Our top 50 books of 2009 list has been one of the most popular features on BookPage.com. With that in mind, we decided to compile a “Top 20 Books of 2010—so far” list, based on the most-viewed new reviews on BookPage.com, from January 1 until March 31.
In our recent reader survey, BookPage readers asserted their love for fiction, especially mysteries and thrillers. So I was surprised to see that several non-fiction titles, such as This Book is Overdue! by Marilyn Johnson and Crazy Like Us by Ethan Watters, have been incredibly popular this year.
View the complete list below and tell us: How many have you read? Come December, will any of these books make the year’s “best of” list?
1. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
2. This Book is Overdue! by Marilyn Johnson
3. The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
2. This Book is Overdue! by Marilyn Johnson
3. The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
4. Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian
5. Crazy Like Us by Ethan Watters
6. The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins
7. The Poker Bride by Christopher Corbett
8. Safe from the Neighbors by Steve Yarbrough
9. Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen
10. House Rules by Jodi Picoult
11. Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert
12. The Book of Fires by Jane Borodale
13. A Mountain of Crumbs by Elena Gorokhova
14. The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi Durrow
15. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
16. Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo
17. The Three Weissmanns of Westport by Cathleen Schine
18. The Privileges by Jonathan Dee
19. Noah’s Compass by Anne Tyler
20. Roses by Leila Meacham
Absolutely LOVED ‘Saving CeeCee Honeycutt’ – a great read with southern charm.
“House Rules” was one of my all-time favorite books.
I really love the way Jodi Picoult writes.
I think you should put Watermark by Vanitha Sankaran on that list!
I’ve already read the Postmistress, and have Secrets of Eden on my shelf. Looking forward to Girl Who Fell From the Sky and This Book Is Overdue! as well. I like the idea of a “best of the year – so far” list. Makes the final results in December/January more interesting!
None so far and few likely to read ever.
I’ve read 4 of the titles.
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is the most wonderful, uplifting and charming book I’ve read in years. The writing is so beautiful too. I’m telling all my friends to read it!
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I have read Postmistress, Secrets of Eden, House Rules, and Noah’s Compass. The first three were excellent. Postmistress gives a different perspective on war correspondents and presents the characters with choices that are against their basic beliefs but are the right thing to do, Secrets was a good look at how spousal abuse affects many different people. House Rules emphasizes the effects of autism on a family in which the autistic person has become an adult. I was a little disappointed in Noah’s Compass–not what I was expecting.
So far this year, I have read Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, Noah’s Compass and Secrets of Eden. I enjoyed the “feel good” read of CeeCee but did not enjoy Secrets of Eden and being a huge Anne Tyler fan, I was very disappointed in Noah”s Compass.
I read The Postmistress and really enjoyed it. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, House Rules, Secrets of Eden and The Three Weissmanns of Westport all sit eagerly on the To Be Read pile.
The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes didn’t make the list, but I felt it was her best book to date. Overlooked from last year that I got around to this year is Henry’s Sisters by Cathy Lamb…a must read.
I haven’t read any of these yet. I will probably read Noah’s Compass and Saving CeeCee Honeycutt.
I did read Safe From the Neighbors and feel certain it will be among my top books of the year.
Alan Bradley’s newest is also on my to be read list; I loved The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie!
I haven’t read any of these.
Absolutely loved House Rules by Picoult. Couldn’t put it down. Gave a clear picture of the life of those on the autism spectrum and how it affects their families. Other great reads were Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt, This Book is Overdue, Roses and The Postmistress. Two others that I enjoyed that were not on the list were Americans in Space by Mary Mitchell and The Bricklayer by Noah Boyd.
I am out of touch! The only one of the group that I checked out of the library is The Poker Bride. Didn’t get around to reading it because I was reading ‘Papa Spy’ by Jimmy Burns–spying in neutral, but civil war devistated, Spain by the Brits and others in WW2. Great Book!
