My List of Books Read in 2008
Jan. 1st, 2009 01:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shakatanyIn spite of all our modern conveniences we still are stuck with the same 24-hour day as our ancestors were. As I spend more time online that extra time must come from elsewhere. I no longer read Time, Newsweek, People or the NY Daily News. However I still read the NY Times and other periodicals so it's just that I've pruned my list to what I really need/want to read. I've found I read fewer books last year than in the past but I'm still reading - only it's online and called fanfic. However I did manage to read some 30 books last year (I may have missed one or two and I did start, but didn't finish, several books obviously not included here).
My List of Books Read in 2008:
Fiction:
What Love Means to You People by NancyKay Shapiro. It's a gay love story which I leant to a friend whose son had just come out of the closet and it helped her understand a bit. We both think it's exquisitely written. My only complaint was that one of the characters told a big lie early on that I knew would come back to bite him so it was a bit aggravating waiting for the fallout. Of course if there had been no lie, there would've been no novel and it only would've been a lovely short story.
Endless Blue by Wen Spencer. The author has created an interesting blend of science fiction and fantasy - there are elves and starships in her series 'verse.
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs In this volume, we get to explore the faefolk in this AU where all sorts of "imaginary" creatures are actually real. Another great book by a fantastic writer.
Buckingham Palace Gardens by Anne Perry. No Charlotte :(
Careless in Red by Elizabeth George. I don't know but after reading mysteries since I was young I'm getting awfully jaded and I don't think I'll be reading any more books by this author (or several other old faves).
From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris. The author has wrapped up a few things and introduced a slew of new plotlines. I predict Sookie may eventually end up with Sam.
Bond of Fire by Diane Whiteside. Another volume about the Texas Vampires with some scenes from the previous book re-told from another's POV - an interesting technique.
Dancing with Werewolves by Carole Nelson Douglas. I didn't care for this book as the heroine was such a Mary Sue.
Not in the Flesh by Ruth Rendell. A solid mystery by one of the best mystery writers out there yet I'm probably adding her to my list of no-longer-to-be-read writers.
Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs. Briggs has added a secondary group of characters to her Mercy'verse that are almost as intriguing as Mercy herself
The Sharing Knife: Passage by Lois McMaster Bujold. I loove LMB though I am not as big on her fantasies as I am about her SF. Still her characters, plots and writing style will keep me reading her books.
Rollback by Robert Sawyer A very solid bit of speculative fiction by a hard SF writer. Still I believe that he ignored several factors ie what the fundamentalists would've done in response to the rollback treatments, the knowledge there were aliens and the creation of aliens on Earth that turned this book into more of a treatise than a novel.
Death's Half Acre by Margaret Maron. A solid mystery by a writer whose characters keep me involved and I will continue to read her books.
Vampyres of Hollywood by Adrienne Barbeau and Michael Scott. Not too bad though I wonder how much was written by Barbeau ("Maude", "The Fog") and how much by Scott.
The Laughter of Dead Kings by Elizabeth Peters. A light romp with a cameo appearance by the author of the Amelia Peabody books tying that series with the Vicky Bliss books.
Damage Control by J.A. Jance. I always enjoy her Joanna Brady books
Cruel Intent by J. A. Jance. Not as good as the JB books and a bit too "Chekov's gun" but still a good read.
Burn Out by Marcia Muller. I think I'm kind of burned out by the series
Wolfsbane and Mistletoe ed by Charlaine Harrris and Toni L.P. Kelner with stories by CH, Patricia Briggs, Nancy Pickard and others.
Media Related and Science:
The Dead Travel Fast: Stalking Vampires from Nosferatu to Count Chocula by Eric Nuzum. Cute book of an investigator of the contemporary vampire scene.
Star Wars on Trial by David Brin (for the prosecution) and Matthew Woodring Stover (for the defense) Cute idea and I am definitely on Brin's side (BTW does anyone want this because I'm not keeping my copy? Just let me know)
Different Engines: How Science Drives Fiction and Fiction Drives Science by Professor Mark L.Brave and Reverend Neil Hook. Interesting look at the symbiotic relationship between science fiction and science fact.
Beyond Human by Gregory Benford and Elisabeth Malartre
Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku
The Coming Convergence by Stanley Schmidt
Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by Dr Daniel Amen. Fascinating - I'm so glad I don't drink much, do drugs or smoke - the images of brains of people who do so are scary
The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becke. A highly recommended book.
Where's My Jetpack: A Guide to the Amazing Science Fiction Future That Never Arrived by Daniel H. Wilson. A look at the stuff predicted by SF and how well reality is doing to match those predictions (BTW does anyone want this because I'm not keeping my copy? Just let me know)
Who on Earth was Jesus? by David Boulton. An overview of the current studies by various scholars in the religious field. I'm growing more confident that if he existed he certainly wasn't as depicted in the Bible or popular culture.
