2009: A Year in Review (A Bit on the Long Side)

The end of the year always seems to bring about my need to finish projects and update all my lists so that I can get a fresh start in the New Year. It is silly in some respects, I suppose. The year's end and beginning are more symbolic than anything. The fiscal year for my agency begins and ends in July. I was born in September, so technically, shouldn't my year begin and end then? And yet, I find myself eagerly anticipating the end of one year and the start of another as per the Gregorian calendar. It's so much more fun when we celebrate together, don't you think? More meaningful somehow.

Two thousand nine has been a challenging year, and I wish I could say I was looking forward to two thousand ten, but, well, let's not go there. Positive thoughts. On the reading front, at least, I predict good things for us all: many top notch books, interesting discussions, the strengthening of friendships and connections, and, of course, the making of new friends. I am ever so grateful to all of you who visit my blog and read my ramblings. I truly value the friendships I have made in the blogging community.

This past year was a bumpy one reading wise. My reading numbers are considerably lower than they have been in years. No, I wasn't watching more television. And regardless of what my husband says, it isn't Big Money's fault either. Things came up. Life happened. Reading took a backseat at times. Despite that, I read quite a few really good books. While last year, not one book I read had that "wow" factor, this year four did and nine came awfully close. Personally, I think that's pretty darn good.


This year I committed to read for a literacy based charity organization. Jodie declared it The Year of Readers. Many readers joined in the effort. I committed to donating $1 for every book I read and the same for every challenge completed. I obviously had hoped to have a better year when I signed up for this event. I stated up front that I was not going to be actively seeking out sponsorship--it's not something I am comfortable with, and so my donation will probably seem very small compared to what others are able to contribute. Still, every little bit helps!

I made the (unspoken) decision when I signed up for the project that I would donate at minimum a $100 to the Book Wish Foundation, regardless of how much I fell short. And that's exactly what I plan to do. I wish I could do more, but right now, unfortunately, that just isn't possible.

Before I get to my list of favorite books read this year, I thought I would begin with a few other fun facts.

Longest Book Read ~ Guests of the Ayatollah by Mark Bowden

Shortest Book Read ~ A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Best New Series ~ The Tattoo Shop Mystery Series by Karen E. Olson

Best Nonfiction Book ~ Mark Bowden's Guests of the Ayatollah

Best Fantasy Novel ~ Starfinder by John Marco

Sobfest Book of the Year ~ Tie: Lisa Genova's Still Alice and Markus Zusak's The Book Thief

Most Disappointing Book ~ Broad Street by Christine Weiser

Worst Mother of the Year ~ Mary from Push by Sapphire

Book that Made Me Smile ~ Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Most Mentally Disturbed Narrator ~ Eleanor Rushing by Patty Friedmann

Scariest Book of the Year ~ Still Alice by Lisa Genova


2009 Reading Trends ~

Total Books Read ~ 60
Total Authors Read ~ 54 (books written by multiple authors are only counted as one author)

Graphic Novels Read ~ 2
Short Story Collections or Anthologies ~ 4
Short Stories Read (not counting short stories read in collections) ~ 2

Total New To Me Authors Read ~ 44

Books Read by Genre ~
29 Fiction
18 Crime/Suspense/Thrillers/Mysteries
9 Fantasy
5 Nonfiction
1 Science Fiction

31 Female Authors
22 Male Authors
1 Mixed Gender

Books Read by Authors' Gender ~
37 Females
22 Males
1 Mixed Gender

Books Read by Rating ~
4 Outstanding/5 Stars
9 Very Good +/4.5 Stars
20 Very Good/4 Stars
18 Good +/3.5 Stars
6 Good/3 Stars
2 Fair +/2.5 Stars
0 Fair/2 Stars
0 Poor/1 Star

Total Books I was Unable to Read to Completion ~ 1 (Vampire Diaries: The Awakening by L.J. Smith - I was so put off by Elena's character that, try as I might, I could not get into the book.)

Book Size ~
7 Pint Size Books (200 pgs and Under)
42 Intermediate Books (201-350 pgs)
7 Substantial Books (351-500 pgs)
4 Doorstop Books (501+ pgs)

Books Read by Type ~
19 Hardback Books
33 Trade Paperback Books
8 Mass Paperback Books

Books Read by Year of Publication ~
54 in the 2000's (32 books published in 2009; 1 book set to be published in 2010)
3 in the 1990's
1 in the 1980's
2 in the 1800's

Books Read by Narrative Voice ~
24 1st Person
24 3rd Person
6 Both
6 Nonspecific Voice

Reading Challenges Participated in ~ 16
Reading Challenges Completed ~ 7
Reading Challenges Carrying Over Into New Year ~ 1

Best reading months ~ December & August (7 books)
Worst reading month ~ February (2 books)

2009 Blog Posts ~ 238 (including this one)

Top Five Movies Seen This Year ~

1. District 9 (2009)
2. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
3. Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009)
4. The Orphanage (El Orfanato) (2007)
5. Star Trek (2009)

