For me, a favorite book is one I’m still thinking and talking about months after I read it. The books listed below are stuck in my mind and some in my heart. I’m ready to share my list with you. You’ll see that there are different reasons for each book I picked. If you’d like to read my review, just click the books title.
1. Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel
by Louise Penny
A well written mystery leading to more in a series.
(I fell in love with the main character. Don’t tell my husband.)
2. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
This book made me cry, made me mad, made me sigh, and made me laugh
3. The Dangerous Sports Euthanasia Society
by Christine Coleman
This was the best depiction of a character my age with no put-downs or stereotypes.
4. The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott
by Kelly O’Connor McNees
Mrs. McNees fed my memory of a childhood favorite
and the many hours I spent reading and dreaming.
She led me to start my first reading challenge.
by Michael Connelly
While reading this book I said, “Please make this into a movie.”
Let’s hope Hollywood sees the book and the characters the way I did.
It’s due out in 2011.
by Beth Hoffman
I loved the people I met in this book:
CeeCee, Oleta, Miss Tootie, and the neighbors.
by Raymond Briggs
My favorite Graphic Novel of the year is a love story
and the story of a good marriage.
8. If the Church Were Christian
by Phillip Gulley
A favorite because it made me think and re-think a lot.
by Alice Waters
The best food book I read all year.
10. And the Pursuit of Happiness
by Maira Kalman
This one is a favorite book just because it was so darn beautiful
in both words and art. It was a joy to hold it.
My Favorite Characters
Each month during 2010 I naming my favorite characters. That’s because my favorite books are those that are rich in characters. I’ve met so many wonderful people/characters this year that it was hard to decide. But, I asked myself – What person do I really want to spend a lot more time with? When it came down to it, I had to pick two.
1. CeeCee Honeycutt
from Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
CeeCee is the twelve-year-old sweetheart I met in . There are so many descriptive words I could use for CeeCee but let me just say she’s smart and courageous. The other characters surrounding CeeCee are also worthy of “best of” honors.
If this were to be made into a movie, which I think it should be, it would require just the right girl. I happen to know of a young actress who is just about the same age. She’s also smart and courageous. That’s whose picture you see above. along with her sweet little sister. (My granddaughters, Q and Lou)
2. Agnes
from The Dangerous Sports Euthanasia Society by Christine Coleman.
I met Agnes, a seventy-five year old widow. She would do anything to hug her grandchildren. In order to do that she changed from a sweet little old lady who never made waves, to an orange-haired, tennis-shoe wearing hitch-hiker. She tackled problems and helped other people in ways she never did back in her life as the vicar’s wife. When the main character is so well written and so close to my age, I can’t help but feel as if she’s a personal friend.
I strongly recommend both of these books to anyone wanting good character driven books.
That’s it for 2010. I’m looking ahead to 2011 and I’m sure you are too. There are so many wonderful books yet to be read and, if the good Lord is willing, I have a whole year ahead to read them. I’m lifting my virtual glass and saying, “Cheers and Happy Reading to us all.”
Really good choices. Few of those are in my TBR list!
Here are my Best Reads of 2010.
Wonderful list, Margot (especially liked who you’d choose to play CeeCee!)
I hadn’t heard of THE DANGEROUS SPORTS EUTHANASIA SOCIETY – the cover makes me think it’s a Europa book, is it? (they tend to be A+, in my opinion)
I’m so glad Euthanasia was one of your favorites! I loved it also, as you know!
Still Life, The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott, and Saving CeeCee Honeycutt are all books on my “hope to” read list for 2011. I have tried to locate If the Church were Christian all year, but with no luck. Hopefully I can add that to next year’s list as well.
One of the nicest things about reading is the characters we meet, even some of the evil ones. The best ones have human flaws that we can all identify with.
What a wonderfully diverse list. I wish you as many good books, and more, next year.
Looks like you had a good reading year. I ordered the entire Louise Penny series for the library, so I’m sure I’ll get to them in 2011. You have me intrigued with The Dangerous Sports Euthanasia Society so I may have to order it also. Have a Happy New Year.
Margot, I love your list! I’ve read several of them and consider them some of my favorites as well. The ones I haven’t read, I’ll put on my list to investigate.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year! Hugs!!
I want to read the Geuurnsey book, I’ve seen a lot of good reviews. What a great list, one I can use for reference this year. Happy New Year!
Great list Margot! Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is on my favorites list as well. Guernsey is one of my favorite as well, I read it a few years ago.
Great wrap up! You read some great books this year! There are some on here that I’ve loved too and some that I really want to read
you can’t go wrong with Penny…and I loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society.
The Lincoln Lawyer is one I have heard great things about..and that I actually have in the TBR pile, so I must get to it soon.
Your list of books is wonderful and there were a few I’ve read too and also loved!!! I’m referencing your post for next year
Ethel and Ernest along with Pursuit of Happiness are two of my favorite reads. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed them too!
Who could not love Armand Gamache? Finding Louise Penny was a great discovery for me found at Lesa’s critique blog. Fantastic list Margot! So many good books, so little time. Happy New Year to you and your family. May 2011 be filled with good books, good friends, good health and much happiness.
I share your definition of a favorite – if I think and talk about a book for months, it definitely belongs on that list.
Ethel & Ernest is my favorite graphic novel ever… still can’t believe a GN made me cry! The Guernsey book is also a favorite, and I’ve been waiting for And the Pursuit of Happiness to come from the library for ages. Happy New Year, Margot!
I love your list — and thanks for the reminder, because I’d forgotten to write a couple of these down on my TBR list (which keeps on growing). Happy New Year to all of you.
I’m not an avid reader. I think I would read more if I had a suited pair of glasses. I have readers but they give me a headache after so long. I remember up until about 10 years ago, if you saw me you saw a book in my hand. I keep saying, one of these days, I’ll get some glasses. Ha. Anyway, I’m stopping over from Tribute Books Mama to say howdy and introduce myself. My name is Laurie from Grandma Sez So. I am on the same list as you are for the Stylish Award.
Stop by sometime.
Happy Reads in 2011 to you!
Laurie
Great list! Of the ones I’ve read too, I absolutely agree that they belong on any best-of list. I really need to get to Louise Penny.
I love that you see your grandaughter as Cee Cee!! That’s the only book on your list that I’ve read and it was favorite for me too. Several of the other are sitting here on my shelves waiting for time.
Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt made my “best of” list, too. And I so loved Guernsey. Happy reading in 2011!
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