The New York Times 10 Best Books of 2005 and the 100 Notable Books of the Year articles are up. For the most part, I based the majority of my reading in the past on these lists. Now I use a combination of these lists, the Globe’s list, Chicklit recommendations and book club, Canadian prizes and word of mouth suggestions from friends. It’s a constant challenge to find the next thing to read. Oh, and I’m trying to throw in some classics, although that usually only lasts for about a week. It honestly took me ten, no almost fifteen, years to read Crime and Punishment.
Lord knows I love a good list. And I’m happy to report that I’ve already read four of the books on the Top 10 list: Saturday, Prep, The Lost Painting and The Year of Magical Thinking. Not bad for a year in which I’ve been sick, moved house, lost a job, found a job, written 4 abridgments, taken 2 classes, planned one non-wedding and went to Europe for 3 weeks.
Alas, I have read but one book on New York magazine’s list. Is it okay that Didion keeps popping up and I keep counting her? I think so, it’ll be the book found on most lists this year, I’m guessing.