One of my favorite crime fiction blogger's, Kerrie of Mysteries In Paradise, is collecting readers' top ten favorite crime fiction lists this year (up until January 7th--so there's still time to get your lists into her!), and I could not resist joining in again. I took a few liberties, and, while some of these books may not fall under the "crime fiction" label officially, they do enough for my purposes. They all involve solving some sort of crime, after all. Without further ado:

Top Ten Favorite Crime Fiction Books for 2009 (in no specific order) ~

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Zoo Station by David Downing

In the Woods by Tana French

The Secret Keeper by Paul Harris

A World I Never Made by James LePore

The Missing Ink by Karen E. Olson

The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl

No One You Know by Michelle Richmond

Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Shades of Grey by Clea Simon

As I mentioned earlier, I read a lot of good books this year. I was introduced to many new authors via their books and re-visited authors I've enjoyed before. It is never easy coming up with a top ten list. At least not for me. Because I rate the books I read, it's a little easier, I suppose, but it doesn't take the pressure off completely. I still have to put them in some semblance of order--and that's the hardest part of all. Each of the ten books that made the final cut are books that touched me in some way. The writing is beautiful and the characters are the kind that get under my skin and find their way into my heart. These books are the reason I read. If you want to know more about any of the books that made my list and the specific reasons I love them so, please check out my reviews.

Top Ten Favorite Books Read in 2009 (listed in reverse order) ~

10. In the Woods by Tana French

9. Precious by Sandra Novack

8. The Brightest Moon of the Century by Christopher Meeks

7. Haunting Bombay by Shilpa Agarwal

6. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

5. Who By Fire by Diana Spechler

4. Sweeping Up Glass by Carolyn Wall

3. No One You Know by Michelle Richmond

2. Push by Sapphire

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

There will be no reading goals or resolutions this year. At least none that are set in stone or written down. Well, except for the two reading challenges I have already committed to. I have an idea of the many directions I want to go, but only time will tell which of those directions I will be traveling. I hope you will join me for another year of reading and sharing bookish thoughts.

Have a Safe and Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

The Year of Readers

Reading and access to books and education have always been issues close to my heart. One of the first steps to creating an oppressive society and limiting freedom is to ban books and limit access to them. It stands to reason than providing books and encouraging reading and learning can have the opposite effect. Literacy and education empower people, adults and children alike.



Jodie came up with the idea of hosting a year long read-a-thon, asking readers to join her in an effort to raise money for reading and literacy based charities. She writes:

In 2009 I want to spread my love of reading throughout the world. The Year of Readers aims to bring people who enjoy books together to have fun bringing literature into the lives of others. From the 1st January 2009 until 31st of December 2009, I will be running an international read-a-thon that will be open to anyone who reads. It doesn’t matter what kind of books you read or how many you read as long as you’ve got your nose in a book in 2009 you can join in.

She goes on to say:

It’s an easy concept (which is probably why I thought of it). You pick a literary charity that you want to support in 2009. You sign up to be part of The Year of Readers, get people to sponsor you and just start reading whatever you like.

I am slow in signing up for this particular event because choosing a charity to support is not as easy as it looks. There are quite a number of great groups out there who strive to make books and reading more accessible across the globe. How do you choose just one? Do I go with a local outfit or branch out beyond the borders of my own country?

It was this description which struck me the most, however, and was what made me settle on the Book Wish Foundation:

Reading relief is a concept much broader than providing books. It encompasses all of the aid for community institutions and individuals that makes reading possible. This includes, for example, support for libraries, schools, informal literacy and language programs, and vision care. To provide relief, this aid must match the specific needs that exist, which vary according to the crisis situation, culture, language, demographics, educational history, and aspirations of the people being served. These needs form the basis of the Wish Lists on our website, and provide an opportunity for highly targeted giving.

We focus on people in long-term crisis situations because they may face problems so grave that reading relief is not a major component of the aid they receive, although reading may have a great positive impact on their lives. Refugees, internally displaced people, school-aged children not in school, the homeless, the critically ill, and the desperately poor are among the populations we aim to reach.

I am pledging $1 per book read during the year of 2009, including those I have already read so far this year. I am also going to donate an extra $1 for every challenge I am able to complete during the course of the year. I am not going to make a big deal about asking anyone to sponsor me. I've never felt comfortable soliciting donations--not even for those run and walk-o-thons I participated in while in school all those many years ago. If you are interested (whether lump sums or per book or per reading challenge, no matter the amount), please e-mail me (my e-mail address can be found on my profile page), and I will pass along the information for you to do so. Better yet, you can join The Year of Readers too.

This is just a little something I want to do. I give to other charities that support issues I feel passionate about, although never a reading/literacy based one. I just never thought to do anything like this before. It does make sense though, doesn't it? Why not share my love of reading with those who do not have the same resources and means that I do?

It isn't much, I know. It is very little actually, but it is something. In a work related training I attended yesterday the instructor talked about how sometimes all we can do is take a baby step but to remember that even those baby steps are a movement forward. And they add up.


“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” ~ W. B. Yeats