Weekly Geeks: The Top Ten Books of 2009

Weekly Geeks is compiling it's "Top Ten Books of 2009" list and I think I'll toss in my two cents.  I'm not really waiting on any books due out in December so I think I can safely say that I can make-up my list. 

The WG staff will compile a master list to vote from after December 4; if you'd like to participate in the Top Ten list-making go to the sign-up page, read the instructions, make your list, and submit it to Mr. Linky.

Happy Thinking!  Here are my Top Ten books of 2009 (I guess they're sort-of in order):

1. The Children's Book by AS Byatt (literary fiction)
2. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson (crime/thriller)
3. The Best American Essays 2009 edited by Mary Oliver (essay)
4. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (literary fiction)
5. Drood by Dan Simmons (fiction)
6. Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell (fiction)
7. The Big Rewind by Nathan Rabin (biography)
8. Mistress of the Monarchy by Alison Weir (history)
9. Ophelia Joined the Group Maidens Who Don't Float by Sarah Schmelling (humor)
10. Beowulf on the Beach by Jack Murnighan (lit crit/theory)

Obviously, this is composed of stuff I read that was pubbed for the first time in 2009; I'm sure there are a few good books I missed simply because I haven't read them, yet.

Weekly Geeks: Second Chances

Second Chances

There have been times in my life where I reread a book (or author) I hated--or thought I hated--but the second time around ended up loving. Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever changed your mind about a book or author the second time around? Have you ever given a book or author a second chance?

If you have, I'd love to hear your stories. Blog about your experience(s) in giving second chances. If you haven't, I'd like you to consider giving a book or an author a second chance. You can blog about your intentions to do so--or if you're a quick reader, maybe you can even squeeze something in! Can't think of a single book or author? Don't worry, you can stretch this one to include movies or music if you prefer. It is just very interesting to me how time can change tastes and perceptions. How subjective the reading experience is and always will be. Leave your answers (links) in the comments!

I have one from high school that was my love-to-hate book: The Grapes of Wrath. The teacher pretty much killed any love of reading in his class when he assigned quizzes over each chapter. Not content with "What happened in this chapter" questions but really nit-picky questions about the symbolism of every single element in Steinbeck's book. Needless to say I wasn't too keen on Steinbeck anymore and loathed any and all references to The Grapes of Wrath including the movie adaptation. Think of it as an allergy; any mention of The Grapes of Wrath and I'd start developing itchy welts.

Over the years I acquired the pretty Steinbeck Centennial trade paperback editions. They look inviting, don't they? It pays to be a book hoarder sometimes because I decided to attempt a Steinbeck since I had the volumes on my shelves. I started with East of Eden; it was really good. I started reading The Grapes of Wrath in July. It's not too bad. I haven't broken out in hives, yet, so we'll see.

Weekly Geeks: Guilty Pleasures

This week's task was sent in by Maree of Just Add Books, who's been thinking about those things that we do when we're not reading or blogging. Here's what Maree has to say:

The comments on this post of mine got me thinking about guilty pleasures. Non-reading guilty pleasures. Mine at the time the post was written was American Idol. Particularly one contestant, as you can see. By now, the show is over, and the results are in, one way or another. But my inappropriate addiction to Idol got me thinking about the things we do that we love but that we don't like to admit to--our guilty pleasures. Mine is reality TV, which scratches that small, dark place that we all have. So. Weekly Geeks, we're going into the confessional this week. What's your non-reading guilty pleasure? Trashy TV? Trashier movies? Junk food?

Weeeelllll....I like to sleep....too obvious.

I don't watch much television but when I do I'm obsessed with Numb3rs and Criminal Minds (it's a nerd thing).

I eat peanut butter straight out of the jar.

I own all of Britney Spears's CDs. [ducks] Hey, they are good for the gym (for which I have to say I suck today and managed to pack a gym bag with no gym clothes in it - just magazines and socks) and every one once in a blue moon I teach a jazz class. I love Lang Lang and Jean-Yves Thibaudet but they just don't do it for me on the EFX.