A Look at 2010

2010 was a rather sad reading year. I couldn't seem to find a lot of books that I loved, so I kept getting bored with my reading. Then, there were just bad months. In December I might have read like 5 books! This post might be a bit long. I am going to talk about my reading in 2010, which really is posting about things I should have posted about before now.

The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye: Five Fairy Stories> by A.S. Byatt - I really want to love Byatt, but so far she is not working for me. This was my second time reading her and her writing style is just my cup of tea. I hate when I want to love an author and I don't!

Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere by Mike Carey & Glenn Fabry - Part of my problem with this year is I discovered some amazing graphic novels last year. This year I got bored of graphic novels because I kept finding duds. This was okay, but nothing amazing.

Dracula Adapted by Michael Mucci, Ben Caldwell, and BIll Halliar - Slacker me really needs to read the original. It is on the list for 2011. I think I will aim for Carl's R.I.P. challenge. Another okay book, but nothing amazing.

Black is for Beginnings by Laurie Faria Stolarz - This book was okay. I had another book out by her from the library at some point, but didn't get around to reading it.

Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor - It was my fifth book of the year before I found a book I can say I rather liked. Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti has always held a special place in my reading, so it was delightful to read a retelling. This book has an amazing cover, too!

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simners - I was sooo excited about this book and I didn't love it! It's just sad when that happens. I liked it, of course, but I think I went into it with high expectations and was disappointed...

A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quartet, Book 1) by Madeleine L'Engle - I actually reread a book! It was supposed to be for a read-along, but I failed at that. I am terrible at hosting things! I still love L'Engle...

Austenland by Shannon Hale - Not a normal read for me at all, but enjoyable for a nice piece of fluff... A good excuse for a buddy review, too!

Liar by Justine Larbalestier - While this book isn't necessarily on my best of list for the year, it is probably at this point before I can say that I really liked something. See? This is why my reading year was rather a sad affair...

The Baby-Sitters Club: A Graphic Novel - Kristy's Great Idea (Book 1) by Raina Telemeier - A trip down memory lane. I might read the rest of these just for that reason...

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead - This book was rather good. So far three books that are better than just 'okay', but still not on my best of list for the year...

Jack of Fables: Book Five - Turning Pages by Bill Willingham - Jack of Fables! Those of you that read my blog last year know that I only discovered this series last year and I am all caught up! This series is part of the reason why all my other graphic novels sucked this year. I discovered Fables last year and it is really hard to top it...

Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea by Guy Delisle - This was interesting, but nothing amazing...

Miki Falls: Book 3 - Autumn by Mark Crilley - I discovered this manga series last year and rather enjoy it. I am hoping my library will get book 4 soon so I can read it all! I didn't read very much manga this year at all, which is strange compared to last years great list of things like Emma!

Detroit Metal City Volume 1 by Kiminori Wakasuci - Okay, so I don't even really remember this book... Oops!

Redwall: The Graphic Novel by Brian Jacques - This was mainly to see what Redwall was all about. I have to read a book in this series at some point. The graphic novel was cute, though.

Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Death and Dementia Illustrated by Gris Grimly - All this did was remind me that I really need to read some Poe. I love Poe! He is perfect atmospheric reading for the fall...

The Photographer: Into War-torn Afghanistan with Doctors Without Borders by Emmanuel Guibert - This book was interesting and I am glad I read it, but again, nothing that blew my socks off. This was just not my year for graphic novels...

A Wind in the Door (Time Quartet, Book 2) by Madeleine L'Engle - Another trip down memory lane. The first book will always be my favourite.

Outlaw: The Legend of of Robin Hood by Tony Lee - This was interesting. I really want to see the BBC Robin Hood at some point.

a big little life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog by Dean Koontz - All this did was make me miss having a dog, I swear... The cc said the other day that maybe we should get a dog and I almost danced a jig of excitement... It will probably be a while, though. This was good, though. I recommend another famous dog memoir first, though.

