Abbreviated reading list for 2009

For the last two years I have selected a dozen books to be my "must-read" choices for the year. It has worked well, allowing me to look forward to one particular book each month, and giving me time to read other books I see or hear about, too. Often the twelve books I've chosen have inspired me to look for other books by the same authors, or more books on the same topic.

Here's my reading list for 2009:


1. What's So Great about Christianity?" by Dinesh D'Souza. I've read several books and many articles by Mr. D'Souza and found them all thought-provoking. This looks like it will be good.


2. A World Lost by Wendell Berry. This past year I read three books by Wendell Berry and am now an unabashed fan.


3. The Story of Edger Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. Long before Oprah picked this for her book club, I read a review in the Sunday newspaper book section that made this novel sound very interesting. I bought the book and then tried to convince our local book club to read it. We will read it this year. I can't wait.



4. Waiting for the Weekend by Witold Rybczynski. Everything I've read by Mr. Rybczynski has been good enough to recommend and loan to other readers.



5. These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer. In my opinion, Georgette Heyer is the only worthy successor to Jane Austen. Her Regency novels read like Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, and Emma without being second-rate sequels.




6. Fishing for Gold: The Story of Alabama's Catfish Industry by Karni R. Perez. I saw this at PaperBackSwap and requested it. I know nothing about it, but I grew up near the Auburn University Fisheries and knew quite a few international students through the years who came to Auburn to learn how to "grow fish" for their homelands. It looks odd, but interesting.


7. 1700: Scenes from London Life by Maureen Waller. Last year I read London 1945 by Maureen Waller and I enjoyed it and started looking for more of her books.



8. An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken. While Penny and I were on our spinning trip last fall I read a review of this book in USA Today. The next day we went to a book store and I bought it. The trick will be waiting to read it.



9. First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps by Victor H. Krulak. This book by General Krulak has been in my "to read" pile for a couple of years. This is probably a book I should have read as a young Marine bride. Better late than never!



10. A Splendor of Letters: The Permanence of Books in an Impermanent World by Nicholas A. Basbanes. I love Nicholas Basbanes's books. What could be better than reading about books and reading?



11. The Chilling Stars: A Cosmic View of Climate Change by Henrik Svensmark and Nigel Calder. I bought this last year as one of Joan's science books, but I really wanted to read it myself. (That's one of the bonuses of homeschooling.)


12. The American Senator by Anthony Trollope. Trollope was a contemporary of Charles Dickens. His books are generally set in the country rather than the city, and they are social and political commentaries with usually a romantic story thrown in. His novels are lighter and generally happier than anything by Dickens.