These are the best books I read this year!!!! The winner of the title of Laura Duet's Best Book of 2008 is Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri. Totally perfect in every way! 
This year I decided not to limit my list to 10 books. I have just given you the cover pictures of all of the books that I loved this year. The main qualifier for a book to be on this list is that I had to want to rush home and read it everyday. I think that is my new standard; and I believe this is a good standard. I don't care about literary this or award for that. I just want a book that is riveting, lovely, funny, exciting, tells a good story and makes me care. All of these books did that.
So without further ado, please scroll down for a view of the best books of 2008. Are there any that you read? 
As always, if you want to find out more about each book just go to Amazon.com and put the title in their search engine.What was the best book you read this year?
19 comments:
Thanks for the book list! Since I rarely buy books, it is harder to find new reads ('cause I'm not bookstore browsing) and our library doesn't always have what I want on the shelves.
I guess my favorite reads this year would be The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.
I almost picked up Elizabeth Berg's new one yesterday, but chose Testimony by Anita Shreve instead.
Hi Barb! Did I tell you that your cross-stitch blog has the most beautiful banner???? It does.
My best book of last year was A Thousand Splendid Suns.......loved it.
My Mom read Testimony and said it was really good. Next time you can get the Elizabeth Berg book. You cannot go wrong with any of her books!!!
Hi Laura! Great post! I love the list- that really is so helpful. Best book? Hmmm- that is hard - I have not been reading as much as I used to and our Book Club seems to be picking somewhat duds (I can say that- I run the Book Club- lol), but I think I would pick Run by Ann Patchett and Sarah's Keys (still not done with it but it is still good). Best book ever still has to be There's Something About Kevin by Lionel Shriver- so disturbing but so good. Again thanks for the list- I will have to check some of these out!
I haven't read any on your list so I now have my "to read" list for 2009 ... yea! Right now I'm about 40% done with Wally Lamb's "The Hour I First Believed." It's been an excellent read so far.
I love that you have a list of books you've read this past year. I think I'll do that for 2009.
Thanks for the book list!! I'm going to add them to Amazon wish list. Hands down the best book I read this year was My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult! If you haven't read it and you obviously loved Nineteen Minutes, I promise you that you will not be disappointed!
Thanks for the recommendation! I need to check out that "Middle" one, especially. And I think your criteria about wanting to return to it is the best I've heard!
Happy New Year!
Wish I had more time to read but I don't. Thanks though for some good ideas to jot down - after all I have a big Borders gift card to use!!
The ONLY book I read this year was "The Shack". I bought copies of it for my MiL and SiL (for Christmas) and they both loved it too.
I love this! I wish you'd write more about your books, Laura. Your choices are always interesting to me, and almost always unknown to me. I still have my Girl with Glasses book you suggested. I thought it was great, and it somehow illustrates what I'm trying to say. You just seem to find these fascinating, cheerful looking, quirky looking books. And I love 'em.
I read "you're not you" and "nineteen minutes" and LOVED your list as always !!!
Now I need to make a "gotta read these because laura loved them" list....that will keep me busy in 2009 !!
thanks and a happy new year hug to you !!!
oops...and I wanted to add a favorite of mine that I read this year..."three little words"...it's a true story and was wonderful !!!
also, I think it was this year, I read "the pact"....sooo good !!
and as always....elizabeth berg anything...always the best !!!
happy new year BACK Sweet Laura !
Looking forward to checking out these BEST BOOKS!
xo- s.
I have been waiting for this book list. I was surprised at how few of yours I'd read, but I'm eager to read them soon. I really am still pondering my list. Which was your favorite?
I was just playing catch up and I read that you were going to Welcome Stitchery in Cyrstal Lake, I love that needle shop. Did you like it? I just stumbled across another blogger that invited me there on Saturday to join a few gals. I am so disappointed I can't make it. I live right outside of Rockford.
I can't pick a best book, I like and forget alot of the ones I read, lol. I wish I had more time to read.
Stitch or read?? hehe should be my header name
Happy 2009!!
Wow! I have all your old lists, and I hope you can email me this list as well. The covers are riveting as well.
Oh what a FUN post!!! You're gooood. I wish I could have read half the books you did!
Wishing you all the best for 2009 and beyond.
Holly
Well, I just requested three from your list from my local library...we'll see--I'm sad to admit I'm not the reader I used to be...t.v. is the deh-ville, 'cho know?
Happy New Year!!
I'm reading "Free Food for Millionaires" right now. I see a few more books on your list that I've been wanting to read...
I finally read "Main Street," and I think I'd choose it as my favorite of 2008.
Hi Diane in Japan!!! I just added Main Street to my list of books to read. It looks very good.
Please let me know how you like Free Food for Millionaires!! Also, which other books did you think look interesting from my list?
Feel free to email me at: duetabode@comcast.net
Thanks for stopping by!
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