The Ultimate Book Review

For the last four years, I have been keeping track of all of the books I have read in this nifty little "what I read" noteook I received as a gift. I am a self-proclaimed nerd in that there is nothing better than keeping a list, crossing off a list, and looking back on the list to remind you of everything you did. And books are one of the best things to track.

Some books are so knock-out that you never forget the characters, but others need a gentle reminder such as a character's name, a specific scene, etc to take you back into the story. So this morning, as the snow comes down inch by inch, I took out my little blue notebook, which was filled to capacity last night to look back on all of the stories I have devoured in the last 4 years, and here is my top must-read list! Listed in no particular order  (because to me they are all awesome!).....

1) Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres
2) The Good Good Pig: the Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood
3) Snow Flower and the Secret Fan  by Lisa See
4) Water For Elephants by Sara Gruer
5) The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
6) What is the What by Dave Eggers
7) Molokai'i by Alan Brennert
8) 102  Minutes by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn
9) The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall
10) Still Alice by Lisa Genova
11) Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
12) The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
13) The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Is it unlucky to have a list with 13 items on it? Perhaps, but I don't want to lead any of you astray with a pretty good, it was alright or it held my attention sort of book. I promise that although this list is long, those that did not make the list is MUCH longer--remember this is a 4 years-in-the-making-list here people.

So, time to start a new notebook to fill with all of the books that are waiting for me on my overflowing book-shelf. If anyone has any recommendations of books that I must start 2011 off with let me know!