Booking Through Thursday: The Best

It’s a week or two later than you’d expect, and it may be almost a trite question, but … what were your favorite books from 2008?
(It’s an oldie but a goodie question for a reason, after all … because, who can’t use good book suggestions from time to time?)

For me, three books come to mind when I consider my favorite books read in 2008. All three of these books were new in 2008. Here's my three favorite books of the year:

• TOMATO GIRL by Jayne Pupek
• MUDBOUND by Hillary Jordan
• THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN by Garth Stein

Two of them are first-time novelists, which is a great compliment. Coincidentally, those same two are both published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. They have a wonderful Southern Fiction department, which is a favorite of mine. Of the three books, if I had to choose my top pick, it would be Jayne Pupek's TOMATO GIRL. Although the subject matter was difficult and at times the story was utterly heartbreaking, that book made a huge impact on me. It made me cry, it made me angry, yet it gave me hope. I will always remember Ellie's story.
If you'd like to read my reviews of these book, click on the title above. What were your favorites of 2008?