Oops, I forgot to add the entire list of books. Here it is.
01. Heat Wave –“Richard Castle” (1-3)
02. About a Boy –Nick Hornby (1-8)
03. Pirate Latitudes –Michael Crichton (1-10)
04. Rebecca—an American Girl (1-15)
05. Pretties –Scott Westerfeld (1-17)
06. Anthem –Ayn Rand (1-25)
07. Rest You Merry –Charlotte MacLeod (1-29)
08. Specials –Scott Westerfeld (2-9)
09. Ice Palace –Edna Ferber (2-15)
10. The Hand of Mary Constable –Paul Gallico (2-20)
11. One for the Money –Janet Evanovich (2-24)
12. The Forgotten Garden –Kate Morton (3-4)
13. The Secret Life of Bees –Sue Monk Kidd (4-25)
14. Beastly –Alex Flinn (5-10)
15. Mistborn –Brandon Sanderson (5-23)
16. Love of Seven Dolls –Paul Gallico (6-27)
17. A Kiss in Time –Alex Flinn (7-17)
18. Wuthering Heights –Emily Bronte (7-28)
19. The 10 p.m. Question –Kate de Goldi (8-8)
20. The Nanny Diaries –McLaughlin and Kraus (8-15)
21. The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson 1) –Rick Riordan (8-16)
22. The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson 2) –Rick Riordan (8-24)
23. Electric Literature #2 –et al. (8-25)
24. The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson 3) –Rick Riordan (8-28)
25. The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson 4) –Rick Riordan (8-29)
26. The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson 5) –Rick Riordan (8-30)
27. Jane Eyre –Charlotte Bronte (9-6)
28. The Hunger Games –Suzanne Collins (9-15)
29. The Catcher in the Rye –JD Slinger (9-28)
30. Gods Tomorrow –Aaron Pogue (9-30)
31. Light of Eidon –Karen Hanock (10-6)
32. Portal –Imogen Rose (10-19)
33. The Blue Sword –Robin McKinley (10-30)
34. 100 Cupboards –ND Wilson (11-26)
35. Elantris –Brandon Sanderson (12-8)
36. Code Blue –Richard L. Mabry (12-16)
37. The Lost Hero –Rick Riordan (12-29)
30 December 2010
Books of 2010 in review
have read a total of thirty-seven new novels during the year of 2010. The entire list is printed below for your perusal, with the numbers at the end of each being the date I finished them. But I’m only going to talk about some of them here—the ones that impacted me the most. That’s not to say that the others had no impact on me at all, just that I have to pick and choose in this review.
First, let’s talk about Anthem. It’s a short book, barely a hundred pages long, and yet it impacted me even more than Orwell’s 1984 or Huxley’s Brave New World. This dystopian novelette is based on the theory that our society will digress if we begin to see ourselves as a collective unit rather than unique individuals. I haven’t read Ayn Rand’s longer works, but I can see how this theory could prove to be true if put into action. So much of a child’s development stems from competition. It’s so much easier to be selfish and push yourself to be better than your siblings or your classmates rather than take yourself out of the picture and strive to make others better. If you’re working for someone other yourself, the motivation is gone. Anthem is similar to Brave New World in that these people have been conditioned since birth to believe in the greater cause, to squash that individuality and creativity within them. And that is much scarier than the idea that Big Brother is always watching.
The only thing I have to say about Specials is that it made me regret wasting my time on the entire Uglies series. The other books were thoughtful and interesting to read, as well as packed with some nice action. This one just made me want to throw it across the room and slap someone’s face.
