It’s time to say goodbye to 2009. Here are a few terrific things about the year that was:
Romance reading and blogging:
1. A super year for contemporaries: New or new-to-me authors like Julie James (esp. Practice Makes Perfect), Sarah Mayberry (esp. Anything For You), Janice Kay Johnson, Jill Shalvis, and Victoria Dahl, as well as new-to-me reads by old favorites, like Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Ain’t She Sweet?) and Jennifer Crusie (Manhunting).
2. Stand out historicals: Judith Ivory has become one of my favorite writers, and I enjoyed new books by Sherry Thomas, Meredith Duran, and new-to-me authors like Jennifer Ashley and Jo Goodman and Jo Beverley.
3. Paranormal in 2009 was more of a mixed bag. But gems included Meljean Brook’s Demon Forged — the strongest ongoing paranormal romance series bar none, Kelley Armstrong’s Bitten, and the continued excellence of Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series, with the phenomenal 9th installment, Dead and Gone.
4. My reading horizons were broadened: I read black and African American romance/women’s fic (I especially liked Dorothy Koomson’s My Best Friend’s Girl), m/m romance (I especially enjoyed Sean Kennedy’s Tigers and Devils), young adult (Rachelle Mead’s Vampire Academy) and fantasy with strong romantic elements (Lois McMaster Bujold’s The Sharing Knife).
5. I got over my hatred of male audiobook narrators thanks to finding a good one for Judith Ivory’s The Proposition.
6. The Winsor Lists — a lark that ended up engaging dozens of bloggers and readers alike. For one day, I got to call myself a community builder. Just so fun.
7. Blogging with family: my husband about Not Quite a Husband, my son about Here Be Monsters! and my Mom about Outlander.
8. One of my favorite bloggers, and a role model for me in blogging, Tumperkin of Isn’t It Romance? agreeing to join me occasionally for joint reviews or one of her trademark thoughtful meditations. Our post on Excruciating Moments is one of this blog’s most read posts.
9. New or new-to-me blogs like AnimeJune’s, Sarah Tanner’s, and MagdalenB’s.
10. Continued excellence, experience, and straight talk (which I always appreciate, even if I disagree) from established bloggers like Kristie, SuperWendy, Karen Scott and Azteclady, Keishon, Nicola, Katiebabs, Christine, Jill, Holly and co, Sybil and co, Kenda, and Jane L and co. I’ve learned something about the romance genre or business from every one of you this year. (And you have each made me tear my hair out at least once).
11. Just plain fun (as well as great reviews/insights) from Ana and Thea and Carolyn Jean. I love watching the Book Smugglers take over the world, and I cannot wait for CJ’s triumphant debut as a published author in 2010.
12. Academics in Romance: Laura Vivanco of Teach Me Tonight, such a great blogger and commenter here and everywhere she goes on line, the IASPR crew, and attending the PCA conference. Can’t wait to see Sarah, Eric, and the gang again in 2010 (and will miss Laura once again).
13. I averaged 4 posts per week, for a total of 192 in 2009, the blog readership is growing, and I still love blogging to pieces.
Home life:
1. English Shepherd Pups. When our 13 year old border collie mix passed away in 2008, I couldn’t imagine a different dog in my house. A year later, I can’t imagine life without Wellie and Kitchie (Wellington and Kitchener). They are worthy successors to The Greatest Dog Who Ever Lived.
2. Kindle 2.0. Putting aside the issues with DRM and lack of folders, this is a terrific product. I can instantly download tons of books for the best prices, and sometimes even free. Easy to use, durable, and decent for tweeting or surfing when away from my laptop. I no longer read paper books unless I have to. I love love love it.
PS. And for everyone who told me to “wait to buy an ereader”, my reply is: I’ve had 10 fantastic months of reading with my Kindle 2.0 and haven’t seen a product that is better yet. I’m very glad I did not take that advice.
3. Slanket. So warm. So soft. So worth the hit to my self-image. And SO superior to a Snuggie (and the views of people in California or Texas or South Carolina who whine when the temp dips below 50 degrees F do not count.)
4. iTouch. I’m not sure what I did before I had the iTouch calendar or the ability to surf the web (and narrowly miss crashing into innocent students and trees) as I walk from building to building on campus. I don’t do much fiction reading on it – it strains my eyes — but it will do in a pinch. Love it.
5. Quality Gin. We ended up at a party this summer where gin flights were served, and my eyes have been opened to the inferiority that was the Tanqueray I used to drink. Hendricks (small batch Scottish gin infused with cucumber and rose petals), Citadelle (with 18 botanicals including juniper — best w/tonic), and even new-to-me types of gin, like Plymouth Dry, Old Tom, and Holland gin. I’ve been inebriated for 6 straight months. (kidding!)
6. Netflix Download Play. Convenient. Awesome. And now we have a TV we can connect the laptop to.
7. Lancome Cils Booster XL — super-enhancing mascara base. Pure vanity, but I am delighted that I’ve finally defeated my short skimpy lashes.
