I was wondering what book was read this year that you all really thought was the best one you read this year. My favorite for the year was Water for elephants. My second favorite would have to be The Kindness of Strangers. What are your thoughts?

Brodi,

My favorite is definitely The Kindness of Strangers.  I'm glad someone else liked it as well am I did.  :)

I've read a lot of good books this year.  However the one that stands out as my clear favorite is Spencerville by Nelson DeMille.  I'm a sucker for evil cop and reclaiming lost love stories.

I also enjoyed The Appeal by John Grisham.  Although when I got to the end I went "WTF?  That's it?" and threw the book across the room.  I ran through that book in 48 hours.  It was a throw back to his early stuff, and the ending was so anti-climatic.

I liked The Mulligan and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.   Both easy reads.

I loved Memory Keepr's Daughter, The Other Boleyn Girh

the T

bottom line...loved Shantaram....great read and makes you change your mind on the world...second great read was Pillars of the Earth....valliant book and the sequel is just as good (World Without End) and lastly...Girl with the Dragon Tattoo...also known as the "Trillogy"....AMAZING

Cold Shoulder,  Cold Heart,   Cold Blood

Lorraine Page series by Lynda La Plante

I love all of her books, but these were the best

I also enjoyed The Appeal by John Grisham.  Although when I got to the end I went "WTF?  That's it?" and threw the book across the room.  I ran through that book in 48 hours.  It was a throw back to his early stuff, and the ending was so anti-climatic.

If you thought The Appeal was anti-climatic, just wait till you get to the end of The Associate.  It's even worse. I've run out and bought all of the Grisham books the week they were released, but these two have made me swear off of them.  Next time, I'll wait out the WL.

just wait till you get to the end of The Associate.

Christa, Do you still have your copy of "The Associate?"  I got a dud copy--the last chapter was missing!

Unless, that's what you meant by "anti-climatic."

No, I don't have it any more.  Maybe that was the problem with the book....the publisher left the last chapter out of all the books!

One of my all time favorites is Same Kind of different as Me. It is a tearjerker and makes you want to be a better person.

The best books I've read this year are Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum and Fish by T.J. Pursell though not the right material for everyone. 

I have read many amazing books this year, but these stand out: The Elegance of the Hedgehog (Muriel Barbery), Up in the Old Hotel (Joseph Mitchell--outstanding stories from the 30s and 40s), Stoner (John McGahern--about a professor, originally from the farm, who leads a rather bleak life, but it speaks to me), and Then We Came to the End (Joshua Ferris--about an office that is downsizing: wonderful writing!).

Tie between The Help and Those who save us. Both were page turners from beginning to end...

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum was by far the best book I have read this year.

The Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

The Help by Katheryn Stockett

The Tamarind Seed by Evelyn Anthony  This is an older book about the beginning of the cold war between Russia and the US.  The spy stuff is not overdone, so the fact that it is so out of date does not interfere with the story.    Fantastic book!         I didn't expect to like it and couldn't put it down.

All We Know of Heaven by Jacqueline Mitchard  

And Then They Were Nuns by Susan Leonardi

Breakfast with Scot by Michael Downing    The book was really touching.  Hard to believe that is it not a memoir but a novel.  How would you handle it if your son was so not normal?

Fish by T.J. Pursell     I bought this book from amazon and read it, then posted it.  I have to admit that it was a page turner and a pretty stark and honest look at what happens to young men who end up in prison.  I can't say it was a "favorite" for 2009 but it definitely increased my compassion for those who are incarcerated as young as this man was.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle--I wouldn't call it an easy read, but I could not stop thinking about it for a week!

A close second is The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.  I just couldn't put it down.

The Garden of Last Days by Andre Dubus III

I agree with all your posts! The Kindness of Strangers was my favorite. (Contact the author online, she is always willing to share her thoughts and such about the book.)  The Help, and Song Yet Sung, have been my favs thus far this year. The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo had too much useless character development.

My favorite of the year was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  What a delight.

"Water For Elephants" what a book!  "The Red Tent", "This Much I Know Is True" "A Thousand Splendid Suns" just to name a few.  Everyone is talking about "The Help" I read the first page and couldn't understand why.  Anyone want to enlighten me?

I vote for

Time Traveler's Wife     -    A. Niffenegger

Poisonwood Bible -   B. Kingsolver

Never Let Me Go   - Izuro Kashigu (not certain if I spelled that right)