Let’s talk about the Bronte sisters for a moment. Bella says in Twilight that she reads Wuthering Heights for fun when the rest of her life is dismal and depressing because Edward is not paying enough attention to her. This leads me to believe that Stephenie Meyer knows even less about Wuthering Heights than I did before I read it. Nobody in their right minds would read Wuthering Heights for fun, especially not some shallow girl who has nothing better to do than moon over some random guy she hasn’t even met yet. The story is told in this stupid flashback sequence like an awkward, contrived movie, there is no protagonist because all the characters are insipid and whiny, and Heathcliff isn’t even dashing or witty to make up for how horrible he is to everybody else. At least Edmond Dantes ruins everyone’s lives with style. Heathcliff is just a jerk. So anyway, since I’d heard more people talk about Wuthering Heights than Jane Eyre, I figured that meant it was the better of the two novels. I don’t know what possessed me to attempt Jane Eyre based on that reasoning, but I am glad I did. Jane is a truly likeable character, and Mr. Rochester rivals Mr. Darcy in witty banter (although not in chivalry, sadly). And their relationship wasn’t the only thing driving the story, either. I loved reading about Jane’s childhood at the orphanage, the encounter with the gypsy woman, and even her awkward relationship with St. John and his sisters. The ending was a little corny, but the rest of the book made it worth it.
The Percy Jackson series obviously was a big deal to me, as I read all five books in less than a month. I think I finally noticed them because of the movie release, and of course, I went to the text first to see what all the hype was about. Now, when it comes to writing, plot, and character development, Rick Riordan is no JK Rowling. And yet that doesn’t stop me from greedily flipping the pages of his novels, desperate to find out what happens next. I love the way he re-invents mythology, and I especially love the modern characterization of the gods. Poseidon wear a fisherman outfit. Ares is a tough biker dude. And even though Riordan makes sure that there is plenty of mythology being retold in each book, the overarching plot still is different and exciting to read. I’d recommend it to any one who is a young adult fantasy fan, and even some people who are not. My final book of this year is another Riordan, The Lost Hero, which I think I actually liked even better than his first series just because the main character, Jason, is way cooler than Percy.
Elantris is worth noting because I loved it so much more than Mistborn. Sean went on and on about how great Brandon Sanderson was, and so I read Mistborn, but I couldn’t really get into it. Now I think that it is primarily due to his main character in that series. I loved both the male and female main characters in Elantris and also the world, the magic system, and the plot. I was gripped until the end. I had no idea how it was going to work out, but I had undying faith in Raoden’s abilities to figure it all out. I will be reading more Sanderson from here on out.
I also have to give a nod to a book that didn’t make it on this list—Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I’m ashamed to say that I thought I could make it through the unabridged version, and I couldn’t. Thirteen hundred pages is just a bit too much for me. Although it wasn’t really the size of the book that daunted me, overall, it was the amount of the book that was dedicated to the history of France. Yes, the novel is about France. That is why I chose to read the unabridged version, so I could get at what Victor Hugo was trying to say about his country. But all I got was an extremely long and boring history lesson. It was during the hundred-or-so-page description of the Battle of Waterloo that I knew I was never going to finish.
First, let’s talk about Anthem. It’s a short book, barely a hundred pages long, and yet it impacted me even more than Orwell’s 1984 or Huxley’s Brave New World. This dystopian novelette is based on the theory that our society will digress if we begin to see ourselves as a collective unit rather than unique individuals. I haven’t read Ayn Rand’s longer works, but I can see how this theory could prove to be true if put into action. So much of a child’s development stems from competition. It’s so much easier to be selfish and push yourself to be better than your siblings or your classmates rather than take yourself out of the picture and strive to make others better. If you’re working for someone other yourself, the motivation is gone. Anthem is similar to Brave New World in that these people have been conditioned since birth to believe in the greater cause, to squash that individuality and creativity within them. And that is much scarier than the idea that Big Brother is always watching.
The only thing I have to say about Specials is that it made me regret wasting my time on the entire Uglies series. The other books were thoughtful and interesting to read, as well as packed with some nice action. This one just made me want to throw it across the room and slap someone’s face.
