Books I Read & Loved in 2009, Part One

2009-12-04 16:54:34 Posted By: Linda - YS

Hi everyone,
While you might be thinking that it's too soon to be talking about my favorite books in 2009 since 2009 isn't exactly over yet, I've been thinking about which books might win some awards next month which led to think about MY favorite books of the past year.  So here they are with one caveat: these books weren't necessarily published in 2009, I just happened to read them in 2009...

The Hunger Games & Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins: I've already gushed about both of these books in my last blog but my love and adoration of them hasn't faded one bit and they remain at the very top of my favorites list.  **THIS JUST IN** The third book in the series, title yet to be determined, will be published on August 24, 2010 which means there's less than a year before we find out what happens to Katniss, Peeta and Gale!

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: Yes, it won the Newbery Award so it isn't necessarily surprising that it is one of my favorites from this past year.  However, you should know that the first time I read it, I wasn't overly impressed but I kept thinking about the book, so I decided to give it another shot and I fell in love with it the second time around.  It is a beautifully written, haunting, lovely, and sometimes creepy book that you will want to read over and over.  Also, if you haven't listened to Mr. Gaiman's audio book recording of this title, it is definitely worth your time (even if you've read it already).

Nation by Terry Pratchett: Mr. Pratchett is well-known for his sardonic and humorous books for both teens and adults and so when I picked up Nation, I was expecting much of the same.  But what I got was so much more...Nation is the story of two teens who have somehow survived a tsunami and have ended up on an island along with other survivors and there they must figure out how to go on after so much loss.  It is an amazing story of community, grief and faith with touches of humor and sweetness.

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson: There are books that are difficult to read because they aren't written well or the subject matter isn't very interesting.  And then there are books that are difficult to read because the intriguing subject matter is also very serious and dark, not to mention that it is written so realistically that you feel like you're reading someone's diary rather than a fictional story.  The latter was definitely the case for me with Wintergirls.  It is the story of Lia, a young woman who is desperately struggling with anorexia and is, quite honestly, losing the battle.  While there definitely tough scenes to read (and I mean that in the best possible way), it is so worthwhile in the end because Anderson has authentically captured the mindset of a young woman who can never be thin enough.

I've got several more titles on my favorites list but there isn't room to talk about them all right now, so make sure you check back before the holidays to see what else is on my list!

Post First Comment