I’ve already did my favorite books I read the first half of the year, but now it’s time for the second half.  I only read 59 books since July (compared to 107 in the first half of the year), so I don’t have as many to choose from.  Still, that’s a lot of books!

While I had plenty of books I really liked, I had a hard time picking the best of the best.  This is especially hard when I look back on the books on my list earlier this year…most of those books were definitely “wow!” books for me, while these really aren’t quite there.  Still, they were good and I enjoyed them and recommend them.  So, starting at the bottom…

10.  Evolving in Monkey Town by Rachel Held Evans

I’ll be doing a review of this shortly.  Obviously I liked it, as I helped choose it as the winner of the creative nonfiction INSPY.  While I don’t always come to the same conclusions Evans has, I appreciate that she’s honestly asking the questions and taking the time to seek out the answers.

9.  Extraordinary, Ordinary People by Condoleezza Rice

This book will also be reviewed here soon.  It’s a great memoir that’s 99% politics free (it basically ends in 2000), which is rare for political figures.  Had me in tears on a couple of occasions, and had me chuckling even more.

8.  Blue Blood by Edward Conlon

I don’t know how I heard about this memoir by a NYPD officer–perhaps just saw it in the library’s audiobook catalog–but I’m so glad I did.  I love to read and watch anything dealing with cops or prisons (see number 3)–not sure why.  And I’m so glad he didn’t focus in on September 11th like he easily could have.  Conlin has a great sense of humor, which probably kept him sane while dealing with the never-ending fight against crime and drugs in the Bronx.  I listened to the audio of this book, which was excellently done.

7. They Thought That They Were Free by Milton Mayer

This 50-year-old book about 10 everyday Nazis in rural Germany was perfect for a history buff.  Helped me consider how we can avoid making the same mistakes they did.

6.  Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Kinda a duh thing for a Hunger Games enthusiast, but it’s definitely up there.  I think it was the perfect ending for the trilogy especially since it didn’t end perfectly.  Life is messy.

5. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

I read this after the hullabaloo earlier this year when a man called it “soft porn.”  I must admit that I was skeptical that he may be right; I’ve sadly encountered many young adult books that could be described as such, but this is definitely not one of them.  A good piece on the important topic of rape.  I think it’s important for teens to read books on difficult topics–especially alongside adults they can trust–as it removes the taboo of talking about them.

4.  My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay

I’ve described this as a Christian version of  Tomorrow, When the War Began, but that makes it sound like a knockoff.   It’s about a typical American teenager wrestling with doubt and relationships as she flees for her life in the Indonesian jungle along with a few other teens.

3.  Running the Books by Avi Steinberg

As soon as I heard of this book, I knew I had to read it.  The memoir of a prison librarian?  Yes!  It combines my love of books and my interest in prisons.  No surprise: I loved it.  This is not your feel-good let’s-save-the-world type of book.  No one leaves the library inspired to leave a life of crime in order to work daily in a soup kitchen or any such larger-than-life change.  Instead, it’s an insightful look into the many uses of a library in a prison, from post office to social lounge, and oh yeah, a place to check out books to read.

2.  Dirty Sexy Politics by Meghan McCain

I love her fresh voice in Republican politics.  Any time I hear she is going to be on a show, I go out of my way to watch it.  I guess you can say I’m a fan.

1. Another Place at the Table by Kathy Harrison

The true story (yes, a theme in my reading this summer and fall, and now, probably winter) of a foster and adopted mom and her family.  Not always the easiest to read, but eye-opening.

I’m looking forward to more great reading in 2011.  See you then!