2009 in Books
I signed up for the 52 books in 52 weeks challege at Ravelry and I actually managed to finish 68.
Stats: 14 non-fiction, 54 fiction (mostly historical fiction), 18 were re-reads
Favorite fiction: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - historical fiction set in 1946.
I also devoured the Temeraire fantasy series by Naomi Novik. I actually went looking for fanfiction and was disappointed that there wasn't much.
Favorite non-fiction: 2 art history books - Basilica about the building of St. Peter's in Rome and The Forger's Spell about a 1940s Vermeer art hoax.
January:
1) The Eight by Katherine Neville. Historical thriller - B+
2) 1215 by Danny Danzinger & John Gillingham. Non-fiction about the Magna Carta - A
3) Suspense and Sensibility by Carrie Bebris. Austen fanfiction mystery - B-
4) Faro’s Daughter by Georgette Heyer. Regency romance - B (“Cotillion” was better)
5) Harry, A History by Melissa Annelli. Non-fiction account of the HP phenomenon - A
6) The Fire by Katherine Neville - Sequel to “The Eight”, not as good - B-
February:
7) The Water Devil by Judith M. Riley - Historical fiction, 3rd in a series - B+
8) The Devil’s Brood by Sharon Kay Penman - 1100s Historical fiction - A
9) North by Northanger by Carrie Bebris - more Austen mystery fanfiction - B+
10) Basilica: Building St. Peter’s by R. Scotti - nonfiction art and history - A
March:
11) Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Vanora Bennett - 1500s historical fiction - B-
12) Devil Water by Anya Seton - 1700s historical fiction - B+
13) Mr. Darcy’s Diary by Amanda Grange - Austen fanfiction, quick read - B+
April:
14) Alice by ___ - biography of Alice Roosevelt Longworth - B+
15) Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer - Regency romance - A
16) Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - historical fiction - re-read
17) World Without End by Ken Follett - 1300s historical fiction - B
May:
18) The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erickson - historical fiction - B-
19) Antony and Cleopatra by Colleen McCollough - historical fiction - B
20) I, Claudius by Robert Graves - historical fiction - re-read
21) Freakonomics by Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner - nonfiction - B+
22) Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon - historical fiction - B+
June:
23) The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy Sayers - 1920s mystery - A
24) Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian - 1800s historical fiction - B+
25) Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer - Regency romance - B
26) Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon - 1700s historical fiction - re-read
27) A Daughter’s Love by John Guy - biography of Sir Thomas More & his daughter Margaret - A-
July
28) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - undead version of my favorite book - A-
29) Voyager by Diana Gabaldon - 1700s historical fiction - re-read
30) Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer - 1940s historical fiction - A+
31) The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers - 1930s mystery - re-read
32) Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon - 1700s historical fiction - A-
August
33) The Other Queen by Phillipa Gregory - 1500s historical fiction - B+
34) A Needle in the Right Hand of God - nonfiction about the Bayeaux Tapestry - B
35) Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel - prehistoric fiction - B+
36) His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik - historical fantasy - A
37) Duchess by Susan Holloway Scott - 1600s historical fiction - A
38) Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik - historical fantasy - A
39) Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - 1930s to 50s historical fiction - A-
40) Black Powder War by Naomi Novik - historical fantasy - A-
41) Valley of the Horses by Jean Auel - prehistoric fiction - B-
September:
42) Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik - historical fantasy - A-
43) Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik - historical fantasy - A-
44) Playing for Pizza by John Grisham - B+
45) Royal Harlot by Susan H. Scott - 1600s historical fiction - A-
46) The Forger’s Spell by Edward Dolnik - nonfiction art history - A
47) The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon - historical fiction - re-read
48) A Colossal Failure of Common Sense - nonfiction about the collapse of Lehman Bros. - C
October:
49) A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon - historical fiction - re-read
50) An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon - historical fiction, book 7 in series - B+
51) Four Queens by Nancy Goldstone - nonfiction 1200s history - B+
52) A Perfect Red by Amy Greenfield - nonfiction history - B+
53) Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - trying out the Kindle app on my new ipod Touch - re-read
54) Master of All Desires by Judith M. Riley - 1500s historical fiction/fantasy - re-read
November:
55) Understood Betsey by Dorothy Canfield - childhood favorite on the Kindle app - re-read
56) Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery - childhood favorite on the Kindle app - re-read
57) The Cradle King - biography of James I of England (VI of Scotland) - B
58) The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer - 1770s comic romance - B+
59) Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery - childhood favorite on the Kindle app - re-read
60) The Oracle Glass by Judith M. Riley - 1600s historical fiction - re-read
61) Mistress of Monarchy by Alison Weir - biography of Katherine Swynford - B+
63) Anne’s House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery - childhood favorite on the Kindle app - re-read
December:
63) Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery - on Kindle app - re-read
64) Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery - on Kindle app - re-read
65) The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery - it’s a shame I didn’t discover this one until 2002 - re-read
66) Cleopatra, Last Queen of Egypt by Joyce Tydlesley - biography - B+
67) Kilmeny of the Orchard by L.M. Montgomery - on Kindle app - B
68) The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer - comic Regency romance - re-read
Unfinished at December 31 - Chronicles of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery on the Kindle app
Stats: 14 non-fiction, 54 fiction (mostly historical fiction), 18 were re-reads
Favorite fiction: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - historical fiction set in 1946.
