What do you think is the Best Book of the Year?
DDorjath@liquidcontainer.com
Here are my votes for the best books of the year. All are hardcover editions.
1. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
2. The Millionaires by Brad Meltzer
3. Letters for Emily by Camron Wright
4. The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor
5. Fire Lover by Joseph Wambaugh
Tiggi47@aol.com
Hardcovers:
1. Nights in Rodanthe
2. The Lovely Bones
3. Kentucky Sunrise
4. Let's Roll
5. Daddy's Little Girl
Paperbacks
1. Fall On Your Knees
2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
3. Violets are Blue
4. Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas
5. Kentucky Heat
KTMPAL@aol.com
The Dive From Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer. (Hardcover)
niteowl629@hotmail.com
Hardcover:
Quentins by Maeve Binchy
Househusband by Ad Hudler
Bookends by Jane Green
Ordinary Life Stories by Elizabeth Berg
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Paperback:
Grand Avenue by Joy Fielding
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
Mr. Maybe by Jane Green
The Woman Next Door by Barbara Delinsky
Good In Bed by Jennifer Weiner
MarionK105@aol.com
Up Country by Nelson Demille. (Hardcover)
pryortrn@ptialaska.net
Hardcover:
A Breath of Fresh Air by Amulya Malladi
Let Freedom Ring by Sean Hannity
Flesh Tones by M.J. Rose
The Art of Seeing by Cammie McGovern
Aymster54@aol.com
Hardcover:
The Survivor's Club by Lisa Gardner
Chasing the Dime by Michael Connelly
Twelve Mile Limit by Randy Wayne White
The Last Place by Laura Lippman
Blackwater Sound by James W. Hall
rcstout9@swbell.net
Hardcover:
Reagan’s War by Peter Schweitzer
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Let Freedom Ring by Sean Hannity
Slander by Ann Coulter
Vikkivand@aol.com
1. Househusband by Ad Hudler (Hardcover)
2. Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox (Hardcover)
3. Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs (Harcover)
4. The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer (Hardcover)
5. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (Hardcover)
lanistrom@hotmail.com
Top 5 Hardcover Titles:
1. Emma's War by Deborah Scroggins
2. Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
3. The Russian Debutante's Handbook by Gary Shteyngart
4. When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka
5. The Crimson Petal and the White by Michael Faber
Top 5 Paperback Titles:
1. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
2. Too Many Men by Lily Brett
3. Frida by Barbara Mujica
4. Martyr's Crossing by Amy Wilentz
5. Whitegirl by Kate Manning
diamondlightfoot@yahoo.com
Best Hardcovers:
Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
From a Buick 8 by Stephen King
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Hour Before Dark by Douglas Clegg
Blackwood Farm by Anne Rice
Best Paperbacks:
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Coldheart Canyon by Clive Barker
Bones of the Moon by Jonathan Carroll
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
PeaceField@aol.com
Hardcovers:
1. The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
2. The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
3. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
4. Slander by Ann Coulter
5. The Dream of Scipio by Iain Pears
Paperbacks:
1. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella
2. Empire Falls by Richard Russo
3. Big Cherry Holler by Adriana Trigiani
4. Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy
5. A Traitor to Memory by Elizabeth George
mryan@netzero.net
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (Hardcover)
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber (Hardcover)
City of Bones by Michael Connelly (Hardcover)
susanrjensen@yahoo.com
Definitely The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold in hardcover.
monkey@islandnet.com
My favorite hardcover of 2002 is The Hour Before Dark by Douglas Clegg.
