My Top 10 Books So Far This Year

Fellow book blogger Small World Reads' post reviewing the books she's read so far this year gave me an idea.

For the first time in my life, I am keeping track of the books I've read this year, thanks to Goodreads.com I've set a goal to read 100 books this year. So far I've read 40.

So I decided to try to single out my top 10 favorites so far this year. (Remember, just SO FAR this year!)

Here we go--in no particular order:

Before I Go to Sleep, by S.J. Watson--Christine wakes up every day with no memory of the day before...and scant memories of her previous life. She starts keeping a journal to help her hold on to what memories she does have, and realizes her husband isn't telling her the truth about everything. Riveting.

Lady in Waiting, by Susan Meissner--The dual stories of a contemporary woman named Jane, and Lady Jane Grey. Read my review here.

Operation Bonnet, by Kimberly Stuart--Fresh, fun story, with an adorably appealing heroine. Read my review here.

The Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis--A time traveling trip back to the Middle Ages goes terribly awry. Read my review here.

Blackout/All Clear, by Connie Willis--Really has to be counted as one book, because you absolutely cannot read them separately! Time travel to WWII Blitz era goes, yes, terribly awry. Read my review here.

Waterfall, by Lisa T. Bergren--A YA book that I enjoyed immensely. Time travel to Italy in the Middle Ages goes--of course--terribly awry! A smart, brave, engaging young heroine. Read my review here.

Fairer than Morning, by Rosslyn Elliott--What I thought would be a run-of-the-mill historical fiction book turned out to be much more--truly compelling. Read my review here.

Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro--Moving, fascinating and thought-provoking dystopian tale. Read my review here.

Her Fearful Symmetry, by Audrey Niffenegger--A captivating ghost story that revolves around real-life London cemetery, Highgate. Read my review here.

Kept, by D.J. Taylor--Riveting, Dickensian-era mystery, thick with Victorian atmosphere.

Here's to the next 60 books!

Big news in Christian Fiction: The Christy Awards Announced

The 2011 Christy Awards presentation was held last night in Atlanta, honoring the best in Christian fiction in nine categories.

In the years that I worked for a Christian radio station and regularly interviewed Christian authors, I would have read several of the winners. This year I've only read two of the finalists (they didn't win in their categories): Susan Meissner's Lady in Waiting, and Ted Dekker's The Bride Collector.

However, I see some of my favorite authors among the finalists and winners. I've been wanted to read Julie Klassen's The Girl in the Gatehouse for a long time--I never seem to catch it on the shelf at my local library, and haven't taken the time to reserve it. I'm finally going to be getting my own copy shortly, though! I've loved the other books I've read by Julie Klassen.

If you head over to the list and see ones that you've enjoyed,reviewed, or can recommend, will you let me know? Thanks!

My Review of Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner

A Manhattan antiques dealer with a troubled marriage stumbles upon a centuries-old ring that, coincidentally, has her name engraved in it: Jane.

The captivating story that results--actually, the parallel stories of the modern Jane, the pre-Elizabethan Jane, and Jane's friend and seamstress, Lucy--is a beautifully-written tale that emphasizes the importance and the impact of the choices that women make.

I had heard a lot of good things about Susan Meissner, but this is the first time I've read one of her books. I was impressed.

Her writing is lovely, thoughtful and descriptive. Her research and grasp of the era in which Lady Jane Grey and Lucy Day live is impeccable--right down to the detailed descriptions of the elaborate dresses the nobility wore in those days.

In fact, those portions of the book reminded me somewhat of books I've read by Phillippa Gregory, without the explicitness.

Yet, Meissner seems equally at home writing about a completely contemporary setting.

I closed the book feeling that I'd learned something--not only about history, but about life--and I was sorry to see it end. I'll definitely be reading more of Susan Meissner.


A portrait of Lady Jane Grey by an unknown artist, from Historic-UK.com


Note: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. (This did not influence my opinion of the book.)

Order Lady in Waiting, by Susan Meissner