Is it seriously the end of 2010 already? Didn’t we just ring in the New Year? I guess the adage about time flying really is true.
What a year it has been! I never cease to be amazed at how much I am able to accomplish in a twelve-month time span. This year was no different. In addition to broadening my reading habits by reading a record number of novels in one year (140), I spent a large majority of the time discovering my strengths and weaknesses, questioning and growing. I exit the year stronger in the knowledge of who I am and where I want to go. 2010 was a year of firsts for me: I’ve been fortunate to meet at least one very good blogging friend, attend my first trade show and grew closer to other blogging friends. I maneuvered through a blog redesign and name change, the INSPYs and BBAW. I participated as a reader during the spring Dewey’s Read-a-thon and took full advantage of Bloggiesta during both January and June. I challenged myself with many reading challenges this year and completed all those that kept my interest through the year. I was introduced to the wonder of audiobooks and can’t imagine life without them now. More importantly, I set out to improve myself, by introducing a new feature designed to make me accountable for my healthy actions; others might not get a lot out of it, but it has certainly helped me. 2010 is also the year I introduced the world to my son and his own passion for reading. It has been a busy year but one that made me feel alive.
Even though I tend to avoid making reading lists, the list of my favorite reads for the year is my one exception. These are the novels that have stuck with me over the months, about which I am an absolute evangelist, and which have moved me in some way that continues to impact my approach to life. They are listed in the order I read them:
- In the Woods by Tana French
- Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
- The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
- Life of Pi by Yann Martel
- This is Not the Story You Think It Is by Laura Munson
- Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes
- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
- Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel
- The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
- Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
- If I Stay by Gayle Forman
- Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff
- The Heroine’s Bookshelf by Erin Blakemore
- Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
- Room by Emma Donoghue
I’ve been lucky to read some amazing books this year, both old and new. They are like the icing with the cake being the year. There’s no doubt about it. It has been a great year.
Thanks, Stacy! You too!
I read and really liked The Last Lecture and If I Stay. Hope you have another great reading year!
Happy New Year to you too! And Mockingjay should definitely be one of the year's best!
Happy New Year, Michelle. I hope 2011 is a wonderful year for you.
I've seen Mickingjay in quite a few 'top of 2010' lists this year. 😀
My recent post Happy New Year!
Thanks! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
There are so many others I wish I would have been able to get to, but I am glad to have at least gotten to those. So many good books.
Thanks! I consider myself lucky.
"It has been a busy year but one that made me feel alive." what a positive attitude. Congradulations on a good year. Also, I enjoyed your book list and now plan to read many of your favorites. Happy New Year.
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Congratulations on such a fantastic year. I hope that 2011 is even better for you. Great list of favorites, a few in there that I want to read 🙂
My recent post A Plan for 2011
You really have had a great year…and read some great books!
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