I was a real slacker this year when it comes to recording what I read. It wouldn't be so bad if I actually wrote some reviews once in a while, but I didn't, so I am going to try and do a best of 2008 post. I don't even know how many books I read this year. I know it wasn't the 200 I was tentatively aiming for.
I am just going to list the books that come easily to mind. If I can remember reading them, they must have been good, right?
Fiction Books:
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs (I also liked Cry Wolf and Hob's Bargain)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
Lords of the Bow by Conn Iggulden (Not as good as the first one, but still good!)
The Serpent Bride by Sara Douglass (The Twisted Citadel was good too...)
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Turtle Valley by Gail Anderson-Dargatz
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Cellist of Sarajavo by Steven Galloway
The Commoner by John Burnham Schwartz
The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
The Onion Girl by Charles de Lint
No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong
Dragons of the Spring Dawning by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Mary Modern by Camille DeAngelis
The Princes of the Golden Cage by Nathalie Mallet
Favourite Young Adult Read:
Jolted by Arthur Slade
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Favourite Non-fiction Read:
Ghost Rider by Neil Peart (Closely followed by Roadshow by the same author)
Favourite Short Story Collection:
The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke (Really need to read her novel...)
Biggest Disappointment:
Simon R. Green. Not his books, the fact that they released two books that have most of the books that I have left to read in them, and they are not available already! As much as I want to read the series, I am not happy I have to buy each book individually...
But, the book that I didn't like the most was probably Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer... Are we really surprised?
I have Heretic and Guernsey on mine too! They were just terrific!
ReplyDeleteWe have good taste. lol
ReplyDeleteGreat list, I will have to check out a few of these.
ReplyDeleteI've been working my way through Breaking Dawn this week - durrrr - I feel like throwing it out the window :/
I hated Breaking Dawn. I felt like I should finish the series, but it got so bad that I ended up just flipping through the last part...
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Kailana, for including The Princes of the Golden Cage in your best of 2008 list. I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to end the year! Happy New Year, Kailana!
I was hoping to beat my 2006 record but at least I beat last years! Yeah, I'd have to agree that Breaking Dawn was probably my least favorite- especially since it upset me enough to make me cry!
ReplyDeleteNathalie: Happy New Year to you too! Thanks for stopping by! I loved your book, I look forward to future books by you!
ReplyDeleteLady_Tink: Well, I didn't cry, but I did throw the book across the room. Why she took a solid first book and turned it into such a strange series makes no sense to me at all!
wow! You read some awesome books this year! And yet another list with The Gargoyle on it...I'm really going to have to read that one. Can't wait to see what you're reading in 2009!!
ReplyDeleteMy wife really enjoyed both of Michelle Moran's books. I hope to get to them as well at some point.
ReplyDeleteI picked up the Potato Peel book for Mary for Christmas as I've read several really positive reviews.
I'm so glad you enjoyed Mary Modern. I'm in the middle of reading that to Mary right now.
I have Princess of the Golden Cage on my tbr pile.
Love seeing Graveyard Book on there, and wasn't Ladies wonderful? Ah, such a great book. I too need to pick up her novel again sometime and start it over and finish it this time.
Chris: Yeah, I didn't read as much as I had hoped at the beginning of last year, but what I did read was mostly good. There are only a couple of books that I can remember really not liking. 2009 is hopefully fantasy... I didn't read enough fantasy this year.
ReplyDeleteCarl: I am glad that your wife enjoyed both of Michelle's books, since I played a part in you receiving them! The Potato Peel book was rather good. I didn't think I was going to like it, but it surprised me in the end. Mary Modern was really the only science-fiction I read all year, except for Star Trek. I hope to do better this year. Princes in the Golden Cage was my first read for 2008. I hope you enjoy it when you get to it. :)
Sara Douglas is good although have only read one of hers but, really liked it must get reading the rest.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Clare: Sara Douglass is really good. Unfortunately, she has cancer and she is not sure when she is going to have the third book in that trilogy completed. Not a great situation! I am hoping to read some of her older books in 2009.
ReplyDeletehey Kelly.. just reading everyone's 2008 lists and wanting to wish you a happy and wonderful 2009!!
ReplyDeleteHi Pat! Happy New Year to you too! Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteA slacker is my coworker who only read two books this year. I guess it's good she doesn't keep a book blog. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou read quite a few books I want to read one of these days. If only there was more time . . .
Have a great New Year!
L.F.: Yeah, Best of... lists have just made me add more and more books to my wish list! It's terrible! lol I wish I had more time to read. This morning, though, I am trying to decide if it is worth getting all the snow off my car so I can find it... My books are in there!
ReplyDeleteThe Saturday Review at Semicolon this Saturday is dedicated to book lists, past and future. You're invited to link to yours.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I'd forgotten about the Cellist of Sarajevo, I've been wanting to read it, so thanks for reminding me!
ReplyDeletejoanna: It was a great book! I hope you enjoy it when you read it!
ReplyDeleteA bit belated to say the least but Happy New Year :)
ReplyDeleteI raced through the first couple of Twilight books but got pretty disappointed by book 3 that I haven't even glanced at Breaking Dawn on the bookshelves at the store.
Anyway, here's hoping you have a fabulous reading year ahead!
Hi Illiana,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! Happy New Year to you too! Here's hoping you have a fabulous reading year, as well!