I thought it would be appropriate to look back over the books I read in 2009 and pick out a few of my favorites. Keep in mind what follows is my list of favorite reads in 2009 not books published in 2009. And the list is not in particular order or rank.
1) John the Baptizer by Brooks Hansen:
No matter your faith background, or lack of it, or your knowledge of the Bible, or lack of it, I highly recommend John The Baptizer. Its blends the historical and the literary in ways that defy genre and subject matter to create a powerful story.
2) Right Time, Right Place by Richard Brookhiser
For anyone wanting to understand the conservative movement, and its flagship magazine, Right Time, Right Place is a must read. And anyone interested in becoming a journalist/writer would do well to read it. But at its heart is a more humane vision: that being true to your ideals and friends is what’s important.
3) The Everafter War by Michael Buckley
With the Everafter War Michael Buckley again shows why this series has won the acclaim and popularity it has. Each book has just the right amount of humor and seriousness; of plot and character development mixed with satire and slapstick. He keeps the reader guessing – although both the traitor and the master are pretty easy to spot – and despite all the silliness (and the YA audience) the characters are surprisingly well developed. It is just an ideal light read for me and for kids of all ages.
