American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

An epic novel (based on the life of Laura Bush) which aims to answer the question "what do you do when the man you love has completely different political views than you do... then becomes President?" Intriguing, compelling, and yes, important.

The Family Man by Elinor Lipman

A welcome return from a favourite of mine, The Family Man is definitely one of her best. Easy to read and full of Lipman's trademark Austen-esque wit.

Speed Shrinking by Susan Shapiro

First (but not the last) novel from the American memoirist. Not much happens but all it's well-written, funny and charming.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Simply my favourite book of the year. Read it!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Shaffer and Annie Burrows

Everyone I know who has read this book loves it. It's accessible, charming and educational. Read this, too.

A Little Bit Wicked by Kristin Chenoweth

Sweet, interesting and entertaining memoir by the charming actress and singer (featuring more than a bit of goss about her relationship with Aaron Sorkin). A fast, fun read.

A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore

The first new book by Moore in over a decade deals with adoption, Afghanistan and doomed relationships (of all different types). Maybe Moore tries too hard to squeeze in the deep topics and doesn't quite tie it all together, but her deft wit never goes astray despite this being a pretty bleak story.

Four words: Return to form. Finally. (Review coming soon.)

Shoot the Damn Dog: A Memoir of Depression by Sally Brampton

I wouldn't normally recommend a book about depression to a general readership but this is different. With heartbreaking honesty, Brampton explains what severe depression feels like and gives hope to fellow sufferers (in a realistic yet optimistic way). She also emphasises that anti-depressants make some people (including the author) feel worse rather than better, for which I was personally very grateful.

Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin by Kathy Griffin

If you're not a fan of loud American redheads who swear a lot, this might not be the book for you... but comedian and My Life on the D List star Griffin does more than an extended comedy routine in this cleverly-named memoir. She covers her early years as a struggling actor, her brother's drug addiction (and his other serious issues), the suicide of her good friend and her father's death as well as dishing on some famous names (Andre Agassi: apparently not so fun.) A fun and satisfying read, and the book club questions at the back are priceless.

Take a look at Keris's list for comparison. Which were your fave reads of 2009?

Detta O'Neill has returned to Rathinch to set up a support group for four lone parents (or Mad Mammies as one lone mum's friend calls it). Except it isn't just for Mad Mammies. There is also a struggling Daddy too.

We have Niamh. A woman living in a dream house, with young twins but cruelly widowed after her husband's car accident. Ruth has three children, older than Niamh's twins but with her own challenges to face. Her husband is alive and doesn't she know it. He's left her for another woman but is still managing to upset and control Ruth's life. And the woman Ruth's husband left her for? Well that would be Liam's wife. Liam and his estranged wife have a young daughter who now just lives with her father. Liam would do anything to restore the family unit. Then finally we have Ciara, a teenage mother. This girl has a lot on her plate. Never mind bringing up a baby on her own, she is also burdening herself by keeping the name of the father a secret. 

Allan weaves the lives of the support group together cleverly, keeping the pace going all the time. All of the characters jump out at you and I loved reading about each one. I thought each woman (and one man) to be brave with their circumstances and enjoyed how they all pulled together throughout the book to help each other.

This is the first of Claire Allan's books that I've read, but it won't be my last. I now need to read Rainy Days &Tuesdays and Feels Like Maybe. Oh yes. I am really looking forward to that.
 

It is, quite simply, one of my favourite books of all time. It changed the way I felt about having a second child. It changed the way I feel about parenting in general. It made me laugh a lot and cry quite a lot too. I want everyone to read it. 

Did you read it? (Please say yes!) Did you love it? (You MUST have loved it!)

[Happy Holidays Letterpress Card in Green by Letterpress Delicacies]

The other day, I spotted the cover second from the right and thought, "Ooh! Pretty!" But then when I googled it, I was faced with an array of covers. I haven't read the book, so I'm not sure which one suits it best, but my favourite aesthetically is the fifth one (black with lace). The one on the left irritates me being yet another total Jodi Picoult rip-off. Which one's your favourite (click to enlarge)? 

