Books Read in 2009

(Meant to post this earlier this month, but as you all know--life happened.)

This year I had a goal to read 75 books or more, and I exceeded that goal. Yay me! I also had a goal to read at least four "classics" from my TBR stack. Here's a run-down of my 2009 reading habits. Feel free to copy and post to your own blog, adding or deleting questions to suit your own reading habits. Let me know if you play along so I can visit!

Books read in 2007: 30
Books read in 2008: 66
Books read in 2009: 85


New to me authors I read: Barbara O'Neal, Karen Rose, Lisa Gardner, Sheila Lowe, Kate Carlisle, JK Rowling, Laura Childs, Jennie Bentley, Elise Hyatt, Charlene Weir, Darlene Gardner, Greg Kinkaid, Lucy Lawrence, Wendy Lyn Watson, Elizabeth Lynn Casey, Elise Hyatt, Julianne MacLean, Karen Joy Fowler, Bernhard Schlink, Stephanie Dowrick, MH Clark/CH Clark

Authors I read more than once: Kay Hooper, Nora Roberts, Rebecca York, Lisa Gardner, Karen Rose, JK Rowling, Sheila Lowe (loved her forensic handwriting series), Jennie Bentley, Johanna Lindsey, Julianne MacLean

Authors I plan to read again: Barbara O'Neal, Rebecca York, Nora Roberts, Toni Blake, Charlaine Harris, Lisa Gardner, Karen Rose, Jennie Bentley, Sheila Lowe, Sheila Connolly, Johanna Lindsey, Elise Hyatt, Lucy Lawrence, Wendy Lyn Watson, Elizabeth Lynn Casey, MH Clark/CH Clark

Genres read: Romance, romantic suspense, mystery, thriller, classics, chick lit, literary fiction, nonfiction, childrens/YA. About the only thing I didn't read was memoir, LOL.

Best overall romance read of the year: One Reckless Summer by Toni Blake

Best overall mystery/suspense read of the year: This is a tough one. I really got into the Berkley Prime Crime books this year, always enjoy Kay Hooper's Bishop books, and also read a lot of older suspense books by Lisa Gardner and Karen Rose. Hmm... I think I'm going to go with Evil Without a Face by Jordan Dane. As creepy as Hooper's serial killers are, this book gave me serious chills.

Best overall read of the year: The Lost Recipe For Happiness by Barbara O'Neal.

Challenges participated in: I participated in two reading challenges in 2009: the Casual Classics--read at least four classics, which I completed--and the Christmas Reading Challenge--read at least three Christmas-themed books of any genre. I set a personal goal of ten and read twelve.

Classics read: Summer by Edith Wharton, 1984 by George Orwell, The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway, and A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote.

Most imaginative world: Charlaine Harris' southern vampires and JK Rowling's Hogwarts.

Weirdest read: 1984 by George Orwell

Most-read Author of 2009: Nora Roberts, Charlaine Harris, Lisa Gardner

Biggest confession: I had never read any of the Harry Potter series before this past autumn, though I have seen all of the movies to date (some enough to quote entire scenes). I know, I know...a decade late to the party, but at least I finally got there! Tree down, four more to go...

Reading goal for next year: What the heck, let's aim for 80 this year! I really need to peck away at the TBR pile, especially where fave authors are concerned. I have books piling up by long-time favorites such as Nora Roberts, Catherine Coulter, Iris Johansen, Johanna Lindsey, and Elizabeth Lowell. Some authors are just too prolific!

What about you? What was your year in books like? What was the best read? To see more of what I've read, or want to read, click on the "books" label below, or check out my page at Goodreads.com .


Last year's report