Last month I told you about my favorite book of all time, A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving. This month I decided to tell you about some great books I read this year. You might ask yourself, “How does she remember all of the books she read in the past 12 months?” Obviously I can’t remember every single book title off the top of my head, but the Library catalog (http://rockcat.als.lib.wi.us/) makes it easy to keep track of what I’ve read. Simply click on “My Record”, enter your barcode and PIN, go to “My Reading History” and click “Opt In”. The catalog will now automatically keep track of every book you check out from any Rock County Library.
And now, without further ado, I give you my 2nd Annual Ten Great Books I Read This Year list:
1) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The story of 11-year old Liesel living in Germany during World War II as narrated by Death. (Young Adult Fiction)
2) 1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die by Adrian Tierney-Jones. It’s a good thing I don’t plan on dying anytime soon, because I’ve only tasted about 30 beers listed in the book. (Adult Non-Fiction)
3) The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever loved a stuffed animal enough to bring it to life. (Children’s Fiction)
4) Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things by Randy Frost and Gail Steketee. The opening story of brothers Jerry and Alvin is just one heart-breaking example of how hoarding takes hold of people’s lives. (Adult Non-Fiction)
5) Life of Pi by Yann Matel. Let’s just say I hope I never find myself stranded on a raft in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a tiger on board as one of my companions. (Adult Fiction)
6) This Book is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson. Yes, librarians save lives every day. Read this book to find out how we do it. (Adult Non-Fiction)
7) Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India by William Dalrymple. The author gives us a look at the lives of nine people living in India, all seeking their own spiritual paths.(Adult Non-Fiction)
8) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Who knew growing up in a graveyard could be such a terrifying experience? (Young Adult Fiction)
9) The Danger Box by Blue Balliett. Zoomy, a 12-year old with OCD-like tendencies, finds himself in possession of a very famous journal.(Children’s Fiction)
10) Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. Set in Paris, France in 1942, this book follows the story of one Jewish family’s arrest and deportation. (Adult Fiction)
11) (…because my list goes to eleven…) The 100-Foot Journey by Richard Morais. From Bombay to Paris, from naan to baguettes, this mouth-watering book literally made me hungry as I was reading it. (Adult Fiction)
… and I checked them all out from the Beloit Public Library. Stop in or visit us on the web at www.beloitlibrary.info or become a fan of the library on Facebook. Happy Holidays!
