January in Review (First Lines, Top Five)

These are a few of my favorite 'first' lines read in January 2009.

It was a dark, blustery afternoon in spring, and the city of London was chasing a small mining town across the dried-out bed of the old North Sea.

Zeke's tree wouldn't speak to him.

Everyone's seen my mother naked.

The first time I met Mia we ended up in a hotel room by ourselves.

January's Top Five:

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran. 2007.
The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran. (2008)
The Farwalker's Quest by Joni Sensel (Pub April 2009)
Clementine's Letter by Sara Pennypacker. 2008.
Books are for eating reading. by Suzy Becker. 2009. (Jan 2009)

Number of Picture Books = 7

What is God Like by Beverly Lewis. 2008.
Froggy Green by Anna Walker. 2009.
Thank You, God! Illustrated by Sophie Allsopp. 2009.
Questions from Little Hearts by Kathleen Long Bostrom. Illustrated by Elena Kucharik. 2009 (Feb Pub)
Never Talk to Strangers. by Irma Joyce. Illustrated by George Buckett. 1967/2009.
The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle --no author listed-- 2009. Little Simon/Little Green. Simon & Schuster.
Knitty Kitty by David Elliott. 2008

Number of board books = 8

Toddler Bible by Bethan James and Yorgus Sgouros. 2008.
How Do I Love You? by Marion Dane Bauer. (Pub Jan 2009)
I'm A Happy Hugglewug by Niamh Sharkey 2009.
Books are for eating reading. by Suzy Becker. 2009. (Jan 2009)
Duck & Goose: How are you feeling? by Tad Hills. 2009. (Jan 2009)
Planet Earth: Baby Penguins by Scholastic. 2009
My First Garden. 2009. Simon & Schuster
Baby Bible: Stories About Jesus. Currie, Robin. 2004.

Number of children's books (under age 8) = 2
The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne. Illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard. 1928.
Clementine's Letter by Sara Pennypacker. 2008.


Number of Christian books = 8

In the Company of Secrets by Judith Miller. 2007.
Whispers Along the Rail by Judith Miller. 2007.
Jonathan Edwards for Armchair Theologians. 2008.
An Uncertain Dream by Judith Miller. 2008.
On Church Leadership by Mark Driscoll. 2008.
Courtship of the Vicar's Daughter by Lawana Blackwell. 2007.
Red Letters edited by Timothy Beals. Crossway. 2009.
Gingham Mountain by Mary Connealy.


Number of adult books = 6

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. 2005.
Nefertiti by Michelle Moran. 2007.
Anubis Gates by Tim Powers. 1983.
The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran. (2008)
Fanny Hill by John Cleland. Wordsworth Classics. 1749.
Emma by Jane Austen. 1815.

Number of YA books = 14

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith (Pub. Jan. 2009)
Need by Carrie Jones (Pub. Dec. 2008)
Just One Wish by Janette Rallison. (Pub March 2009)
The Farwalker's Quest by Joni Sensel (Pub April 2009)
Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott. (Pub March 2009)
Veronica by Jane Claypool Miner. 1986.
Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah. (Pub Jan 2009)
What Would Emma Do by Eileen Cook. 2008. (Dec 2008)
Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before. David Yoo. 2008.
The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro. 2009. (Jan 2009)
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve. 2003.
Predator's Gold by Philip Reeve. 2003.
Infernal Devices by Philp Reeve. 2005.
The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby. 2009.


Number of verse novels: 3

Keeping the Night Watch by Hope Anita Smith. Illustrations by E.B. Lewis. 2008.
Far From You by Lisa Schroeder. (Pub. Dec 2008)
Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas. 2009 (April 2009).

Number of graphic novels = 2
Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone: The Odyssey of Flight 33 by Mark Kneece.
Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone: The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street. by Mark Kneece.

Number of short story collections/anthologies = 2

Starry Rift: An Original Science Fiction Anthology. Edited by Jonathan Strahan. 2008.
Free To Be You and Me by Marlo Thomas and Friends. 2008.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews