2009 Book Report

[mllelaurel]

Once again, I failed to reach 100 books, by *ahem* virtue of slacking off and losing spoons toward the end of the year. However, I did manage to beat last year's score: 81 books to 2008's 79. Yes, a two-book improvement. Hush. My new goal is to read at least one more book each year than I did the previous. I think it's a good goal, and will only get more challenging as I go on.

I've already raved about some of my favorites, so I'll just list them here, for posterity's sake.


Best new discoveries
The Stepsister Scheme, by Jim C. Hines
The Mermaid's Madness, by Jim C. Hines

Memory and Dream, by Charles de Lint

Terrier, by Tamora Pierce
Bloodhound, by Tamora Pierce

The Will of the Empress, by Tamora Pierce

Shambling Towards Hiroshima, by James Morrow
City of Truth, by James Morrow

The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman

Santa Olivia, by Jacqueline Carey

Anything by Anthony Bourdain

Five Hundred Years After, by Steven Brust



Some disappointments
The Ghost in Love, by Jonathan Carroll (oh my fuck, I loathed this book!)
Palimpsest, by Catherynne Valente (beautiful writing...and characters I couldn't bring myself to give a rat's ass about)
Naamah's Kiss, by Jacqueline Carey (technically still good, but *man* did I prefer Phedre and Imriel as protagonists.)
Hell and Earth, by Elizabeth Bear (I loved Pen and Ink, but its sequel just collapsed into melodrama)
Magic Study, by Maria V. Snyder (I loved Poison Study and liked Fire Study, but the book in-between them annoyed the crap out of me)


Some books to look forward to in 2010
1. Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters (which I still haven't finished)
2. Naamah's Curse, by Jacqueline Carey
3. CryoBurn, by Lois McMaster Bujold (new Miles book!!)
4. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins (on request at the library right now)
5. A Star Shall Fall, by Marie Brennan
6. The Paths of the Dead, by Steven Brust
7. The God Engines, by John Scalzi
8. Muse and Reverie, by Charles de Lint
9. Shades of Grey, by Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge
10. The Republic of Thieves, by Scott Lynch (maybe? if it ever comes out?)

Comments

[yoritomo-reiko.livejournal.com]

I can't remember. Did you read Rosemary and Rue?

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't. I'm not even sure I've heard of it.

[yoritomo-reiko.livejournal.com]

Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire. I'm not sure if it's entirely your thing, but the main character is a changeling private detective? I loved it and the mystery was fun. (http://www.amazon.com/Rosemary-Rue-October-Daye-Novel/dp/0756405718/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262546880&sr=8-1)

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

Admittedly urban fantasy of that kind tends to rank low on my priority list. On the other hand, I do remember Jim Hines mentioning Seanan Maguire in a positive light...

[ultimatepsi.livejournal.com]

I've read it. Good stuff.

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

Noted! With this many people recommending it, I think it'd be worth checking out.

[captainecchi.livejournal.com]

Did you start reading Brust with 500 Years After? Yeowch.

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

Nope, I've read the Vlad series through Taltos, and The Phoenix Guards, too. 500YA was just the heavy-hitter of the lot,

[captainecchi.livejournal.com]

It is quite awesome, isn't it? Adron's last words, especially.

There is a new Vlad coming out this week, though I advise catching up on those before reading it :)

Dang, I still need to read Sethra Lavode... tho I am not as big a fan of the Paarfi stuff.

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, Adron DID ME IN at the end.

I should probably catch up beforehand, yeah. ...And possibly re-read what I've already read, as things are already getting complicated.

Paarfi's kind of hit or miss. He's at his best when (you get the impression) he forgets his schtick and just gets caught up in the story himself. It also helps to have read Dumas himself and notice the parallels.

[nevacaruso.livejournal.com]

Ooh, new de Lint collection!