The Unwritten - Volume 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity by Mike Carey and Peter Gross - *ahem* I forgot I started this series this year because I am waiting for a buddy review... I own the second book, but haven't read it yet because of said buddy review. I must go pester the other person!

Manhood for Amateurs by Michael Chabon - Yay! How long has this post been and I FINALLY found something other than Fables to say that I loved. I am not sure what I will think of Chabon's fiction, but I LOVE his non-fiction!!

Jack of Fables - Volume 6 - The Big Book of War by Bill Willingham - More Jack of Fables! Words cannot describe how much I love this series and Fables!

Fables - Volume 13 - The Great Fables Crossover by Bill Willingham - Speaking of Fables! This was one of my best reading runs of the year. Chabon, Jack of Fables, and then Fables. I was on reading cloud nine.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl - Then I attempted this book. It was okay, but I have not felt a big need to read the next book in the series...

Courtney Crumrim - Volume 1 - The Night Things by Ted Naifeh - I have always been curious about this series. It was rather good, but I still haven't read on in it...

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan - Her other book made my favourites from last year. I did enjoy this book, but not as much. Her third book will be out in 2011 and I am really looking forward to it!

Maps and Legends by Michael Chabon - Yay! More Chabon! I loved this book, too!

Silver Bourne (Mercedes Thompson Series, Book 5) by Patricia Briggs - A reading year would not be complete without some Patricia Briggs love. I continue to enjoy the Mercedes Thompson series and cannot wait until her new book is out in 2011!

Fragile Eternity (Wicked Lovely Series, Book 3) by Melissa Marr - Another series that I love. Not quite as good as books 1 and 2, but still worth reading. I need to read book 4 because book 5 will be out soon!

Bone - Volume 4: The Dragonslayer by Jeff Smith - This is another fantastically fun series that I discovered last year... 2009 was just too good, it made this year hard!

Broken (Women of the Otherworld Series, Book 6) by Kelley Armstrong - This was actually the first book by Armstrong that I ever bought. I didn't know at the time it was a series and it has taken me a while to actually read it! One good thing about 2010 is it marked me getting caught up in this series!


A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner (The Thief Series, Book 4) - Another series that I started last year... I love this series. I cannot wait until there is more!

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen - I read Allen for the first time last year because I wasn't entirely sure if she was the author for me... She was! I am looking forward to her next book in 2011.

The House With a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs - This was okay, but nothing amazing...

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper - I am glad I finally read this book! I don't love the series quite as much as others, but still worth reading.

I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly & JM Ken Niimura - This book was fun!

Crash Into Me by Albert Borris - I was really curious about this book. While I didn't love it as much as some of the other stuff read this year, it has stuck with me on the same level as Liar... I assume it is because of the subject matter.

Bone - Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border (Volume 5) by Jeff Smith - More Bone fun!

The Book of Flying by Keith Miller - This is the first fiction book (other than series or graphic novels) on this list that will make my best of list for the year. I LOVED this book!!!

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan - More John Green and David Levithan goodness. I liked other stuff by both of them better, but still worth a read!


Malice by Chris Wooding - I discovered Chris Wooding in 2009, too. He is an author worth checking out.

A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen - This is good for what it was.

The Ivory and the Horn by Charles de Lint - I love Charles de Lint!!!

The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson - The Adoration of Jenna Fox was WAY better... Also a 2009 read...

Someplace to be Flying by Charles de Lint - Did I mention I loved Charles de Lint???

A Murderous Procession: A Mistress of the Art of Death Novel (Book 5) by Ariana Franklin - Book 5 in one of my favourite historical fiction series... I went to pre-order book 6 and I don't see it listed. Did I miss it?? There has to be a book 6!

Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn - I wanted to love this book, and I really did enjoy it, but I expected an adult novel and it read more like young adult...

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay - This book was amazing! It is only not on my best of list because of the books read later in the year!

Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda - This was a book I never would have read on my own, but it got a bit of attention from bloggers and I found myself rather liking it.

Undercover by Beth Kephart - The ending destroyed this book for me...

