2010 Goal Complete

Goal: Last year I wanted to read 52 GOOD books. For me, reading a good book is the same as Daniel and Travis playing the guitar. It's Jimmy going to the gym. It's my mom creating something on the potter's wheel. I just feel "right" and soothed when reading a good book.

I decided to list the full list of books I read last year, and I "**starred**" the ones that I LOVED. Most of these books I liked. Some I hated and read only 30 to 100 pages and then left behind (they aren't on the list).

The ones I loved, were books that I thought about during the day; books that made me want to do another 20 minutes on the stair master just so I could read more; books worthy of sleep deprivation that were usually finished within a few days.

Many of the recommendations came from you--and most of you got my genre right on. Please don't be offended if I didn't star your book. I liked it, but I just didn't LOVE it.

Here is my list:
Time Traveler’s Wife, Jodi Picoult, 1/4
Safron Kitchen, Yasmin Crowther, 1/7
The Lucky One, Nicholas Sparks, 1/12
Picture Perfect, Jodi Picoult 1/16
**19 Minutes, “ “ 1 /20
*The Guardian, Nicholas Sparks 1/24
Vanishing Acts, Jodi Picoult 2/2
The 10th Circle, “ “ 2/5
A Change of Heart, “ “ 2/10
The Shack, WM Paul Young, 2/12
The Gurnsey Literary Potato Peel Society, Mary Ann Shaffer, 2/19
Princess Academy, Shanon Hall, 2/24
**Sarah’s Key, Tatiana de Rosnay, 2/28
The Ladies Auxillary, Tove Mirvis, 3/2
The Wednesday Letters, Jason Wright 3/3
Worst Case, James Patterson, 3/3
**Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card, 3/11
The 5 People You meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom, 3/11
The Summons, John Grisham 3/19
The Brethren, “ “ 3/22
The Undaunted, Gerald Lund, 3/27
Train To Potevka, ?? 4/5
The Client, John Grisham, 4/19
**The Firm, “ “ 4/26
The Partner, “ “ 4/27
Second Glance, Jodi Picoult, 5/2
At 1st Sight, Nicholas Sparks, 5/4
*The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, Kim Edwards, 5/11
**Till The Boys Come Home, Jerry Borrowman, 5/14
Two From Galilee, Marjorie Holmes, 5/20
3 Cups of Tea, Greg Mortenson, 6/9
The Wedding, Nicholas Sparks, 6/15
Blue Smoke, Nora Roberts, 6/21
Pretend You Don’t See Her, Mary Higgins Clark, 6/26
Inner Harbor, Nora Roberts, 7/5
**The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom, 7/9
The Conspiracy Club, Jonathon Kellerman, 7/6
Summer Harbor, Susan Wilson, 7/13
The Innocent Man, John Grisham, 7/15
The Sight of the Stars, Belva Plain, 7/25
Fieldwork, Mischa Berlinski, 7/21
Bodies Left Behind, Jeffrey Deaver, 7/30
*Man’s Search For Meaning, Viktor Frankl, 7/26
Black Notice, Patricia Cornwell, 8/10
*Shadow Dance, Julie Garwood, 8/15
*The Sleeping Doll, Jeffrey Deaver, 8/20
*On the street where you live, Mary Higgins Clark, 8/25
Summer Light, Luanne Rice, 8/26
Echo Burning, Lee Child, 8/27
Enchantment, Orson Scott Card, 8/27
*The Two Minute Rule, Robert Crais, 8/31
*Coast Road, Barbara Delinsky, 9/13
The eleventh commandment, Jeffrey archer, 9/17
One Soldier’s Story, Bob Dole, 9/8
**Sunday at Tiffany’s, James Patterson 9/20
Lady Killer, Lisa Scottoline, 9/15
The Christmas Promise, Donna Van Liere, 9/21
*Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins, 10/20
Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen, 11/2
The Poisonwood Bible, 11/15
Cyanide Wells, 11/5
All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque, 11/29
**Charloette Gray, Sebastian Faulks, 12/10
Handle With Care, Jodi Picoult, 12/15
The Book Thief, Markus Zusak, 12/30

You'll notice that I read a lot of Grisham books. I've never read any of his books and they probably all deserve stars. I love this author. I love Jodi Picoult too. Thank you whoever recommended her. She writes about difficult and controversial-ish topics like a high school shooting, date rape, suing for malpractice, etc and makes you think about both sides. I love a good mystery/thriller which is why I read James Patterson, Jeffrey Deaver, and Mary Higgins Clark. And of course, I love world war 2 historical fiction. Oh, and a good love triangle always gets me hooked so thank you Nicolas Sparks.

Did anyone read "The Shack"? I'm VERY interested what you thought about it! Or how about book 3 from the Hunger Games series (one of the best series I've ever read) Mockingjay? What were your thoughts? I was sorely dissatisfied with the laziness of the author after reading her first 2 detail-licious books.

Anyway, I don't actually know how many books I read last year. It looks like more than 52. I just kept checking out books from the library that you all recommended, and so here again, is my plea.

What were your favorite books of 2010, or ever, for that matter? I need some suggestions for 2011.