I’ve waited until the last possible minute to get my “best of list” post up and as usual I always struggle with figuring out which books deserve to go on here. For various reasons these are the books that really made my year.

Fiction
The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson
Life Studies by Susan Vreeland
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Blaming by Elizabeth Taylor
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
Capote in Kansas by Kim Powers
Out by Natsuo Kirino
The Glimmer Palace by Beatrice Colin

YA
Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky
Leonardo’s Shadow by Christopher Grey
Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Mystery
An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear
The Serpent and the Scorpion by Clare Langley-Hawthorne
In the Woods by Tana French
This Dame for Hire by Sandra Scoppettone

Graphic Novels
One Hundred Demons by Lynda Barry
French Milk by Lucy Knisley

I almost hesitate to post this because I know as soon as I do I’ll think of just one more to add. And, then I think of all the others that I did enjoy too. Anyway, thank you to all of you who are sharing your best of lists. I love reading them and of course adding more books to the ever growing wish list.

Here’s to a great 2009. Happy New Year!

I’m cutting it close but managed to write up some notes on some recent reads which I recommend and hope you’ll check out. If you’ve already read these, let me know what you thought.

“Before all this happened, the closest I’d ever come to getting physical with a guy was playing the board game Operation.”

First, up is Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky. This is a wonderful and honest look at young love. A story about a teenager’s first relationship and all the joyous and messy moments. When Dominique falls in love with Wes, her life which was once consumed with thoughts about medical school, will turn upside down.

I loved this book and want to thank the author for sending it to me. Although I think it did keep me up all night as I just couldn’t put it down. Here’s my review and here is the official web site to build your own boyfriend.

“She learned that no lady would be seen driving or walking down St. James’s Street; that every lady must be sure of being seen promenading in Hyde Park between the hours of five and six. She must not dare to dance the waltz until she had been approved by the Patronesses of Almack’s; she must not want to be wearing warm pelisses or shawls; the lightest of wraps must suffice her in all weathers… Above all, most important, most vital, she must move heaven and earth to earn Mr. Brummell’s approval.”

Lady Judith Taverner and her brother, Peregrine travel to London to meet their guardian, Lord Worth. And, to their utter surprise and disgust the man doesn’t want the office of guardian any more than they want him, and is determined to thwart all their interests and return them to the country.

This was my third Heyer book and again a very enjoyable read. While, Lord Worth, did get on my nerves sometimes I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the customs and all the period detail. Thank you to Sourcebooks for sending me the book, and here is my review.

“Lady Helen had seen St. James work a hundred times before. She knew how unlikely it was that any detail would escape him. Yet, watching his familiar routine directed at her this time, she felt a tightening of muscles as she witnessed him engage in a cursory examination o fthe tops of chest of drawers and dressing table, of wardrobe and floor.”

For the Seconds Challenge I decided to continue with the Inspector Lynley series which I’ve just started reading this year. This time the Inspector must find out who killed a famous playwright and how his long-time friend, Lady Helen is involved.

As with the first book, this one is rich and complex in the descriptions of emotions and the mystery. Here is my review. Also, I’m happy to say that this book counts as the last book in my challenge so, yay, I finished it just in time. Thank you Joy for hosting this one!