One Half of the Year Gone… Whats your Favorite read in ’09 to date?

Best read 2009

My question today is, 6 months in…. what is the best book you have read so far this year?  It doesn’t have to be a new release.  It can be new or old.  If you are a book blogger and have reviewed this book,  please leave a link so we can see your review.  I am looking for name of book, author, and maybe a line or two about the book.

Lets make this fun – I will take responses on this from now until August 16.  Then I will do a random drawing from the comments for a $15 Gift Card to Amazon.

*Book Bloggers:  You can earn a bonus chance to win by linking the book review (Jan – July 09) to this post and add the meme that I have put on this post to your post.  Leave me a comment here with the link.

I have two that I can not choose between….

Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross

Dragon House by John Shors

The giveaway portion of this post is now closed – the winner was Karoline!

*Winners are chosen by using random.org


About Sheila (Book Journey)

Bookaholic * Audio Book Fan *Bike Rider *Rollerblader *Adventure Seeker *Want To Be Runner*Coffee lover *Fitness Fan * Movie junkie

Posted on August 4, 2009, in Book Giveaways and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink. 74 Comments.

  1. I honestly can not choose just 1.. I have 3, I just recently finished them and I love them. The first one would have to be the book that I just finished called Italian for Beginners by Kristine Harmel. Here is the link:

    http://trishasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/08/title-italian-for-beginners-author.html

    This book was just SO romantic. I got done with it and i sighed, literally, out loud! I was sad to see it end.

  2. My second is Dark Hunger by Rita Herron. This book was just mind blowing. It was a romance and a paranormal suspense all in one book. It was just awesome! Here is my review with a link back to this post:

    http://trishasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/08/review-dark-hunger.html

  3. And my 3rd is The Time Traveler’s Wife. I am really excited about the movie. And this book was written so well. The way it skipped from Henry to Clare and the time kept changing. I loved it.. And it is not my normal read. :)

    http://trishasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/07/review-time-travelers-wife.html

  4. Hi, just arrived from Book Blogs.

    My favourite read so far must be THE OBSERVATIONS By Jane Harris. A debut novel, it’s original, warm, funny, well observed and full of ‘real’ characters.

    However, I must also mention TWISTED MINDS By Hilary Norman as the most chilling, so full of evil intent and malice – quite stomach churning.

  5. Well i have two favorite reads this year

    1. Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer
    2. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khalid Housseni

    I will put the book review by the weekend!

  6. Wow, this is a really hard one. Here are the four that stick out as the top, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, The Shack by William Young and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I would almost have to flip a coin but I guess The Shack would win. It moved me the most, made me want to read it again, and I have loaned it to so many people I am going to have to go buy another copy for myself! Of course, the other 3 are also off on trips of their own.

    • I loved Water for Elephants too. Have not read Thirteenth Tale yet but have it. I have read and reviewed The Shack but have not read Shadow of The Wind.

  7. I think my favorite book this year was probably Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner, or any of the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris. I have read a lot of good books, though, so I’m sure I’m forgetting something I really loved…

    http://chickloveslit.blogspot.com/2009/07/best-friends-forever-jennifer-weiner.html

  8. The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford, has really stayed with me the past few months. I find myself thinking about it when I read other books. It was very well done.

    Hard to choose, there are a few more good ones.

    JHolden955 (at) gmail (dot) com

    Thanks.

  9. That’s a tough question. Hmm…I have two and they are two authors new to me: Twilight of Avalon by Anna Elliott and A Poisoned Season by Tasha Alexander.

    Thanks for the contest and thanks for stopping by my blog. Your blog looks great! Keep up the good work.

  10. Wow, Sheila! That’s difficult…It’s kind of a toss-up between one I read a couple of months ago and the one I just finished. I love Joyce Maynard’s “Labor Day,” and just did a review of it on Amazon…later I’ll review it on one of my blogs.

    But if I had to choose…I guess that it would be Elizabeth Berg’s “Home Safe,” about a woman whose husband unexpectedly dies, leaving her bereft…but the worst of it is, she is a writer with sudden writer’s block and somedays, she can barely get out of bed!

    Here’s the link: http://laurelrainsnow.wordpress.com

  11. Oh such a hard decision…

    Mine would be Mr Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange. It is a classic vampire tale with a twist of immortal romance, and was just beautiful.

  12. I’ve read a lot of good books this year so far . . .and there are a lot of favorites from different genres. If I had to narrow it down to two overall favorites, I think I would pick

    The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee
    http://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2009/04/piano-teacher-by-janice-yk-lee.html

    The Help by Kathryn Stockett
    http://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2009/06/help-by-kathryn-stockett.html

    Thanks!

