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October 2nd, 2009
Friday fun – books that wowed me
Did you guess Kelsey’s lie from her Booklover of the Week feature? Be sure to check out the updated Wednesday post to find out! And now, on to our book topic of the week… I LOVE when books surprise me. You know how you sometimes go in expecting a book to entertain you and then lo and behold… WHAMMO! It completely knocks your socks off? Best. Thing. Ever. That’s actually happened to me twice this year. (And it’s only October!) So I thought it would be fun to share what made me fall head over heels for these books.
First, a caveat… I usually read books to be entertained and to escape from the real world for a while. Escaping, for me, does not mean diving into the depths of someone else’s horrible issues. As you might guess, dark, intense, edgy books are generally not my cup of tea. I figure there’s enough darkness in the world that I’d rather escape into something that makes me feel energized and positive. But every once in a while, my friends (or my agent or editor) try to get me to read something outside my comfort zone. My friend Tera Lynn Childs was the one who told me I really needed to read this book. So I finally bucked up and took her advice. Smartest thing I’ve done all year. Even though it made me walk around feeling like I had to stockpile emergency supplies for weeks afterward, this book was utterly amazing. Sue’s ability to draw you in and make you care deeply about these characters against the backdrop of catastrophe is really extraordinary. The third book of the trilogy comes out a few weeks before The Cinderella Society, and I keep joking that I’m almost more excited for hers than I am for mine. (Almost, mind you. I’m haven’t completely lost my faculties.)
Hands down the best 2009 release I’ve read. I kept hearing about it and finally went and picked it up. I’ve been on a middle grades kick lately, so it was right up my alley. I spent the entire first half of the book wondering what on earth was going on. Then I thought I knew. Then I thought I didn’t. Then I thought I did, but I didn’t know why. Then I found out why. And then I cried. If this book doesn’t win the Newbery, I will be so disappointed. Definitely a modern classic that we’ll be talking about for generations. So what about you? What books have you read in 2009 that knocked you off your feet?
Entry Filed under: Books-books-books |
Project FMGM proposalCOMPLETE! 
A 16 year old outsider gets tapped to join a secret society of good populars dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world.
On shelves now! IndieBound   I’m the author of teen fiction that I wish was based on my real life. My debut novel    
 #1 – GOOD GRIEF by Lolly Winston #2 – THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins #3 – CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins #4 – THE NAUGHTY LIST by Suzanne Young #5 – THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT by Kate DiCamillo #6 – WINGS by Aprilynne Pike #7 – EIGHTH GRADE SUPERZERO by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich #8 – THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE by Kate DiCamillo #9 – HOW TO TRAIN A DRAGON by Cressida Cowell #10 – THE SEASON by Sarah MacLean #11 – THE SEVEN RAYS by Jessica Bendinger #12 – WHISPER by Phoebe Kitanidis #13 – SHADOW HILLS by Anastasia Hopcus #14 – NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer #15 – MOLLY MOON’S INCREDIBLE BOOK OF HYPNOTISM by Georgia Byng #16 – GRACELING by Kristin Cashore (This is a second reading which is super rare for me. One of my all-time faves!) #17 – FIRE by Kristin Cashore #18 – THE REPLACEMENT by Brenna Yovanoff #19 – HEIST SOCIETY by Ally Carter #20 – NEED by Carrie Jones #21 – BRIGHTLY WOVEN by Alexandra Bracken #22 – CAPTIVATE by Carrie Jones #23 – PROPHECY OF DAYS by Christy Raedeke #24 – THIS WORLD WE LIVE IN by Susan Beth Pfeffer #25 – THE LOST SYMBOL by Dan Brown #26 – PLAIN KATE by Erin Bow #27 – THE OVERTON WINDOW – by Glenn Beck #28 – THE THIEF by Megan Whalen Turner #29 – PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White #30 – THE DUFF by Kody Keplinger #31 – MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins #32 – ONLY THE GOOD SPY YOUNG by Ally Carter #33 – THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB by Elizabeth Eulberg |
I loved Life As We Knew It too. But i think the books that really blew me awat this year we’re The Hunger Games, catching Fire and the Vampire Academy series. They’re now all in my all time favourites.