I have read The Privileges, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, The Three Weissmanns of Westport, (I used all of them for my bookclub’s blog) and I am now reading The Secrets of Eden. All winners so far as far as I’m concerned!
“Shades of Grey” is absolutely terrific! It’s very different from Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next and Nursery Crimes series, but those are also wonderful. SoG is set in the future after an unnamed “something happened” and the colortocracy is set up as a caste system where you are what (color) you see, and rules abound, primarily to keep those in power there, and those without power subdued. Then…questions start to get asked and investigations made, and the chase is on. If you’ve never read Fforde before, this is a great place to start; if you HAVE enjoyed Fforde’s books in the past, you KNOW you’re in for a treat. Read this book!
If you only read ONE book this year, make it CeeCee Honeycutt! I read about one book per week & this is the one I’m telling all my friends not to miss. It has been said “it takes a village to raise a child” & these southern belles take on their mission with style & verve. You’ll love these colorful ladies…I hope to become one as I age!
I have only read one book on the list so far, SECRETS OF EDEN. A marvelous book as are other books by Chris B. I’ve read MIDWIVES and THE BUFFALO SOLDIER. I am currently reading SKELETONS AT THE FEAST.
I have just finished Saving CeeCee Honeycutt and found it just delightful. This would make such a great movie. I have also read The Girl Who Fell From the Sky. This was also a great read but in a different way. It is about a biracial girl and the terrible thing that happened in her life. She was rescued by her Grandmother and given love and caring. Interesting story.
The best book I have enjoyed so far, this year, has to be “The Wife’s Tale” by Lori Lansens. It was very down to earth, hit home with me.
I haven’t read any of the books mentioned yet…but there are a couple that I have my “eyes” on….I did read The Help…..and really loved it, recommended it to all my friends….it also would make a great movie.
THE HELP is going to be a movie!! Keep your eyes on The Book Case — we’ll post updates as soon as we know the cast, release date, etc.
I have read Secrets of Eden And I have Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, The Postmistress, & The Three Weissmanns of Westport on my shelves. My favorite is ROSES………a true page turner, great characters, & the author’s descriptions awaken all one’s senses. I can’t wait to read her next book!
ROSES was a page-turner, wasn’t it? I’ve heard that Meacham is working on another epic… we’ll let you know when we have more info.
In THE POKER BRIDE, Christopher Corbett demonstrates that he is one of the great storytellers of our time. He takes us on a journey through the Old West and tells us something elemental about both the past as well as the present. The story that he tells is thoroughly engaging.
All I’ve read on that list are the Anne Tyler book and Chris Corbett’s wonderful POKER BRIDE. That book is really fantastic. Mind-blowing to know that this huge flood of Chinese came here — prospered, suffered, played a major role in the shaping of the American west– and then vanished without a trace. His description of the spooky Chinese cemeteries out west…that alone is worth the price of admission. Corbett’s research is terrific and that man can weave a tale!
The POKER BRIDE is not to be missed; glad to see BookPage readers appreciate a thoroughly-researched, intriguing ride through a forgotten era of American immigration history. As Chris Corbett shows, great story telling isn’t exclusive to novels.
The Poker Bride is a compelling story well told. I trusted the author’s ability to take me through the narrative, weaving the protagonist’s amazing story with just the right amount of historical context.
Christopher Corbett’s The Poker Bride is certainly a quirky, unique story, which the author, a true raconteur, spins with skill and wit. If you like a good story, this one’s worth checking out.
Oh, The Poker Bride, definitely. No one writes about the old West the way Christopher Corbett can — it comes alive through his deft reporting and storytelling. (Anyone who enjoys that book would also like Orphans Preferred, his romp through the truth and lies about the Pony Express.)
Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt is really fun. I have The Postmistress on request from my iibrary. Can’t imagine why a book from Elizabeth Gilbert is on this list. She’s a spoiled, rich woman who wouldn’t have one idea how it is for real women. She cannot relate because she is so far removed from any of US. Who the heck can afford to trek around the world like she has done….no need to earn a living obviously. And, not family to care for – just herself to think about, so nothing she says could possibly be of interest.
