Books in 2010
Last winter, I decided to read 100 books in 2010 and I dragged a few friends into it (most notably, Nicole). I didn’t reach my goal but I read 61 books in 2010. Not too shabby considering I wrote A TON this year, stayed current with RuPaul’s Drag Race and maintained a massive costume jewelry collection. AND at least 10 of the 61 books were over 600 pages. That SHOULD count for double, right? …Right?
Sharing my FAILURE with all of you is very painful. If I were Sally Field’s character in Soapdish (my new obsession), I’d be headed to the mall in NJ for an ego boost right now. Except no one would recognize me as an actress and I’d still be short 40 books.
Despite not making it to 100, I am glad I challenged myself this year. I read more than I did last year and it was an enjoyable pursuit (duh). I will be rebooting “100 Books” for 2011 - email me if you’d like to be a participant and I’ll start a Google Group for recommendations. Meanwhile, Nicole can pick out what she wants from Pizza Hut, Book-It style, because I’m whisking her away to the ‘burbs to eat cheese and dough and talk about literature.
Here are my favorite books from 2010:
Fiction:
When You Reach Me - Rebecca Stead
A Visit from the Goon Squad - Jennifer Egan
Freedom - Jonathan Franzen
A Meaningful Life - LJ Davis (This book disturbed me when I first read it and would not have originally been a contender for my “favorites” list — but if a book continues to haunt you for months, it gets a spot on the list.)
Super Sad True Love Story - Gary Shtegyngart
People Like Us - Dominick Dunne
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
The God of Small Things - Arundhati Roy
Non-Fiction:
Just Kids - Patti Smith
When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present - Gail Collins
Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography - David Michaelis
Where Did I Go Right?: You’re No One In Hollywood Unless Someone Wants You Dead - Bernie Brillstein
The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt
Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets - David Simon
Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live - Doug Hill
Act One: An Autobiography - Moss Hart
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot
The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll: The Search for Dare Wright - Jean Nathan
You can check out the complete list (and my ratings) on Goodreads.
