Year End Wrap-Up - Part 1

I'm not copping out on you on December 29th.  But, my mother just left yesterday, readership is low this week, while people are still enjoying or recovering from the holidays, and I have a book review due soon for Library Journal.   Perhaps the best reason to do a year end wrap-up is to do justice to the authors.  It's not really fair to write a book review when readership this week is a third what it normally is.  So, I'll summarize this year's reading in the next couple days, toast and remember the year on Dec. 31st, and kick off the new year with the Treasures in My Closet post.  Watch for the listing of new books on January 1st.

In the meantime, here's part one of the 2010 book recap.

I read 178 books this year, down 23 from last year.  But, 2009 was my best year ever, with 201 books.

There were a few mitigating circumstances this year.  My husband died in February, so I lost some reading time for a while.  And, I worked on a chapter for a forthcoming reference book every weekend for a month.  So, it's not surprising I lost 23 books.   Eighty-nine of the books read were mysteries and crime novels, exactly half.  Hmmm.  Maybe I should change that comment at the top, "with an emphasis on mysteries."   No.  Those are still the books I'm most passionate about, and I'm most interested in mystery authors.

I enjoy discovering the first book by a novelist.  I read seventeen this year, fifteen of them mysteries.   The exceptions were Beth Hoffman's Saving CeeCee Honeycutt and Fireworks over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff.   Beth's book was on my list of the year's favorites.  2010 may be remembered as a year for exceptional debuts.  Crime fiction readers should take note of Dennis Palumbo's Mirror Image, Liar, Liar by K.J. Larsen, John Verdon's Think of a Number, Gerrie Ferris Finger's The End Game, Random Violence by Jassy Mackenzie, Gutshot Straight by Lou Berney, Drink the Tea by Thomas Kaufman, Wanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts, Bones of Contention by Jeanne Matthews, Avery  Aames' The Long Quiche Goodbye, Hilary Davidson's The Damage Done, Treachery in the Yard by Adimchinna Ibe, Laura Alden's Murder at the PTA, Todd Ritter's Death Notice and Bruce DeSilva's Rogue Island.  I'm sure there were a number of other outstanding debuts I missed, but this group includes some exceptional books.    Thank you to all of the authors for their work.  I was lucky enough to meet, and, even host a few of you.  And, I'm looking forward to your second books!

In August, the Desert Sleuths Chapter of Sisters in Crime held their Write Now! 2010 Conference, inviting me to attend as their first fan guest of honor.  It was a wonderful day.  I had the chance to meet the authors who spoke; Jim Born, Robin Burcell, Bryan Gruley, and Sheila Lowe.  I can't thank the Desert Sleuths enough.  They gave me a year's membership to the group.  And, they debuted their own story collection there, How Not to Survive a Vacation.  They are a fun group to host for Authors @ The Teague.  Thank you, to true sisters.

I can't do a year's wrap-up without mentioning the Poisoned Pen Bookstore.  It's been a few years since it was popular to refer to your favorite place, other than work and home, as "the third place."  But, the Poisoned Pen truly is the third place in my life, where I meet friends, authors who sometimes become friends, and discover books.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that ebooks won't be the end of this wonderful independent bookstore.  Thank you to Barbara Peters and her wonderful staff.

And, thank you to every reader of this blog.  I want to thank you as readers who love books.   You comment on the posts, tell your friends about the blog, follow me here, and on Twitter (@LesaHolstine).  I love to run the contests, and give you the chance to win a book.  It's fun to tell you about books and discuss them here.  I love to hear that you read and enjoyed a book I reviewed.  Thank you for all the comments.  I love to write this blog because I know you're reading it.

So, come back tomorrow, when part 2 will include the year in pictures.