A list and an award!

[christina_reads]

fbajet  recently posted a list of her favorite books that she's read so far in 2010, and she inspired me to do the same! :) So here are some of my favorite reads of the year, in no particular order:

• Emily Gee's The Laurentine Spy had all my favorite plot elements tied up into one compelling package.
• Polly Shulman's Enthusiasm reminded me that not all Jane Austen spinoffs are terrible.
• Anna Dean's Bellfield Hall effortlessly took me back to 19th-century England and let me solve a mystery.
• Stella Gibbons' Cold Comfort Farm left me openmouthed (because I was laughing so hard).
• Elizabeth C. Bunce's A Curse Dark as Gold established a new standard for fairy tale re-tellings.
• Sandor Marai's Embers was the ultimate novel of psychological tension and suspense.
• Winifred Watson's Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day was pure joy.
• Jude Morgan's An Accomplished Woman gave me something to read after Austen and Heyer.
• Cheryl Sawyer's The Code of Love was a good old-fashioned historical romance that left me completely satisfied.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the second half of the year brings!

~~~~~

In other news, I received my first book blogging award today from Books Before Breakfast!




"A prolific book blogger is one who is intellectually productive, keeping up an active blog with enjoyable content. After accepting this award, recipients are asked to pass it forward to seven other deserving blogs."

I'm very flattered -- and, frankly, tickled pink! -- to have received this award, and I'm happy to pass it on to the following blogs:

A Few of my Favourite Books
Birdie's Nest
Calico Reaction
Giraffe Days
Iris on Books
Janicu's Book Blog
OCD, Vampires, and Rants, oh my!

I really enjoy reading all of your reviews, insights, and book-related comments. :) (Same goes for my entire f-list, of course!)