mitchaj@comcast.net
Empire Falls by Richard Russo (Paperback)
The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall (Paperback)
JWIsley@aol.com
Hardcovers:
1. Quentins by Maeve Binchy
2. Four Blind Mice by James Patterson
3. Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
4. Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich
5. The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel
Paperbacks:
1. Leave No Trace by Hannah Nyala
2. Bubbles in Trouble by Sarah Strohmeyer
3. Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann
4. Cane River by Lalita Tademy
5. Cold Blooded by Lisa Jackson
GDurisin@aol.com
Top Five Hardcover Fiction Books of 2002:
Blue Shoe by Anne Lamott
The Dive From Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Vine of Desire by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter
storm8810@yahoo.com
Hardcovers:
1. The Dive From Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer
2. Sea Glass by Anita Shreve
3. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
4. Jolie Blon's Bounce by James Lee Burke
5. The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Paperbacks:
1. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
2. Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
3. The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve
4. The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe
5. Last Man Standing by David Baldacci
Mrsfitz196@aol.com
Step-Ball-Change by Jeanne Ray (Hardcover)
Blessings by Anna Quindlen (Hardcover)
lhetterick@watervalley.net
Hardcover:
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
The Heaven of Mercury by Brad Watson
The Hermit's Story by Rick Bass
Paperback:
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
Jessekay@aol.com
Hardcover:
1) Atonement by Ian McEwan
2) Stupid White Men by Michael Moore
3) Not Always So by Shunryu Suzuki
4) A Life's Work by Rachel Cusk
Paperback:
1) Austerlitz by W.G. Sebald
2) The Free Speech Movement by Robert Cohen and Reginald Zelnik
JAJinPlympton@webtv.net
1. The Crimson Petal And The White (Hardcover)
2. Paradise Alley (Hardcover)
3. Slammerkin (Paperback)
naffromwestport@webtv.net
1. The Crimson Petal And The White by Michel Faber (Hardcover)
2. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly (Hardcover)
3. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (Hardcover)
billiegirl20@hotmail.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (hardcover)
One-Hit Wonder by Lisa Jewell (hardcover)
Lamb by Christopher Moore (hardcover)
Basket Case by Carl Hiassen (hardcover)
From the Dust Returned by Ray Bradbury (paperback)
Donnaleggate@aol.com
The Cabinet of Curiosities (hardcover)
Book of Dreams (hardcover)
Coraline (hardcover)
The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red (paperback)
Germs: Biological Weapons and America's Secret War (paperback)
jam@austin.rr.com
Crossing Cadogan Bay by J. M. Mangano (Paperback)
Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton (Hardcover)
Kathryn_Lewark@3com.com
Hardcover:
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
River Thieves by Michael Crummey
The Seven Sisters by Margaret Drabble
kchaffee@duckspot.com
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (Hardcover)
The Fall of Rome by Martha Southgate (Hardcover)
The Year of Ice by Brian Malloy (Hardcover)
Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang (Hardcover)
Skipping Towards Gomorrah by Dan Savage (Hardcover)
Grif76@aol.com
Hardcover:
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Siege by Helen Dunmore
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
Paperback:
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
Makelley4@aol.com
Hardcover: The Lovely Bones, Reversible Errors, Mortal Prey, Step-Ball-Change, and Hard Eight
amm1029@yahoo.com
The Impressionist by Hari Kunzru (Hardcover)
Summerland by Michael Chabon (Hardcover)
pma2@cornell.edu
Atonement by Ian McEwan
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Sea Glass by Anita Shreve
LCKOSS@aol.com
Peace Like A River (paperback) is my choice. I loved it!