My agent and editor finally convinced me I have to stop being a chicken and read The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. Now the hardcovers are serving as temptation to get The Cinderella Society book 2 off to my editor (due 11/1) so I can read them!
These books sound wonderful. Thanks for the reviews!
You’re very welcome, Darcy!
Eon: DragonEye Reborn
Nathan Fox: Dangerous Times
Flygirl
Graceling
Princess of the Midnight Ball
The Lincolns: a scrapbook life at Abraham and Mary
Changing Tides
Almost Astronauts
Sophomore Switch
Map of the Known World.
The Season
Take the Reins
Wintergirls
Storm Glass and Sea Glass
Along for the Ride
Cinderella Society
Twenties Girl
These really stuck out with me long after I read them.
The Cinderella Society is there!!! LOL Thank you, Jennifer! I read Graceling this summer as well and adored it. Fire is in my temptation pile to keep me on deadline.
I’ve heard lots of great things about When You Reach Me, especially from the authors. I really want to read it. Books read in 2009 that blew me away? Boy Toy, Wintergirls, Looking For Alibrandi, Audrey, Wait…
I keep hearing great things about Audrey, Wait. That needs to be on my To Buy list. Thanks for the reminder, Thao!
Books that blew me away:
“Ballads of Suburbia”
“Catching Fire” (sequel to The Hunger Games)
“The Time Traveler’s Wife” (I know its NOT from 2009 but I read it this year)
“Shiver”
“Going Bovine”
“Fire” (the prequel to Graceling)
“Along For the Ride”
I am currently reading “How To Say Good-Bye in Robot,” which is great.
I have heard beyond wonderful things about “When You Reach Me.” So much so that I am DYING to read the book. I’ll have to wait to get my hands on it though. Being a college student without a job has its downsides! (Less money for pleasure books.)
Best of luck with everything, Kay
Rachel
http://twitter.com/rarararach
When You Reach Me is totally worth the money, Rachel. You have my word.
I’ve heard good things about How to Say Goodbye in Robot… looking forward to your review!
Recently, I read quite I few books I loved.
Graceling (waiting on the sequel Fire)
Hunger Games and Catching Fire
Cybele’s Secret
Impulse
The Nation
The Chosen One
I just got the ARC of Ash in the mail and I can’t wait to read that!
My brother is a huge Terry Pratchett fan, and everything I’ve read about The Nation has been wonderful. Another one to add to my To Buy list. Thanks, Cari!
My list of books that wowed me this year would be:
Going Too Far
Ballads of Suburbia
The Awakening
Fire
Cinderella Society
The Siren
Willow
Vampire Academy
Shiver
Thank you so much for including The Cinderella Society, Erica!!! I adore Steph Kuehnert, so it’s fun to see Ballads of Suburbia on your list too.
I LOVE Life As We Knew It! So amazing. Wasn’t asfond of the sequel/companion, but I enjoyed that one too.
And why haven’t I read When You Reach Me yet? I’ve heard nothing but amazing things.
I liked book one of the Moon trilogy more than book two, but I enjoyed them both for different reasons. And I’m seriously psyched for them to meet up in book three!
I can’t recall a really good book that I’ve read this year
Aww… how sad. Good thing you’ve got lots of great suggestions here to choose from!
Really enjoyed Pfeffer’s book as well. I also realized I was buying extra cans of soup and such!
When You Reach Me is on my shelf…I think it needs to move closer to the top of the pile!
Yes! Definitely time to move it to the top of the heap.
And too funny on the cans of soup. I kept pondering our water situation. LOL
Frankly, the Graveyard Book wowed me. And I know it was a 2008 release, but I only read it in 2009, and I still can’t get over how amazing it is.
Guess that’s why it won the Newberry.
when You Reach Me is on my list.
I was the same way with LIFE AS WE KNEW IT, Brizmus. It was an older book, but I just read it this year so it’s a 2009 book for me.
I hope you enjoy WHEN YOU REACH ME!