Books Read in 2010

Another year has come and gone and my mind is 80 books richer--that's 11 more than in 2009. Here is a list of the books I finished in 2010. You can follow the links to their journal entries on BookCrossing; those books without a link were either borrowed, or are in my permanent collection for the moment. My favorite reads this year? Lamb, by Christopher Moore, Stardust, by Neil Gaiman, and The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, not to mention my rereads of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C.S. Lewis, and The Giver, by Lois Lowry.

January
1. Lamb, by Christopher Moore
2. Evil Under the Sun, by Agatha Christie (audio)
3. Dinner for Two, by Mike Gayle (audio)
4. LOST: Endangered Species, by Cathy Hapka
5. Stardust, by Neil Gaiman
6. The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar, by Robert Alexander
7. Thumbelina, by Hans Christian Andersen
8. Memories of the Future, Volume 1, by Wil Wheaton
9. My Forbidden Face—Growing Up Under the Taliban: A Young Woman's Story, by Latifa (audio)

February
10. The Horse and His Boy, by C. S. Lewis (audio)
11. A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving
12. Knock Down, by Dick Francis (audio)
13. Perfume, by Patrick Süskind
14. The Daughters of Cain, by Colin Dexter (audio)
15. Coraline, by Neil Gaiman
16. The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory
17. A Night to Remember, by Walter Lord
18. Prince Caspian, by C. S. Lewis (audio)
19. Finger Lickin' Fifteen, by Janet Evanovich

March
20. The Magician's Assistant, by Ann Patchett
21. Written by Herself: Volume 2: Women's Memoirs From Britain, Africa, Asia and the United States, by Jill Ker Conway
22. Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman
23. Eclipse, by Stephenie Meyer

April
24. Notes from a Small Island, by Bill Bryson
25. Dead Even, by Brad Meltzer (audio)
26. Twenty Grand: Great American Short Stories, edited by Ernestine Taggard
27. Lily White, by Susan Isaacs (audio)
28. Shattered, by Dick Francis (audio)
29. Granny Dan, by Danielle Steel

May
30. A Daughter's a Daughter and Other Novels, by Mary Westmacott (a/k/a Agatha Christie)
31. What You Leave Behind, by Diane Carey
32. The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson
33. A Fortunate Life, by A. B. Facey (audio)
34. The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown
35. As Time Goes By, by Bob Larbey (audio)

June
36. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson
37. Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay
38. The Secret Passage, by Nina Bawden
39. The Lost Continent, by Bill Bryson
40. The Giver, by Lois Lowry (audio)
41. In Sunlight, in a Beautiful Garden, by Kathleen Cambor
42. Girl with a Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier (audio)
43. The Lost Legends of New Jersey, by Frederick Reiken
44. Pearls Sells Out, by Stephan Pastis

July
45. Something Under the Bed Is Drooling, by Bill Watterson
46. Death on the Nile, by Agatha Christie
47. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C. S. Lewis (audio)
48. Petite Anglaise, by Catherine Sanderson
49. Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer
50. Summerland, by Michael Chabon
51. The Silver Chair, by C. S. Lewis (audio)
52. Dial Emmy for Murder, by Eileen Davidson
53. Talk, Talk, by T. C. Boyle (audio)

August
54. The Girl With No Shadow, by Joanne Harris
55. The Good Samaritan Strikes Again, by Patrick F. McManus
56. Life's A Beach, by Claire Cook (audio)
57. Coal Run, by Tawni O'Dell
58. How Nancy Drew Saved My Life, by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
59. The Vendetta Defense, by Lisa Scottoline (audio)
60. The Last Battle, by C. S. Lewis (audio)
61. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, by Jean-Dominique Bauby

September
62. Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist, by Michael J. Fox
63. The Hundred Secret Senses, by Amy Tan (audio)
64. Marrying Mozart, by Stephanie Cowell
65. The Boy Next Door, by Meggin Cabot
66. The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me, by Roald Dahl
67. Mutant Message Down Under, by Marlo Morgan
68. Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen (reread)

October
69. Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, by Lorna Landvik
70. Lake Wobegon Days, by Garrison Keillor (audio)
71. LOST: Signs of Life, by Frank Thompson
72. Son of a Witch, by Gregory Maguire

November
73. We Are In A Book!, by Mo Willems
74. Can I Play Too?, by Mo Willems
75. There Is A Bird On Your Head, by Mo Willems
76. Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt (audio)
77. At Home In Mitford, by Jan Karon

December
78. The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, by Christopher Moore
79. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett
80. Stories by O. Henry

December Stats

Wild Releases: 6
RABCKs: 1

Catches: 1
Wild Find: 1

2010 Stats:

Wild Releases: 226

RABCKs: 44

Catches: 36

Wild Finds: 3

Bookrays: 3

Wild Release #1063

I just got back from a delicious dinner with friends at Robokyo Japanese Steakhouse in Greensburg. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is fun, and the hibachi chefs are highly entertaining. I was inspired to leave Kaye Morgan's "Killer Sudoku" behind in the lobby in the free City Paper rack. Please find a new home soon! Domo arigato.

Wild Find #5!

I found a very familiar-looking book today at the Goodwill store in Greensburg: "So You Want to Be a Wizard," by Diane Duane. I released it in Level Green a little over 11 months ago, but it seems to have the instincts of a homing pigeon. It wouldn't answer me when I asked where it had been and how it came to be there; I'll just have to use my imagination. I left it there on the shelf, awaiting its next adventure.