joylynnd@comcast.net
The Solace of Leaving Early by Haven Kimmel (hardcover)
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (hardcover)
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber (hardcover)
The Art of Seeing by Cammie McGovern (hardcover)
Faking It by Jennifer Crusie (hardcover)
mary6621@msn.com
1. The Miracle of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall (paperback)
2. Perma Red by Debra Magpie Earling (hardcover)
3. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (hardcover)
4. Empire Falls by Richard Russo (paperback)
5. Nothing to Fall Back On by Betsy Carter (hardcover)
Shell725@aol.com
The Millionaires (hardcover) by Brad Meltzer
Blood Orchid (hardcover) by Stuart Woods
The Crush (hardcover) by Sandra Brown
Nobody Knows (hardcover) by Mary Jane Clark
Faking It (hardcover) by Jennifer Crusie
Midnight Bayou (paperback) by Nora Roberts
Dangerous (paperback) by Nora Roberts
Myrnapen@aol.com
Best Hardcover Books of 2002:
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Dive From Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer
Milk Glass Moon by Adriana Trigiani
The Sunday Wife by Cassandra King
My Losing Season by Pat Conroy
susan@hope-church.org
Peace Like A River by Leif Enger (hardcover)
Monell90@msn.com
Hardcovers:
The Life Before Her Eyes by Laura Kasischke
An Accidental Woman by Barbara Delinsky
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
If Looks Could Kill by Kate White
Courting Trouble by Lisa Scottoline
Paperbacks:
Out of Hormone's Way:A Bel Barrett Mystery by Jane Isenberg
The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro
mandjthew@yahoo.com
My favorite book of 2002 was Small Wonder by Barbara Kingsolver (hardcover)
tmzemke@comcast.net
The best book of 2002 was definitely The Crimson Petal and the White (hardcover). It's being touted as this century’s Charles Dickens type of book. It is over 800 pages, but it seems much shorter as it is so fascinating. It's bawdy, tawdry, explicit, but not sexual and very graphic. It deals with the plight of the poor women in Victorian England, most who had no real means of supporting themselves. The central figure is Sugar, a prostitute, and how she manages to not only survive the mean streets of London, but to persevere. It's a must read!
catfish@millardmanor.com
The Year of Ice by Kevin Malloy is a hardcover book.
Other hardcovers I'd nominate are:
The Solace of Leaving Early by Haven Kimmel
Unless by Carol Shields
The Nanny Diaries
Middlesex by Jeff Eugenides
debbienance@houston.rr.com
Life of Pi (hardcover)
The Crimson Petal and the White (hardcover)
Blue Latitudes (hardcover)
Summerland (hardcover)
Hard Eight (hardcover)
nudell@pop.ctctel.com
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (paperback)
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (hardcover)
jkasbergen@ev1.net
The best book I’ve read this year is The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (hardcover)
2nd best is The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer (hardcover)
3rd best is Empire Falls by Richard Russo (paperback)
SusanH100@aol.com
The best hardcover book of the year was The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.
PattysLuv@aol.com
Blackwood Farm by Anne Rice (Hardcover)
From A Buick 8 by Stephen King (Hardcover)
Logan's Storm by Ken Wells (Hardcover)
Sin Killer by Larry McMurtry (Hardcover)
Tricky Business by Dave Barry (Hardcover)
The Scar by China Mieville (Paperback)
christopherhart@prodigy.net
The best book of 2002 was a paperback titled Slammerkin.
martyph@charter.net
Savannah Blues - hardcover
The Nanny Diaries - hardcover
Chasing the Dime - hardcover
Blessings - hardcover
The Evidence Against Her - paperback
John Adams - paperback
Mystic River – paperback
Emilyvergara@aol.com
Best five hardcovers:
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Basket Case by Carl Hiaasen
Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Best five paperbacks
Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
About the Author by John Colapinto
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
Good In Bed by Jennifer Weiner
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
ldsnes@bellsouth.net
The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer (Hardcover)
jaydesign@qwest.net
Favorite Hardcovers:
Life of Pi
Choice Cuts: A Savory Selection of Food Writing from Around the World
and Throughout History
How to Cook a Tart
Patterns of Home: The Ten Essentials of Enduring Design
Q Is for Quarry
Favorite Paperbacks:
Uncle Tungsten
Rachel's Holiday
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
Ella Minnow Pea
Bear V. Shark
hartig@brick.net
The Secret Life of Bees (hardcover)
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (paperback)
Enemy Women (hardcover)
CRome21695@aol.com
Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Hardcover)
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (Hardcover)
The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus (Hardcover)