I also devoured the Temeraire fantasy series by Naomi Novik. I actually went looking for fanfiction and was disappointed that there wasn't much.
Favorite non-fiction: 2 art history books - Basilica about the building of St. Peter's in Rome and The Forger's Spell about a 1940s Vermeer art hoax.
January:
1) The Eight by Katherine Neville. Historical thriller - B+
2) 1215 by Danny Danzinger & John Gillingham. Non-fiction about the Magna Carta - A
3) Suspense and Sensibility by Carrie Bebris. Austen fanfiction mystery - B-
4) Faro’s Daughter by Georgette Heyer. Regency romance - B (“Cotillion” was better)
5) Harry, A History by Melissa Annelli. Non-fiction account of the HP phenomenon - A
6) The Fire by Katherine Neville - Sequel to “The Eight”, not as good - B-
February:
7) The Water Devil by Judith M. Riley - Historical fiction, 3rd in a series - B+
8) The Devil’s Brood by Sharon Kay Penman - 1100s Historical fiction - A
9) North by Northanger by Carrie Bebris - more Austen mystery fanfiction - B+
10) Basilica: Building St. Peter’s by R. Scotti - nonfiction art and history - A
March:
11) Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Vanora Bennett - 1500s historical fiction - B-
12) Devil Water by Anya Seton - 1700s historical fiction - B+
13) Mr. Darcy’s Diary by Amanda Grange - Austen fanfiction, quick read - B+
April:
14) Alice by ___ - biography of Alice Roosevelt Longworth - B+
15) Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer - Regency romance - A
16) Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - historical fiction - re-read
17) World Without End by Ken Follett - 1300s historical fiction - B
May:
18) The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erickson - historical fiction - B-
19) Antony and Cleopatra by Colleen McCollough - historical fiction - B
20) I, Claudius by Robert Graves - historical fiction - re-read
21) Freakonomics by Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner - nonfiction - B+
22) Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon - historical fiction - B+
June:
23) The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy Sayers - 1920s mystery - A
24) Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian - 1800s historical fiction - B+
25) Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer - Regency romance - B
26) Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon - 1700s historical fiction - re-read
27) A Daughter’s Love by John Guy - biography of Sir Thomas More & his daughter Margaret - A-
July
28) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - undead version of my favorite book - A-
29) Voyager by Diana Gabaldon - 1700s historical fiction - re-read
30) Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer - 1940s historical fiction - A+
31) The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers - 1930s mystery - re-read
32) Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon - 1700s historical fiction - A-
August
33) The Other Queen by Phillipa Gregory - 1500s historical fiction - B+
34) A Needle in the Right Hand of God - nonfiction about the Bayeaux Tapestry - B
35) Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel - prehistoric fiction - B+
36) His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik - historical fantasy - A
37) Duchess by Susan Holloway Scott - 1600s historical fiction - A
38) Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik - historical fantasy - A
39) Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - 1930s to 50s historical fiction - A-
40) Black Powder War by Naomi Novik - historical fantasy - A-
41) Valley of the Horses by Jean Auel - prehistoric fiction - B-
September:
42) Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik - historical fantasy - A-
43) Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik - historical fantasy - A-
44) Playing for Pizza by John Grisham - B+
45) Royal Harlot by Susan H. Scott - 1600s historical fiction - A-
46) The Forger’s Spell by Edward Dolnik - nonfiction art history - A
47) The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon - historical fiction - re-read
48) A Colossal Failure of Common Sense - nonfiction about the collapse of Lehman Bros. - C
October:
49) A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon - historical fiction - re-read
50) An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon - historical fiction, book 7 in series - B+
51) Four Queens by Nancy Goldstone - nonfiction 1200s history - B+
52) A Perfect Red by Amy Greenfield - nonfiction history - B+
53) Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - trying out the Kindle app on my new ipod Touch - re-read
54) Master of All Desires by Judith M. Riley - 1500s historical fiction/fantasy - re-read
November:
55) Understood Betsey by Dorothy Canfield - childhood favorite on the Kindle app - re-read
56) Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery - childhood favorite on the Kindle app - re-read
57) The Cradle King - biography of James I of England (VI of Scotland) - B
58) The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer - 1770s comic romance - B+
59) Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery - childhood favorite on the Kindle app - re-read
60) The Oracle Glass by Judith M. Riley - 1600s historical fiction - re-read
61) Mistress of Monarchy by Alison Weir - biography of Katherine Swynford - B+
63) Anne’s House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery - childhood favorite on the Kindle app - re-read
December:
63) Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery - on Kindle app - re-read
64) Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery - on Kindle app - re-read
65) The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery - it’s a shame I didn’t discover this one until 2002 - re-read
66) Cleopatra, Last Queen of Egypt by Joyce Tydlesley - biography - B+
67) Kilmeny of the Orchard by L.M. Montgomery - on Kindle app - B
68) The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer - comic Regency romance - re-read
Unfinished at December 31 - Chronicles of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery on the Kindle app