Books I've Read - 2009
Well, this wraps up the reading for 2009. I wasn't really trying for 50 books, but I did actually read that many (maybe a few more than that, since I'm pretty sure I forgot to make note of several). Tomorrow will be the first post for 2010!
Recently finished reading:
50. The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle: Interesting.
49. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks: Good reading.
48. Spin by Robert Charles Wilson: An excellent sci-fi novel that explores the effects of a strange astronomical phenomenon.
47. A Class Apart by Alec Klein: A writer returns to his high school, the storied Stuyvesant High School in NYC, and gives a reasonably accurate and affecting view of the Class of 2006.
46. The Hungry Ocean: A swordboat captain's journey by Linda Greenlaw: I learned a couple of things from this book.
45. Hungry Monkey by Matthew Amster-Burton: "A food-loving father's quest to raise an adventurous eater"; fun, easy-reading adventures in gastronomy with a 4-year-old, with some recipes
44. Heat Wave by "Richard Castle": easy-reading detective mystery based on the TV series "Castle".
43. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien: Actually, I'm abandoning this; I got three-quarters of the way through over several months and just can't make myself finish.
42. Road Fever by Tim Cahill: Not as rollickingly funny as his other books.
41. The Kings of New York by Michael Weinreb: "A year among the geeks, oddballs, and geniuses who make up America's top high school chess team".
40. The Road by Cormac McCarthy: Awesome. Simply awesome.
39. Julie & Julia by Julie Powell: I'm hoping the movie supports the hype, as the book did not.
38. The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman: references Hmong, A History of a People.
37. Losing It by Valerie Bertinelli: married to Eddie Van Halen! (I did not know that!)
36. Adrift: Seventy-six days lost at sea by Steven Callahan: Awesome.
35. The Fallen Man by Tony Hillerman: the Navajo Rangers; "The Navajo culture that had produced Acting Lieutenant Jim Chee had taught him the power of words and of thought. Western metaphysicians might argue that language and imagination are products of reality. ... Thoughts, and the words that spring from them, bend the individual's reality."; "...probably an artillery observer's range-finding scope and probably bought in an army surplus store."; "New Yorker ... article ... about a Nevada brand inspector name of Chris Collins"; "Technic Inversion Number Three, Side View", Kremont Gallery, artist Egon Kuzluzski.
34. Sacred Clowns by Tony Hillerman: "In empty country everybody knew everything about everybody. One's inner thoughts seemed to transmit themselves through the clear, dry air without need for verbalizing."; Leaphorn: "If you have to lock your door in the police station, then it's time to get new policeman."; book mentioned: The Land of Room Enough, and Time; movie mentioned: Cheyenne Autumn; hozho: that state of harmony which is the goal of Navajo metaphysics.
33. Coyote Waits by Tony Hillerman: some of Chee's reading: Campbell's The Power of Myth, Buchanan's A Shining Season, Momaday's The Way to Rainy Mountain, Zolbrod's Dine Bahane; some of linguist Odell Redd's reading: dictionaries - English and foreign, from French to Quechua, a Cherokee dictionary, and Navajo Tonal Syntax; "Dinetah" - "Among the People".
32. Talking God by Tony Hillerman: "'Nice to be lucky,' Kennedy said."; "a paperback copy of Passage to Quivera"; "He would take two aspirins and sprawl out on his comfortable narrow bed and finish reading A Yellow Raft on Blue Water. He'd left it opened to page 158. A hard place to stop."
31. A Thief of Time by Tony Hillerman: good one; Jim Chee's card: "Jim Chee/Hatathali/Singer of the Blessing Way/Available for other ceremonials/For consultation call _______/(P.O. Box 112, Shiprock, N.M."; AAA Indian Country map.
30. Skinwalkers by Tony Hillerman: Leaphorn and Chee get together on a case; "Chee parked as much of the car as he could in the scanty shade of the tamarisk and waited. It was a courtesy learned from boyhood in a society where modesty is prized, privacy is treasured, and visitors, even at a trading post, are all too rare."; "College of Ganado"; busybody: "one who tells a sheep which weed to eat"; McGinnis, alone, without wife, friend, or family, endured. Leaphorn appreciated those who endured."
29. The Ghostway by Tony Hillerman: Chee's Social Security number: 441-28-7272, hozro, "Chee himself had taken a steam bath in his trailer home--putting his frying pan, super-heated on the stove, on the floor of his shower and pouring boiling water from his teakettle onto the hot metal to create an explosion of steam.", "teacherage".
28. People of Darkness by Tony Hillerman
27. Listening Woman by Tony Hillerman
26. Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman: These Hillerman books have been on our sailboat New Moon for years and are starting to get moldy, so I'm reading them one last time (except for one that was too far gone to do even that) and then releasing them into the "wild".
