Tuesday, December 30, 2008

My Favorites of 2008

2008 was not my best reading year but it was my best year when it comes to exploring the blogosphere. I've been blogging for a year and half now, discovering new books and genres while expanding my horizons and making new friends along the way. Thanks to Dewey and Nymeth, I've tried and fell in love with graphic novels. Because of Wendy, I know about every reading challenge on this side of the sphere. The great J.Kaye turned me back on to young adult books.

I've read so many great books this year, most of which were published years ago. So I can't honestly say what the best books of this year are, but I can tell you what my favorites are. I tried to come up with my top 20 but found that impossible.

Favorite young adult/high school
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist - Rachel Cohn and David Leviathan

Favorite Middle School fiction
1. Savvy by Ingrid Law
2. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
3. Into the Woods -Lyn Gardner

Favorite Self-Help
Life is a Verb - Patti Digh

Favorite Adult Fiction
1. The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett
2. Wit: A Play - Margaret Edson
3. The Book of Other People: short stories edited by Zadie Smith
4. Love Walked In - Marisa de Los Santos
5. The End of the Alphabet - CS Richardson

Favorite graphic novels
1. We are own our own - Miriam Katin (also one of my favorite non-fiction reads)
2. Amulet Vol. 1: The Stonekeeper - Kazu Kibuishi
3. Goodbye, Chunky Rice - Craig Thompson
4. Babymouse Vol. 1 - Jennifer and Matthew Holm
5. Fables series -Bill Willingham

Favorite nonfiction
1. The Geography of Love - Glenda Burgess
2. The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch
3. Understanding Comics - Scott McCloud
4. Comfort - Ann Hood

Favorite Children's Books
1. The Flower -John Light
2. Flotsam - David Weisner
3. Minnie and Moo series - Denys Cazet
4. The Retired Kid - James Agee

Favorite Series
Fables by Bill Willingham

Favorite Challenges
1. Once Upon a Time hosted by Carl V.
2. R.I.P. (Readers Imbibing Peril) also hosted by Carl V.
3. 24 Hour Read-a-thon hosted by Dewey

Favorite bloggers
All of you who visit 1330v and leave comments. Thank you so much. I appreciate you and wish you happy readings and great times in 2009.

13 comments:

Jill said...

Happy New Year, V! A great list of books!

Andi said...

Great list! I see some of my faves and some I really need to try (Flotsam among others). So glad I found your blog!

Anonymous said...

I love reading everyone's best of posts - everyone has such diverse taste, and I get some wonderful ideas.

Happy New Year - glad you're joining us for the essay challenge.

Unknown said...

What a great list! I loved loved loved Savvy.

Vasilly said...

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Andi: I'm glad you found my blog too! I can't wait for your challenge to start!

Carrie: I'm so glad to be joining your essay challenge! I love the end of the year lists also.

Jill: You loved Savvy! It's a great book! I hope Ingrid Law writes more books about the Beaumont family!

Carl V. Anderson said...

Aw, shucks. Thanks. I'm honored to be included in a list with Dewey, let me tell you. She was quite amazing with her challenges and the other things she did with her site.

I'm so glad you fell in love with graphic novels this year. While I didn't love Chunky Rice, I am thrilled to see another person get turned on to Fables.

Vasilly said...

Carl, people love your challenges. I wouldn't have even started reading fantasy and sci-fi if it wasn't for you.

Ana S. said...

I'm really happy to hear I also helped make you fall in love with graphic novels! We Are on Your Own really sounds amazing, and it's one of the books I want to read for the challenge in Dewey's memory.

I also really want to read The Book of Other People!

I forgot to list my favourite challenges, but they'd have been exactly the same as yours.

Happy New Year!

Kailana said...

Happy New Year!

I am going to have to check out some of those books...

Sherry said...

I hated Nick and Norah, but I'll have to check out some of the other books on your list. And even though you liked N&N,:), you're invited to post a link to your list at Semicolon where the Saturday Review is dedicated to booklists of all kinds today.

Vasilly said...

Sherry, was it the language? =) Thanks! I will. Hopefully I get a book in today.

Anonymous said...

I really want to join a RIP challenge this year.

Vasilly said...

J. Kaye, you should! It's so much fun! I try to scary myself silly every September and October!