The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

There are certainly books this past year that I read faster or had a great storyline, The Kite Runner and The Thirteenth Tale come to mind. But for subject matter, Zusak’s YA novel about a girl growing up in Nazi Germany is a book everyone should read.

I wish I could remember which blogger first pointed me to it, so I could link to him or her. Throughout the year, The Book Thief consistently popped up on bloggers’ reading lists. Then my online group picked it up, so I finally read it. Loved the ending, those last few pages were magic.

So, that’s my pick for the most important book I read in 2006. Additionally, I must say I’m impressed with the number of books other book bloggers read in a year. I’m pitiful in comparison. I’d love nothing more than to set a number as a goal for next year – say 50 books read, or even more impressive, 100 books.

But I don’t want to turn the pleasures of reading into a contest. Me comparing myself to others. So, I’ll just decide to read more on the whole and see where the wind of inspiration and chance take me.

And that is the final post/thought for 2006.

See you next year.