FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2009

2009 has been a good reading year for me. I have read a variety of books, all of which have made some sort of impression on me. However, there were only a few that I found to be truly engaging and worth recommending to family and friends. Here are my favorite books of 2009:

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff







Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood











The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa











The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery











Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan











Hopefully 2010 will provide me with some wonderful reads and prove to be a bookish year! Cheers!

2009 Clear Off Your Shelves Challenge

I have a super long list of books that I want to read. In fact, I tend to take them off of the shelves and place them in my bag, on my nightstand, on my desk, and basically anywhere I can think of that will remind me of these great books that are waiting to be read. And yet there are just too many that need to be read. In fact, I tend to ignore some of these piles and wind up buying new books to read. For example, I have, The Grand Sophy, Sense and Sensibility, Dracula, Columbine, In The Woods and Short Stories by Poe, all sitting in a stack on my nightstand. I am slowly getting through Columbine and In The Woods, so I am making progress there. However, I have just put them aside to read The Vampire Diaries (cheesy YA novels that I read when I was actually YA age, but for some reason I just had to read them again) and now I have just purchased Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters (which I am sure I will begin reading as soon as I finish this last book in the Vampire Diaries). Ugh! Don't get me wrong, the main thing is that I am reading and that is a good thing. However, I want to finish the two books I have already started and begin reading all of the books I have placed in piles around the house. So, I have decided to participate in Swapna's new challenge, Clear Off Your Shelves. Okay, so what exactly is this challenge? Well, here's the info I got from S. Krishna’s Books :

This is a challenge that is aimed at getting through those books that have been sitting on your shelves for months, even years! Any non-review books that are on your shelves and/or review copies that have been on your shelves for over six months. This means that recent review copies and library books are not eligible for this challenge! However, that doesn’t mean the book has to have been out for six months in order for the review copy to be eligible. Books you have purchased/traded for/etc. and are NOT review copies can be from anytime - even from during the challenge! Crossover with other challenges is welcomed, even encouraged!

When? This challenge will run from October 1, 2009 – November 30, 2009. T

Where? S. Krishna’s Books! The sign-up post for the challenge will be posting today as well. Come back to post your review links – there will be links to everything you will need in my sidebar!

How? This challenge will work a little differently than other challenges. Instead of picking a set number of books to read during this time period, you will pick a percentage. This means that a certain percentage of the books you read during these two months will have to qualify for this challenge. For example, let’s say you pick 40% and you end up reading 10 books in October and November. 4 of those books would have to qualify for this challenge in order for you to complete it. I am setting a minimum percentage of 20%. As a result, there is no need to make a list of books prior to starting the challenge, though please feel free to do so if you want to! Your wrap-up post should have a list of the books you read for the challenge, though, so please do keep track of what you read!

There you have it folks. All the info you need to participate in Clear Off Your Shelves 2009! Don't forget to sign up here. I'm really looking forward to this because not only will the books that I am reading for the challenges fall in line with this challenge, but mainly because I am hoping it will finally get me to clear off those piles I have sitting around. I am going to aim to read about 40% of the books. I think that is reasonable and feasible. All right, well let me get back to reading. Cheers!! Happy Reading!!!

BOOK MEME VIA BOOK BLOGGER APPRECIATION WEEK 2009

I have no review to post about today. Right now I am between two books, which is a new one for me, since I tend to usually only read one book at a time. But, hey, its always good to try new things, right? Well, as of now I am part way through Columbine by Dave Cullen and I have to say that I am really enjoying it thus far (as much as anyone can enjoy a book about a real life tragedy). And then there is In The Woods by Tana French which I am slowly reading, because it is taking me a while to get into it. All in all, not bad reading for now. However, for today's post I figured I would answer the questions to this book meme that I found on the Book Blogger Appreciation website. Here goes:
Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
sometimes I do snack - depends on if I am hungry or not. usually its popcorn or something sweet, like a cookie.
Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of
writing in books horrify you?
no, I don't really ever write in my books. I used to in college, but not anymore. and so obviously the idea of writing in books does not horrify me - well, I do hate it when people put lines through the text, that is annoying and just plain rude.
How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?
Laying the book flat open?
I tend to use whatever is lying around and is handy at the time: receipts, post-it, candy bar wrapper, lotto ticket, etc. I hate dog-earing a page, it just seems cruel.
Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?
both. although truth be told I tend to read more fiction than non.
Hard copy or audiobooks?
most definitely hard copy. I am just not into listening to books.
Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you
able to put a book down at any point?
I am able to put a book down at any point, but I try to finish each chapter and then put it down.
If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
If I can get through the sentence and have a general understanding of what is going on then I am fine and can wait to look up the word, but if I have no clue as to what it means, then I have to look it up straightaway.
What are you currently reading?
Columbine by Dave Cullen and In The Woods by Tana French
What is the last book you bought?
The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse
Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can
you read more than one at a time?
I am normally a one book at a time type of gal, but lately I have been trying to have two books on the go and so far its not too bad.
Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?
I am a night time reader and I usually do it in bed.
Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
I prefer stand alone books, but there have been the occasional series that have sucked me in.
Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
Cat's Cradle by Vonnegut. The Housekeeper and The Professor by Yoko Ogawa and anything by Murakami. Oh and of course the brilliant works of Jean Rhys.
How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)
I tend to organize my books alphabetically on one shelf and then by favorite authors and books on another shelf and then I have some miscellaneous books just placed on the shelf by what I would like to read next on another shelf.

All right. Well, that is that. Happy reading to all!!

2009 Reading = Me

I found this on BookBath and thought it was a fun idea, so I figured I would give it a go. Basically, what you do is take all of the books you have read so far this year and choose which ones can answer the following questions. Try not to repeat a book title!

Describe yourself: The Uncommon Reader
How do you feel: Dead Until Dark
Describe where you currently live: Forever in Blue
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Your favorite form of transportation: The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants
Your best friend is: Tea Time for the Traditionally Built
You and your friends are: Girls in Pants
What's the weather like: L.A. Candy
You fear: Little Bee
What is the best advice you have to give: The Rules of Attraction
Thought for the day: The Hour I First Believed
How would I like to die: After Dark
My soul's present condition: The Elegance of the Hedgehog

That was interesting! Made me realize I need to start reading more books so that I can have a better selection next time there are questions like this to answer. Enjoy!!