liked it. It didn't make my top ten list this year, but it came close.

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  14. You've got quite a few on your list that are on my hope to read list. I am starting The Help this week though. Too many people keep telling me to read it. Happy New Year Diane! I hope 2010 is going to be a great year of reading for you!

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  15. Interesting list! I enjoyed the Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie book too though it didn't make my top ten. I really want to read the Help now!

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  16. I wish I'd read Cutting for Stone ages ago. I think I'll wait for the paperback now though.

    Little Bee made my list and The Help just missed out on my top 10. Most of the rest are on my wishlist already, but I think I need to add Half Broke Horses to the list too. Thank you for the recommendations!

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  17. I love December, too: my birthday is the 26th and my husband's is the 28th!

    Thanks for this great list. Happy new year!

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  18. I haven't read any of your top nonfiction, but a couple of your fiction picks made my year-end list too. Here's to more great reading in 2010!

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  19. Great list - so many similarities in what we like - I also really loved The Help, and #2 &3. Several you've listed are on my wish list waiting for paperbacks to come out - the Jeanette Walls book, and Cutting for Stone. Happy New Year!

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  20. I did not read any of them, but I'm eyeing The Help; lots of good buzz about it.

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  21. Great list! You'll be happy to know that I have multiplies of these already on my TBR list for 2010!

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  22. I REALLY need to read The Help!

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  23. Great list! Christian the Lion has been on my to read list for awhile!

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  24. I am on The Weight of Heaven tour in February so I am really glad you liked it.

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  25. I love your favorites list. The only one I've read is The Help.

    Happy New Year, Diane!

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  26. Diane, I also love making lists, so this time of the year is lots of fun for me, getting to read everybody's lists! :D I haven't read any of the books on your list, but I really would like to read The Help and The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie in 2010! I hope you have a happy new year!

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  27. I haven't actually read any of these, but several are already on my tbr. I just added Cutting for Stone!

    Happy New Year!

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  28. I have several of these on my TBR list. It looks like you've had an awesome year reading - challenges as well. Thanks for stopping by my blog and have a great 2010.

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  29. Great list! I really enjoyed Little Giant, too.

    --Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

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  30. Oh I've read a couple of your favorites - Cutting for Stone almost made my list too. Very good book.

    You had a great year. Hope this one is just as fantastic!

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  31. Love your list ... and I have 3 of your top 10 fiction on my list for 2010! Woo hoo.

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  32. I have some favorites in your list, too. And, some that I can't wait to get to. Thanks for the reminder!

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