Let’s talk about the Bronte sisters for a moment. Bella says in Twilight that she reads Wuthering Heights for fun when the rest of her life is dismal and depressing because Edward is not paying enough attention to her. This leads me to believe that Stephenie Meyer knows even less about Wuthering Heights than I did before I read it. Nobody in their right minds would read Wuthering Heights for fun, especially not some shallow girl who has nothing better to do than moon over some random guy she hasn’t even met yet. The story is told in this stupid flashback sequence like an awkward, contrived movie, there is no protagonist because all the characters are insipid and whiny, and Heathcliff isn’t even dashing or witty to make up for how horrible he is to everybody else. At least Edmond Dantes ruins everyone’s lives with style. Heathcliff is just a jerk. So anyway, since I’d heard more people talk about Wuthering Heights than Jane Eyre, I figured that meant it was the better of the two novels. I don’t know what possessed me to attempt Jane Eyre based on that reasoning, but I am glad I did. Jane is a truly likeable character, and Mr. Rochester rivals Mr. Darcy in witty banter (although not in chivalry, sadly). And their relationship wasn’t the only thing driving the story, either. I loved reading about Jane’s childhood at the orphanage, the encounter with the gypsy woman, and even her awkward relationship with St. John and his sisters. The ending was a little corny, but the rest of the book made it worth it.
The Percy Jackson series obviously was a big deal to me, as I read all five books in less than a month. I think I finally noticed them because of the movie release, and of course, I went to the text first to see what all the hype was about. Now, when it comes to writing, plot, and character development, Rick Riordan is no JK Rowling. And yet that doesn’t stop me from greedily flipping the pages of his novels, desperate to find out what happens next. I love the way he re-invents mythology, and I especially love the modern characterization of the gods. Poseidon wear a fisherman outfit. Ares is a tough biker dude. And even though Riordan makes sure that there is plenty of mythology being retold in each book, the overarching plot still is different and exciting to read. I’d recommend it to any one who is a young adult fantasy fan, and even some people who are not. My final book of this year is another Riordan, The Lost Hero, which I think I actually liked even better than his first series just because the main character, Jason, is way cooler than Percy.
Elantris is worth noting because I loved it so much more than Mistborn. Sean went on and on about how great Brandon Sanderson was, and so I read Mistborn, but I couldn’t really get into it. Now I think that it is primarily due to his main character in that series. I loved both the male and female main characters in Elantris and also the world, the magic system, and the plot. I was gripped until the end. I had no idea how it was going to work out, but I had undying faith in Raoden’s abilities to figure it all out. I will be reading more Sanderson from here on out.
I also have to give a nod to a book that didn’t make it on this list—Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I’m ashamed to say that I thought I could make it through the unabridged version, and I couldn’t. Thirteen hundred pages is just a bit too much for me. Although it wasn’t really the size of the book that daunted me, overall, it was the amount of the book that was dedicated to the history of France. Yes, the novel is about France. That is why I chose to read the unabridged version, so I could get at what Victor Hugo was trying to say about his country. But all I got was an extremely long and boring history lesson. It was during the hundred-or-so-page description of the Battle of Waterloo that I knew I was never going to finish.
22 December 2010
The Young Adult Series Conundrum
It bothers me how many young adult novels are part of a series. I guess this is great for you if you’ve been in the young adult section for years now, perusing its shelves with eager anticipation as each now tome is produced. You know which authors you like and you know that what they come out with next will be worth your time and money. You know which ones are bad and to avoid. But I’ve been out of the book scene for four years, and am only just now daring to inch myself out there to see what’s available. After years of assigned reading and another year of trying to catch up on some classics (and polishing off the entire Percy Jackson series in a couple of weeks), I’m finally ready to being reading the new stuff. Since I’m planning to review books for the Consortium starting in January, it kind of makes sense that I stay on top of the books that are coming hot off the presses. Nobody wants to read a review of a book that is a few years old. Most everybody has already read it and reviewed it by that time. That’s where these series really do me a disservice. When looking at the “hot new” books that are coming out in 2011, almost all of them are part of a series. I don’t want to have to go back six years or so to find the first book. And what if it turns out to be good, I don’t have time to waste on reading all the subsequent books. Whatever happened to stand alones? Even if they turn out to be dismal books, at least I can read them by themselves and not feel guilty for not picking up the sequels. I don’t have to wait and see if the series will improve.
