As you all know, I’m the slacker of the group, reading-wise, so I always feel a bit embarrassed when we do this Favorite Books of 2008 (which we’ll be doing all week except for Cara who is doing Horatio Hornblower-lucky ducky-or maybe I’m the only one and I just forgot what we decided). I’m embarrassed because I haven’t read a huge list of books.
This year I read my friends:
I loved all of these. I know I’ve read others but these came to mind first.
I have tons of friends’ books on my TBR pile as well.
I read a fair amount about psychic phenomena because I had a story idea but I’ve tabled that for the moment.
I have TONS of Research books I wish I’d read and I shall provide you a partial list:
The Verneys by Adrian Tinnniswood. The Verneys apparently never threw out a piece of paper and thus amassed the largest and most complete record of correspondence in the world. Plus they had some interesting characters in the family, including a serial adulterer, an unwed mother, a hero, and a petty criminal.
I bought this book at nearly full price; now you can find it discounted
Rites of Peace by Adam Zamoyski.
I forgot where I bought this one, but I purchased it to learn about the Congress of Vienna.
The Making of Victorian Values by Ben Wilson
This book (whose author looks very very young) promises to talk about the transistion from the Georgian era to the Victorian. In other words, the Regency! I purchased this one at a book fair. Great bargain at $7.00
The Curate’s Lot by A. Tindal Hart
I’m pretty sure I bought this from Dee Hendrickson who sold off her wonderful book collection. It will explain the life of a curate from medevial times to the twentieth century.
Tried by Their Peers by Rupert Furneaux
Somebody mentioned this book, probably on the Beau Monde loop and I promptly ordered it from abebooks.com. It relates trials in the House of Lords for such exciting things as poisoning, bigamy, divorce, dueling
George IV by Steven Parissien
Another bargain book and my latest acquisition. More about Prinny! What could be better.
I wish I’d read all of these in 2008, but now I can just aspire to read them in 2009. Stop by next year and see how I did.
What books do you wish you’d read in 2008?
When do you read? Do you read before going to bed? I do but I fall asleep.
Here are pics of the grandcats. Moscow masquerading as a chicken and PB the kitten.
Check out my website for new stuff!
Come visit the Wet Noodle Posse blog. We’re focusing on Life this year.
Out of the 91 books I read in 2008, my top twenty books in no particular order are:
1. The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn
2. Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas
3. Blue-eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas
4. All Through the Night by Connie Brockway
5. Skinny Dipping by Connie Brockway
6. A Lady’s Secret by Jo Beverley
7. The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne
8. Scandalizing the Ton by Diane Gaston
9. A Sinful Alliance by Amanda McCabe
10. Flirting with Forty by Jane Porter
11. Not in the Flesh by Ruth Rendell
12. Why Mermaids Sing by C.S. Harris
13. Snowfall at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
14. Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory
15. The Dangerous Duke by Christine Wells
16. Untouched by Anna Campbell
17. Pitch Black by Susan Crandall
18. Careless in Red by Elizabeth George
19. Atonement by Ian McEwan
20. Christmas Wedding Belles
Awww, thanks for having Scandalizing the Ton and A Sinful Alliance on your list, Keira!
Diane, you’re not a slacker! I am, because I don’t read enough romance. But I’ll talk more about that on my own day…
Thanks for adding some research books to my wish list and sharing the cute kitties!
As to when I like to read…the answer is whenever I can. Which on some days means in the bathroom, while eating breakfast or lunch (alone, it’s a family rule to be sociable at the table–or at least try) or while cooking (I only burn things very rarely). But once in a while I take a break in the afternoon and curl up with a book. And vacations were made for reading, aren’t they?
Adding some of those to my list, O Divine One! I have the George IV book and it is really good.
Keira, you are SO organized with your book list! I know I’ve read a couple of hundred books this year, but I would be hard-pressed to list them. Fortunately I have a system of little stars on my books as I put them in Library Thing. Little colored stars for each category as it goes into Library Thing (red = historical romance, blue = Regency research, etc.) Then I have a little white circle with an ‘R’ in it to denote the book has been read. That way if a TBR book gets shelved I know if I have read it or not.
I need to keep a list of what I read each year. Cool idea.
Just finished Cathy Maxwell’s A Seduction at Christmas.
I am always reading at least one research book and one romance at the same time. The romance I usually read on breaks and at lunch at work. Sometimes finish it that night in bed before I go to sleep. The research book I read when I can.
Right now I am reading Social England under the Regency by John Ashton. Fascinating stuff. Today’s romance Dark Obsession by Alison Kent. I am SO behind on my TBR stack!
Diane —
Yes, do read Ben WIlson’s book. It is excellent. YOu should enjoy it as there is quite a bit on the underclass. Slumming it with Tom & Jerry is brilliant.After eading it, I then went and tracked down Egan’s book.
As I said to Ammanda and basically anyone who will listen Lady Worsley’s Whim is well worth reading. It came out in the UK just before Christmas and I think is now out in the US. I loved her Covent Garden ladies but this one is excellent.
I also have a huge TBR pile. You’d think I’d plow through it fast with all the reading I do, but I keep adding to it. It wouldn’t grow so fast if I didn’t enjoy trying new authors so much. I read whenever I have the chance. It’s a great diversion when I find myself stuck in my work. A chapter gives me enough of a break to come back and figure out whatever was stumping me. And the grandcats are ADORABLE!
