Best of 2009

I love this time of year because, in addition to copious amounts of cookies, we get to reflect back on the last 12 months and choose our favorite things. We're also subjected to everyone else's best of lists...did you think Read.Watch.Listen would be different? Ha! So, here it is--our favorites from 2009. Enjoy.

Books

• Gina: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - edge of your seat awesomeness
• Connie: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han & Beautiful by Amy Lyn Reed - two heart-wrenching stories about beauty and so much more
• Faythe: Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey - There were a lot of favorites this year, but since we are picking our favorites of 2009, I chose this one. Not just another vampire story. I just really loved it.
• Lisa: If I Stay by Gayle Forman- this is one of many not to be missed books from this year and I can't wait for the movie!!!!

Music

• Gina: Far by Regina Spektor - she's a jack of all instruments, plus she’s interesting and smart
• Connie: Give Up the Ghost by Brandi Carlile - I could listen to her voice all day (and often do)
• Faythe: (songs)



• “Little Pieces” from A New Tide by Gomez
• “My Love” from Ray Guns are Not Just the Future by The Bird and the Bee
• “Maybe” from Everybody by Ingrid Michaelson



• Lisa: I've been listening to so many podcasts these days that I can't even think of any new music so... my favorite podcast of late is This American Life.
  

Movies

• Gina: Fantastic Mr. Fox - stop animation has a place in my heart and so does Roald Dahl
• Connie: Up - Funny and touching. I'm also convinced that if I actually saw Precious that would be a favorite too.
• Faythe: Star Trek - I didn't see a lot of movies this year, but I loved this one.
• Lisa: New Moon - What kind of Team Jacob fan would I be if I didn't list this movie as my fave?

TV Shows

• Gina: Intervention on A&E - I will never, ever do drugs
• Connie: Glee and The Soup - because they both have great lines I can repeat over & over again to make myself giggle
• Faythe: Glee - I love the one liners! A close second is Family Guy (I have a twisted sense of humor)
• Lisa: my household has been left behind with the digital convertor mandate (we only get 1.5 channels) but I am a fan of Glee on Hulu.
  
  

Video Games

• Gina: New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii - I grew up on this stuff
• Connie: Beatles Rock Band or Wii Fit Plus (especially the yoga part)
• Faythe: Ghostbusters and Mini Ninjas both for the PS3
• Lisa: Bix on my iPhone - I had a serious addition to this game and had to quit cold turkey.

Websites

• Gina: http://goanimate.com/ - I can't draw, but I can animate!
• Connie: Etsy - awesome handmade stuff; it's like the world's biggest street fair
• Faythe: Crazy Days and Nights - my daily look at popular culture and gossip with snark!
• Lisa: Twitter - I am still addicted.

Technology

• Gina: iPhone - everything I need in one pocket
• Connie: iPhone - I have a serious addiction to the app store
• Faythe: iPhone - I finally caved in and got one this year. I don't know how I lived with out it.
• Lisa: Google Wave - I've played just enough to know this is gonna be BIG.

What we're most looking forward to in 2010

• Gina: Lost season 6, next Hunger Games, a better economy, Alice in Wonderland, Ramona and Beezus, Ape House by Sara Gruen, the Clash of the Titans remake, Scott Pilgrim vs The World, Inception
• Connie: This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer, It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han, the next Hunger Games book, American Idol with Ellen DeGeneres judging, Sex & the City movie sequel
• Faythe: This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer, (I’d say Jekel Loves Hyde, but I already have it! Hee), Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan and John Green, Date Night and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1.
• Lisa: the final book in the Hunger Games trilogy, Deathly Hallows, Part 1 and a new iPhone.

What are your best of choices for 2009?