Best of 2006
I'm usually not that big on listing best-of stuff, but I thought I'd do it this year, since I have been keeping a track of the things I read this year on my LJ (just check out the books06 tag to see my comments on all the books I read last year).
When I made the resolution, I decided to have some kind of a comment, however brief, on every single book I read this year, and if nothing else, I would at least list the book.
As I already said earlier, I think I'll do the same thing this year (obviously with "books07") tag.
Here is a list of Memorable Books in 2006 with silly categories. With links to the relevant entries on my journal.
Most interesting classic author I had never read before: Elizabeth Gaskell: Cranford, Wives and Daughters, A Dark Night's Work and Other Stories, North and South and Cousin Phillis and Other Tales.
Most interesting first novels:
Maria V. Snyder: Poison Study, which I raved about here. The second book in the series, called Magic Study came out late last year, but I haven't read it yet.
Joe Hill: Heart-Shaped Box. This was a review book, that I really enjoyed. It's horror, and I normally don't read that much horror, but it managed to keep me hooked throughout.
Best book I read that everybody else has to wait for it to be released in 2007:
Melissa Marr: Wicked Lovely (when I read it, the manuscript was still titled Finding the Summer Queen).
Most delightful new series:
Naomi Novik: Temeraire, Crown of Jade and Black Powder War (comments here). I loved the first first book, but the books two and three just didn't feel as good to me. I think I'll still check out the next one, but if it isn't better, I'll forget about this series.
Best Graphic Novel:
Bill Willingham et al.: Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall
Best Comic Book Compilation:
Linda Medley: Castle Waiting (published by Fantagraphics and contains almost all of the Castle Waiting that have ever been published)
Best Finnish novel:
Ilkka Auer: Sysilouhien sukua and Varjoissa vaeltaja (both mentioned in that on entry).
Best Media-Related:
Martha Wells: Stargate Atlantis: Reliquary (probably the only media-related book I read the entire year, but it's Martha Wells and her books are always so good that one can't promote them enough).
Best Victorian setting YA fantasy novel
Libba Bray: A Great and Terrible Beauty
Best book also appearing as a movie:
Christopher Priest: The Prestige
Most memorable book about India:
Devyani Saltzman: Shooting Water
Gregory David Roberts: Shantaram
Biggest Disappointment:
Sharon Lee & Steve Miller: Sword of Orion.
Best new discovery unrelated to books:
Doramas - I'm hopelessly addicted...
When I made the resolution, I decided to have some kind of a comment, however brief, on every single book I read this year, and if nothing else, I would at least list the book.
As I already said earlier, I think I'll do the same thing this year (obviously with "books07") tag.
Here is a list of Memorable Books in 2006 with silly categories. With links to the relevant entries on my journal.
Most interesting classic author I had never read before: Elizabeth Gaskell: Cranford, Wives and Daughters, A Dark Night's Work and Other Stories, North and South and Cousin Phillis and Other Tales.
Most interesting first novels:
Maria V. Snyder: Poison Study, which I raved about here. The second book in the series, called Magic Study came out late last year, but I haven't read it yet.
Joe Hill: Heart-Shaped Box. This was a review book, that I really enjoyed. It's horror, and I normally don't read that much horror, but it managed to keep me hooked throughout.
Best book I read that everybody else has to wait for it to be released in 2007:
Melissa Marr: Wicked Lovely (when I read it, the manuscript was still titled Finding the Summer Queen).
Most delightful new series:
Naomi Novik: Temeraire, Crown of Jade and Black Powder War (comments here). I loved the first first book, but the books two and three just didn't feel as good to me. I think I'll still check out the next one, but if it isn't better, I'll forget about this series.
Best Graphic Novel:
Bill Willingham et al.: Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall
Best Comic Book Compilation:
Linda Medley: Castle Waiting (published by Fantagraphics and contains almost all of the Castle Waiting that have ever been published)
Best Finnish novel:
Ilkka Auer: Sysilouhien sukua and Varjoissa vaeltaja (both mentioned in that on entry).
Best Media-Related:
Martha Wells: Stargate Atlantis: Reliquary (probably the only media-related book I read the entire year, but it's Martha Wells and her books are always so good that one can't promote them enough).
Best Victorian setting YA fantasy novel
Libba Bray: A Great and Terrible Beauty
Best book also appearing as a movie:
Christopher Priest: The Prestige
Most memorable book about India:
Devyani Saltzman: Shooting Water
Gregory David Roberts: Shantaram
Biggest Disappointment:
Sharon Lee & Steve Miller: Sword of Orion.
Best new discovery unrelated to books:
Doramas - I'm hopelessly addicted...