I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson (Hardcover)
The Beach House by James Patterson (Hardcover)
Blackwater Sound by James Hall (Paperback)
Sea Glass by Anita Shreve (Paperback)
Every Breath You Take by Ann Rule (Paperback)
The Millionaires by Brad Meltzer (Paperback)
The Summons by John Grisham (Paperback)
ARTc2@aol.com
The best book of the year is The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (hardcover)
lgettle@iserv.net
Mortal Prey by John Sandford (hardcover)
One Door Away From Heaven by Dean Koontz (hardcover)
The Remnant by Tim LaHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins (hardcover)
Area 7 by Matthew Reilly (hardcover)
Eleventh Hour by Catherine Coulter (hardcover)
The Healer by Dee Henderson (paperback)
cbabes@srvusd.k12.ca.us
The best book of the year is Pasadena by David Ebershoff (hardcover)
sue.thompson@ctdi.com
Here are my picks for Best Books of the Year:
The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (Hardcover)
Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult (Paperback)
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (Hardcover)
TLWood61@aol.com
Among the Heroes: United Flight 93 and the Passengers and Crew Who Fought Back by Jere Longman (Hardcover)
The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer (Hardcover)
Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg (Hardcover)
Blessings by Anna Quindlen (Hardcover)
Kedwardsod@aol.com
The best books of this year in my opinion were The Lovely Bonesand The Dive
From Clausen's Pier. Both were hardcovers.
dabrams@alaska.com
Best Hardcovers of the Year:
The Fruit of Stone by Mark Spragg
Paradise Alley by Kevin Baker
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
Perma Red by Debra Magpie Earling
Polar by T.R. Pearson
Best Paperbacks of the Year:
Last Year's River by Allen Morris Jones
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
John Adams by David McCollough
s.hughes@rocketmail.com
Blessings Anna Quindlen (Hardcover)
Child of my Heart by Alice McDermott (Hardcover)
The Dive From Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer (Hardcover)
Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult (Hardcover)
The Buffalo Soldier by Chris Bohjalian (Hardcover)
Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende (Paperback)
Ava's Man by Rick Bragg (Paperback)
Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand (Paperback)
Last Man Standing by David Baldacci (Paperback)
One Door Away From Heaven by Dean Koontz (Paperback)
Stebie2003@aol.com
Hard Cover Best Book of 2002
1. The Beach House by James Patterson
2. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
3. Atonement by Ian McEwan
4. Reversible Errors by Scott Turow
5. Prey by Michael Crichton
Paperback Best Book of 2002
1. Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson
2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K.Rowling
3. He Sees You When You Are Sleeping by Mary Higgins Clark/ Carol Higgins Clark
4. One Door Away From Heaven by Dean Koontz
5. The Millionaires by Brad Meltzer
lveldran@yahoo.com
#1. The Little Friend by Donna Tartt (hardcover)
#2. Abraham by Bruce Feiler (hardcover)
#3. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (hardcover)
GAnnBmarr@aol.com
Hardcover:
Atonement by Ian McEwan, Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, Be My Knife, by David Grossman, The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason, andThe Dream of Scipio by Iain Pears.
Fatslave@aol.com
Hardcover - The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
OLTLFREAK@aol.com
Hardcovers:
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Four Blind Mice by James Patterson
Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich
Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich
This Pen for Hire by Laura Levine
Paperbacks:
Murder Boogies with Elvis by Anne George
Out of Hormone’s Way by Jane Isenberg
Blowing Smoke by Barbara Block
A Killing Season by Jessica Speart
Crack Shot by Sinclair Browning
jfaulkner@faulknermpr.com
Best Hardcovers of 2002
1. Atonement by Ian McEwan
2. I Don’t Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson
3. Blue Shoe by Anne Lamott
4. Interesting Women by Andrea Lee
Best Paperback of 2002
1. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
2. Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende
3. Sister Noon by Karen Joy Fowler
Carosp@aol.com
Hardcover: Ernie's Ark by Monica Wood
Paperback: Empire Falls by Richard Russo
Mrsfitz196@aol.com
Blessings by Anna Quindlen (hardcover)
Child of My Heart by Alice McDermott (hardcover)
Seek My Face by John Updike (hardcover)
Empire Falls by Richard Russo (paperback)
Garygtonks@aol.com
By far the best book of the year is Peace Like a River by Lee Enger. Available in paperback. I loved this novel so much I would give it away by the case if I could afford to do that. I have given this book to everyone on my list who loves to read.