  13. My favorite book so far this year is Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow by Nancy Guthrie. (It just so happens I have a giveaway going for this book, too. ;) )

  14. Hmm, that’s tough. I think I’ll go with Christian romance novel, Critical Care by Candace Calvert.

    For runner up, I’d go with a touching and humorous “chica lit” novel, Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz by Belinda Acosta

  15. I am so indecisive (and I’ve read some really good books this year). I narrowed it down to four:

    The Help by Kathryn Stockett
    The Giver by Lois Lowry
    Stone’s Fall by Iain Pears
    The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

    I liked these all for different reasons, but they are my top reads of the year so far.

  16. hmmm….This is hard. I can narrow it down to three. For some reason all three can be described as “post-apocalyptic” .

    The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I know some were bothered by the harshness of the book, but I found the harshness only made the wonderfully loving relationship between the father and son stand out even more. That and the lyrical style is simple and elegant.

    Pandemonium by Daryl Gregory. I reviewd the book for my blog though I did not post it unitl 8/2. I first read the book in Feb. and fell in love with it. I will post my review after this pharagraph. I loved it because of the interesting relationship between a human being and the “demon” possessing him. http://wordsmithonia.blogspot.com/2009/08/pandemonium-by-daryl-gregory.html

    The third book was The Suicide Collectors by David Oppegaard. It is the story of a man named Norman who is one of the few survivors of The Despair. A unexplained phenomenon that causes the vast majority of the planet to take their own lives. It to me was a love story more than anything else. The love of a man for his wife and the love of a man for his life and the life of others. The author is from MN as well and I love when someone from my home state writes something that is so compelling.

  17. As of today there are 4 books that I have rated a 5/5 for 2009. They are:

    Nefertiti by Michelle Moran: Lush, beautiful and entrancing novel about Queen Nefertiti told from her sister’s POV
    http://girlsjustreading.blogspot.com/2009/01/julies-review-nefertiti.html

    Perfect on Paper by Maria Murnane: Funny, chick lit about figuring out who you are and what you want. Very reminicient of Bridget Jones
    http://girlsjustreading.blogspot.com/2009/01/julies-review-perfect-on-paper.html

    Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford: I honestly loved this book. I cried the last 1/4 of the book. Wonderful history lesson and romance.
    http://girlsjustreading.blogspot.com/2009/05/julies-review-hotel-on-corner-of-bitter.html

    The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly: A lush, romantic historical fiction work by a very talented author. It’s the first of a trilogy.
    http://girlsjustreading.blogspot.com/2009/03/julies-review-tea-rose.html

  18. Honestly, through July, there really isn’t anything that great that I would call my favorite. =/

    My definite best read as of today has been but I finished it August 2nd, lol!

  19. It’s got to be The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It started off slowly, but once I got into it I absolutely could NOT put it down. I read all but the first twenty pages in one day.

  20. I’m thinking… Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Mmm so good. :-D

  21. My favorite is a tie between Moloka’i and Honolulu from Alan Brennert. I read Moloka’i with my book club and learned that he was releasing Honolulu.

    Both books brought to life to very different sides of Hawaiian history. Very beautifully told with rich, dynamic characters.

  22. My fave book so far would be The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan.

    My review is here: http://okbolover.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/review-of-the-strain/

    it wasn’t hard to choose tho ;)

  23. My favorite book so far this year was Norse Code. I know it’s not the first book to feature the Norse gods, but I thought it was so original and different that I couldn’t stop raving about it! Here’s my original review:
    http://alexia561.blogspot.com/2009/06/norse-code-by-greg-van-eekhout.html

  24. Earlier this year I read Wuthering Heights for the first time and was completely enthrawled by it. I could feel Catherine’s anguish and deep love for Heathcliff. I can’t believe I waited this long to read it. I loved it.

    Lea

  25. Hm Sheila, great question….I’d have to say Legacy by Cayla Kluver =) It just intrigued me and kept my attention, lately I’ve been a little bored with the material I’m reading….so hopefully another winner comes my way soon! ;P

  26. When I checked my list of what I have read this year I have to say that ” The Sabbathday River ” by Jean Hanff Korekitz has to be the best book I’ve read. You can read a review on Amy’s blog http://considerationofbooks.blogspot.com/

  27. Hmmm-Cleopatra by M. George, Nefereti -M. Moran and the Guersey Literary and Potato Peel Society. Oh and how can I forget Shanghai Girls-I really enjoy Lisa See’s later works.

    I know this is four and your asked for two.

    Everything Moran writes is fantastic.

    This is a great post for getting new ideas.

