100 Books in 2009
Has anyone been wondering what I've been reading lately? Here's your answer.
Also, a quick shout-out to birthday girl bistyboo1974, another book-lover and friend here on LJ. Posting from work means I love ya, hon!
71 / 100 books. 71% done!
1. Bag of Bones, by Stephen King
2. The Golden Compass, of the His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman
3. Cry to Heaven, by Anne Rice
4. The Good Guy, by Dean Koontz
5. The Sands of Mars by Arthur C. Clarke
6. Duma Key by Stephen King
7. Watership Down by Richard Adams
8. The Intelligence of Dogs: Canine Consciousness and Capabilities by Stanley Coren
9. I Sing the Body Electric, by Ray Bradbury
10. Last Dance, Last Chance by Ann Rule
11. Dogs Who Found Me, by Ken Foster
12. Wolf Hunting by Jane Lindskold
13. Through Wolf's Eyes by Jane Lindskold
14. Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart by Jane Lindskold
15. The Dragon of Despair by Jane Lindskold
16. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
17. Aerie by Mercedes Lackey
18. Wolf Captured by Jane Lindskold
19. Wolf's Blood by Jane Lindskold
20. The Cat Who Dropped the Bomb by Lilian Jackson Braun
21. The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers by Lilian Jackson Braun
22. Tommyknockers by Stephen King
23. For Bea: The Story of the Beagle Who Changed My Life by Kristen von Kreisler
24. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
25. Falconry for Beginners by Lee Harris
26. Equinox: Life, Love, and Birds of Prey by Dan O'Brien
27. A Wing in the Door by Peri Philips McQuay
28. Eagle Dreams by Stephen Bodio
29. "Mom, Jason's Breathing on Me!": The Solution to Sibling Bickering by Anthony Wolf
30. Spoken in Whispers: The Autobiography of a Horse Whisperer by Nicci Mackay
31. My Lead Dog Was A Lesbian: Mushing Across Alaska in the Iditarod--The World's Most Grueling Race by Brian Patrick O'Donoghue 32. Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre
33. Building the Perfect PC by Robert Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson
34. Hide This Spanish Book by Berlitz Publishing
35. Foundations by Mercedes Lackey
36. Moving Targets edited by Mercedes Lackey
37. Rites of Autumn: A Falconer's Journey Across the American West by Dan O'Brien
38. Buffalo for the Broken Heart: Restoring Life to a Black Hills Ranch by Dan O'Brien
39. The Dogs of Windcutter Down: One Shepherd's Struggle for Survival by David Kennard
40. The Daily Coyote: A Story of Love, Survival, and Trust in the Wilds of Wyoming by Shreve Stockton
41. Shadow Mountain: A Memoir of Wolves, a Woman, and the Wild by Renee Askins
42. Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog ... And Your Life by Cesar Milan and Melissa Jo Peltier
43. The Queen Must Die and Other Affairs of Bees and Men by William Longwood and Pamela Johnson
44. The Horses of Proud Spirit by Melanie Sue Bowles
45. Hoof Prints: More Stories from Proud Spirit by Melanie Sue Bowles
46. The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable by Terry Pratchett and Paul Kidby
47. Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by River and Joyce Higginbotham.
