Diane's "Top 10 books I reviewed this year"

Trashionista's Top 100 Extravaganza! continues...

I've reviewed A LOT of books since I started writing for Trashionista back in July, and here are my top ten favourites - do you agree that these are some fabulous reads? What are your top reads of 2006? I'm making myself abide by two rules:

As I've already written about the top 10 non-fiction chick lit books, I'm going to stick to my fictional faves and

No re-reads or old favourites allowed - only books I read for the first time this year!

With that in mind, here's my top 10 for 2006, with what I said about each in quotes...

10. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. A classic novel with an engaging heroine and a lot to say. "Based in early twentieth-century Brooklyn, it tells the story of Francie Nolan and her family’s fight to get by in a time without electricity, a welfare system, or even windows in the bedrooms of their tiny apartment.  Francie lives with her hard-working mother, hard-drinking father and younger brother Neely in a slum neighbourhood of the city. If all that sounds depressing, it isn’t... If you want a compelling story that teaches you something, this is a great read, and despite its size, a fast one."

9. Singeltini by Amanda Trimble. Fun, fast-paced, a bit farcical but a very enjoyable read in a fabulous cover! "Singletini is pretty standard, fairytale-ending chick-lit but written in a fast and compelling style, (perhaps as a result of the author's time in advertising?) that never becomes boring... This is Amanda Trimble's debut novel - I'd definitely like to read more."

8. Twenty Times a Lady by Karyn Bosnak. Great premise and a very well-written, fun story! "A fast, funny and very enjoyable love story/road-trip novel. Whilst you may be able to predict how the book will end, you won't predict how Delilah gets there - and that's the mark of a good writer. The book speeds along, and there's a lot of surprises on the way to a happy ending. I loved the fact that the main character is a risk-taker, not afraid to seem stupid- and brave in sharing her feelings. And I frequently found myself snorting with laughter at her remarks!"

7. The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner. Weiner's latest is actually a collection of short stories... and very good it is too. "Despite some stories being stronger than others, the book works as a whole and is very entertaining.  It's a treat for Jennifer Weiner fans who love her previous work, but newbies would get a lot out of it, too.  Although I raced through (er, I mean savoured slowly!) the stories, my favourite part of the book was actually the "Notes on Stories" at the back of the book, sharing some of the gossip behind the writing process."

6. Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane. Okay, so I'm cheating a little with this one, as Keris actually reviewed it - but then she lent it to me quick-smart and I adored it too! The best new chick-lit writer of the year, no doubt. Said Keris, " Full of pop culture references and more than I ever needed to know about the disgusting things wait staff to rude customers, Stupid and Contagious is extremely funny, it made me cry and when I finished it I could happily have turned back to the first page and started it again. One of the best chick lit books I've ever read." I concur.

What will the top 5 be? Carry on over the cut to find out!

5. How I Paid For College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship and Musical Theatre by Marc Acito. I'm allowing a man to infiltrate the sacred top 5, because this book was just so, so good! Original, inventive, fresh and packed full of sex, theft, friendship and musical theatre it perfectly captures the feeling of 80s teen flicks. "How I paid for College… is a fabulous, over-the-top, brilliantly written, laugh-a-minute American lad-lit (is that enough adjectives yet?!) novel that I can’t recommend enough to anyone with a sense of humour and a pulse."

4. The Vanishing Point by Mary Sharratt. Not precisely chick-lit, but with strong heroines and a killer plot, it's not to be missed.  "More than anything, this book is haunting, and stayed with me long after the final heart-wrenchingly unpredictable twist revealed the truth I'd been waiting all novel to find out."

3. A Boy of Good Breeding by Miriam Toews. A warm, funny and poignant story, wonderfully written. Nothing much happens, but it keeps you hooked all the same. "There's occasional silliness and moments of great humour, but written in a wry, observant way that's always intelligent and never carries a joke too far.  It's easy to believe in this quaint little town with its slightly unusual residents... A Boy of Good Breeding is superbly written and the kind of book you want to re-read immediately."

2. Plotting for Beginners by Sue Hepworth and Jane Linfoot. Brilliantly-written and heartfelt hen-lit for the over-50s, I loved this very funny book. "Plotting for Beginners is a wonderfully funny novel about starting again after your children have left home, your husband is AWOL and you want to fulfill your dreams...  found this an enormously satisfying, well-written and perfectly-plotted novel with a main character who's as lovable and funny as Bridget Jones - if a tad more prone to a hot flush..." Look out for an interview with the authors in the new year!

Finally, number 1 in my list, and my heart, for 2006, is...

1. Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson! The book I've been boring all my friends and family about! My read of the year hits the perfect balance between a pacey, exciting storyline and real emotion, and it made me laugh, cry and gape at the quality of the writing. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't enjoy it. "Dealing with themes of abandonment, betrayal, family loyalties and nature vs. nurture, this novel is addictive, thought-provoking reading that's practically perfect in every way.  I defy you not to fall in love with it!"

Trashionista Top 100 Extravanganza! archives / Joshilyn Jackson interview.

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