I’m reading now The Honor of Spies by W.E.B. Griffin who is always wonderful. Just read The Commoner which is very enlightening and interesting. Fun read was The Fixer-Upper. Enjoying a Covington series book, A Blue and Gray Christmas. Read Brava, Valentine. Jodi Picoult is always extremely intelligent and tackles very difficult subjects. Her books are outstanding.
“THE WIFE’S TALE” by Lori Lansens is my favorite book of the past year. I’ve read about half the books on your list – they all had something to commend them, but this book is absolutely terrific – smart, insightful, beautifully written, and surprisingly funny.
I’ve also read “THE GIRLS” by this author, which is another wonderful book.
I read Noah’s Compass, which I felt was leaving me without a true understanding of the main character’ s feelings. The book moved along slowly.
The Poker Bride by Christopher Corbett is a book I recommend. Corbett is an excellent source for anyone interested in reading about The West. What I find most enjoyable is Corbett’s knack for finding and writing about interesting characters like Polly in The Poker’s Bride; or Bronco Charlie from Corbett’s previous book “Orphans Preferred.” And then there’s Chick Devine from Corbett’s only work of fiction, “Vacationland.”
I’ve read CeeCee and Noah. Nothing to gush about.
I have read three of the twenty listed. I am waiting for House Rules to become available. There are several others from the list that I see I need to reserve SOON.
I am happy to see both Christopher Corbett’s The Poker Bride and Anne Tyler’s Noah’s Compass on the 20 top books for 2010 so far. Both books are on my nightstand waiting to be read. Both authors live in Baltimore, as do I.
Normally, I read fiction, but Corbett’s The Poker Bride, the story of Poly Bemis and the first Chinese in the West, promises to be as alluring as his Orphans Preferred, his look at the truth and legends of the Pony Express.
Visiting Anne Tyler’s world is one of my favorite places. Her characters make me feel better about my own eccentric family and my neighborhood in North Baltimore, where she sets many of her books. While she is realistic about human nature, she always offers hope.
Christopher Corbett lives in my neighborhood, but his books transport me out of Maryland. His first book was a novel Vacationland set in Maine and filled with colorful characters. His second book, Orphans Preferred, was recently re-released in paperback on the 150th anniversary of the Pony Express.
Corbett’s approach makes history accessible and fun to read. I’m an accidental non-fiction reader. Thanks to authors like Corbett, I learn more about our country.
ughhhh were is twilight!!
you are kidding right?
childish trash!
I have read “Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt”. It was difficult to put down.Also “Crazy Like Us”
IN addition I have read about a dozen, maybe more this spring.
I’ve read both ‘Noah’s Compass’ and ‘The Priveleges’ and found them just okay. Good library picks. Found Noah’s Compass a bit of a yawn and The Priveleges didn’t have a ‘hook’. Again … both just so-so.
I have not read any on this list, but have read “My Name
is Mary Sutter” by Robin Olivera, A Vintage Affair-author’s name escapes me, The newest Elizabeth George
book, am now reading Cure by Robin Cook, next will be
Hell’s Gate” by Linda Fairstein.
None of these books I’ve read have disappointed me.
CeeCee Honeycutt…….. I was so disappointed ! I bought this book and kept waiting for it to get good.
NONE OF US WERE LIKE THIS BEFORE.
Haven’t read a better piece of literary journalism in a very long time.
Some truly wonderful articles on this internet site , thankyou for contribution.
Since I read at least two books a week, I was very disappointed that there were no books by my favorite author, Robin Lee Hatcher, on either list. I read, or started to read, House Rules, and as usual, was very disappointed. Why the raves about Jodi Picoult? I have read books about autism that were so much better. I have read a couple of her books but did not enjoy them at all.
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