There was lots of good work stuff, but mentioning that would be the worst combo ever of bragging and boring. I will say that teaching Gaffney’s To Have and To Hold in my ethics and fiction class was a very challenging experience that helped me grow as a teacher. I can’t wait to teach another one.
I’m teaching an undergrad feminist philosophy course in the spring. Who knows … maybe I’ll manage to get a Harlequin Presents on the syllabus.
Happy New Year!!!
A busy year!! Love that picture of the pups – nicely pseudo mirror images. I’m reading Tigers & Devils right now and wondering why I waited so long.
Wow, I made you tear your hair out? Muahahah, my plans for world domination continue nicely. Except for those Book Smugglers. Hmmmm…
Jessica – I’ve enjoyed every moment of reading your blog this year. You do a fantastic job of making me stop and think and sometimes wonder what the heck you’re talking about (when you get all academic on me). Congrats on a wonderful year of blogging. Can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for us in 2010.
I’ve found your blog (and your steady blogging) really impressive this year–you’re going from strength to strength! I’m not sure whether to try the Kindle or the Gin for inspiration, but it sounds like they’re both worth a try. Can’t wait to see you in St. Louis!
Thanks for the link.
Your blog is one I come to regularly (I even bookmarked it!) for thoughtful and often surprising points and POV. You wrote once that you tend to do things for a two years — well, I hope you’ve reset that clock, and will do so again. We’re not done reading yet!
I forwarded the gin list to two friends and can’t wait to get to BevMo to try some for myself! Bookmarked the Lancome Cils … my dd has gorgeous lashes and I’m going to get me some … told my mum about your Outlander review. Oh, and Thank You for a wonderful year and a marvelous backlist of fascinating blogs.
Can’t wait to pull out more of your hair in 2010
Psst… you are one of my must go to blogs this year.
Thanks for the link – AND for the recommendations, especially in the Ivory department. So looking forward to reading them and I never would have heard about her if not for you.
Hey! I love these newsy wrap-ups, esp when my coming exquisite triumphantness is mentioned, and I totally echo Magdelan – I hope you don’t suddenly stop blogging. I’ve been worried about it, too.
And oh, look at your puppies! Also, what’s this about Lancome Cils Booster XL? Thanx for the tip, sister. Also, a Kindle can do twitter? Really? Also, pleased glad you liked Bitten, and you’re inspiring me to read Vampire Academy as a toe dip into YA. Bc, I really like Mead’s Succubus stuff!
I’m a gin drinker, too. I am dutifully writing down those names with the hopes that a) I can actually afford any of them and b) that the liquor store carries any of them.
Thanks, Jessica. I’m deeply flattered. I’m also mentally re-writing that song about brown paper packages etc so that it’s about Jessica’s most terrific things.
Just wanted to say that although I only recently discovered your blog, I’m very much enjoying it so far. There have been multiple posts that have really made me think about issues on a whole new level.
The Winsor Lists were great fun!
I love AnimeJune’s blog. She gives me serious review envy. And SarahT’s was one of my go-to blogs this year – largely on the strength of her commentary.
And I made you tear your hair out at least once? Dang. Who knew my blog had such powers?
I feel especially honored to have pulled out your hair, Jessica. I’m in such good company, too. Happy New Year!
Wow, I’m awfully flattered to be on that list! Now you have me curious about the hair-tearing though. This is a great blog, smart and funny and unassuming, with something for every romance lover.
Clearly I have got to start keeping a list of all the posts that make me tear my hair out, because it’s the only thing you sadists are interested in.
I will do it, too! Just wait til I send you my wig-maker’s bill.
I can’t decide if you’d enjoy or tear your hair out over my stock photo/cover art series…
I think I’ve read all those 192 posts, even though I didn’t comment on every one.
Look forward to another great year of blogging from you. And wish you and yours a happy, healthy, prosperous (I’m Chinese, we can’t in good conscience wish any one New Year without including that) 2010.
Eeeek!! And I usually try to be so non-confrontational!! And yet I made you want to pull you hair out.
Yours is one of my always go to blogs too
What a great post – especially as I am on it….
Blogging and visiting here has been one of my high points of 2009. It’s no secret that this is one of my very favourite blogs and, like everyone else here, I’m wishing you much blogging success in 2010 – Viva RRR!
Thanks for linking to me! Your blog was also one of my great finds this year.
I really enjoy reading your blog, and I’d love to see how teaching Harlequin Presents goes over in the feminist philospohy class. I love reading this line on occasion, but I have to admit to moments of guilt about it. My feminist self probably isn’t supposed to like heroines swept off their feet by dingdongdillionaires quite so much!
Great, positive wrap-up! Just curious, did you have a particular reason to specify “black” and “African-American” or was it just to be inclusive?
Would love to see you get an HP on the syllabus and hope I get a chance to recommend a good one!
@willaful: Because Koomson is a British author who happens to be black. I also read some Kimanis which are by AA authors.
Love AnimeJune too. She has great taste.
And I am also looking forward to the third Julie James next year.