Favorites of 2010 and Plans for 2011!

So, I’m a bit behind in my blogging. I’ve been reading more rapidly than posting lately due to inconsistent internet access during the holidays but, like almost all the rest of you bloggers out there, I want to commemorate this last year of reading somehow before rushing more reviews. I’ve been considering the best way to do this, and greatly admiring other bloggers’ charts and stats and lists! I’m going to keep it simple, though, and just list my favorite reads of the year (rated 5 stars on Goodreads), in no particular order but categorized by graphic novels/serialized comics, fiction, autobiography, and non-fiction. I’ve read more genres than that this year, but all my favorite reads happen to fall into one of the four. I read a few of these before I started the blog in April, so in some cases there is no review to link to, but I will supply a link where possible.

Graphic novels/serialized comics:

Locas: The Maggie and Hopey Stories, by Jaime Hernandez

The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For, by Alison Bechdel

Fiction:

My Name is Asher Lev, by Chaim Potok

Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

Emma, by Jane Austen

Fifth Business, by Robertson Davies

Cat’s Eye, by Margaret Atwood

Alias Grace, by Margaret Atwood

Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, by Muriel Spark

Death Comes for the Archbishop, by Willa Cather

Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton

Autobiography:

Black Boy, by Richard Wright

Non-fiction:

Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty, by Dorothy Roberts

The Library at Night, by Alberto Manguel

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot

Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution, by Sara Marcus

The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family, by Mary S. Lovell

Mostly I’ve been reading and collecting books from second hand or thrift stores exclusively, because I like to own (ahem, hoard) my books and it’s an inexpensive way for me to sustain the habit. Plus, I love the foraging itself. Since I live in New York City, my cheap book store options are pretty great, but what I see is what I get so I still end up with mostly Western authors, and mostly “classics” which, actually, seem underrepresented in this favorites list considering I’ve really enjoyed most of what I’ve read this year! I’m not going to change my main method of book acquisition too much, but I do plan to more actively seek out books from a more diverse number of countries in 2011. I’m not making many new years reading resolutions because I like to read at whim, but I am VERY excited about the Feminist Classics project I’ll be co-hosting this year with Amy, Ana, and Iris—starting tomorrow!!! This month we’re reading A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, by Mary Wollstonecraft, and So Long a Letter, by Mariama Ba. I haven’t signed up for any other challenges or anything yet, but I might reconsider joining a few at a later date.

I’m so glad I joined the blogosphere this year, it’s been such a blast connecting with you all, and I’ve found out about so many amazing books I hadn’t heard of before! Here’s to you, the new year, and all the wonderful books to come. Happy reading in 2011! 🙂