Monique and the Mango Rains by Kris Holloway - This was rather good, but it didn't stick in my mind like I expected it to...

Hold Still by Nina LaCour - Same as above...

Cool Water by Dianne Warren - This book was really really good! It was probably my favourite Canadian read of 2010.

The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs Series, Book 7) - Another series that I love! Cannot wait until 2011 for the next book!

The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets by Roger Langridge - Yeah, I just read this book for fun...

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest - This book turned out to be rather good. I still don't know if I exactly love Priest, but I will read more from her...

The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan - I love the title of this book!

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It will be on my best of list for the year!

A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore - Yeah, I don't like her writing at all!

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - A visit with a favourite author. Not my favourite book by her, but still an amazing effort!

The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz - Cute, but nothing amazing.

Falling In by Frances O'Roark Dowell - Made little to no impression on me...

Nice Recovery by Susan Juby - Same as above...

Gone (Wake Trilogy, Book 3) by Lisa McMann - I wanted to see how this trilogy ended. It wasn't the best series ever, by any means, but I still enjoyed it and am glad I read it.

Luna by Julie Anne Peters - I really really like Julie Anne Peters!

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King - I am VERY picky about historical mystery books, but I found I really liked this first book and am looking forward to more in the series. I also would like to read some Sherlock Holmes in 2011.

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting - I thought I really liked this book, but in retrospect I can hardly even remember what it was about...

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson - Maureen Johnson writes fun books. I am looking forward to more from her.

Saffy's Angel by Hilary McKay - I can just say, same as above, actually.

Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Children's Book: Life Lessons from Notable People From all Walks of Life edited by Anita Silvey - This book was REALLY interesting! I like books about books...

Stitches: A memoir by David Small - I expected to like this more than I did. It was just an off year for graphic novels (memoirs)...

Anything Goes: A Biography of the Roaring Twenties by Lucy Moore - This book, though, I liked. The 20's have always interested me and I enjoyed learning more.

The Faceless Ones by Derek Landy (Skulduggery Series, Book 3) - Skulduggery Pleasant! I really don't need to say anymore...

I Heart You, You Haunt me by Lisa Schroeder - Okay, but nothing amazing.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake - This was really good!

Mercury by Hope Larson - I liked the Nova Scotia connection to this book.

The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran - The title seems really dull, but this was actually a pretty good read!

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton - I LOVED this book! Best of list for sure!

Catalyst: A Tale of the Barque Cats (Book 1) by Anne McCaffrey & Elizabeth Ann Scarborough - This was okay, but like I seem to keep saying, nothing amazing...

Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd - Same as above...

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder & the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective by Kate Summerscale - I really liked this book. Best of list for sure!

Bone - Old Man's Cave by Jeff Smith (Book 6) - More Bone goodness!

Red Spikes by Margo Lanagan - This book didn't really interest me...

Rough Magic by Caryl Cude Mullin - This book surprised me in being rather good!

The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli - I was thinking I didn't read a lot of historical fiction this year, but what I did read I loved apparently! Some books were better, but I still really liked this book.

Cocaine Blues: A Phryne Fisher Mystery by Kerry Greenwood (Book 1) - I can't help comparing this series to the Maisie Dobbs series written by Jacqueline Winspear. I like Winspear better, but I still want to read on in this series. It's just hard, though. Not a popular author in Canada, or maybe just not very well-known!

Bone - Ghost Circles by Jeff Smith (Book 7) - Even more Bone goodness!

Sima's Undergarments for Women by Ilana Stanger-Ross - Not my kind of read at all!

Kingkiller Chronicle Day One: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss - This was a bad year for fantasy. I didn't read much of it at all, but I LOVED this book! So happy the next book is out in 2011!

Jack of Fables Volume 7: The New Adventures of Jack and Jack by Bill Willingham - Yay!

The Boy in the Moon: A Father's Search for his Disabled Son by Ian Brown - This book was really interesting!

Yummy: Eight Favorite Fairy Tales by Lucy Cousins - Had really high hopes, but was disappointed...

