2005 Books in Review
Since it's New Year's Eve, I got to thinking about the books I've read this year. I re-read many old favorites - HP 1-5, Jane Austen, L.M. Montgomery, C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, Willa Cather, A Lantern in Her Hand, and most recently, Great Expectations.
As far as books that were new to me this year -
Good:
HBP - It managed to simultaneously be the funniest and darkest HP book.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger(sp?) - So good that I just finished reading it again.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd - Set in the South in 1964, a white girl seeks refuge with 3 black sisters and discovers more about her past. I read this in one sitting on the plane.
OK:
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke - Very imaginative and well written (sort of HP meets Jane Austen). However, the characters were so unlikable that the book was hard to slog through.
The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde - I bought this at a book-signing because I had liked the Thursday Next novels so much. It was an amusing send-up of the detective genre, but not as funny as its predecessors.
Fun, but no Nutritional Value:
The Da Vinci Code - I read this in one day, but I wanted to slap the characters for being such idiots. Art history experts should know immediately that Da Vinci used mirror-writing. Also, I laughed at places that weren't supposed to be funny.
The Grand Sophy and These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer - I preferred Sophy. How often do you see the plot of a romance novel resolved in a scene that is pure slapstick comedy?
I know there were more, but these are the ones I remember best.
P.S. Go see "The Producers". Be sure and stay for the credits.
As far as books that were new to me this year -
Good:
HBP - It managed to simultaneously be the funniest and darkest HP book.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger(sp?) - So good that I just finished reading it again.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd - Set in the South in 1964, a white girl seeks refuge with 3 black sisters and discovers more about her past. I read this in one sitting on the plane.
OK:
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke - Very imaginative and well written (sort of HP meets Jane Austen). However, the characters were so unlikable that the book was hard to slog through.
The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde - I bought this at a book-signing because I had liked the Thursday Next novels so much. It was an amusing send-up of the detective genre, but not as funny as its predecessors.
Fun, but no Nutritional Value:
The Da Vinci Code - I read this in one day, but I wanted to slap the characters for being such idiots. Art history experts should know immediately that Da Vinci used mirror-writing. Also, I laughed at places that weren't supposed to be funny.
The Grand Sophy and These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer - I preferred Sophy. How often do you see the plot of a romance novel resolved in a scene that is pure slapstick comedy?
I know there were more, but these are the ones I remember best.
P.S. Go see "The Producers". Be sure and stay for the credits.