Farewell to 2010

While 2010 hasn't shaped up to be as wonderful for the blog, it has been a great year for me personally. My reading and this blog have suffered during the last four months as my husband and I lived in my brother's basement, waiting out the construction of our new home. But, I now sit in my new office, in our new home, to type and reflect on this year. Totally worth it!

I'm going to save my "what I'll do for 2011"'s for tomorrow, so for today I'll share with you my "best of's" for 2010.

Top Five Reads from 2010:

Cutting for Stone: I have yet to meet anyone who hasn't loved this book. My book club read it, and I attended a book discussion with a group of female physicians who also loved it. It was interesting to be a part of their discussion - and they were interested in if "non-physicians" appreciated it. Among some of the interesting tidbits I learned from the physicians were characters who were named after notable clinicians related to the medical story. 

The Outcast and Fingersmith: Everything that I love about the dark and weird. These were both "new to me authors" that I'll be reading more of.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog: I loved the characters, and I love when I feel challenged by a book; the vocabulary of this one certainly did that. 

The Handmaid's Tale and A Prayer for Owen Meany: (ok, top 6!) These are author's I've read before, but who demonstrated why I return to them in very moving narratives. 

Top Five ARC's for 2010

While I definitely have more ARC's on my shelves than I can handle, I enjoyed some really good new releases this year. My top picks for what were for me ARC's:

Fireworks over Toccoa: This is one of my favorites of the year, as much for the experience as the story. I've really enjoyed my interactions with Jeffrey Stepakoff, and his wife. I look forward to reading more of both!

My Name is Memory and Captivity: Both encourage their readers to suspend disbelief, but in wonderfully entertaining ways.  

The Distant Hours: A classic gothic tale that had me mentally reviewing my notes from my literature class on the genre. 

The Wife's Tale: My first read of the year and still the main character stays with me. 

Top Five Audio Books for 2010:

People of the Book

Dress Your Family in Denim and Corduroy

The Graveyard Book

On Chisel Beach

The Hour I First Believed