    Thanks Sheila

  28. Hi, I saw this question on Book Blogs. Really made me think. I’m going to try to pick a book that came out this year, because otherwise I’ll fall back on my perennial favorite “Gone with the Wind”, which is not really fair to the newer books. :)

    I’d have to say it’s John C. Maxwell’s “Put Your Dream to the Test”, which I found very inspiring. I’d recommend it for a writer (or anyone, really) who needs a bit of motivation. Here’s the link to my review:

    http://marianperera.blogspot.com/2009/04/put-your-dream-to-test.html

    Thanks!

  29. I would have to say the best book I’ve read this year is What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman.

    mittens0831 AT aol Dot com

  30. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
    By: Katherine Howe

    and

    Bloodfever
    By: Karen Marie Moning

  31. My favorite reads so far this year are the two books by Tana French — In the Woods and The Likeness. Both are superb thrillers.

    For nonfiction, I loved An Apple A Day by Joe Schwarcz, which explores issues about the food we eat. Very engaging.

  32. I agree with my mom wholeheartedly ” The Sabbathday River” was by far the best book I read this year. Even though the book is ten years old it’s a fresh and impulsive read that doesn’t let you go. I highly recommend it.

  33. Virginie Barbeau

    This is a hard one. I’ve read so many great books this year already. I really enjoyed Girl With a Pearl Earring. The Sidewalk Artist was so good that I wanted to read it again as soon as I finished it! My current read is also great – The Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzioni-Halevy (also my current giveaway). So many books, so little time!

  34. This is a tough question as I have read some great books sor far in 2009, some classics some by new to me authors.

    If I must choose one it would be “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak with “The Elegance of the Hedgehog” by Muriel Barberry
    a close second.

  35. http://www.bookworminginthe21stcentury.com/2009/07/catching-fire-review.html

    Here’s my review + the meme. The review is really brief, because the book isn’t out yet and I didn’t want anyone killing me by revealing much of anything. You should check out the first book – The Hunger Games.

  36. My favorite book so far this year is Moloka’i by Alan Brennert. Heartbreaking, triumphant and a spectacular display of the strength of the human spirit. It was one of my favorite finds of the year.

  37. Thanks for this unique giveaway. The best book that i read this year has to be Sea of Lost Love by Santa Montefiore. Emotional and beautifully written novel.

  38. I wrote about this in my half-yearly post too. My 2 favorite reads from this year are
    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee- http://linktoink.blogspot.com/2009/03/to-kill-mockingbird-harper-lee.html
    The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini- http://linktoink.blogspot.com/2009/02/for-you-thousand-times-over.html

  39. Judith Marshall

    Mine is Revolutionary Road by Richard Ford. After seeing the movie, I was compelled to read the book. Although written in 1961, the book stands up well today. As a writer, I was impressed by his prose, not a clumsy word. I plan to read more of his work.

  40. I’ve read through all the comments and added several books to my wishlist. I always like seeing what other people have loved in their reading.

    I think my favorite read so far is The Story of Forgetting by Stephan Merrill Block. My review was posted Aug 2, but I finished it in July. It was written by a 24-yr-old and it shows so much insight and depth. The writing is beautiful and the characters so complete that I won’t stop thinking about them for a long, long time. I especially liked the old hunchback, Abel.

    A few other strong contenders are
    Language of the Bees by Laurie R. King
    Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear
    Skeletons at the Feast”> by Chris Bohjalian
    Still Life by Louise Penny

  41. I just started my book blog, but the single review I did write, is probably the best book I’ve read this year – Notes on a Scandal.

    Here’s the review: http://cunninghamfan.blogspot.com/2009/08/review-zoe-heller-notes-on-scandal.html

  42. So hard to pick! It’s a three-way tie between Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre, Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready, and The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. It’s really fun to read other people’s entries!

  43. justicejenniferreads

    Didn’t do too much reading this year – school was so busy! Luckily, blogging has gotten me back into the habit of making time for reading. My favorite read so far has been Atwood’s The Robber Bride. It was absolutely delicious in every way. Her writing is so decadent – like a wonderful piece of chocolate cake. The descriptions are rich and fulfilling. They pull you into the book in new and exciting ways so that you become the characters – feeling their accomplishments and disappointments.

    Link to my review: http://justicejenniferreads.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/review-the-robber-bride/

    I’ve never won anything so winning this would be so exciting!

  44. My favorite book so far this year would be Take One by Karen Kingsbury. She is an amazingly talented contemporary Christian Fiction writer. Check her out! She has written many books!

  45. Ooops! I forgot to include my email in my post!!

    My favorite book so far this year would be Take One by Karen Kingsbury. She is an amazingly talented contemporary Christian Fiction writer. Check her out! She has written many books!

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

  46. Three books have rated a 5/5 so far this year.

    Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
    Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
    Giants in the Earth by O.E. Rolvaag

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