As it is, I am going to be trudging through the young adult (my genre of choice) and other novels of 2011 with care, searching for ones I feel worth my time. And who knows, maybe I’ll come across a series I find worth reading through the entire thing.
16 December 2010
Books I've Read Survey
I got this survey from a friend on facebook. I thought it was a good way to end the year. In most of the questions I tried to pick books that I've read in 2009-2010 so that it was like a year in review. By the way, books read for this year total thirty-five so far. I'll give you a real overview of them next week or so.
1. Best book you read last year?
in 2009, Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobbs. In 2010, Elantris by Brandon Sanderson.
2. A book you've read more than three times.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
3. Your favorite series.
Harry Potter. It's one of the very few series I've made all they way through. I usually stop around book four or five.
4. Favorite book of your favorite series.
Probably Prisoner of Azkaban. Although Half-Blood Prince was pretty good, too.
5. A book that makes you happy.
Beastly by Alex Flinn
6. A book that makes you sad.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. It's like Vanity Fair in that there's no hero, and that makes me sad.
7. Most underrated book.
Nick Horby pre-2007. I think people (in the US at least) are just starting to notice him, and he was great all along. Or maybe that was just me not noticing him. Hmmm.
8. Most overrate book.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
9. A book you though you wouldn't like but ended up loving.
Jane Eyre by CHarlotte Bronte. After what her sister wrote I unnecessarily set myself up for disappointment.
10. Favorite classic book.
Emma or Pride and Prejudice
11. A book you hated.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingslover
12. A book you used to love but don't anymore.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini (I still like it as a book written by a 15yr/o, just not love.)
13. Your favorite writer(s).
Jane Austen, Orson Scott Card
14. Favorite book of your favorite writer.
How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card (since I already listed my two fav Austen books)
15. Favorite male character.
from 2010, Raoden from Elantris
16. Favorite female character.
from 2010, Jane Eyre
17. A book that disappointed you.
Specials by Scott Westerfeld.
18. Favorite book turned into a movie.
Holes by Louis Sachar
19. Favorite romance book.
from 2010, Love of Seven Dolls by Paul Gallico, although I don't know if it actually classifies as a romance book. I don't have a general romance book because that would imply that I read them on a regular basis.
20. Favorite book from your childhood.
I shouldn't pick just one, but I'm going to go with Danny Champion of the World by Roald Dahl. I must love it if I bought it for Sean to read last year.
21. A book you've wanted to read for a long time but still haven't.
Lord of the Flies
22. A book you wish more people would read.
Gods Tomorrow by Aaron Pogue. Read it, people!
23. A character you can relate to the most.
Henry from 100 Cupboards by ND Wilson
24. The most surprising plot twist or ending.
Specials by Scott Westerfeld.
25. Favorite title.
This question is too vague. Is it my favorite because I like how it alludes to themes within the book? Because it sounds clever? Because it's clear and to the point? Because it uses a funny word like eponymous? I generally don't have favorite titles.
26. A book many people hated but you liked.
THe Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Well, I think it's about even between people hating it and liking it, but the terrible movie gives the book the aura that everybody hates it.
27. Your favorite book of all time.
No idea. Why limit myself to one, anyway?
1. Best book you read last year?
in 2009, Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobbs. In 2010, Elantris by Brandon Sanderson.
2. A book you've read more than three times.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
3. Your favorite series.
Harry Potter. It's one of the very few series I've made all they way through. I usually stop around book four or five.
4. Favorite book of your favorite series.
Probably Prisoner of Azkaban. Although Half-Blood Prince was pretty good, too.
