Annual Favorite Books of the Year List, a post by Nancy L. Agneberg

Lists. I love making them and love reading them. I come by that naturally, for my father is a great list maker. For example, he has kept lists of every single flight he has taken in his life. Recently, he made a list of all the people with whom he has worked over the years. Over 300 names! He even made a list of everyone in his first grade class. Not bad for an 89 year old man. 
My favorite lists, however, are lists of recommended books--many are added to my ongoing list of books I hope to read someday. In that spirit I offer my own list of Favorite Books of 2012. Here they are in no particular order:
Fiction
* The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obrecht
* Coral Glynn by Peter Cameron
* Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
* Glaciers by Alexis M. Smith
* The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
* Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
* Room by Emma Donoghue
* The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philip Sendker
* The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett
* The Forever Marriage by Ann Bauer
* Joe Sandilands mystery series by Barbara Cleverly (still have a couple left) 
* The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones
* The Chaperone by Laura Moriarity
* The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker
* A Good American by Alex George
* Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
* Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
* Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (AGAIN!!! --almost an annual read)
Nonfiction
* Awakening the Energies of Love, Discovering Fire for the Second Time by Anne Hillman
* Aging as Spiritual Practice by Lewis Richmond
* On Rereading by Patricia Meyer Spacks
* You are Here, Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh
* Wild, From Lost to Found on the Pacific Coast Trail by Cheryl Strayed
* Kayak Mornings, Reflections on Love, Grief, and Small Boats by Roger Rosenblatt
* When Women Were Birds, 54 Variations on Voice by Terry Tempest Williams
* Patience, The Art of Peaceful Living by Alan Lokos
* Against Wind and Tide, Letters and Journals 1947-1986 by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
* The Morville Year by Katherine Swift
* Healing the Heart of Democracy, The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit by Parker J. Palmer
* In Lieu of Flowers, A Conversation for the Living by Nancy Cobb
* Help, Thanks, Wow, The Three Essential Prayers by Ann Lamott
* The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
* The Emotional Life of Your Brain by Richard Davidson and Sharon Begley
Sneak Preview. Currently, I am reading two books I am positive will be on the Favorite Books of 2013 list: Seven Thousand Ways to Listen, Staying Close to What is Sacred by Mark Nepo and Dearie, The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz. And I am adding to my "want to read" list by reading My Ideal Bookshelf, Art by Jane Mount and Edited by Thessaly La  Force. 
A List Gene. It seems, by the way, that the list gene in our family has passed down the generations. Our grandson, Peter, almost 5, is a great listmaker already. He suggested we make a list of all the animals we saw at the zoo this fall. He asked his mother to make a list of what he could take for lunch at daycamp this summer and all the things he and his buddy could do when she came over to play. And, of course, there was his list for Santa. Someday, maybe he will make a list of his favorite books as well, too.
Your List. I would love to know what is on your favorite books of 2012 list and what you hope to read in 2013. Send me your list.