Wrapping Up 2010's 50 Book Challenge

For the past two years, I have participated in my local library's 50 Book Challenge.  In 2009, I read 68 books therefore more than fulfilling the 50 Book Challenge for which I earned a lovely coffee mug.  I read less books in 2010 (but more classic books) and my grand total for the year is 56.  So, once again, I met the 50 Book Challenge and can pick up my special coffee mug next week!

Each month, I post about the books that I have finished during that particular month and give my 1 to 5 star ratings.  Last year, it was fairly easy to pick my favorite book of the year - The House of the Scorpion was my definite favorite book of 2009.  This year, I don't have a clear favorite so I decided to highlight my favorite book within each category of books that I read this year.  All of the 56 books that I read fall into one of the following categories:

• Romance Novels
• Cozy Mysteries
• General Nonfiction
• General Fiction
• Homeschooling Books
• Young Adult/Children's Novels
• History
• Classics.

Romance Novels
I read 16 romance novels this year, most of them Highlander romances.  I love a good romance about a hulking Scottish hero - I freely admit it.  I liked all of the books that I read in this category and it's difficult to pick a favorite so I will need to pick a favorite series.  My favorite series of 2010 was the Highlander books by Karen Marie Moning.  

• The First Love Cookie Club Lori Wilde
• Penelope and Prince Charming Jennifer Ashley
• A Highlander for Christmas Sandy Blair
• The Knight Before Christmas Jackie Ivie
• Seduced by a Highlander Paula Quinn
•  Ravished by a Highlander Paula Quinn
• The Dark Highlander by Karen Marie Moning
• Kiss of the Highlander Karen Marie Moning
• The Highlander's Touch Karen Marie Moning
• To Tame a Highland Warrior Karen Marie Moning 
• Key of Valor by Nora Roberts
• Key of Knowledge by Nora Roberts
• Key of Light by Nora Roberts
• A Highlander Christmas by Janet Chapman
• Secrets of the Highlander by Janet Chapman
• Only With a Highlander by Janet Chapman

General Fiction

I read 5 fiction books that didn't fit into any of my other categories.  While I loved all of these books, my very favorite book was one that I read in one night - usually with tear-filled eyes - An Amish Christmas by Cynthia Keller.  

• An Amish Christmas Cynthia Keller
• Nefertiti by Michele Moran
• Dead in the Family Charlaine Harris
• Dead and Gone Charlaine Harris
• Watchers by Dean Koontz

Cozy Mysteries
I read 7 cozy mysteries.  I really liked all of them and all of them are part of a series, as most cozy mysteries tend to be.  My very favorite cozy mystery, though, was The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis.

• The Diva Runs Out of Thyme Krista Davis
• Wicked Witch Murder Leslie Meier
• Fatally Frosted by Jessica Beck
• Glazed Murder: A Donut Shop Mystery by Jessica Beck
• Sinister Sprinkles by Jessica Beck
• The Proof is in the Pudding by Melinda Wells
• Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke
  

Homeschooling
I read 3 books this year about homeschooling.  My favorite of the 3 was Managers of Their Schools:  A Practical Guide to Homeschooling by Steven and Teri Maxwell.

• Managers of Their Schools: A Practical Guide to Homeschooling by Steven and Teri Maxwell
• College-Prep Homeschooling: Your Complete Guide to Homeschooling through High School by David P. Byers
• Help, Lord, I'm Getting Ready to Start Homeschooling My High Schooler by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Young Adult/Children's Novels
I read 9 young adult/children's novels, most of which I read because I had assigned them to one of my children to read for school.  I listened to the two Harry Potter books on CD for the third time - they're definitely my favorite books from this category.

• James and the Giant Peach Roald Dahl
• Killer Pizza by Greg Taylor
• The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
• A Place in the Sun Jill Rubalcaba
• The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
• The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
• Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

History
Three of the four history books that I read correspond with the history curriculum I'm using this year and From Bondage to Freedom was a review book for TOS Crew.  My favorite history book was Gilgamesh the Hero by Geraldine McCaughrean.  

• Great Ancient Egypt Projects You Can Build Yourself Carmella Van Vleet
• Pharaohs and Foot Soldiers: One Hundred Ancient Egyptian Jobs You Might Have Desired or Dreaded by Kristin Butcher
• From Bondage to Freedom: A Tale of the Times of Mohammed by Emma Leslie
• Gilgamesh the Hero by Geraldine McCaughrean

Classic Books
I read 10 classic books this year, all with my daughter.  Definitely, my favorite of this classics list is The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  

• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
• Oedipus Rex Sophocles 
• Call of the Wild by Jack London
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding
• The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Robert Louis Stevenson
• Alice In Wonderland Lewis Carroll
• The Wanderings of Odysseus Rosemary Sutcliff

Nonfiction

Of the 2 nonfiction books that I read in 2010, my definite favorite was Why Gender Matters by Leonard Sax.  I highly recommend this incredibly interesting and often, shocking book about gender differences.

• Get It Scrapped! Debbie Hodge
• Why Gender Matters by Leonard Sax

So, what were your favorite books of 2010?  Do you have a reading plan for 2011?