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher. A very thin volume that really isn't worth the price of admission.
My List of Books Read in 2008:
Fiction:
What Love Means to You People by NancyKay Shapiro. It's a gay love story which I leant to a friend whose son had just come out of the closet and it helped her understand a bit. We both think it's exquisitely written. My only complaint was that one of the characters told a big lie early on that I knew would come back to bite him so it was a bit aggravating waiting for the fallout. Of course if there had been no lie, there would've been no novel and it only would've been a lovely short story.
Endless Blue by Wen Spencer. The author has created an interesting blend of science fiction and fantasy - there are elves and starships in her series 'verse.
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs In this volume, we get to explore the faefolk in this AU where all sorts of "imaginary" creatures are actually real. Another great book by a fantastic writer.
Buckingham Palace Gardens by Anne Perry. No Charlotte :(
Careless in Red by Elizabeth George. I don't know but after reading mysteries since I was young I'm getting awfully jaded and I don't think I'll be reading any more books by this author (or several other old faves).
From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris. The author has wrapped up a few things and introduced a slew of new plotlines. I predict Sookie may eventually end up with Sam.
Bond of Fire by Diane Whiteside. Another volume about the Texas Vampires with some scenes from the previous book re-told from another's POV - an interesting technique.
Dancing with Werewolves by Carole Nelson Douglas. I didn't care for this book as the heroine was such a Mary Sue.
Not in the Flesh by Ruth Rendell. A solid mystery by one of the best mystery writers out there yet I'm probably adding her to my list of no-longer-to-be-read writers.
Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs. Briggs has added a secondary group of characters to her Mercy'verse that are almost as intriguing as Mercy herself
The Sharing Knife: Passage by Lois McMaster Bujold. I loove LMB though I am not as big on her fantasies as I am about her SF. Still her characters, plots and writing style will keep me reading her books.
Rollback by Robert Sawyer A very solid bit of speculative fiction by a hard SF writer. Still I believe that he ignored several factors ie what the fundamentalists would've done in response to the rollback treatments, the knowledge there were aliens and the creation of aliens on Earth that turned this book into more of a treatise than a novel.
Death's Half Acre by Margaret Maron. A solid mystery by a writer whose characters keep me involved and I will continue to read her books.
Vampyres of Hollywood by Adrienne Barbeau and Michael Scott. Not too bad though I wonder how much was written by Barbeau ("Maude", "The Fog") and how much by Scott.
The Laughter of Dead Kings by Elizabeth Peters. A light romp with a cameo appearance by the author of the Amelia Peabody books tying that series with the Vicky Bliss books.
Damage Control by J.A. Jance. I always enjoy her Joanna Brady books
Cruel Intent by J. A. Jance. Not as good as the JB books and a bit too "Chekov's gun" but still a good read.
Burn Out by Marcia Muller. I think I'm kind of burned out by the series
Wolfsbane and Mistletoe ed by Charlaine Harrris and Toni L.P. Kelner with stories by CH, Patricia Briggs, Nancy Pickard and others.
Media Related and Science:
The Dead Travel Fast: Stalking Vampires from Nosferatu to Count Chocula by Eric Nuzum. Cute book of an investigator of the contemporary vampire scene.
Star Wars on Trial by David Brin (for the prosecution) and Matthew Woodring Stover (for the defense) Cute idea and I am definitely on Brin's side (BTW does anyone want this because I'm not keeping my copy? Just let me know)
Different Engines: How Science Drives Fiction and Fiction Drives Science by Professor Mark L.Brave and Reverend Neil Hook. Interesting look at the symbiotic relationship between science fiction and science fact.
Beyond Human by Gregory Benford and Elisabeth Malartre
Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku
The Coming Convergence by Stanley Schmidt
Change Your Brain, Change Your Life by Dr Daniel Amen. Fascinating - I'm so glad I don't drink much, do drugs or smoke - the images of brains of people who do so are scary
The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becke. A highly recommended book.
Where's My Jetpack: A Guide to the Amazing Science Fiction Future That Never Arrived by Daniel H. Wilson. A look at the stuff predicted by SF and how well reality is doing to match those predictions (BTW does anyone want this because I'm not keeping my copy? Just let me know)
Who on Earth was Jesus? by David Boulton. An overview of the current studies by various scholars in the religious field. I'm growing more confident that if he existed he certainly wasn't as depicted in the Bible or popular culture.
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher. A very thin volume that really isn't worth the price of admission.