5. A book that makes you happy.
Beastly by Alex Flinn
6. A book that makes you sad.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. It's like Vanity Fair in that there's no hero, and that makes me sad.
7. Most underrated book.
Nick Horby pre-2007. I think people (in the US at least) are just starting to notice him, and he was great all along. Or maybe that was just me not noticing him. Hmmm.
8. Most overrate book.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
9. A book you though you wouldn't like but ended up loving.
Jane Eyre by CHarlotte Bronte. After what her sister wrote I unnecessarily set myself up for disappointment.
10. Favorite classic book.
Emma or Pride and Prejudice
11. A book you hated.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingslover
12. A book you used to love but don't anymore.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini (I still like it as a book written by a 15yr/o, just not love.)
13. Your favorite writer(s).
Jane Austen, Orson Scott Card
14. Favorite book of your favorite writer.
How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card (since I already listed my two fav Austen books)
15. Favorite male character.
from 2010, Raoden from Elantris
16. Favorite female character.
from 2010, Jane Eyre
17. A book that disappointed you.
Specials by Scott Westerfeld.
18. Favorite book turned into a movie.
Holes by Louis Sachar
19. Favorite romance book.
from 2010, Love of Seven Dolls by Paul Gallico, although I don't know if it actually classifies as a romance book. I don't have a general romance book because that would imply that I read them on a regular basis.
20. Favorite book from your childhood.
I shouldn't pick just one, but I'm going to go with Danny Champion of the World by Roald Dahl. I must love it if I bought it for Sean to read last year.
21. A book you've wanted to read for a long time but still haven't.
Lord of the Flies
22. A book you wish more people would read.
Gods Tomorrow by Aaron Pogue. Read it, people!
23. A character you can relate to the most.
Henry from 100 Cupboards by ND Wilson
24. The most surprising plot twist or ending.
Specials by Scott Westerfeld.
25. Favorite title.
This question is too vague. Is it my favorite because I like how it alludes to themes within the book? Because it sounds clever? Because it's clear and to the point? Because it uses a funny word like eponymous? I generally don't have favorite titles.
26. A book many people hated but you liked.
THe Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Well, I think it's about even between people hating it and liking it, but the terrible movie gives the book the aura that everybody hates it.
27. Your favorite book of all time.
No idea. Why limit myself to one, anyway?
07 December 2010
Post NaNoWriMo Plans
Now that the frenzy of NaNoWriMo is over, most people like to breathe, take a step back, and then delve into revision everything that they've just spewed out over the course of November. For me, while Bracken may one day become his own novel, nanowrimo was more the process of understand Bracken's backstory so that I could more richly develop his character in Into the Flames. December is a busy month, and I'm feeling starved for some good reading, so here's my personal game plan for my writing:
Christmas and finishing a good book in December and looking for more good books to read
Easing into working on Into the Flames in January, filling in a few scenes
Forcing myself to finishing writing the extra scenes in February and March
And then printing out my story and really cracking down on that third draft in April and those sultry summer months.
Oh, and let's not forget those book reviews I should be writing for the Consortium. Know any good recently published Kindle books for under $10? Let me know and I'll read and review it. And hopefully my blog will be up soon (hint hint, Sean) so that I can start reviewing books on there as well. Wow, just writing all this down makes me feel so busy. I better get started reading!
-So many books, so little time.-
Christmas and finishing a good book in December and looking for more good books to read
Easing into working on Into the Flames in January, filling in a few scenes
Forcing myself to finishing writing the extra scenes in February and March
And then printing out my story and really cracking down on that third draft in April and those sultry summer months.
Oh, and let's not forget those book reviews I should be writing for the Consortium. Know any good recently published Kindle books for under $10? Let me know and I'll read and review it. And hopefully my blog will be up soon (hint hint, Sean) so that I can start reviewing books on there as well. Wow, just writing all this down makes me feel so busy. I better get started reading!
-So many books, so little time.-
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