Bookwormz 2009.
As the year is quickly coming to an end, here is the list of books that I read in 2009 and a few of my thoughts.
Here they are in the order that I read them (sort of):
1. Pillars of the Earth - Ken follett
I read this book over the Christmas holidays and started the year sleep deprived since I tried to read through this 1000+ page book in a few days. A great story about characters in England circa 1300. Very imaginative and plot driven. It is a definitely great vacation book. I enjoyed every minute of it!
2. One Fifth Avenue - Candace Bushnell
I love chick lit. Sometimes it jumps starts my reading binges. They are quick reads and they make me laugh. Not amazing literature and definitely not thought provoking...except for this particular one. It talks about the social elites and social climbers of New York City. The book centers around this prestigious condo block on #1 Fifth Avenue.
3. Hotel Babylon - Imogen Edwards-Jones
I think I read this over the Summer. I. LOVE. HOTELS. Since I started living out of a suitcase - I don't enjoy them as much - but I am always fascinated about the hotel industry. How do they make it work? How do they provide successfully the "home away from home" feeling. This book describes in a fictional way some of the goings-on of a hotel. After reading, it confirmed some of my suspicions and explained to me exactly what happened the last time I was screwed out of a prime room (that I previously reserved without a hitch).
4. Fashion Babylon - Imogen Edwards-Jones
Same concept as the above mentioned book - but about the fashion world. An easy read. If you love fashion, then you will find this book very interesting!
5. The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton
Excellent relaxing reading. Turn-of-the-century chick lit. The story is about a lady who used her beauty and wit to social climb New York's high society in the early 1900's. Loved this book. Respect Ms. Wharton!
6. Blue Ocean Strategy - W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne
There was a lot of buzz earlier this year on this business book. I found it alright. Learned a few things about strategy and thinking in a different way - but not particularly thought provoking nor did it stand out from any of the other business reading that I completed. I still consider it a must-read. Only because you don't want to be the only fool in the boardroom who has not read this book.
7. The Southwest Airlines Way
With the new Service initiatives at work - I thought I would wrap my head around a successful airline company. I also wanted to better understand why Air Canada sucks so much. If you have ever asked yourself that question - I suggest that you read this book. You will quickly realize why Air Canada is a colossal failure when compared to this airline.
8. Four Seasons - The story of a Business Philosophy
To continue on with my complete obsession with hotels. I LOVED reading every page of this book. It is Isadore Sharp's biography and explains how an immigrant from Toronto built a 5-star luxury hotel empire. FASCINATING read. I quote the book regularly at work.
9. McDonalds - Behind the Arches
Great historical account of the rise of the Golden Arches. It starts with the McDonald brothers - what they did right and where they failed. And then it follows Ray Kroc on his mission to be the franchise God of fast food. Very helpful read for those in the retail or quick service restaurant business.
10. The time traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
The WORST love story ever. FACK. The previews for the movie were every where this Summer and I decided to read the book instead of watching the movie. The first problem is that I could not suspend disbelief for this book. Time travel doesn't happen in real life therefore, I felt it was dumb. Also, more like a love tragedy than a love story. Sheesh.
11. World without End - Ken Follett
Spent 48 hours of my 2 week Summer holidays devouring this book. Again, like the Pillars of the Earth, a complete plot driven page turner. I like historical fiction because it transports me to another time and it allows me to learn something about the way life could be back then.
12. The Towering World of Jimmy Choo
Another business book. But for business women :) I find Tamara Mellon an interesting person -a socialite who used her brains and hard work to build a shoe empire. She is constantly critisized in the press for her love life and business decisions. But to me, I think she is an absolute success because she saw an opportunity, seized it and was brilliant and innovative about it. Above all, I now know a lot of trivia about the elusive $800 USD shoe.
13. The Bad Girl - Mario Vargas Llosa
I saw on the goop.com website (yes, I do sometimes check out Gyneth's stupid blog) and at one point she asked all her famous friends to recommend books. Madonna recommended this interesting novel. It takes place in Peru, Paris, London, Japan, Spain, and back to Peru. The characters were multi-layered and kept me intrigued and disturbed a long time after reading the book. Best of all, I recognized a lot of the street names & places mentioned in the book so it was almost like travelling back to these fabulous cities.
14. Tough Decisions - Carly Fiorina
My sister read this on her most recent trip to Europe and lent it to me. AMAZING business read. I am in the midst of reading this book written by the former CEO of Hewlett Packard. I respect and identify so much with Carly. Her struggles and successes early in her career are familiar to me. However, she explains the learnings and triumphs in such an honest and articulate way. I am inspired when I read about her life.
I still have 5 books on their way from Amazon.ca. Hope I can read them all before the year-end. If you are wondering how I fit reading and avid television watching in my busy busy schedule - easy, I am a very FAST reader & I am a highly functioning sleep deprived individual.
