Best Books Read in 2008 and Total Books Read

Dec 23, 2008 at 11:22 AM
26 comments

I've got a bit of spare time at work today so I thought I'd share with you the books I enjoyed most this year.

1. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

I found the prose in this book achingly beautiful and was captured by it's passionate depiction of an unrequited love. It follows Florentino Ariza courtship of Fermina Daza and her rejection of him and marriage to another man, and their following long lives apart. He never gets over his love for Fermina, obsessing about her throughout his life and trying to escape the pain with a multitude of liasions with other women. Love in the Time of Cholera is a fantastical romance containing thoughts on love, rejection, life and old age. I read this book in anticipation of the film but enjoyed it so much I haven't been able to bring myself to watch an adaptation of it which I'm sure will disappoint me no matter how good it is.

The Host

2. The Host by Stephenie Meyer

While Meyer is definately not in the same league as Gabriel Garcia Marquez, this was one of the most addictive impossible to put down books I read this year. Her writing may be simplistic and plot driven and her depiction of females in both this book and her Twilight series has copped a lot of flak but as far as trashy, compulsive, holiday reading goes this is up there with the best. Meyer blends sci fi and romance in this tale of an Alien worm posessing a human and becoming entangled in a love triangle with her boyfriend. Essentially an interspecies love triangle but involving only two bodies.

Rebecca (Virago modern classics)

3. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Having seen the Hitchcock movie first and fallen in love with it I was determined to get around to reading this classic in 2008. Despite already knowing the books twist I fell in love with it. It's overtones of anxiety and horror appealed to my gothic loving tastes immensely. My copy had a very interesting forward on the book from a feminist perspective too which was so fascinating.

Peony in Love: A Novel

4. Peony in Love by Lisa See

It's difficult to describe why this was one of my favourites without giving away it's twist, so I'll just say I enjoyed this trip through traditional China from the point of view of a young girl and it's interesting but entertaining look at traditional Chinese funeral rites and spiritual beliefs.

To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Perennial Modern Classics)

5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Being the book lover that I am I was beginning to feel a bit guilty to have never cracked open the covers of this classic, or even seen the movie. This year I got around to it, more to see what all the fuss is about than out of actual interest in it. It's so effective in creating a child's point of view and so gripping and thought provoking that it's one of my new all time favourite books.

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure

6. Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah McDonald

Of the three travel memoirs I've read this year (also A Season in Red by Kirsty Needham and 90 Day Geisha by Chelsea Haywood) this was my favourite. It details Australian journalist Sarah McDonald's few years living in India with her foreign correspondent boyfriend. It's funny, pretty fast paced touching and informative. Sarah's spiritual journey as she researched all the different spiritual paths in India was incredibly interesting. I really recommend it to anyone who is into travel writing.

Other Books Read in 2008:

7. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan.

8. Animal Farm by George Orwell.

9. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.

10. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks.

11. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen.

12. Half of a Yellow Sun Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

13. Amsterdam by Ian McEwan.

14. A Letter to D by Andre Gorz.

15. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

16. Emma by Jane Austen.

17. The Boat by Nam Le.

18. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer.

19. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Kahled Hosseni.

20. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.

21. The 90-Day Geisha by Chelsea Haywood.

22. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray.

23. Rebel Angels by Libba Bray.

24. The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray.

25. Brick Lane by Monica Ali.

26. Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran.

27. A Season in Red by Kirsty Needham.

28. Enduring Love by Ian McEwan.

I was hoping to get more books read this year but unfortunately uni is getting harder and harder! All in all I think it was a pretty good effort!

How many books did you read this year?

What were your favourites?

Anyone disagree with my choices?

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I love these year-end posts and seeing what everyone's favorite books are. It definitely makes me want to read some of them. I'm going to post something similar next week, but I'm still hoping to finish a book or two before then. :)

I really want to read Peony in Love but I always forget about it when I'm picking out a book. I'm so curious to see what this twist is that everyone talks about.

Dominique replied to Michelle’s comment:
Dec 24, 2008
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It's definately fun making the end of year posts too! I would have waited another week but knowing me had I done that I might not have gotten around to it - I'm so lazy with my vox a lot of the time!

You should definately give Peony in Love a try next time :)

[this is good]

To Kill a Mockingbird should be on every top 5 list!

Dominique replied to Nacwolin’s comment:
Jan 6, 2009
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I know! I was thinking as I was writing "hmmm this isn't really an original sort of favourite is it?" But it's so good that it simply can't be overlooked!

