I am reading a minimum of 52 books in 2009. Reading is one of my favorite hobbies and I do not make enough time to kick back with a book. I will update this page with what I have read and if I liked it. I would welcome any recommendations because I get library stage fright and my mind goes blank and I can’t think of what I would like to read.
Topics I am most interested in:
biographies
chick lit
history
religion
comedy
JANUARY
1. Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Sykes
Cute but predictable.
2. The Accidental Santera by Irete Lazlo
This one was okay. I wish it was more of a history of the religion than a story.
3. Make Him Look Good by Alisa Valdez Rodriguez
I loved the Dirty Girls’ Social Club so this was a ridiculous disappointment.
4. We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
Fascinating but quite heavy- unfathomable and devastating topic.
5. Mortified: Real Words, Real People, Real Pathetic edited by Dave Nadleberg
Cringe worthy – a good laugh (especially after #4.)
FEBRUARY
6. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
LOVE IT! This just became one of my top five books. When we get a dog, it is going to be named Enzo.
7. Getting Stoned with Savages by J. Maarten Troost
Hilarious yet culturally interesting. This book makes me want to go on a big adventure.
8. The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: And Other Small Acts of Libation by Elizabeth Berg
I have yet to read an Elizabeth Berg book that I don’t like and this did not disappoint. It is safe to say that she is one of my favorite authors. This book was a collection of short stories and I liked it very much.
9. Of Parrots and People by Mira Tweti
Fascinating. Couldn’t put it down.
10. Swish: My Quest to Become the Gayest Person Ever by Joel Derfner
I laughed so hard. Loved it.
11. A La Cart: The Secret Lives of Grocery Shoppers by Hilary Carlip
Weird and pretentious. No good.
MARCH
11. A La Cart: The Secret Lives of Grocery Shoppers by Hilary Carlip
Weird and pretentious. No good.
12. Open House by Elizabeth Berg
I love Elizabeth Berg, but I wasn’t wowed by this book. It was just okay.
13. The Ridiculous Race by Steve Hely and Vali Chandrasekaran
I liked the book but it was not very well organized and hard to follow at times (told through two separate points of view.) Three stars.
APRIL
14. Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
Hard to get into, but then I was hooked. I kept picking it up and putting it down, but once I got about 30 pages in, I loved it. I do not like that her writing is from different viewpoints though, but I enjoyed the book. Also, she has a habit of tying ends up too neatly at the end. But still a good read.
15. My Friend Leonard by James Frey
Loved it. Fascinating.
16. The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett
Excellent. I loved this book. The story was so well written and so interesting. The dreams were the best part. Loved it.
17. The Three Martini Playdate by Christie Mellor
Hysterical. I loved it so much I bought it for a friend who is about to have a baby. (PS- I am not having a baby anytime soon, just thought it was a funny book.)
MAY
18. Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammett
Loved it.
19. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Inspiring.
20. A Version of the Truth by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack
Hard to get into, lots of info about birds, and I HATED the end. I am a sucker for animals. I must say thank you to Kara for mailing this book to me- I enjoyed most of it.
21. White Oleander by Janet Fitch
Okay.
22. This Charming Man by Marian Keyes
I liked it very much. It was graphic at points though. Overall, great characters and I liked the story.
JUNE BOOKS
23. The Appeal by John Grisham
I liked it, but there was a whole lot going on in this book. It was like two separate stories.
24. My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler
Hysterical. Love her.
25. Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals by Wendy Dale
Awesome. She inspires me to go and see the world (although I would avoid the prison boyfriend thing.)
26. Goodnight, Nobody by Jennifer Weiner
Cute.
27. Bunny Tales: Behind Closed Doors at the Playboy Mansion by Izabella St. James
Horrendous. The writing is so bad that it is hysterical. I wish there was more about the actual mansion lifestyle, but it was mostly about this chick. Team Holly and Bridget.
If you like books about religion, I just started this book, The Book of the Unknown: Tales of the Thirty Six by Jonathon Keats, http://www.fetchbook.info/compare.do?search=9780812978971. It’s fictionalized tales of the story of the 36 righteous people as written about in the Talmud. Lovely weaving of myth, story and religion!
JULY BOOKS
28. How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill
I liked it because it was really interesting BUT this guy sounds completely brainwashed by Starbucks. That said, I love Starbucks and I think the author really feels much happier in his life.
29. Enlightenment for Idiots by Anne Cushman
Very cute and an easy read. I am very interested in yoga, Buddhism, meditation, and travel so I liked this novel a lot.
30. Beyond the Blonde by Kathleen Flynn-Hui
Cute beach read about hair and stylists.
31. The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke by Suze Orman
Interesting tips, but I only read parts relevant to me.
32. Elements of Style by Wendy Wasserstein
I really enjoyed this book. It is kind of like the Real Housewives- completely entertaining trash.
33. The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn
Much like #32, this book was about ridiculous opulence but this time it was paired with the challenge of getting into the “right” preschool. Hysterical.
34. Alex and Me by Irene Pepperburg
Loved it, but I am a complete sucker for animals. I definitely cried. Fascinating.
35. The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer
A cute, quick read- a beach book.
36. Candyfreak by Steve Almond
Interesting- this guy is obsessed with candy but the book is written very well. Brought me back to my candygirl days.
37. The Men I Didn’t Marry by Janice Kaplan and Lynn Schurnberger
Cute but kind of slow moving.
38. The Gatecrasher by Madeline Wickham
PSSST… Madeline Wickham and Sophie Kinsella are the same person!
39. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
Excellent advice and I liked the true stories from randoms.
40. The Debutante Divorcee by Plum Sykes
Cute but predictable. Not bad for a beach read, which is exactly where I read it.
AUGUST BOOKS
41. Dear American Airlines by Jonathan Miles
I laughed out loud four times in the first three pages. Excellent writing style as well as a great storyline.
42. The Manny by Holly Peterson
Excellent beach read. A manny is a male nanny in case you were wondering.
43. Notting Hell by Rachael Johnson
Not my favorite.
44. Breakfast with Buddha by Ronald Merullo
LOVED it.
45. Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch
Interesting premise, quick read.
46. Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger
Cute but nothing spectacular.
47. The Cinderella Pact by Sarah Strohmeyer
Very cute.
48. Life in Rewind: the story of a young courageous man who persevered over OCD and the Harvard doctor who broke all the rules to help him by Terry Weible Murphy with Edward Zine and Dr. Michael Jenike
AMAZING. Read this book. These people are incredible.
49. Kick Me: Adventures in Adolescence by Paul Feig
Hysterical. I especially loved the part where he was dressed as a girl in full makeup and a dress and he ran to his mom’s side after a fender bender. I was laughing my head off through the whole book.
50. Diary of a Mad Bride by Laura Wolf
Awful.
SEPTEMBER BOOKS (Book- can you tell I was busy with back to school stuff?)
51. The Orange Wire Problem and Other Tales from the Doctor’s Office by David Watts
Eh. Weird. I didn’t really get it.
OCTOBER BOOKS
52. Cocktails for Three by Madeline Wickham
Easy read- good distraction from the workweek.
53. Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s by John Elder Robison
Amazing. Fascinating. Read this.
54. The Man Who Ate the 747 by Ben Sherwood
Loved it! A man tries to eat a plane that crashed in his yard to show this woman that he loves her.
55. Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes
Loved it. For a book about drug addiction, it was a super easy read.
56. Watermelon by Marian Keyes
Liked it. It was the same family from Rachel’s Holiday, but the main character was a different sister (Claire.)
57. Love or Something Like It by Deirdre Shaw
Loved it.
58. The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes
Very good.