25. Darwinia by Robert Charles Wilson: Yet another excellent science fiction offering by this author.
24. The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman: Navajo police mystery, fun easy reading.
23. The Dispossessed by Ursula LeGuin: One of my all-time favorite books. It is always fresh.
22. In the Land of Invented Languages: Esperanto Rock Stars, Klingon Poets, Loglan Lovers, and the Mad Dreamers Who Tried to Build A Perfect Language by Arika Okrent: well, that's a ridiculously long subtitle, but the book is really fun and interesting.
21. Food Matters by Mark Bittman: GREAT! No need to read all those other food books (green, diet, politics, rants, etc.) -- just read this eminently sensible book that covers the whole thing concisely, graciously, deliciously, and with humor.
20. Sway: the Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori Brafman and Rom Brafman: reasonable; contains about six ideas, which are worth reading about but not surprising.
19. I'm Not Really Here by Tim Allen: well, more interesting than his first book but, again, about twice as long as it could carry.
18. Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik: literate and tender book about a young American family's five years in Paris -- well worth reading (or listening to, as I did).
17. C'est la Vie by Suzy Gershman: easy-to-read book about a American woman, newly widowed, making a new life in Paris; some useful insights.
16. Into the Nebula by Gene DeWeese: a better-than-average Star Trek book (TNG), but either I'm getting better at figuring these things out or this one was very predictable.
15. Marsbound by Joe Haldeman: Really fun; interesting aliens; ties into my current Mars mania.
14. Mars Life by Ben Bova: Not bad; better than his other books; worthwhile reading in this Mars phase I'm in.
13. Almost French by Sarah Turnbull: Really good; lots of insight into the French and the expat experience.
12. Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man by Tim Allen: Some books are twice as long as they need to be; this is one of them.
11. How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill: I alternated between admiring and being irritated by him.
10. New Rules by Bill Maher: Bearable; a few laughs.
9. The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt: Not what I expected, but interesting in a social-register kind of way.
8. French Milk by Lucy Knisley: Cute; reminded me of when my kids were college-aged.
7. Enterprise: By the Book by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Much better than the typical Star Trek novel; interesting aliens.
6. Star Trek TNG: Before Dishonor by Peter David: Ugh.
5. An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude by Ann Vanderhoof: Shows how much of the cruising lifestyle actually takes place on land. :-)
4. French By Heart: An American Family's Adventures in La Belle France by Rebecca S. Ramsey: Interesting; worthwhile reading for francophiles.
3. Through the Grinder (Coffeehouse Mysteries, No. 2) by Cleo Coyle: A typical series mystery.
2. The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A. J. Jacobs: Funny.
1. Survive!: My Fight for Life in the High Sierras by Peter DeLeo: Amazing! Almost unbelievable, but shows what a strong will can do.
Recently finished reading:
50. The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle: Interesting.
49. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks: Good reading.
48. Spin by Robert Charles Wilson: An excellent sci-fi novel that explores the effects of a strange astronomical phenomenon.
47. A Class Apart by Alec Klein: A writer returns to his high school, the storied Stuyvesant High School in NYC, and gives a reasonably accurate and affecting view of the Class of 2006.
46. The Hungry Ocean: A swordboat captain's journey by Linda Greenlaw: I learned a couple of things from this book.
45. Hungry Monkey by Matthew Amster-Burton: "A food-loving father's quest to raise an adventurous eater"; fun, easy-reading adventures in gastronomy with a 4-year-old, with some recipes
44. Heat Wave by "Richard Castle": easy-reading detective mystery based on the TV series "Castle".
43. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien: Actually, I'm abandoning this; I got three-quarters of the way through over several months and just can't make myself finish.
42. Road Fever by Tim Cahill: Not as rollickingly funny as his other books.
41. The Kings of New York by Michael Weinreb: "A year among the geeks, oddballs, and geniuses who make up America's top high school chess team".
40. The Road by Cormac McCarthy: Awesome. Simply awesome.
39. Julie & Julia by Julie Powell: I'm hoping the movie supports the hype, as the book did not.
38. The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman: references Hmong, A History of a People.
37. Losing It by Valerie Bertinelli: married to Eddie Van Halen! (I did not know that!)
36. Adrift: Seventy-six days lost at sea by Steven Callahan: Awesome.
35. The Fallen Man by Tony Hillerman: the Navajo Rangers; "The Navajo culture that had produced Acting Lieutenant Jim Chee had taught him the power of words and of thought. Western metaphysicians might argue that language and imagination are products of reality. ... Thoughts, and the words that spring from them, bend the individual's reality."; "...probably an artillery observer's range-finding scope and probably bought in an army surplus store."; "New Yorker ... article ... about a Nevada brand inspector name of Chris Collins"; "Technic Inversion Number Three, Side View", Kremont Gallery, artist Egon Kuzluzski.
34. Sacred Clowns by Tony Hillerman: "In empty country everybody knew everything about everybody. One's inner thoughts seemed to transmit themselves through the clear, dry air without need for verbalizing."; Leaphorn: "If you have to lock your door in the police station, then it's time to get new policeman."; book mentioned: The Land of Room Enough, and Time; movie mentioned: Cheyenne Autumn; hozho: that state of harmony which is the goal of Navajo metaphysics.
