I decided to make a list of the books I read in 2004--but I'll put it in the extended entry, so it won't take up much room. I've also given out the MamaT awards to books on the list.
1. Loitering With Intent by Muriel Spark
2. My Staggerford Journal by Jon Hassler
3. Kristin Lavransdatter: The Bridal Wreath by Sigrid Undset
4. Kristin Lavransdatter: Mistress of Husaby by Sigrid Undset
5. Kristin Lavransdatter: The Cross by Sigrid Undset
6. The Patient in Bed Ten by Sue Baier
7. Moo by Jane Smiley
8. Original Sin by P.D. James
9. The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
10. The Children of Men by P.D. James
11. On Rue Tatin by Susan Loomis
12. The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
13. The Human Stain by Philip Roth
14. All Over But the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg
15. Somehow Form a Family by Tony Earley
16. Count Down: Six Kids Vie for Glory at the World's Toughest Math Competition by Steve Olson
17. The Mystic Masseur by V. S. Naipul
18. A Dog's Life by Peter Mayle
19. The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley
20. Cruel Miracles by Orson Scott Card
21. Love Among the Cannibals by Wright Morris
22. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
23. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
24. Hamlet's Dresser by Bob Smith
25. My Sister's Keeper by Jodie Picoult
26. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
27. The British Museum is Falling Down by David Lodge
28. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
29. Castleview by Gene Wolfe
30. Same Place, Same Things by Tim Gatreaux
31. The Chronicles of Chrestomanci: Vol I by Diana Wynne Jones
32. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
33. The Wide Window: Book the Third by Lemony Snicket
34. The Miserable Mill: Book the Fourth by Lemony Snicket
35. Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith
36. The Happy Prince and Other Stories by Oscar Wilde
37. Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith
38. Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss
39. The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith
40. A Still Small Voice: A Practical Guide on Reported Revelations by Fr. Benedict Groeschel
41. The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
42. Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology by Eric Brende
43. Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Sykes
44. We're Just Like You, Only Prettier by Celia Rivenbark
45. Our Lady of the Lost and Found by Diane Schoemperlin
46. Welding With Children by Tim Gatreaux
47. Straight Man by Richard Russo
48. Shadows on the Rock by Willa Cather
49. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Best books of 2004? REALLY hard to pick. This was a good reading year for me, and I read many things that I thoroughly enjoyed. I suppose if forced to pick, I'd say Kristin Lavransdatter, followed very closely by the foreign contingent: The Life of Pi, The Mystic Masseur, Interpreter of Maladies, and the greatest heartwringer, A Fine Balance.
Best Vacation Book(s): The whole series of No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. I can think of no better suggestion to put in a suitcase and take on vacation, or to read by the pool while the kids jump and scream. You'll not meet a better character than Precious Ramotswe. She's lots better than the stories surrounding her.
Funniest Book: Straight Man. I'm telling you again, if you haven't read Richard Russo, do yourself a favor and READ HIM!!!!!!! Humorous, but with a point? The Tim Gatreaux short story books.
Best nonfiction: I don't read a lot of nonfiction, so there aren't many contenders. I'd pick Rick Bragg's All Over But the Shoutin' without hesitation, though.
Book that Made Me Feel Like an Alien: The Nannie Diaries. Everyone else thinks it is hysterical, I think it's terrifically tragic and sad. Makes me feel like I didn't read the same book as everyone else.
Worst Book of the Year: Moo by Jane Smiley. I'm tired of reading books where Christians are all hypocrites and/or dumber than dirt. I was sorry she got the royalty from me buying the book.
So there you have it--a year of reading. I hope next year's reading is just as good.......
I have not read one of those books. I don't think I've considered reading any of them either except Kristin Lavransdatter. Not a big fiction person, but definitely have a bunch of books that I already own and ought to actually read in 2005.
I haven't read most of those books but I must agree about The Nanny Diaries. I quit halfway through because I was so depressed about that child and his family.
I remember reading The Scarlet Pimpernel in high school ... what a great, old fashioned adventure.
And I also discovered Alexander McCall Smith's series this year, although I thought the last one had way too few mysteries for Precious to solve (although I liked the resolutions to questions in her personal life).