48. Three Among the Wolves: A Couple and Their Dog Live a Year with Wolves in the Wild by Helen Thayer
49. Dogs of Dreamtime: A Story About Second Chances and the Power of Love by Karen Stanley
50. Cesar’s Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems by Cesar Millan and Melissa Jo Peltier
51. City of Bone
52. City of Ashes
53. City of Glass, The Mortal Instruments Trilogy by Cassandra Clare
54. Orcs by Stan Nicholls
55. Eats, Shoots, and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss
56. Desperation by Stephen King
57. Rose Madder by Stephen King
58. Just After Midnight by Stephen King
59. The Gift of Fear: And Other Survival Signals that Protect Us from Violence by Gavin de Becker
60. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
61. The Whole Death Catalog: A Lively Guide to the Bitter End by Harold Schecter
62. Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
63. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
64. Kicked, Bitten, and Scratched: Life and Lessons at the World's Premier School for Exotic Animal Trainers by Amy Sutherland
65. The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes: And Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and Their Patients by Lucy H. Spelman DVM and Ted Y. Mashima DVM
66. The Golden Cat by Gabriel King
I've read this book and its predecessor, The Wild Road, many times since their publication. I happen to be very fond of that genre of animal stories which include Richard Adams' Watership Down and Garris??'s Hunters' Moon (published in the US as The Foxes of Firstdark). Quite often these fanciful stories are grounded in a deep love for and understanding of the featured animals, and in some cases a scholarly study thereof. While I can't say that Gabriel King is a feral cat naturalist, he surely loves his cats, and his portrayal of them is delightful. The characters are fascinating, and the convoluted plot is worth the long ride with all its twists and turns. I must admit, my favorite character of all is Sealink, and if King ever gave the Delta Queen a book of her own, I'd be one of the first to purchase it.
67. Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
New favorite author. Briggs rocks - she does an amazing job of first-person description in the Mercy Thompson books, and with these novels set in the same world she shows how well she handles third-person perspective. The tradeoff is that I don't feel as close to Charles and Anna, the couple around whom the Alpha and Omega series revolves, as I do to Mercy. But I still like the pair. They're both werewolves, but he has some interesting background as a Native American, and she has some issues with having been Changed against her will. Exploring their relationship dynamic alongside the plot full of political maneuvering and interesting characters makes for very good reading.
68. On the Prowl by Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks, Karen Chance, and Sunny
I went to the library and checked out this anthology of four novellas just to get the story by Patricia Briggs, which is the prequel to the novels Cry Wolf and Hunting Ground. I have read both and reviewed them on my journal, so you can guess how much I like them. The tale of how Charles and Anna met is very interesting, but a little more sparse than Briggs' usual writing, the result of space constraints. As for the other three stories, I liked Eileen Wilks' Inhuman for its interesting premise and well-written characters, but all four in this book seem to suffer from a forced amount of romance. I don't subscribe to the premise that whoever makes your genitals sing is your perfect soul mate, and especially in Karen Chance's story, I was more annoyed with the hero than in awe of him. I think every story in the book has a moment in which the main characters are just SO in lust with each other that they have what sounds like completely involuntary physical reactions - they pounce on each other, grope and kiss and pant, and it just read like "hello, porn as plot device, right here" to me. If you like your horny heroines and irresistibly hunky heroes, though, read and enjoy.
69. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
The next two books are on hold at the library. I've read three now, and I like them, even if I worry for Sookie and I'm getting pissed at Bill. I'm also more and more intrigued by Eric and Pam. Suffice it to say that I will likely finish the series. I like Harris' style, I like her characters - these are people I almost know, folks who wouldn't seem out of place in my own little slice of the south. I've read spoilers that tell me the direction I'm sensing the series heading in is probably the right one, so I'm happy to go along and see how Harris handles it.
70. No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach by Anthony Bourdain
I love the show - Lois and I record every episode. We're both more than half in love with Tony Bourdain himself, that endlessly snarky sonofabitch who's still somehow erudite and educated. He can sound so very highbrow one moment, practically declaiming poetry, and in the next make a crude, lewd joke, usually at his own expense. He manages to respect the culture and cuisine of the countries he visits, while reminding us that he's a New York chef, a curmudgeon of the highest order. This book lets us a little further in to the world of No Reservations, and shows us what it's like to make the show. Pretty much everything you want to know - production notes, photographs of splendid food, commentary on the crew, even the best and worst bathrooms in the world - is in these pages. Fans of the show should get the book, NOW. It's one I could read over and over again.
71. The Nasty Bits: Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones by Anthony Bourdain
Based on the first three words of the title, I was hoping this would be a book about some of the crazy things Bourdain has eaten: warthog rectum, raw seal eye, things of that nature. Instead, I found a collection of Bourdain's essays, plus one short story, that are by turns riotously funny, heartwarming, profound, and frustrating. Worth the read for any fan of his show, his work, or seriously heavy-duty snark mixed with intelligent commentary.
