2008 Book List Update!
I did a really bad job of keeping this list in 2007. But I'm going to keep trying and one of these years, I'll get it right! :)
Stuff I Read in 2008:
10. Burning Bright -
Tracy Chevalier
Ok, so I'm not yet halfway through this one, but I felt the need to alert you to its presence anyway. New Chevalier novel = muchmuch happiness in my little world. Now with the added awesomeness of William Blake!!
9. White Night (Dresden Files series)-
Jim Butcher
I've been waiting and waiting for this one in paperback and at last! 'tis here. Without delving into spoilers (although I think Dresden fans seeing this likely read the book before I did), there's one plot point that makes me go a little "....eh? Seriously?" but overall Jim Butcher continues to get more awesome. The next installment, Small Favours, just came out in hardback; I think I'll have to attack the library rather than wait this one out.
8. Mr. Monk and the two Assistants -
Lee Goldberg
I had no idea there even were Monk books till I ran across one. After reading some fairly miszed reviews on Amazon, I was wary, but still curious, so I picked up this one. Surprisingly good! Not exactly world-class mystery fiction here, but it was a lot of fun. :) If you're a fan of the show, you'll probably find the books a good read.
7. Geisha, a Life -
Iwasaki Mineko, translated and editied by Rande Brown
The autobiography of a lady who was once of Japan's premiere gieko. Fascinating story, and the translator does a fantastic job preserving her charming voice.
6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling
On the off change there's anyone later to this party than me, I must warn you that there are now spoilers for this in the comments.
Yes, finally. Just finished this one last night. I read it, I think, in a little less than 48 hours. Easily a favourite of the series. I could say a lot of glowing things about this book, and I only have one real complaint: I'd have been happier having not read the epilogue. It's a little depressing to see that even a war didn't change certain attitudes.
4,5. Dragons of the Dwarven Depths, Dragons of the Highlord Skies
Margaret Weiss, Tracy Hickman
I don't have much use for most of the three billion other Dragnolance novels, but I still have a soft spot for the original War of the Lance trilogy and its characters. The authors of the original three (Weiss & Hickman) are in the process of writing a second trilogy that intertwines with the first. Dwarven Depths is the first; it deals primarily with Tanis, Sturm, Tass, and Flint's journey to Thorbardin, which is mentioned but never seen in Autumn Twilight. Highlord Skies primarily follows Kitiara - a very nice treatment of her character. The third and final volume, Dragons of an Hourglass Mage, isn't out yet. Three guesses who it's about. If you're a fan of the original Dragons trilogy, these are worth the read.
1,2,3. The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass
Phillip Pullman
(though to be fair, I started the first one in December)
The debut of the movie version of The Golden Compass prompted me to start re-reading the series, which is an old favourite. Shortly after I finished this first one, I got to see the film version, which I already talked about over here. :)
Stuff I Read in 2008:
10. Burning Bright -
Tracy Chevalier
Ok, so I'm not yet halfway through this one, but I felt the need to alert you to its presence anyway. New Chevalier novel = muchmuch happiness in my little world. Now with the added awesomeness of William Blake!!
9. White Night (Dresden Files series)-
Jim Butcher
I've been waiting and waiting for this one in paperback and at last! 'tis here. Without delving into spoilers (although I think Dresden fans seeing this likely read the book before I did), there's one plot point that makes me go a little "....eh? Seriously?" but overall Jim Butcher continues to get more awesome. The next installment, Small Favours, just came out in hardback; I think I'll have to attack the library rather than wait this one out.
8. Mr. Monk and the two Assistants -
Lee Goldberg
I had no idea there even were Monk books till I ran across one. After reading some fairly miszed reviews on Amazon, I was wary, but still curious, so I picked up this one. Surprisingly good! Not exactly world-class mystery fiction here, but it was a lot of fun. :) If you're a fan of the show, you'll probably find the books a good read.
7. Geisha, a Life -
Iwasaki Mineko, translated and editied by Rande Brown
The autobiography of a lady who was once of Japan's premiere gieko. Fascinating story, and the translator does a fantastic job preserving her charming voice.
6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling
On the off change there's anyone later to this party than me, I must warn you that there are now spoilers for this in the comments.
Yes, finally. Just finished this one last night. I read it, I think, in a little less than 48 hours. Easily a favourite of the series. I could say a lot of glowing things about this book, and I only have one real complaint: I'd have been happier having not read the epilogue. It's a little depressing to see that even a war didn't change certain attitudes.
4,5. Dragons of the Dwarven Depths, Dragons of the Highlord Skies
Margaret Weiss, Tracy Hickman
I don't have much use for most of the three billion other Dragnolance novels, but I still have a soft spot for the original War of the Lance trilogy and its characters. The authors of the original three (Weiss & Hickman) are in the process of writing a second trilogy that intertwines with the first. Dwarven Depths is the first; it deals primarily with Tanis, Sturm, Tass, and Flint's journey to Thorbardin, which is mentioned but never seen in Autumn Twilight. Highlord Skies primarily follows Kitiara - a very nice treatment of her character. The third and final volume, Dragons of an Hourglass Mage, isn't out yet. Three guesses who it's about. If you're a fan of the original Dragons trilogy, these are worth the read.
1,2,3. The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass
Phillip Pullman
(though to be fair, I started the first one in December)
The debut of the movie version of The Golden Compass prompted me to start re-reading the series, which is an old favourite. Shortly after I finished this first one, I got to see the film version, which I already talked about over here. :)