Beastmomma

I am very slow with completing books as I adjusted to married life in the New England area. I thought it would be fun to track my reading progress each week. The Sunday Salon is  an online reading group where all the participants set aside time to read every Sunday and blog about the experience. To learn more or to join, click on the picture above.

Happy New Year Everyone! Instead of discussing the reading I did today (which is all about contracts and pretty dull to most people), I wanted to do a small reflection on my reading for the past year.  In 2009, I read 16 books.  While the number is small compared to many, I am impressed with myself.  2009 was a tremendous year for me-- I finished law school (provided that I get at least a C in my final course), got married, drove across country to move into my new home, honeymooned (!), purchased a house, completed two internships, and studies for and passed an ethics exam! In between all of that hustle and bustle, I am impressed that I averaged over one book a month.  2010 will start off with limited time for reading as I prepare to take the bar exam at the end of February.  However, books continue to provide a refuge and source of relaxation for me.  I look forward to being comforted, inspired, and de-stressed through the words of writers in 2010.

To borrow a meme that I saw on Care's site, here is a more specified breakdown of what I read:

How many fiction and non fiction?

 Only one non-fiction!

Male/Female author ratio?

I had the perfect balance with 1:1 (eight books by a male author and eight by a female)

Favorite book of 2009?

I had three books that I really adored this year and gave as gifts: People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon, and Bel Canto by Ann Patchett.

Least favourite?

I was super irritated and frustrated with myself for selecting Blindsight by Robin Cook and agreeing to review They Plotted Revenge Against America by Abe F. March.   Both books did not draw me in and made me feel regret for the time I could have spent doing something else.

Any that you simply couldn’t finish and why?

Nope. I am still working on finishing the Blind Assassin and Their Eyes Were Watching God.  Both are excellent, but I just ran out of time.

Oldest book read?

Ali and Nino by Kurban Said.  It was first published in 1937.  I had a hard time following the book.

Newest?

I think it is That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo. 

Longest and shortest book titles?

Winner for longest title:   Curious Incident of Dog in the Night Time.  Shortest Title: Blindsight

Longest and shortest books?

I am not sure because I started recording page numbers in the middle of the year.  For longest, I believe it is: People of the Book (pages 372) by Geraldine Brooks.  For shortest, I believe it is: Curious Incident of Dog in the Night-Time (pages 226) by Mark Haddon.

How many books from the library?

Six. Most of the other books I read I either already owned, got as a gifts, or won.

Any translated books?

I think just one Eva Luna by Isabel Allende.

Most read author of the year, and how many books by that author?

Not applicable. I did not read more than one book by any author.

Any re-reads?

nope. .

Favourite character of the year?

The narrator of Curious Incident of Dog in the Night-Time.  I also loved the narrator in the Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.  My favorite characters were almost all of the ones in the People of the Book.

Which countries did you go to through the page in your year of reading?

A few-- Canada, Dominican Republic,  England, Australia, India.  In the United States, I spent a lot of time around the New England area and the North West.

Which book wouldn’t you have read without someone’s specific recommendation?

I think almost all of the books that I read for book club since I moved here: That Old Cape Magic, Once Upon a Day, Bel Canto,and People of the Book.

Which author was new to you in 2009 that you now want to read the entire works of?

I am not sure.  I really enjoyed Ann Patchett's Bel Canto.  I think I would like to read more of Geraldine Brook's writing.

Which books are you annoyed you didn’t read?

I wish that I had finished reading Blind Assassin.  Oh well, it will appear on my 2010 list I am sure!

Did you read any books you have always been meaning to read?

Again, I started reading Their Eyes Were Watching God but did not finish. It should appear on my 2010 list!