I have been taking a look around at some of the Best Of lists as they start to make their appearance. It’s always an interesting time of year because in spite of the plethora of books that are published each year, the sames ones show up on the lists over and over again. I decided to look to my own shelves to see which of the “best books” are hanging around unread by me according to Amazon and Publisher’s Weekly.
- Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, by Helen Simons
- The Passage, by Justin Cronin
- Let’s Take The Long Way Home, by Gail Caldwell
- One Day, by David Nicholls
- Hellhound on His Trail: The Stalking of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the International Hunt for His Assassin, by Hampton Sides
- Revolution, by Jennifer Donnelly
- The Wrong Blood, by Manuel de Lope
- The Unnamed, by Joshua Ferris
- How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer, by Sarah Bakewell
Amazon Top 100 Customer’s Picks
- The Passage, by Justin Cronin
- One Day, by David Nicholls
Publishers Weekly – Best Books of 2010
- Feed, by Mira Grant
- Let’s Take The Long Way Home, by Gail Caldwell
I was also curious about how my books compared with Oprah’s favorites from the decade. There are a few that I have, but haven’t read yet.
Oprah’s Ten Favorite Books From The Past Decade
- The Known World, by Edward P. Jones
- A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry
- East of Eden, John Steinbeck
- The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison
So far, all the books that I have are books that I really want to read. I tried to pick out one that I wanted to read more than the others and failed miserably. I have my work cut out for me.
What books do you have on your shelves unread that are making the “Best Of” lists? Any in particular that you are looking forward to reading? Any on my list that you think I should read next?
Other reviews and posts:
You could still read quite a few of these! Still got a month
MIchelle´s last [type] ..2011 Debut Author Challenge
Ha! I feel like I might get very little reading done in December. It is always a whirlwind.
It’s always great to have some of them on the shelves for a rainy day isn’t it? I seem to have more of the best of list book on my tbr than actually read though
Amy´s last [type] ..Review- Jukebox by Gina Noelle Daggett
I feel the same way as you, there were precious few that I had actually read.
That looks like the perfect reading list for you in December! LOL I loved the audio version of Feed, which really surprised me.
Amy and I talked to the author of Feed for our soon to be released zombie podcast. My toe is barely in the zombie water. They gross me out, but we will see how I like it. Amy really liked it too.
One Day has been waiting for me since it came out. I also really want to read Room, which I’m assuming is on somebody’s Best list somewhere!
Erin´s last [type] ..My Week in Books- November 21-27
Ditto Erin’s surprise at “Room” not getting mentioned. I usually do a lot of purchasing when ‘best of’ list come out so I rarely get to current fiction as I’m always catching up from previous years.
Chad Hull´s last [type] ..An Interruption to your Regularly Scheduled Life
Oh, Room is on several lists. It’s all over the place. I didn’t list it here b/c I only listed the ones I saw that I already had on my shelf. I have lots of catch up to do!
Yes! Room is even on the lists I linked too, but I just listed what I already have. They might be a personal challenge of mine.
I’ll check the list. I have read The Passage and The Unnamed.
Bluestocking´s last [type] ..Happy Thanksgiving
Everyone I talk to has real enjoyed The Passage. The size is daunting to me. I am afraid I will get bored in some sections.
You have so many great ones to chose from…My vote is A Fine Balance. I read that one Oprah first announced it and it has stayed with me for all these years!! It’s one that I would read again in the future!
Staci´s last [type] ..Six Sentence Saturday – Movie Review Version
I wonder if that is when I first picked it up? It has been sitting on my shelf for way too long.
Ah, I do love this time of year when I get ogle all these best of lists and see all the good books I’m busy not reading. LOL! I’ve got a good many of those listed lurking on my TBR pile, but very few actually read.
I still haven’t read The Passage or Jennifer Donnelly’s Revolution both of which I really am dying to get to!
East of Eden is one of my favorites of all time. You should definitely read it sooner rather than later!
Megan´s last [type] ..Sunday UnSalon- Bloggy McSlacker
I know! I meant to read East of Eden when there was a readalong going around and just had too much going on. It’s a goal for 2011.
I’ve done horribly with the ‘best of’ lists. However, I own lots of them too! Maybe by next year I’ll have caught up with this year’s lists!
Amused´s last [type] ..The Great
That’s what I’m shooting for, though I think I will pick out a few to try to read in December.
One of the books that I own that keep seeing on “best of” lists so far is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. I want to read it but scared of my reaction about all that happens in the book. Maybe we should make this a mini-reading challenge next month?
Vasilly´s last [type] ..Thankfully Reading Weekend
I read it already Natasha. Can’t wait to see what you think and to discuss.
oh no… I didn’t like One Day at all! Sorry to see this on a list, makes me wonder how something makes it.
There’s so many of these that I have missed too. If I were to recommend one of these to you to read right away it would be A Fine Balance. That is one I will reread. It touched me so deeply when I read it. I’ve never cried so hard reading a book and I am NOT a crier! I’ve been checking out all of the best books of the decade and best of 2010 lists too and realizing that I am way, way behind!