33. Coyote Waits by Tony Hillerman: some of Chee's reading: Campbell's The Power of Myth, Buchanan's A Shining Season, Momaday's The Way to Rainy Mountain, Zolbrod's Dine Bahane; some of linguist Odell Redd's reading: dictionaries - English and foreign, from French to Quechua, a Cherokee dictionary, and Navajo Tonal Syntax; "Dinetah" - "Among the People".
32. Talking God by Tony Hillerman: "'Nice to be lucky,' Kennedy said."; "a paperback copy of Passage to Quivera"; "He would take two aspirins and sprawl out on his comfortable narrow bed and finish reading A Yellow Raft on Blue Water. He'd left it opened to page 158. A hard place to stop."
31. A Thief of Time by Tony Hillerman: good one; Jim Chee's card: "Jim Chee/Hatathali/Singer of the Blessing Way/Available for other ceremonials/For consultation call _______/(P.O. Box 112, Shiprock, N.M."; AAA Indian Country map.
30. Skinwalkers by Tony Hillerman: Leaphorn and Chee get together on a case; "Chee parked as much of the car as he could in the scanty shade of the tamarisk and waited. It was a courtesy learned from boyhood in a society where modesty is prized, privacy is treasured, and visitors, even at a trading post, are all too rare."; "College of Ganado"; busybody: "one who tells a sheep which weed to eat"; McGinnis, alone, without wife, friend, or family, endured. Leaphorn appreciated those who endured."
29. The Ghostway by Tony Hillerman: Chee's Social Security number: 441-28-7272, hozro, "Chee himself had taken a steam bath in his trailer home--putting his frying pan, super-heated on the stove, on the floor of his shower and pouring boiling water from his teakettle onto the hot metal to create an explosion of steam.", "teacherage".
28. People of Darkness by Tony Hillerman
27. Listening Woman by Tony Hillerman
26. Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman: These Hillerman books have been on our sailboat New Moon for years and are starting to get moldy, so I'm reading them one last time (except for one that was too far gone to do even that) and then releasing them into the "wild".
25. Darwinia by Robert Charles Wilson: Yet another excellent science fiction offering by this author.
24. The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman: Navajo police mystery, fun easy reading.
23. The Dispossessed by Ursula LeGuin: One of my all-time favorite books. It is always fresh.
22. In the Land of Invented Languages: Esperanto Rock Stars, Klingon Poets, Loglan Lovers, and the Mad Dreamers Who Tried to Build A Perfect Language by Arika Okrent: well, that's a ridiculously long subtitle, but the book is really fun and interesting.
21. Food Matters by Mark Bittman: GREAT! No need to read all those other food books (green, diet, politics, rants, etc.) -- just read this eminently sensible book that covers the whole thing concisely, graciously, deliciously, and with humor.
20. Sway: the Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori Brafman and Rom Brafman: reasonable; contains about six ideas, which are worth reading about but not surprising.
19. I'm Not Really Here by Tim Allen: well, more interesting than his first book but, again, about twice as long as it could carry.
18. Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik: literate and tender book about a young American family's five years in Paris -- well worth reading (or listening to, as I did).
17. C'est la Vie by Suzy Gershman: easy-to-read book about a American woman, newly widowed, making a new life in Paris; some useful insights.
16. Into the Nebula by Gene DeWeese: a better-than-average Star Trek book (TNG), but either I'm getting better at figuring these things out or this one was very predictable.
15. Marsbound by Joe Haldeman: Really fun; interesting aliens; ties into my current Mars mania.
14. Mars Life by Ben Bova: Not bad; better than his other books; worthwhile reading in this Mars phase I'm in.
13. Almost French by Sarah Turnbull: Really good; lots of insight into the French and the expat experience.
12. Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man by Tim Allen: Some books are twice as long as they need to be; this is one of them.
11. How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill: I alternated between admiring and being irritated by him.
10. New Rules by Bill Maher: Bearable; a few laughs.
9. The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt: Not what I expected, but interesting in a social-register kind of way.
8. French Milk by Lucy Knisley: Cute; reminded me of when my kids were college-aged.
7. Enterprise: By the Book by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Much better than the typical Star Trek novel; interesting aliens.
6. Star Trek TNG: Before Dishonor by Peter David: Ugh.
5. An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude by Ann Vanderhoof: Shows how much of the cruising lifestyle actually takes place on land. :-)
4. French By Heart: An American Family's Adventures in La Belle France by Rebecca S. Ramsey: Interesting; worthwhile reading for francophiles.
3. Through the Grinder (Coffeehouse Mysteries, No. 2) by Cleo Coyle: A typical series mystery.
2. The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A. J. Jacobs: Funny.
1. Survive!: My Fight for Life in the High Sierras by Peter DeLeo: Amazing! Almost unbelievable, but shows what a strong will can do.