Books Read in 2009

The end of 2008 I decided I needed to dust off some unread books. I knew Oprah had a book club so I went in search of it. I ordered it on Amazon but had to wait for it to get here. So I went off to Yahoo looking for book club groups. I found 2 very different book groups, thanks to Victoria, a bird friend. Those groups are On the Porch Swing and Bookies Too. You can see the books to be read for Oprah's Book Club, Bookies Too, and On the Porch Swing challenges in earlier blogs. I will edit them as I have read books for those groups. Some of these are pleasure reads. I did start a bit before January 1, 2009. because I was waiting for books to arrive.

Here is a list of what I have read. My goal is 52 books...one a week. Should be easy enough to do, I would think.

The newbie to Yahoo reading groups that I am, didn't realize everyone rated their books. I have seen x/5 and A+...F. I have decided to go with A+...F system. If anything is less then A, I will explain why. Also if it something I would not have picked up and read on my own, I will be adding a comment as well.

January 2009--I know the first book shouldn't be here but I was so happy to be reading again. I didn't belong to any groups or book clubs in 2008 and since this book got me back to reading, I added it here in January.

1. Summer at Willow Lake (Lakeshore Chronicles #1)
by Susan Wiggs
534 pages
Pleasure read
Started 12/29/2008
Finished 12/30/2008
A+

2. The Winter Lodge (Lakeshore Chornicles #2)
by Susan Wiggs
447 pages (large print)
Pleasure read
Started 12/30/2008
Finished 1/1/2009
A+

3. The Woman in Black: A Ghost Story
By Susan Hill
160 pages
Started 1/1/2009
Finished 1/3/2009
B
First couple of chapters I was confused. Once I got past that, I understood what was going on. This is a book I would not have picked up and read on my own. One of those outside my comfort zone books. I did enjoy after I got to the 3rd chapter or so.

4. The Ocean Between Us
By Susan Wiggs
382 pages
Pleasure Read
Started 1/3/2009
Finished 1/5/2009
A+

5. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
By David Wroblewski
566 Pages
Oprah's Book Club
Web cast January 26,2009 9 pm
Started 1/5/2009
Finished 1/10/2009
A+
This is a book I wouldn't have picked up if it hadn't been for Oprah's Book Club. I truly enjoyed it. Can't wait till the Web Cast.

6. Dockside (Lakeshore Chronicles #3)
By Susan Wiggs
453 pages large print
Started 1/11/2009
Finished 1/13/2009
A+

7. Snowfall at Willow Lake (Lakeshore Chronicles #4)
By Susan Wiggs
477 pages large print
Started 1/13/2009
Finished 1/15/2009
A
The middle was a little dry and I was beginning to write it off as loss. But then wow I knew what the conflicts were and they finally came out in ways I didn't expect. I was in tears more than once. There are 2 more books planned for this series. First one, Fireside, will be out February of 2009, and the second one will be Lakeshore Christmas, and is due out November, 2009. Can't wait.

8. Marley and Me
By John Grogan
308 pages
Started 1/16/2009
Finished 1/19/2009
A+
Very good book. Now I have to wait patiently for the movie to come out "On Demand".

9. Anne Frank:The Diary of a Young Girl
By Anne Frank
237 pages
Started 1/20/2009
Finished 1/22/2009
A+

10. Gilda: An Intimate Portrait
By David Saltman
235 Pages
Started 1/23/2009
Finished 1/25/2009
A++
Written in wonderful detail. Truly a book written by a dear friend on a manner in which only a dear friend could.

11. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
By Stieg Larsson
465 pages
Started 01/26/2009
Finished 01/30/2009
A
Had to re-read the beginning of the book a couple of times because I was lost. Then I decided to read on and it all started making sense. Geographically I was lost because I had no idea where we were or where we were in relation to other places in the book. Things were said by Vanger or about Vanger with no mention of a first name and I was lost...which Vanger?? There were only 20-30 people with the last name of Vanger. Once I figured out they when they spoke of Vanger without a first name, they meant Henrik, I was good to go. So to say, I was off to a real slow start, but once I figured out who was who and where was what I enjoyed the book. I am really glad I didn't give up on it and worked through my issues because once I did, it was a very enjoyable book.

12. Fireside
by Susan Wiggs
397 Pages
Started 01/30/2009
01/31/2009
A++
Another great read from Susan. I have to say I was a bit confused when at the end of a chapter it brought up Daisy and Julian at the end of the chapter and no tie in at that point to the rest of the new characters and I found that to be disappointing. But a chapter or 2 later I understood how the pages with Daisy and Julian tied in. Can't wait for Lakeshore Christmas to appear on book shelves come October.