jehixon@msn.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (Hardcover)
Navybeene@aol.com
The Best Books of 2002:
Hardcover:
1. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
2. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
3. The Little Friend by Donne Tartt
4. Blue Shoe by Anne Lamott
5. Blessings by Anna Quindlen
Paperback:
1. John Adams by David McCullough
2. Empire Falls by Richard Russo
3. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
4. Seasbiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
5. Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
catalina98@earthlink.net
The best book of the year is The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (hardcover)
ShirleyOTR@aol.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (Hardcover)
The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer (Hardcover)
Good Harbor by Anita Diamant (Paperback)
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (Paperback)
Empire Falls by Richard Russo (Paperback)
ccopeland@cablespeed.com
Bel Canto (Paperback)
Not only one of the best of the year, possibly one of the best in the past
decade. Patchett makes her characters come to life, giving each one a unique
voice and story to tell. A story that you just don't want to end.
American Gods (Paperback)
Incredible plot well delivered. The kind of book you will definitely want to
discuss with others.
Carter Beats the Devil (Paperback)
Intriguing story that keeps you turning the pages.
Atonement (Hardcover)
McEwan finally won me over with this one. A nicely crafted story with
wonderful characters.
The Emperor of Ocean Park (Hardcover)
A story that works on three different levels all at once: a mystery, a look
at modern relationships and a discussion of race relations in late 20th
century America. Superb.
The Glass Palace (Paperback)
A fascinating look at India and Burma from the fall of the Burmese monarchy
to present day.
Gramercy Park (Hardcover)
This was a sleeper for me. What looked like it should have been a
run-of-the-mill Victorian melodrama becomes much more with well-drawn
characters and some nice plot twists.
lesliekiesel@att.net
Best Hardcover:
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Three Fates by Nora Roberts
Bossu49@aol.com
Hardcovers:
1. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
2. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
3. The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nichola Kraus
4. Red Rabbit by Tom Clancy
5. Beach House by James Patterson
Paperbacks:
1. Dangerous by Nora Roberts
2. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
3. Taken by Thomas Cook
4. Fuzzy Logic: Get Fuzzy 2 by Darby Conley
5. The Clouds Above by Andrew Greig
seachelle@charter.net
Blessings by Anna Quindlen (Hardcover)
Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson by
Mitch Albom (Paperback)
tmzemke@cocast.net
Not necessarily in order but:
1. In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the
Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors by Doug Stanton (Paperback).
An amazing read about a naval accident that occurred during WWII. You just won't
believe what these brave men endured for more than 3 days, all because of miscommunication by the government. (Imagine that!)
2. China Run by David Ball (Hardcover)
Based on actual events, this story relates the experiences of six families who travel to China to adopt babies. It is quite a thriller as, one by one, the families are forced
to give back the children who have been "mistakenly, in a political sense" adopted out. Some family members are killed, kidnapped, etc. One mother takes her baby daughter and decides to run for it. Very exciting read.
3. The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber (Hardcover).
Probably the best book that I have read all year. Faber is being touted as this
generation’s Charles Dickens. It is a bawdy, explicit view into the life of Sugar, a prostitute who lives in Victorian England. Over 800 pages long, it's not for the faint of heart but very worth it. Amazing glimpse into the lives of poor, destitute women of Victorian England who have to rely on themselves to survive in a very patriarchal society. A must read.
4. A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland Indianaby Haven
Kimmel (Paperback).