RABCK #296

I had two copies of "Bel Canto" on my shelf, so I was pleased to send one to spoiledrotten in New Jersey so she can read it for her book club. Enjoy!

Wild Release #1062

"Anne of Green Gables," by L. M. Montgomery, is looking for a new home. If you can offer her one, she is sitting on a light pole in the Lincoln Place Subway parking lot.

Wild Release #1061, a/k/a Catch #152!

I released Audrey Nifenegger's "The Time Traveler's Wife" around 8 p.m. on a bench outside of T.G.I. Friday's in Greensburg, where I was celebrating my birthday with some friends and family. I came home to find that it was already caught before I had a chance to make release notes! What a perfect gift! The AnonymousFinder writes, "Just picked up the book at TGIF's in Greensburg - I'm anxious to read it. I never heard of this site before; sounds like fun."

Wild Release #1060

Don't be fooled by the cute angel on the cover of this book—this is definitely NOT meant for children! Since kids don't usually pump gas, I felt pretty safe leaving Christopher Moore's "The Stupidest Angel" on top of a gas pump at the Sunoco on West Pittsburgh and Vannear in Greensburg. Happy Holidays!

Wild Release #1059

I had good luck with my first release at Bella Luna Restaurant in Monroeville, so I thought I'd try a repeat. I left "Mrs. Mike," by Benedict & Nancy Freedman, on the bench outside the restaurant during peak dinner hours. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my luck holds out.

Wild Release #1058

It is important to fuel up before running a race, so be sure to stop by the GetGo in Greensburg where you just may find "The Race," by Richard North Patterson, on top of one of the gas pumps.

November Stats

Wild Releases: 14

Catches: 1

Year-to-date:

Wild Releases: 220

RABCKs: 43

Catches: 35

Wild Finds: 2

Bookrays: 3

Wild Release #1057

My car was filthy with leaves and grass and other bits of Mother Nature, so I went to DeGennaro's Car Wash in South Greensburg at lunch to make use of their giant vacuums. Nine minutes and $2.25 later, I was on my way with a (relatively) clean interior and without Judith Guest's "Ordinary People," which I left leaning against the vacuum unit.

Catch #151!

"The Princess Bride" has been rescued! An AnonymousFinder writes they were "Very excited to find this book! I love the movie, but I have never read the book." I'm very excited about the catch—enjoy!

Wild Releases #1047 - #1056

Today was the annual Holiday Parade in Downtown Greensburg--a fabulous opportunity to release lots of books. While Sister No. 4 and her family watched the parade, I was able to release ten books with the help of Sister No. 6: "Under the Mistletoe," by Mary Balogh; "The Dog Who Saved Christmas and Other True Animal Tales," by Allan Zullo; "The House Without A Christmas Tree," by Gail Rock; "Christmas Around The World," by Emily Kelley; "Politically Correct Holiday Stories," by James Finn Garner; "Truth or Dare," by R. L. Stine; "The Princess Bride," by William Goldman; "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by C. S. Lewis; "Arthur's Christmas," by Marc Brown; and "Deadly Promise," by Mignon F. Ballard. Even though it was a mite chilly, once my mission was complete, we stuck around and enjoyed the rest of the parade.

Wild Release #1046

Today was the Annual Food Bank Benefit Breakfast at Slacker's Backyard Café in Level Green. Mom, Sister No. 6, and I enjoyed a delicious breakfast (mine was eggs, bacon, and French toast) in a constantly full restaurant. It was so good to see all these people giving so others who need help can be helped. On our way out, I left an audiobook version of Lois Lowry's "The Giver" on the windowsill outside.

Wild Release #1045

Shopping at Aldi's in Greensburg this evening? Look for "A Lesson In Murder," by Augustus Cileone, in one of the shopping carts outside on the sidewalk.

Wild Release #1044

"Alias," by Amy J. Fetzer, is waiting for a lucky finder inside the vestibule of Subway on Route 119 in South Greensburg.

October Stats

Wild Releases: 34

Catches: 4
Bookrays: 1

Year-to-date:

Wild Releases: 206

RABCKs: 43

Catches: 34

Wild Finds: 2

Bookrays: 3

Wild Releases #1035 – #1043

The Humane Society of Westmoreland County hosted its annual Whisker Walk today at Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg. Sister No. 6, Cat No. 1, and I enjoyed a brisk walk around the upper lake before the festivities officially started so I could release a few themed books along the walking path. I hung a few from branches (my first attempt at this, definitely not my last), left some on benches, water fountains, and in the split of a tree, including: "The Fashion Hound Murders," by Elaine Viets; "The Berenstain Bear Scouts in Giant Bat Cave," by Stan Berenstain; "Skeleton Man," by Joseph Bruchac; "The Man In The Woods," by Rosemary Wells; "The Dead Girlfriend," by R.L. Stine; "A Pedigree to Die For," by Laurien Berenson; "Sick Puppy," by Carl Hiaasen; "Orange As Marmalade," by Fran Stewart; and "Cat Crimes II," by Martin Harry Greenberg.

Wild Release #1034

I met Sister No. 6 and a friend for drinks and dinner at The Sunset Cafe in Greensburg, and left "The Soul Hunter," by Melanie Wells, behind on a ledge outside their main door. Find "The Soul Hunter" before it finds you.