February. 2009. The month of lovers with Valentine's Day on the 14th. Like most holidays it is just another day around here, but this holiday brings a bit of sadness every year. My dear sweet hubby's brother, Cliff, died on Valentine's Day about 11 years ago.

13. The Shop on Blossom Street
by Debbie Macomber
408 pages
Started on 02/01/2009
Finished 02/04/2009
A++
I love the way Debbie Macomber has a chapter for each of the main characters. A delightful book. Can't wait to read A Good Yarn

14. A Good Yarn
by Debbie Macomber
395 pages
Started on 02/05/2009
Finished 02/07/2009
A++
Love it as much as I figured I would.

15. Back on Blossom Street
by Debbie Macomber
393 pages
Started 02/07/2009
Finished 02/09/2009
A++
Enjoyed it and can't wait to read the next book in the series

16. Naked In Death
by J D Robb
313 pages
Started 02/10/2009
Finished 02/13/2009
A++
New author to me...well not really since I have read Nora Roberts...LOL. Great book.

17. Glory in Death
by J D Robb
313 pages
Started 02/15/2009
Finished 02/18/2009
A++

18. The House of Mirth
by Edith Wharton
329 pages
Stated 02/19/2009
Finished 02/22/2009
B
Not my normal read. It held my interest but that is about all it held.

19. Deja Dead
by Kathy Reichs
532 pages
Started on 02/22/2009
Finished on 02/28/2009
A++
Loved the book greatly. Took me longer to read then usual. Since surgery I have slept a lot. When I lie down I always read and I would fall asleep and loss my page, or fall asleep so quickly I didn't read much.

March is suppose to come in like a lion and out like a lamb. And so far so true. We had wide spread snow storms. Gov. Kaine declared a state of emergency.

Hopefully now that the knee replacement is behind me, I can do more reading again.

20. Death du Jour
by Kathy Reichs
432 pages
started 03/01/2009
Finished 03/06/2009
A ++
Enjoyed the book. I hope Tempe and Ryan's relationship goes somewhere good. I can't wait to read more.

21. Deadly Decisions
by Kathy Reichs
Started 03/07/2009
Finished 03/13/2009
A++
Delighted with this book. Yes, it took me a week to read. :( Between doctors appointments, physical therapy and long naps, not much like time to read. Hopefully this week will be better and I can get to more than one book in a wee. I know my goal was a book a week...52 books a year. I am way paste that but with all the reading I have been able to do, reading one book a week hurts.

22. Immortal In Death
by J D Robbs
296 Pages
Started 03/14/2009
Finished 03/17/2009
A++
Love the way this all takes place in the future. Yet, you are bogged down with sci-fi. It is interesting to see the things Nora (oopps J D) has modernized and it doesn't see to distract from the story. This is the last of JD's books I have at present. Can't wait to get my hands on some more.

23. One For The Money
By Janet Evanovich
338 pages
Started 03/18/2009
Finished 03/19/2009
A++
Loved it. Written in first person is refreshing. Enjoyed it

24. Two For the Dough
By Janet Evanovich
312 pages
Started 3/19/2009
Finished 3/20/2009
A++
Loved it.

25. Between Friends
by Debbie Macomber
400 pages
Started 03/20/2009
Finished 03/22/2009
A++
Uniquely written in letters. Friendship like that is so rare. Wish I had a friend like that.

26. Fatal Voyage
byKathy Reichs
420 pages
Started 03/22/2009
Finished 03/23/2009
A++

27. Angel Falls
by Nora Roberts
438 pages
Started 03/23/2009
Finished 03/26/2009
A++

28. Three to Get Deadly
by Janet Evanovich
321 pages
Started 03/26/2009
Finished 03/27/2009
A++

29. Rapture in Death
by J D Robb
310 pages
Started 03/27/2009
Finished 03/28/2009
A++

30. Delia's Crossing
by V C Andrews
412 pages
Started 03/29/2009
Finished 03/30/2009
A+++

31. Delia's Heart
by V C Andrews
312pages
Started 03/30/2009
Finished 03/31/2009
A+++

April...spring time at last. BUT you gotta watch it...from time to time a snow storm in April

32. Delia'a Gift
by V C Andrews
333 pages
Started 03/31/2009
Finished 04/01/2009
A+++

The Delia series by V C Andrews is some of the best reading I have done. Very emotional, so make sure you have some tissue near by. With Delia's Heart, I am glad I got up when I did. I had been reading it in bed. There were moments I was bawling like a baby and would have woke my hubby for sure.