A laugh out loud book! It's a memoir that is both funny and irreverent. Let's just say that author Haven is nicknamed "Zippy" for her manic interpretation of a circus monkey, couldn't be bothered to speak until she was three years old, and even then her first words were used to bargain with her father about whether or not a baby bottle was still appropriate. As a librarian I often recommend this book and have yet to hear negative feedback!
5. The Future Homemakers of America by Laurie Graham (Paperback).
This book follows the friendship among several Air Force wives over a span of 40 years. As an Air Force Brat I can attest that the many, often illogical rules that families were forced to adhere to when living on a military base are true. Great character development by the author.
jstanto1@columbus.rr.com
Two books I particularly liked this year were The Lovely Bonesand Four Blind Mice
belldj@email.uc.edu
The best book of the year is Douglas Clegg's The Hour Before Dark.
GROBBE@aol.com
Fiction:
Eureka by William Diehl
Nonfiction:
Mrs. Paine's Garage by Thomas Mallon
person856@bigfoot.com
The Hour Before Dark by Douglas Clegg has got to be the best book of
the year.
Tonisandlin@aol.com
The Dive From Clausen's Pier
tmzemke@comcast.net
The best book of 2002 has got to be The Crimson Petal and the White. It's this century’s Charles Dickens
Sstar48@aol.com
I think Standing In The Rainbow by Fannie Flagg was the best. Thanks.
merlelean@comcast.net
My five choices are as follows:
Abraham by Bruce Feiler
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Atonement by Ian McEwan
The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen Carter
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
gayleguy@hotmail.com
Top 4 fiction books of 2002:
1. The Lovely Bones
2. Unless
3. The Crimson Petal and the White
4. Reversible Errors
heilaD@aol.com
My two favorite books of 2002 were Empire Falls by Richard Russo and Peace Like a River by Leif Enger.
JBrown2511@aol.com
A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House
mtsantoro@netcarrier.com
The best 'new' book I've read this year would have to be Empire Falls. It was slow getting into but, once you made it past the first 120 pages, you were hooked. The twists and turns and the ending were absolutely perfect. This book inspired me to pick up other books by Russo.
raeann.ja@verizon.net
My choice for best book of 2002 is The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.
Comella2729@aol.com
The Dive From Clausen’s Pier by Ann Packer is my choice for best book of the year. This novel is about an accident --- a dive from Clausen's Pier --- that changes the lives of several people, particularly the narrator Carrie Bell and her finance Mike. Packer successfully handles the action and reaction of her characters in a way that is totally absorbing. And not only is it an absorbing story, but it is one that leaves the reader with much to think about, long after the book's last page has been read. It is a novel about emotional growth; duty and honor and being true to yourself; what you owe to others and what you owe yourself. Kudos to Ms. Packer for an outstanding first novel.
underwoodservice@yahoo.com
1. The Millionaires by Brad Meltzer (Paperback)
2. A King's Ransom by James Grippando (Paperback)
3. Last Man Standing by David Baldacci (Paperback)
4. Separation of Power by Vince Flynn (Paperback)
5. Billy Strobe by John Martel(Paperback)
ALEMESH@aol.com
I have read many books this year but the most outstanding one was The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Nothing else I read came close to this book.
sheronyancey@yahoo.com
Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones the best book of 2002.
Kelly_McKenzie@Monitor.com
1) Life of Pi by Yann Martel
2) The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
Pecsan114@aol.com
No doubt about it. The book that I most thought about and urged others to read was The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.
BorgardtD@sybrondental.com
I loved Skipping Christmas by John Grisham.
loribere@salpublib.org
There are two hardcovers that qualify for best book of the year:
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger and The Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Fabulous!
Clhcitrano@aol.com
I think the best books for 2002 include The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber and Atonement by Ian McEwan.
michellea@travelgeorgetown.com
The Dark Highlander by Karen Marie Moning was the best read for me this year.
delosh@juno.com
The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen Carter
david.belkin@verizon.net
My vote goes to The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. It is a most original, thought provoking book.
jmboylan@msn.com
My most favorite book that has stuck with me all year since reading it is The Secret Life of Bess by Sue Monk Kidd.