The book has a gorgeous website and I love that the author's blog is called The Bru-haha plus there's a pretty interesting story behind the book's publication. It was originally self-published, but after getting rave reviews, was picked up by HarperCollins for $2million and became a New York Times bestseller. 

In no particular order...

50 Ways to Find a Lover by Lucy-Anne Holmes; The Lost Child by Julie Myerson; Twilight by Stephenie Meyer; The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes; The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. 

It Sucked and then I Cried by Heather Armstrong; Unsticky by Sarra Manning; The Disengagement Ring by Clodagh Murphy (review coming soon); Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (review coming soon); One Day by David Nicholls. 

Caroline Rance: A Kind of Intimacy by Jenn Ashworth

Caroline Smailes: An A-Z of Possible Worlds' by A.C. Tillyer

Sarah Fox: The Children's Book by A S Byatt

Lisa Clark: Unsticky by Sarra Manning

Tamsyn Murray: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Scott Wortley: Outside the Narrative (Etruscan books- Word Power books) - the collected poems of Tom Leonard. Favourite novels were Banville's The Infinities and David Peace's Occupied City.

Jill Mansell: The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Clodagh Murphy: The 19th Wife by David Ebersoff

But the most votes went to One Day by David Nicholls, with Jill Mansell, Clodagh Murphy and Jessica Ruston all picking it. 

What was your top read of 2009?

I did start watching Enid on the night it aired. Immediately the screen was filled with Helena Bonham Carter. After a few seconds Helena disappeared and I just saw Enid. But then we had to stop watching. I just wasn't ready yet for my heroine to be portrayed in a way I would find uncomfortable, perhaps ruining her books for me forever.

This film was based on Imogen Smallwood's scathing version of life with her mother Enid.It is well known that Imogen didn't like her upbringing, unlike her older sister Gillian. I don't know how much of the film is fact, how much is down to a small child's perception and how much is creativity on the part of the producers but I thought it well balanced.

Despite the headline of a well known UK newspaper gleefully screaming Naked tennis, a lesbian affair with the nanny: New TV drama reveals Enid Blyton as a barking-mad adulterous bully she didn't actually come across like that at all. (I will refrain on commenting here on this particular paper's view of successful working women.) She was a prolific writer, an excellent marketeer and PR person creating a fantastic brand. But she was also a little screwed up. And the film attempts to explain why.

I couldn't help drawing parallels between Enid's relationship with her mother, and Imogen's relationship with Enid. Enid blamed her mother for her father leaving. In reality her father was a womaniser. Imogen blames her mother for her father leaving. In reality he was a depressed alcoholic.

I think, when you watch this film, you have to remember that this is one woman's view of her mother. The film does remind us by showing Imogen overhearing things but, if you haven't watched it, keep that at the back of your mind. The older sister, Gillian, has now passed away but one of her friends actually commented at the end of this article which injects a little balance. She said Enid was a very friendly and generous person who would play cards with them in the evenings....Gillian and her mother got on very well together, but for some reason Imogen didn't. I have written this because Gillian is no longer here to put the other side. The film shows Enid only playing with her children when the cameras were rolling.

I should also say the film is beautifully shot and Helena plays the part in a wonderful way.

Most importantly, however, I still love Enid Blyton. For the past week I have been devouring The Famous Five once more, waking up gritty eyed from lack of sleep.

I love picture books (and thankfully so do my kids) and these three are my current favourites. All the World is absolutely gorgeous in every way and perfect for boys *and* girls. I Love You Through and Through is also perfect for both, but the illustration is a boy and so may be slightly better for boys. Someday is probably the most gorgeous picture book I've ever read (just try and get through it without crying), but it's all about having a daughter.

I can't imagine anyone not liking any of these books.