~Judy
Keira and Louisa, you put me to shame! I think I read about 3 or 4 romances last year, though I keep buying them and adding them to the TBR mountain. I must try Library Thing and get organized!
And I read whenever/wherever I can. Always have a book in my purse and 3 or 4 on the bedside table.
BTW, I had to order Lady Worsley’s Whim from Amazon.ca–it will be out here sometime, but under a different name which I can’t remember. But after hearing Michelle’s raves and seeing some great reviews, I really wanted to read it! (it should arrive any day)
I love when other people are more organized than I am. I’ve read just about all the books that Keira listed and LOVED them all. If I haven’t had a chance to SQUEE about Scandalizing The Ton, forgive me. I’ll just do it here.
I have a few more books from 2008 to catch up on. Noteably, Talk of the Ton by Karen Hawkins, Return of the Duke by Eloisa James, Seducation at Christmas by Cathy Maxwell, Seducation at Sunrise by Madeline Hahn, The Rival and the Rogue by Maya Rodale and BED by Lisa Kleypas.
I think that’s it. I’ll be reading them over the next week and a half between writing and squiring the cherubs hither and yon.
This year the writing comes first, then the reading.
Very cute cats, Diane!
I read a fair bit, but right now it’s mostly YA or children’s fiction, most of which isn’t Regency-interest! Two books that were, though, were Regina Scott’s LA PETITE FOUR (great fun!) and THE DIAMOND OF DRURY LANE by Julia Golding (which didn’t entirely work for me, but then, I am extremely picky…especially when it comes to title errors…)
Cara
Keira, 91 books is very impressive.
Elena, we’ll have to duel on who reads less!
Louisa, I am impressed with you putting your books on Library Thing. I only TALK about doing it.
Michelle, Lady Worsley’s Whim…another book to order!!!!
Ladyhawk, I so know what you mean about the TBR pile. I have 4 tote bags full of books to give away because I finally faced the fact that I’d never read them.
Amanda, I find the more I write, the harder it is to read.
Santa, thanks for the SQUEE about Scandalizing the Ton. And I’m impressed by the number of books you’ve read, too!
I read every night before I go to bed. I don’t seem to have any system at to what I have read or do I keep up with them. Most of the time when I finish a book I store it in a box in the closet if it is autographed which I keep all of those. I also lone some of my books to my sisters. If its a keeper I store in the closet and if not I will pass them on to someone else.
The past two books that I have read are Carrie Lofty What A Scoundrel Wants and Elaine Levine’s Rachel and the Hired Gun, both books were fantastic reads and keepers. Both of these authors are new authors that I will be watching.
Cute Grandcats!
Historical romance is my pleasure reading of choice, but I passed all last year’s books on to friends who really needed some escapism (I love to make converts) and I don’t have the titles in front of me. Bad Jane-brain.
The last book I read was Sherry Thomas’ Private Arrangements. I just bought Jo Beverley’s re-issue Christmas Angel. I’m hoping to run across Amanda’s new one at Target.
I love to read romance but I’ve come to the conclusion I suck at writing it. My mainstream and young adult work is WAY stronger, so I’m writing to my strengths this year. Keep the books coming, Ladies!
I have that Parissien book, too, Diane. Haven’t read it either.
I haven’t done that well with reading in 2008, either, Diane, but you can see all on Friday–won’t tip my hand until then (mostly ’cause I don’t know what I’m going to say, no surprise).
Cara, I think YA is really hot these days and there’s a lot of freedom in it.
Virginia, you sound like a supreme lover of books! I love supporting new authors too.
Janegeorge, you are so right to write to your strengths.
Megan, Elena, and Amanda, I’m so glad you were slacker readers this year too!!
“Amanda, I find the more I write, the harder it is to read.”
Ditto! I read lots of non-fiction, but not much romance any more, especially when I’m on a deadline myself. I’m always afraid I’m missing out…
Going back quickly over my list of books for 2008, here are some of the titles that popped out at me. I have sorted them by category for your viewing pleasure! Or not. 🙂
Romance
The Mysterious Miss M, Diane Gaston
Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
Music Master, Barbara Miller
Lady of Quality and Sylvester, Georgette Heyer
(Both of the Heyers were read out loud in the car by Cara while I was driving.)
Science Fiction/Fantasy
A Talent for War, Jack McDevitt
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
Mystery
The Winter Queen, Boris Akunin
Behold Here’s Poison, Georgette Heyer
Strangers in Death, J.D. Robb
General Fiction/Literature/I don’t know what
My Name is Red, Orhan Pamuk
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, Michael Chabon
Children’s
The Dangerous Book for Boys, Conn and Hal Iggulden
Young Adult
Prom Dates from Hell, Rosemary Clement-Moore
The Twilight Series, Stephenie Meyer
Graphic Novel
Watchmen, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
Girl Genius vols 1-4, Kaja and Phil Foglio
Science
The Stuff of Thought, Steven Pinker
The How of Happiness, Sonja Lyubomirsky
Physics as Entertainment, Yaakov Perelman
History
The Jewel House, Deborah E. Harkness
Patriot Battles, Michael Stephenson
The Girls’ Empire (reprinted 1903 annual)
The Pleasures of the Imagination, John Brewer
Other Nonfiction/Essays/I don’t know what
The Black Swan, Nassim Nicholas Taleb
On the other hand, my TBR list grows far faster than I can actually read…for instance, I’m many books behind by the Riskies.
Todd-who-is-very-very-ashamed