Also, a quick shout-out to birthday girl bistyboo1974, another book-lover and friend here on LJ. Posting from work means I love ya, hon!
71 / 100 books. 71% done!
1. Bag of Bones, by Stephen King
2. The Golden Compass, of the His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman
3. Cry to Heaven, by Anne Rice
4. The Good Guy, by Dean Koontz
5. The Sands of Mars by Arthur C. Clarke
6. Duma Key by Stephen King
7. Watership Down by Richard Adams
8. The Intelligence of Dogs: Canine Consciousness and Capabilities by Stanley Coren
9. I Sing the Body Electric, by Ray Bradbury
10. Last Dance, Last Chance by Ann Rule
11. Dogs Who Found Me, by Ken Foster
12. Wolf Hunting by Jane Lindskold
13. Through Wolf's Eyes by Jane Lindskold
14. Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart by Jane Lindskold
15. The Dragon of Despair by Jane Lindskold
16. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
17. Aerie by Mercedes Lackey
18. Wolf Captured by Jane Lindskold
19. Wolf's Blood by Jane Lindskold
20. The Cat Who Dropped the Bomb by Lilian Jackson Braun
21. The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers by Lilian Jackson Braun
22. Tommyknockers by Stephen King
23. For Bea: The Story of the Beagle Who Changed My Life by Kristen von Kreisler
24. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
25. Falconry for Beginners by Lee Harris
26. Equinox: Life, Love, and Birds of Prey by Dan O'Brien
27. A Wing in the Door by Peri Philips McQuay
28. Eagle Dreams by Stephen Bodio
29. "Mom, Jason's Breathing on Me!": The Solution to Sibling Bickering by Anthony Wolf
30. Spoken in Whispers: The Autobiography of a Horse Whisperer by Nicci Mackay
31. My Lead Dog Was A Lesbian: Mushing Across Alaska in the Iditarod--The World's Most Grueling Race by Brian Patrick O'Donoghue 32. Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre
33. Building the Perfect PC by Robert Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson
34. Hide This Spanish Book by Berlitz Publishing
35. Foundations by Mercedes Lackey
36. Moving Targets edited by Mercedes Lackey
37. Rites of Autumn: A Falconer's Journey Across the American West by Dan O'Brien
38. Buffalo for the Broken Heart: Restoring Life to a Black Hills Ranch by Dan O'Brien
39. The Dogs of Windcutter Down: One Shepherd's Struggle for Survival by David Kennard
40. The Daily Coyote: A Story of Love, Survival, and Trust in the Wilds of Wyoming by Shreve Stockton
41. Shadow Mountain: A Memoir of Wolves, a Woman, and the Wild by Renee Askins
42. Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog ... And Your Life by Cesar Milan and Melissa Jo Peltier
43. The Queen Must Die and Other Affairs of Bees and Men by William Longwood and Pamela Johnson
44. The Horses of Proud Spirit by Melanie Sue Bowles
45. Hoof Prints: More Stories from Proud Spirit by Melanie Sue Bowles
46. The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable by Terry Pratchett and Paul Kidby
47. Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by River and Joyce Higginbotham.
48. Three Among the Wolves: A Couple and Their Dog Live a Year with Wolves in the Wild by Helen Thayer
49. Dogs of Dreamtime: A Story About Second Chances and the Power of Love by Karen Stanley
50. Cesar’s Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems by Cesar Millan and Melissa Jo Peltier
51. City of Bone
52. City of Ashes
53. City of Glass, The Mortal Instruments Trilogy by Cassandra Clare
54. Orcs by Stan Nicholls
55. Eats, Shoots, and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss
56. Desperation by Stephen King
57. Rose Madder by Stephen King
58. Just After Midnight by Stephen King
59. The Gift of Fear: And Other Survival Signals that Protect Us from Violence by Gavin de Becker
60. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
61. The Whole Death Catalog: A Lively Guide to the Bitter End by Harold Schecter
62. Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
63. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
64. Kicked, Bitten, and Scratched: Life and Lessons at the World's Premier School for Exotic Animal Trainers by Amy Sutherland
65. The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes: And Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and Their Patients by Lucy H. Spelman DVM and Ted Y. Mashima DVM
66. The Golden Cat by Gabriel King
I've read this book and its predecessor, The Wild Road, many times since their publication. I happen to be very fond of that genre of animal stories which include Richard Adams' Watership Down and Garris??'s Hunters' Moon (published in the US as The Foxes of Firstdark). Quite often these fanciful stories are grounded in a deep love for and understanding of the featured animals, and in some cases a scholarly study thereof. While I can't say that Gabriel King is a feral cat naturalist, he surely loves his cats, and his portrayal of them is delightful. The characters are fascinating, and the convoluted plot is worth the long ride with all its twists and turns. I must admit, my favorite character of all is Sealink, and if King ever gave the Delta Queen a book of her own, I'd be one of the first to purchase it.
67. Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
New favorite author. Briggs rocks - she does an amazing job of first-person description in the Mercy Thompson books, and with these novels set in the same world she shows how well she handles third-person perspective. The tradeoff is that I don't feel as close to Charles and Anna, the couple around whom the Alpha and Omega series revolves, as I do to Mercy. But I still like the pair. They're both werewolves, but he has some interesting background as a Native American, and she has some issues with having been Changed against her will. Exploring their relationship dynamic alongside the plot full of political maneuvering and interesting characters makes for very good reading.
68. On the Prowl by Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks, Karen Chance, and Sunny
I went to the library and checked out this anthology of four novellas just to get the story by Patricia Briggs, which is the prequel to the novels Cry Wolf and Hunting Ground. I have read both and reviewed them on my journal, so you can guess how much I like them. The tale of how Charles and Anna met is very interesting, but a little more sparse than Briggs' usual writing, the result of space constraints. As for the other three stories, I liked Eileen Wilks' Inhuman for its interesting premise and well-written characters, but all four in this book seem to suffer from a forced amount of romance. I don't subscribe to the premise that whoever makes your genitals sing is your perfect soul mate, and especially in Karen Chance's story, I was more annoyed with the hero than in awe of him. I think every story in the book has a moment in which the main characters are just SO in lust with each other that they have what sounds like completely involuntary physical reactions - they pounce on each other, grope and kiss and pant, and it just read like "hello, porn as plot device, right here" to me. If you like your horny heroines and irresistibly hunky heroes, though, read and enjoy.
69. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
The next two books are on hold at the library. I've read three now, and I like them, even if I worry for Sookie and I'm getting pissed at Bill. I'm also more and more intrigued by Eric and Pam. Suffice it to say that I will likely finish the series. I like Harris' style, I like her characters - these are people I almost know, folks who wouldn't seem out of place in my own little slice of the south. I've read spoilers that tell me the direction I'm sensing the series heading in is probably the right one, so I'm happy to go along and see how Harris handles it.
70. No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach by Anthony Bourdain
I love the show - Lois and I record every episode. We're both more than half in love with Tony Bourdain himself, that endlessly snarky sonofabitch who's still somehow erudite and educated. He can sound so very highbrow one moment, practically declaiming poetry, and in the next make a crude, lewd joke, usually at his own expense. He manages to respect the culture and cuisine of the countries he visits, while reminding us that he's a New York chef, a curmudgeon of the highest order. This book lets us a little further in to the world of No Reservations, and shows us what it's like to make the show. Pretty much everything you want to know - production notes, photographs of splendid food, commentary on the crew, even the best and worst bathrooms in the world - is in these pages. Fans of the show should get the book, NOW. It's one I could read over and over again.
71. The Nasty Bits: Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones by Anthony Bourdain
Based on the first three words of the title, I was hoping this would be a book about some of the crazy things Bourdain has eaten: warthog rectum, raw seal eye, things of that nature. Instead, I found a collection of Bourdain's essays, plus one short story, that are by turns riotously funny, heartwarming, profound, and frustrating. Worth the read for any fan of his show, his work, or seriously heavy-duty snark mixed with intelligent commentary.