Here are my picks for best books and movies of 2009. Caveats: some of the books may have actually been 2008, and I may have even read them in 2008. But if I can't recall putting them on a list before (and if we were talking strictly about my blog that would be true de-facto) I find them fair game to include.
Books - 9, an awkward number, will try to think of a tenth
The book entries are listed randomly; no preference assigned within the group.
The Gargoyle - this would be the one from 2008, most likely, but still so powerful and amazing I will include it again
People of the Book
The Help
The Raw Shark Texts
What is the What
Let the Great World Spin
Await Your Reply
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo/The Girl Who Played with Fire (two books, most likely one in 2008, but go get 'em!)
Happy to provide review/commentary on these if you want, but you'll need to ask. My book friends have already suffered through my extensive commentary. But, the list includes historical fiction, futuristic fiction, great detective stories, great love stories, terrific mysteries, and painful/hopeful non-fiction. Many bookes contain multiple categories.
Movies
The movie entries are listed randomly, as well, except for my number one pick: The Road. My picks are only coincidentally the same as Robert Butler's (our KC Star movie critic). There are many times I disagree with him. But this year, we were simpatico. Major picks:
The Road
The Hurt Locker
Up
Up in the Air
Julie and Julia
Honorable mentions/really like them:
The Blind Side
It’s Complicated
Inglorious Basterds
Departures
The Hangover
Could not watch The Time Traveler's Wife or The Lovely Bones, both of which I loved as books. But The Road was as pure and elemental as the book, and equally as true, and it broke and uplifted my heart in the same way.
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I am thrilled that I have actually seen 4 of your top 5. Kids must be getting older and I am seeing movies in tehaters again
ReplyDeleteI think I only saw four movies in the last twelve months (if that many) and 3 of them are on your list.
ReplyDeleteAs for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, Cathy absolutely loved the first two and in Spain last summer we saw a guy reading the third (in spanish). She sent me over to talk to him and we learned it was out in English also but only in Europe. I got it for her thru Amazon UK in the fall and she loved it. She has turned Bill Robinson on to them (gave him the 3rd for Christmas) as well as Andrea and Cris. We learned from Gustavo and Dorte there is a 4th still in his computer since he died and his partner is holding on to it as there is a family fight over the rights. I know this was more of an email than a comment!