Booking Through Thursday: Best of 08
Here's this week's Booking through Thursday. To see what others have to say, visit Deb's blog here.
It’s a week or two later than you’d expect, and it may be almost a trite question, but … what were your favorite books from 2008?
I always have trouble picking out favorite books, so I'm going to list some of the books that got top ratings from me last year. Half were read before I started blogging, but I've provided a link to my review for the others.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (mystery; gothic)
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (fiction)
About Alice by Calvin Trillin (memoir)
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (review) (fiction; time travel)
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke (review) (fantasy; YA)
House of Mondavi by Julia Flynn Siler (review) (nonfiction)
I rated other books with an A, but these are the ones that stuck with me.
37 comments:
I loved The Thirteenth Tale, it really draws you in doesn't it! Happy New Year!
I have The Thirteenth Tale in my TBR pile and I really searched for the book Middlesex here in India, but I didn't find it anywhere :(
Someday...
The Thirteenth Tale and Cornelia Funke's trilogy are on my reading list for 2009 :-)
Don't miss Thirteenth Tale, Dot is right, it just draws you in.
Violet: so sorry you can't get Middlesex yet. It'll make its way across the ocean. How about Amazon?
The Thirteenth Tale was an awesome book. Middlesex is one of those books I have had setting on my bookshelf and have never gotten around to reading it. I've heard its a great novel.
I, too, absolutely loved the Thirteenth Tale. I wish the author would release a 2nd book soon; I would snatch it up immediately.
Have a great Thursday!
Great list! I haven't read any of those. Have a great day!
I didn't do a list at the end of the year because i have no idea what to pick, but i think I'll suck it up tonight and do it for BTT!
Alea: you crack me up! This is only list of its kind I made for 2008.
So I'm assuming it doesn't have to be published in 2008 or does it, cause that would make it a lot harder if it had to be! Ahh!
Alea: I don't really know what it was supposed to be, but I looked over my A-rated books and picked the ones that still seemed good. (if that made any sense)
Oh that makes sense! I think I'll look at my star ratings on LibraryThing, that will definitely help! Hopefully I can keep the list small-ish!
We've both read and agreed on The Thirteenth Tale and To Say Nothing of the Dog!
I haven't read any of your books. :( I think need to start writing some of these on my huge wish list.
Kathy: Oh do move those books up your TBR pile. I don't think you'll be sorry.
Yvonne: I've been writing down book titles all morning!
Cathy: They are both great books.
Kathy/Bermuda: why should your list be any shorter than the rest of ours?? ;-)
Molly: I'd love to read another book by her!
Arghhh. Marny: I'm not ignoring you -- just trying to answer comments while on a work break. Not always a good idea. I have the final Funke book, InkDeath, coming up this month.
I enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale and Middlesex very much too. I haven't read the others on your list. My BTT answer is up.
Hi!
I read The Thirteenth Tale! It was a wonderful book! Thanks for stopping by my place. Have a great week!!
Sherrie
Can you believe I've haven't yet read The Thirteenth Tale??? It's just sitting here, begging to be read, ha ha.
Did you like the other books in the Funke trilogy??
"About Alice" is one of my all time favorites.
Top Ten of 2008
Great list. I loved The Thirteenth Tale and Inkspell. Now I just need time to read the rest in the series.
I love reading other people's lists. Yours reminds me of my copy of The Thirteenth Tale that has sit on the shelf.
I have posted my selections for 2008 on New Year's Eve.
Best New Fiction 2008
The Future of Love, Shirley Abbott
Letter from Point Clear, Dennis McFarland
Finding Nouf, Zoë Ferraris
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
The Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth Stein
Best Backlist Fiction
The Birds Fall Down, Rebecca West
The Uncommon Reader, Alan Bennett
A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, Marina Lewycka
The Dreyfus Affair, Peter Lefcourt
Kansas in August, Patrick Gale
Michele, I really love the Inkheart trilogy. I especially liked Inkspell. Inkdeath is up this month. The books are really in a class of their own.
Sherry: About Alice is so moving. I read it right after he wrote it and then earlier this year I listed to him read it. Man, I was crying -- and I'm not much of a crier.
Matt: we don't overlap too much, tho I read the Guernsey book and the Art of Racing is in my TBR. Mr BFR has read some Rebecca West, so they must be around here somewhere!
The Thirteenth Tale is on my fav list as well.
I loved The Thirteenth Tale!
I read The 13th Tale and Middlesex before last year (which sounds weird, gramatically), otherwise they would have been on my list. I haven't read any of the others, although Inkspell is tempting.
Right there with you on The Thirteenth Tale, and the Inkheart books. Can't wait for the movie next month!
I loved The Thirteenth Tale! I need to read Middlesex soon! ;)
So when I was at the Library Bookstore I was reminded of you because I came across a copy of The Thirteenth Tale and bought it! (along with 3 other things...)
I thought I had commented. Must be going crazy. I loved the thirteenth tale. Didn't expect to but did.
Happy, Happy, joy, joy.
Robin
The only one on your list that I've read is *Middlesex* (loved it!).
*The Thirteenth Tale* is raved about in all the comments on your post -- I'll add it to my wish list.
I should get a copy of The Thirteenth Tale, just that I never had that chance yet. :)
Great list, and thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you have a good day!
I LOVED The Thirteenth Tale. I have been surprised at how popular a book it still it--I read it at least 2 years ago, but wonder if the word was just getting out about more this past year? I need to go check and see if she has written anything new!
*smiles*
Kim
Oh I miss reading fiction. Maybe once school is done, but for now I cant even keep up with my textbook reading. Several of the books you mentioned have been on my list for a while.
Alea: Glad to help your book addiction! Hope you like it as much as the rest of us have!
Kim: I read 13 tales early last year -- I don't think I had heard about it before then. My sister-in-laws are identical twins; they read a lot of twin books, and it was one of them who told me to read it.
Judy: You'll have time again. It can be hard to justify pleasure reading when you're in school.
I loved Middlesex and 13th Tale. I hadn't heard of the others, but have just added To Say Nothing of the Dog to my wishlist!
Thank you for pointing it out to me!
I loved Middlesex and 13th Tale. Great list.
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