33. Ceremony in Death
By J D Robb
312 pages
Started 04/02/2009
Finished 04/07/2009
A++

34. Twenty Wishes
by Debbie Macomber
377 pages
Started 04/08/2009
Finished 04/09/2009
A+++

35. Four to Score
by Janet Evanovich
312 pages
Started 04/10/2009
Finished 04/11/2009
A+++

36. Five High
by Janet Evanovich
314 pages
Started 04/11/2009
Finished 04/12/2009
A+++

37. Vengeance in Death
by J D Robb
357 pages
Started 04/13/2009
Finished 04/15/2009
A++ I love reading this and seeing how Eve and Roarke's relationship grows even with all the ups and downs Eve's being a cop and Roarke had been once (and maybe still is) a little left of doing legal things.

38. Marriage of Inconvenience
by Debbie Macomber
249 pages
Started 04/16/2009
Finished 04/17/2009
A++ Have never read a bad book from Debbie Macomber

39. Hot Six
by Janet Evanovich
336 pages
Started 04/18/2009
Finished 04/19/2009
A+++ The more of these books I read, the more I enjoy them.

40. Seven Up
by Janet Evanovich
337 pages
Started 04/19/2009
Finished 04/20/2009
A++++

41. Three Cups of Tea
by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
338 pages
Started 04/19/2009
Finished 04/23/1009
A

42. Holiday in Death
by JD Robb
326 pages
Started 04/23/2009
Finished 04/23/2009
A+++

43. Hard Eight
by Janet Evanovich
334 pages
Started 04/24/2009
Finished 04/24/2009
A+++

44. Visions of Sugar Plums
by Janet Evanovich
166 pages
Started 04/24/2009
Finished 04/24/2009
A++++

Yes I started and finished 2 books in a day. I read Hard Eight during the day and part of the evening. I couldn't sleep so I spent the night reading Visions of Sugars Plums.

45. To the Nines
by Janet Evanovich
333 pages
Started 04/25/2009
Finished 04/25/2009
A++++

46. Conspiracy in Death
by JD Robb
571 pages (large print)
Started 04/26/2009
Finished 04/28/2009
A+++

47. Ten Big Ones
by Janet Evanovich
312 pages
Started 04/29/2009
Finished 04/29/2009
A++++

48. Eleven on Top
by Janet Evanovich
316 pages
Started 04/29/2009
Finished 04/30/2009
A++++

49. Twelve Sharp
by Janet Evanovich
339 pages
Started 04/30/2009
Finished 04/30/2009
A++++

May!! Can you believe it is May already. Wow time flies. Looks like a new goal for # of books read in 2009 needs to be set since I am gonna hit goal of 52 in a matter of days. Hmmm MAY-be 100?? Wow that sounds high. We'll see.

50. Plum Lovin'
by Janet Evanovich
248 pages
Started 05/01/2009
Finished 05/01/2009
A+
Not a lot of ++'s I enjoy the 'Plum' books with Diesel but I prefer the 'numbered' books with Ranger and Joe better.

51. Lean Mean Thirteen
by Janet Evanovich
343 pages
Started 05/01/2009
Finished 05/02/2009
A++++

52. Plum Lucky
by Janet Evanovich
250 pages
Started 05/02/2009
Finished 05/02/2009
A+

53. Fearless Fourteen
by Janet Evanovich
519 pages large print
Started 05/02/2009
Finished 05/02/2009
A++++

54. Plum Spooky
by Janet Evanovich
318 pages
Started 05/03/2009
Finished 05/03/2009
A+++++
I had mentioned before that I didn't like the "In-between the Numbers' books because Ranger and Joe weren't very active in the books. Well I have to eat my words with on this one.

***Side note...I read the first 2 chapters of Janet Evanovich's Finger Lickin' Fifteen, which is due out June 23, 2009. Is my wish going to come true? I would love to see Stephanie with Ranger. In the first 2 chapters, Stephanie's on again and off again relationship with Joe is off again and is going to be working with Ranger. Guess I love a mystery man***

55. Summer on Blossom Street
by Debbie Macomber
311 pages
Started May 4, 2009
Finished May 4, 2009
A+++

56. Silent Night
Four stories by 4 different authors
340 pages
--A Berry Merry Christmas
by Claire Cross
--The Unexpected Gift
by Dee Holmes
--Christmas Promises
by Susan Plunkett
--Midnight in Death
by JD Robb
Started 05/06/2009
Finished 05/08/2009
Wasn't sure how I would like this with only part of the book being from JD Robb. I thought about only reading the JD Robb story but hubby talked me into reading them all and I have to say I was pleased.
A++

56. Loyalty in Death
by JD Robb
358 pages
Started 05/08/2009
Finished 05/09/2099
A+++

57. Witness in Death
by JD Robb
348 pages
Started 05/09/2009
Finished 05/10/2009
A+++