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares - Meh... It had potential, but nothing amazing.

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain - See above...

Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende - Yay! Isabel Allende is one of my favourite authors ever. I really liked this book by her!

The Baby-sitter's Club: The Summer Before by Ann M. Martin - Read purely for a trip down memory lane...

Bone - Volume 8 - Treasure Hunters by Jeff Smith - Even more Bone!

The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley - Is it sad I don't remember what this book was about?

The Mistress of Nothing by Kate Pullinger - I really like Kate Pullinger. It has been a while since I got a chance to read her, but I am so happy that chance presented itself. Really, really good book! More Canadian love!

The Solitude of Prime Numbers by Paolo Giordano - It was okay...

I'm Sorry You Feel That Way: The Astonishing but true story of a daughter, sister, slut, wife, mother, and friend to man and dog by Diana Joseph - This was good. The title pretty much sums it up!

Day for Night by Frederick Reiken - This was good...

The Silver Door by Holly Lisle - This is a fun series. Not as good as book one, but I am looking forward to book three!!

Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation by Elissa Stein & Susan Kim - I learned a lot!

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer - I am a slave for punishment...

A Thousand Sisters: My Journey into the Worst Place on Earth to be a Woman by Lisa Shannon - This book was really good! Compared to previous years I didn't read a lot of non-fiction this year, but what I did read was mostly amazing!

Bone - Volume 9: Crown of Horns by Jeff Smith - This was the year of Bone...

Fallen by Lauren Kate - This was pretty good, but again, nothing amazing...

A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey - It surprised me how much I liked this book.

The German Woman by Paul Griner - Sounded so promising, but was so very bad...

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley - If not for Kearsley, this year would have been strongly lacking. I love her books! This is my favourite!

The Truth About Delilah Blue by Tish Cohen - An impulse read that I found rather good.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future: Twists and turns and lessons learned by Michael Fox - Read simply because I love Michael J. Fox!

Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay - This was really quite good. I need to read more from him because I have heard this is not his best!

Down the Coaltown Road by Sheldon Currie - Interesting, but not fantastic...

The Day I Became an Autodidact and the advice, adventure, and acrimonies that befell me thereafter by Kendall Hailey - I can't even remember why I read this, but I liked it.

Things I've Been Silent About: Memories of a Prodigal Daughter by Azar Nafisi - I can't remember this book... I am sure it was really interesting and I liked it, but I am drawing a blank at the moment! That's terrible!

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough - I sound like a broken record, but this was enjoyable, but not amazing...

Mariana by Susanna Kearsley - I loved this book! I actually handed it to the person at the second hand bookstore yesterday and told her she needs to read her!

The Gravesavers by Sheree Fitch - This book was good! More Canadian love!

How to be Mentsh (and not a shmuck): Secrets of the Good Life from the most unpopular people on earth by Michael Wex - Didn't interest me...

Waking the Witch (Women of the Otherworld Series, Book 11) by Kelley Armstrong - I love Armstrong!

Fables - Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love by Chris Roberson - I am so happy they wrote a book about Cinderella. I have always been rather interested in her and now we got to learn more!

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog - Wanted to love this book, but didn't.

The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley - This was the other book I told the bookstore employee to read!

Hooked on Canadian Books: The Good, the Better, and the Best Canadian Novels Since 1984 by T.F. Rigelhof - This was interesting. I made notes. I wonder why they went!

The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker - Totally not something I would normally read, but it was pretty good!

Every Secret Thing by Emma Cole - More Kearsley love. This time there was a Canadian setting for a bit, which always makes me love a book!

Simon's Cat by Simon Tofield - Just for fun!

The Ask and the Answer: Chaos Walking Book 2 by Patrick Ness - This series is baffling to me. I like it enough to want to know what happens, but at the same time insulting it...

Mockingjay: The Hunger Games Trilogy Book 3 by Suzanne Collins - I liked the first book in this series, but then it was just downhill from there for me...