[this is good]

[isto é bom]

What an awesome list! You should be quite proud. I am reading all the Booker Prize winners myself (I see you have a number of those on your list). And I tend to read some 'softer' stuff in between. How inspirational to look at the year in letters. I will try to keep better track this year, maybe I will find I read 28 books too. Happy New Year!

I read 122 books this year. Some of my favorites were The Gargoyle, The Monsters of Templeton, and Speaker for the Dead. I enjoyed looking over your book list. It's a good mix of things I've read and things I haven't - some good choices, definitely.

[this is good]

Yay for making the vox "this is good" page. A big feat for someone who posts so seldom. :)

wow u've been read the host by Stephenie Meyer, i really want to read it but haven't got the book yet.. maybe i'll try to find ebook version first.. :(

Great books you´ve read in 2008! It´s great to see another person falling for Rebecca and To kill a mockingbird, they´re really are modern classics for a reason :) I think I´ll make a books read in 2008 post, too.

I have been wanting to read Holy Cow ever since the cover caught my attention in the book store. Good to know it is actually worth a read!
I personally had a hard time with Love in the Time of Cholera. Perhaps it was my super-high expectations from the mad props people give it, but despite Marquez's undeniable writing skill, I found it to be too much to wade through to actually enjoy. It was more like a dress you only wear on special occasions--fancy, but ultimately uncomfortable in its pretension.
What did you think of People of the Book? I really enjoyed Geraldine Brooks' March, so I will probably need to check it out.
Great post!

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my absolute favourites and the film is really good too

Yeah I seem to enjoy most Booker Prize winners, so if I'm thinking about reading something and then find it's won the Booker Prize that's a big selling point with me! It's a good idea to try to work your way through them, maybe I'll try it! Happy New Year to you too!

Dominique replied to Michelle’s comment:
Jan 8, 2009
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I know, I really have to start posting more often. But apart from books and holidays I can never seem to think of things in my life that are interesting enough to make a post, unless it's something dramatic in which case I usually don't want to relive it by writing about it! I guess I just have to get into the habit of posting more, even if it's mainly about reading.

I had a bit of a hard time at first, but I adjusted to the style of Love in the Time of Cholera after awhile. I have heard a lot of people say they found it a bit tedious getting through as well though so I understand what you mean :)
I enjoyed People of the Book, but it wasn't that great. I haven't read any other of Brooks' books so I can't really compare it to them for you, but basically it switches between the present and a series of different times in the past. The concept is interesting, the bits taking place in the past are interesting, but I found the passages taking place in the present weren't as well written. But it was enjoyable for what it was! I'll have to give March a go.

I've been meaning to see the film, it's on my to get list next time I go to the video store :)

I know they're so good! I already want to reread them both! I've got a bunch of other Daphne du Maurier books to read now too so I'm hoping I'll like them just as much :)

Thanks I'm glad you liked it! I haven't heard of your favourites before, but I looked them up and they sound interesting, especially The Gargoyle. I noticed The First Hour I Believed in your post, I've been thinking of reading that one. Is it good?

Yes, it is. If you've read Wally Lamb before, you know he writes very long and involved books, and this is no exception.

Wow.

I guess I have a lot of reading to do!

Thanks for this list, I find it is always a great help to see the books that other recommend.

Take care,

BB x

I went to the book signing and met Lisa See, the author of :Peony in Love:

I actually liked her other novel, "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" better, but she is a superb writer anyway.

I went to a reading/talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dave Eggers, which led me to read both Half of a Yellow Sun and What is the What. Not only was Adichie really gracious and lovely (it always makes me happy when authors are nice) I loved Half of a Yellow Sun. If you liked it and are interested in novels set in Africa, you should read What is the What; it's completely amazing. (Apologies if you've already read it and it's on your blog somewhere -- this is my first visit.) What is the What explores not only the horrors faced by boy soldiers in Africa, but the difficulties facing the "lucky" few who end up in America as refugees.

Thanks for your list; it has given me some good ideas for 2009!

I would have loved to go to that, I'm always jealous to hear of the major book signings people get to go to. They never come to my area :(
I've read both Peony in Love and Snow Flower and The Secret Fan. I really loved both, but I'm not sure which I prefer because while they both deal with women and Chinese traditions etc they're both so different!

Dominique replied to nofrigate’s comment:
Jan 11, 2009
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Dave Eggers is one of those authors I've always meant to get around to reading but haven't gotten there yet. Thanks for your recommendation of What is the What, I'll try to pick up a copy!

[this is good]

Kahled Hosseni was a real find for me this year. I like Ian McEwan as well but I haven't got around to read Atonement:-(

Thanks for the recommendations Dominique. I'm always looking to expand my reading list.

Best Books Read in 2008 and Total Books Read

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