Bookish

Since I learned to read, I have been someone who is never so happy as she is when she has a new book to read. And since I am a fast reader, I tend to go through books quickly. In 2008, I decided to keep track of all the books I read in a little journal. I expected that I would read about 100 books. In reality, I read 69.

Without further ado, here they are, in order:

1. Dakota Born by Debbie Macomber
2. Playing for Pizza by John Grisham
3. Dakota Home by Debbie Macomber
4. Always Dakota by Debbie Macomber
5. The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz
6. The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank
7. Bygones by LaVyrle Spencer
8. Miracle by Danielle Steele
9. Snowfall at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
10. Twelve Times Blessed by Jacqueline Mitchard
11. Table for Five by Susan Wiggs
12. 7th Heaven by James Patterson
13. Home Song by LaVyrle Spencer
14. Orange County Choppers: The Tale of the Teutals by Paul Teutal, Sr., Paul M. Teutal, and Mikey Teutal
15. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
16. Accident by Danielle Steele
17. No Place Like Home by Barbara Samuel
18. Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult
19. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
20. A Piece of Heaven by Barbara Samuel
21. Lost & Found by Jacqueline Sheehan
22. The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini
23. Round Robin by Jennifer Chiaverini
24. The Cross-Country Quilters by Jennier Chiaverini
25. Suddenly by Barbara Delinsky
26. The Fat Smash Diet by Dr. Ian
27. Mirror Image by Sandra Brown
28. Texas! Lucky by Sandra Brown
29. Texas! Chase by Sandra Brown
30. Texas! Sage by Sandra Brown
31. The Appeal by John Grisham
32. Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson
33. Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner
34. Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber
35. Sail by James Patterson
36. You've Been Warned by James Patterson
37. That Summer Place by Debbie Macomber, Jill Barnett, and Susan Wiggs
38. Mending Fences by Sherryl Woods
39. When Light Breaks by Patti Callahan Henry
40. The Birthdays by Heidi Pitlor
41. The Beach House by Jane Green
42. The Memory of Water by Karen White
43. The Summer I Dared by Barbara Delinsky
44. Coast Road by Barbara Delinsky
45. Moon Shell Beach by Nancy Thayer
46. Summer by the Sea by Susan Wiggs
47. Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky
48. The You I Never Knew by Susan Wiggs
49. Enchanted Afternoon by Susan Wiggs
50. Last Kiss by Luanne Rice
51. Full of Grace by Dorothea Benton Frank
52. The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
53. Just Breathe by Susan Wiggs
54. Sweet Life by Mia King
55. Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger
56. The Art of Keeping Secrets by Patti Callahan Henry
57. Christmas at Sea Pines Cottage by Sally Smith O'Rourke
58. A Cedar Cove Christmas by Debbie Macomber
59. A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr
60. The Secret Between Us by Barbara Delinsky
61. My Sisters by Ann Roth
62. 8 Sandpiper Way by Debbie Macomber
63. The Letters by Luanne Rice and Joseph Monninger
64. The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
65. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron and Brett Witter
66. Welcome to Serenity by Sherryl Woods
67. Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell
68. Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber
69. Unraveled by Robyn Harding

Whew! The interesting thing is that it is now January 10, and I have not yet read an entire book this year! For some reason, I have been pretty distractable, and I haven't had the attention span to sit down and read. I am hoping this feeling goes away soon because reading is one of my favorite things!

Looking at my list, there are some authors that obviously stand out. I read every book that comes out by some favorite authors. Long-time favorites include Susan Wiggs, Debbie Macomber, Kristin Hannah, and Luanne Rice. I used to read a lot of "chick lit," but the only author that has survived the cut now that I have moved on to "women's fiction" (I am getting so old!) is Jennifer Weiner, and I read everything that she writes. I also am a huge Jodi Picoult fan and buy most of her books in hardcover...I can't wait for the paperback versions!

In the past two years, I have found some new favorites as well, mostly thanks to the recommendations on Amazon. They include Patti Callahan Henry, Karen White, Sherryl Woods, and Robyn Carr. I am a big fan of books that take place near the ocean, so I also read a lot of stuff by Dorothea Benton Frank and Anne Rivers Siddons (her latest book is on my to-read list right now).

Once in a while, I go for an oldie, but goodie, that I know I will enjoy. This may include something by Danielle Steele, LaVyrle Spencer, or Sandra Brown (her old stuff, when she still wrote romances). And then there are the other types of books peppered in...John Grisham, Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson (I love the Women's Murder Club series; not so much the Alex Cross). And I have only missed two of Nicholas Sparks's books...True Believer and At First Sight. I have loved all of his other books, but these didn't speak to me.

The others are random books I have picked up in local book stores or at the library. I got very excited about finding Jennifer Chiaverini's quilting series at my local library initially, but I haven't been to the library in quite a while, so I gave up on that. I also really enjoy some of Barbara Delinsky's books, especially the stuff she has been writing recently.

And I have some favorites on this list. My absolute favorite novel of all time is Mirror Image by Sandra Brown. I reread it a couple of times per year and enjoy it just as much each time. It's got romance, intrigue, adventure...I just find it to be a really good read. Another old favorite on this list is The Summer I Dared by Barbara Delinsky. It's about a woman who heads to a Maine island to visit her aunt when her marriage goes south. It's an awesome story, fun to read and inspiring. I also read that at least once a year.

Anyway, that's the literary story of my year! I am now starting in on a re-released trilogy by Robyn Carr, the Grace Valley trilogy, and am looking forward to getting engrossed in it, as soon as my attention span comes back. And I am looking forward to come upcoming releases from some favorites...Susan Wiggs, Sherryl Woods, Karen White, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Kristin Hannah, Barbara Delinsky, Jodi Picoult. I have a lot to look forward to!

How about you? Read any good books lately?