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - This book was really good! Looking forward to some more Willis in the future!

Frostbitten (Women of the Otherworld series, Book 10) by Kelley Armstrong - I think it is pretty clear at this point that I love Kelley Armstrong and this series!

Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong - See above!

School Spirit by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel - Nothing amazing...

Skulddugery Pleasant - Book 4: Dark Days by Derek Landy - Yay!!! More Skulduggery!!!

Murder on the Ballart Train: A Phryne Fisher Mystery by Kerry Greenwood (Book 3) - I had to skip to book 3 because I couldn't get book 2 at any library province wide. So annoying!

Hexwood by Diana Wynne Jones - I always love Jones!

The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick - Discovered that I love Chadwick!

Going Bovine by Libba Bray - Fun book!

Room by Emma Donoghue - This book was better than I expected with the young narrator... I still like Slammerkin by her better, though!

Skulduggery Pleasant - Book 5: Mortal Coil by Derek Landy - More Skulduggery! I love him....

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier - I loved this book. Totally one of my favourite books of ALL time!

What Alice Knew: A Most Curious Tale of Henry James and Jack the Ripper by Paula Marantz Cohen - This was okay.

Paul is Undead: The British Zombie Invasion by Alan Goldsher - This was fun!

The Witches by Roald Dahl - I like Dahl and turned out to have read this book before, but I still don't love him as much as other authors from my childhood.

Dracula in Love by Karen Essex - Another book I really liked and didn't expect to. Really need to read Dracula...

Mr. Shakespeare's Bastard by Richard Wright - I always love him. Very different book from him, but still good!

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley - This was a fun mystery. Looking forward to book two!

Soulless (An Alexia Tarabotti Novel, Book 1) by Gail Carriger - I really really liked this book!

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier - Not as good as Rebecca, but still good!

The Matter with Morris by David Bergen - Bergen and me cannot seem to connect...

The Horse Boy by Rupert Isaacson - This book was really interesting!

The Fall - Book II of The Strain Trilogy by Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan - Still liking this series. Looking forward to book 3!

White Cat by Holly Black - This was pretty good. Holly Black is hit or miss with me. Glad she is back in the hit books!

Captivated: J.M. Barrie, the du Mauriers and the dark side of Neverland by Piers Dudgeon - I really liked this book!

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater - This was one of my favourite young adult reads of the year. Looking forward to book 2!

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson - Didn't do a lot for me...

I do not think I could love a human being by Johanna Skibsrud - This was good considering it was not something I would normally read at all!

Named of the Dragon by Susanna Kearsley - One of my favourites by her!

The Splendour Falls by Susanna Kearsley - Another really good book by her.

Player One: What is to Become of Us: A Novel in Five Hours by Douglas Coupland - Coupland has done better, but still good!

Industrial Magic (Women of the Otherworld Series, Book 4) by Kelley Armstrong - This book completed meant I was caught up in this series. Yay!!!

Rage by Julie Anne Peters - Peters is amazing! Thanks Amanda for introducing her to me!

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson - This was really good. I really feel like I have read this book before, but not sure. Regardless, it was well worth it!

Kindred by Octavia Butler - So happy I FINALLY read Butler! This was really good!

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer - This was my favourite young adult read of the year. I had an off young adult year, but this book really called to me!

Dressed in Moonlight (Tiffany Aching Series, Book 4) by Terry Pratchett - It's Terry Pratchett! Enough said...

Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters - Like I keep saying, Peters is amazing. Of the three books I read by her this year, Luna was probably my favourite.

Letter to my Daughter by Maya Angelou - This was good. Angelou really knows how to speak to her readers.

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig - Fun series. Looking forward to more!

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins - I LOVED this book! I have a crush on Collins writing now...

There... Does that make up for slack posting? The sad thing is that I am pretty sure I read other things that are not listed. I was a bit slack in that, too... Oh, well, this was not my best reading year ever, but there were still some good moments. I will do a best of list, too, but for now, hope you enjoyed a brief thought on everything I know I read!