2010 has been a great year for readers and writers. New books took their place in the spotlight, while classics received renewed attention from the media and readers alike. Technology has changed the way we read and how we decide what to read. The line between journalists and bloggers has blurred, and excellent writing is being presented in both arenas. It's a wonderful time to be a reader, as evidenced by this year's top 10 Character Approved topics.


1. Stieg Larsson.
2010 was certainly the year of Stieg Larsson in the United States. Though Larsson's first book, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, debuted in this country in 2008, sales and popularity have increased year after year, culminating in the publication of the third book in The Millennium Trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. Aided by the US release of the Swedish films and the announcement of the American remake in the works, Larsson-mania will undoubtedly continue into 2011.


2. Ebooks.
2010 proved to be a banner year for electronic reading. Apple introduced the iPad in April, allowing its more than 7 million purchasers to read e-books on a large-format full-color device. Borders began offering the Kobo eReader to customers in June. In July, Amazon declared that it was selling more e-books than hardcover books. In November, Barnes & Noble's NookColor arrived in stores. While most people agree that paper books will never go out of style, the opportunity for readers to experiment with ebooks has never been greater.


3. Roger Ebert's Journal.
Film critic Roger Ebert may be doing the best writing of his career at his personal blog, Roger Ebert's Journal. Ebert, who has been unable to speak, eat or drink since the mid-2000s due to medical complications, writes honestly about his life, loneliness, music, and current events, often with film as a reference point. Ebert's writing is strong and lyrical, heartfelt and poignant, and always thought-provoking.


4. TIME Magazine's Issue Featuring Jonathan Franzen.
TIME magazine's book reviewer, Lev Grossman, dubbed Jonathan Franzen a "Great American Novelist." Whether you agree or not, Franzen's appearance on the cover of the magazine, the first novelist in a decade to be so honored, showed that literary fiction is important and worthy of conversation beyond of the pages of the book review.


5. Twitter for Readers and Writers.
2010 may well be called "The Year of Twitter," and writers and readers alike have found tips and recommendations by using the social networking service. Some of the best information comes from scheduled Twitter chats. #Fridayreads, where people post what book or article they are reading, is a great source for adding books to your wishlist. #Litchat talks about books, writing, authors, and anything in between. Kristin Thiel of the Christian Science Monitor has compiled a great list of weekly Twitter chats of interest to readers and writers.


6. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot.
This incredible true story of one poor black woman's cancer cells seems an unlikely subject for a bestseller, but it spent many weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list and it resides in the #1 spot on Amazon.com's Best Books of 2010. Author Rebecca Skloot shows how science writing can be accessible, informative, and compelling. Skloot's telling of Henrietta Lacks' story has brought the conversation about medical research and ethics into the mainstream media and book groups alike. Skloot has donated a portion of her proceeds from the book to making a better life for the descendants of Henrietta Lacks, and established a foundation that has awarded full college tuition to five of those descendants.


7. James Fallows.
James Fallows is a National Correspondent for the Atlantic, and is one of the best journalists writing today. Fallows has written insightful articles covering a wide range of topics: from foreign and domestic policy ("How America Can Rise Again"), economics, to national security ("Cyber Warriors"), and technology ("The Pen Gets Mightier"). Fallows provides thoughtful analysis and reporting, in both long-form and in short bursts. Fallows also writes an influential blog that allows him to cover topics and ideas that would not fit in the pages of a print magazine.


8. Finishing the Hat by Stephen Sondheim.
A fascinating and personal look inside the art and craft of one of America's greatest lyricists, Finishing the Hat should be read by anyone interested in musical theatre and the process of creating. The book includes anecdotes and observations along with the lyrics for all of Sondheim's musicals from 1954 to 1981, including West Side Story, Company, Sweeney Todd, and Sunday in the Park With George. Musician Paul Simon writes in his New York Times review of the book, "After reading Finishing the Hat, I felt as if I had taken a master class in how to write a musical. A class given by the theater's finest living songwriter."


9. To Kill a Mockingbird 50th Anniversary Celebration.
This year, the literary world turned out in force to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Harper Lee's iconic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. The occasion was marked by a summer full of readings and performances at bookstores, libraries and other venues throughout the country. The spotlight on the book allowed it to be discovered for the first time by many, further cementing its place among the literary classics of our time.


10. Book Bloggers Take Their Place in the Literary World.
Book Expo America 2010 was the official coming out party for book bloggers, with the first ever Book Bloggers Convention. This large community of volunteer literary advisers spend their free time writing about books and authors, picking up some of the slack left by the dwindling book coverage in newspapers and magazines. Though book blogging has been happening for years, it's now a recognized contingent of the publishing community, with some bloggers partnering officially with bookstores, libraries, and even publishers.


[Images: Britt-Marie Trensmar, Calgary Public Library, Roger Ebert, TIME, Twitter, Rebecca Skloot, the Atlantic, Samuel French, Salon, To Kill a Mockingbird 50th Anniversary Celebration, Book Blogger Con]