Mads1989@aol.com
I think the best book of 2002 was The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly.
Joy.dickinson@ahcpub.com
The best book of the year was The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.
rsaxe@utoledo.edu
Jolie Blon's Bounce by James Lee Burke.
MaryFromAvon@webtv.net
Best books of the year:
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
mccullough87@earthlink.net
The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
BELLEGRANVILLE@aol.com
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
jbarnett@timberland.lib.wa.us
I think the best hardcover book of the year is The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Following that title, the next four are The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, The Emperor of Ocean Park, The Dive Off Clausen's Pier and Kissing in Manhattan.
baltru19@sgi.net
The best book of the year was Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones.
Fentzline@aol.com
Without a doubt, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold was the best book that I have read this year. I liked the story development and felt that she effectively developed her characters.
Berrybunches@aol.com
The Holy by Daniel Quinn.
cbattaglia@farmbureaubank.com
My vote for best book of 2002 is The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.
MModerelli@aol.com
The best book of 2002 is Atonement.
tfranzen2124@attbi.com
Leif Enger's Peace Like A River is my hands-down favorite this year. It is a first novel that is unlike any other I've read and I'm giving it for gifts this Christmas.
Hofpr@cs.com
My votes for best book for the year:
1. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
2. Ahab's Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund
PULKSSSSS@aol.com
The Emperor of Ocean Park is my choice for one of the best books of the year.
smanna@catholic.org
Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry
slowens@fedex.com
The best book of 2002 is The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. She created an amazing Heaven and world in which people grieved deeply and were able to heal.
BubbieSelma@aol.com
My nomination for best book of the year is Blessings by Anna Quindlen.
gregc2@bellsouth.net
Without question, the best book I've read this year is The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. It was well written, lyrical, full of symbolism, dealt with racial struggles and relationships, and was an enjoyable read. Our newly formed book club at the local Barnes and Noble where I work read this book in the spring and we couldn't understand why it wasn't a bestseller since we were recommending it to everyone. When Good Morning Americarecommended the book, it finally gained some of the interest and recognition it deserved.
GSSnelson@aol.com
My vote for best book of 2002 is The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I did not like parts of it or would have done them differently. However, it was very thought provoking and brought out the best discussions by far for my group. It seemed to have something everyone could relate to.
davidjmontgomery@yahoo.com
Hell to Pay by George Pelecanos
One of the best, most accessible books by this wonderful writer. Great storytelling, plot and characters make this a winner.
daffodil416@yahoo.com
Fiction:
1. The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
2. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
3. The Dream of Scipio by Iain Pears
4. The Heaven of Mercury by Brad Watson
5. The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
Non-Fiction:
1. Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande
2. Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
3. Longitudes and Attitudes by Thomas L. Friedman
4. The Hungry Gene: The Science of Fat and the Future of Thin by Ellen Ruppel Shell
5. Nonrequired Reading by Wislawa Szymborska
aunderell@attbi.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is my favorite book of the year --- an imaginative twist on a brutal occurrence. I loved the way this story was depicted through the eyes of the main character, who is dead. It made me rethink the way I thought about death and it coerced me to visit my feelings about the topic in a new light. Beautifully orchestrated and I give all my kudos. Alice Sebold's attempt to draw the reader in and tell a horrifying story while setting them on their own adventure and self-discovery about death. I loved it.
Cherry.Adams@ottawa.ca
The best book of the year should be The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. My two daughters and I have read it and we all thought it was great. Her concept of heaven is wonderful. The passage (and I can't quote it directly, because I don't have the book in front of me) in which she describes all the souls floating up at night out of the nursing homes and hospitals was particularly poignant to me. At first the subject matter is so disturbing that you think why am I reading this and then you can't put it down.
