fredericks | Books I've read this year

This is not quite a full list, as I've only started keeping track since April 13th, but I think it'll be interesting to keep tabs on what I manage to make my way through. I re-read often, particularly if I liked a book. The first re-read of a book for the year is noted with (R); subsequent re-reads are ignored.

Fiction/Non-Fiction/Short Story Collections
Vintner's Luck - Elizabeth Knox
Howl's Moving Castle - Diana Wynne Jones (R)
As Meat Loves Salt - Maria McCann
Atonement - Ian McEwan
The Devil in the White City - Erik Larson
Cell - Stephen King
The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
Smoke and Mirrors - Neil Gaiman
Stalking Darkness - Lynn Flewelling
Luck in the Shadows - Lynn Flewelling
(note: I really disliked The Nightrunner Series. Like, REALLY.)
On Writing - Stephen King (R)
Castle in the Sky - Diana Wynne Jones
A Dirty Job - Christopher Moore
Kirith Kirin - Jim Grimsley
The Ordinary - Jim Grimsley
Comfort & Joy - Jim Grimsley
Anno Dracula - Kim Newman
Stardust - Neil Gaiman
Dragon's Winter - Elizabeth A. Lynn
The Store - Bentley Little
Storm Front - Jim Butcher
Fool Moon - Jim Butcher
Assasination Vacation - Sarah Vowell*
Grave Peril - Jim Butcher
Summer Knight - Jim Butcher
Death Masks - Jim Butcher
Blood Rites - Jim Butcher
Dead Beat - Jim Butcher
Proven Guilty - Jim Butcher
World War Z - Max Brooks

Plays
Wit - Margaret Edson
Angels in America: Millenium Approaches - Tony Kushner (R)
Angels in America: Perestroika - Tony Kushner (R)

Trade Paperbacks/Graphic Novels
Powers:SuperGroup - Brian Michael Bendis
Stardust - Neil Gaiman (artist Charles Vess)
Marvel 1602 - Neil Gaiman
Sandman: The Dream Hunters - Neil Gaiman and Yoshitaka Amano
Powers: The Sellouts - Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming
Lucifer: Exodus - Mike Carey and artists (various)
Lucifer: The Wolf Beneath the Tree - Mike Carey and artists (various)
Tom Strong, Book Four - Alan Moore, et al.
Powers: Little Deaths - Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming
Powers: Anarchy - Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming
Powers: Legends - Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming
Secret Identity - Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen

The "Meh, Maybe I'll Get Around to Finishing It Eventually" List
An Arrow's Flight - Mark Merlis
Nightswimmer - Joseph Olshan
The Line of Beauty - Alan Hollinghurst

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I, too, have read Howl's Moving Castle and Cell. I read Howl's last year, though. I did buy myself a copy so I could read it again.

What'd you think of Cell?

My favorite Stephen King comes from his drug-influenced years and I haven't read much of his newer works, so I went into Cell pretty hesitant. The rapid pace of the beginning really drew me in; it wasn't something I expected from King at all. It didn't try to be more than a survival tale until the middle/end, and even that I took in stride because it was all such a light read. And gripping, very gripping. Not nightmare enducing, but a definite "what would you do if most everyone in the world was zombie-like creature". I hope he writes a sequel or continuation of sorts, but even then I worry that he might turn in into an overinflated The Stand (which is my favorite King book but is arguably bloated). This is a pretty cruddy response because I'm not sure if you've read it or not and I don't want to spoil you if you haven't. If you HAVE, what did you think?

Something about Howl - the sequel isn't about Howl but about an Arabian/ME-er prince with a castle that runs around like Howl's. I have it in my possession still but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet.

Yeah, I've read Cell. But I've been unable to find the sequel to Howl's except on Amazon.

I really liked Cell, but my husband hated the ending. I understand his reasoning, but I don't agree with him.

I, sadly, have not read any of those books, although I've been meaning to read Cell, but I always either forget, or something else comes up. Hehe.

May I make a suggestion about a book? Anthony Rapp's book about his experience in RENT, as well as other points in his life, is definitely worth it. It's very emotional, and very well-written. He has an awesome way with words. (:

*grin* My book list is heavily influenced by my library's collection. If the library has the Rapp book I'll check it out, no doubt.

Cell's a pretty fast read, and enjoyable. You should get your hands on it if you can. Actually, it's the kind of book you can easily read in Barnes and Noble, sitting cross-legged in the New Fiction section. No need to purchase.

Ooh, the library. I sadly haven't been there in ages. I should start taking advantage of the local library's services again. I've been missing out on some good stuff! (And been spending loads of money that I don't really need to spend. *giggle*)

I am very tempted to go to B&N one weekend, invade the Starbucks and just read a book to my heart's content. I just hope they won't throw me out after spending 8 hours there. ;)

Is Atonement any good? The only Ian McEwan book I've read so far is Saturday.

*grin* It's definitely good discussion fodder. I thought it started out slow, but built nicely. It's still not my cup of tea, but you'll find yourself wondering what is true and what is not, and a mindfrack is always a good thing IMO.

Atonement is on my very long 'To Read' list.

Btw, Erik Larsen? As in Spiderman penciller Erik Larsen?

Erik Larson, as in I got a letter wrong. :)
Not the penciller, sorry.

Atonement's a pretty good one; I read it (or at least part of it) in my British Novel class last year. But then again, I like pretentious snobby Literature major-type novels like that.

Have you read all of the Sandman books? I'm on The Wake right now. The Sandman is an amazing series of comics, I love it. I've been wanting for a while to write in some sort of encounter with the Endless into the Ariel comics. I know it isn't Marvel but I'll make an exception in this case, since they're not strictly DC either.

*grin* Yeah, I'm not much of a fan of snobby Literature major-type books, although the discussion Atonement fostered upped its enjoyment. I'll read it again one of these days.

I've read all of the Sandman GNs. I have to say, I teared up quite a bit after reading The Wake. I keep hoping Gaiman comes back to The Dream King but he seems content doing wonderful writing around other interesting characters. You should try The Dream Hunters next. And the Death books are pretty good. There's also a GN with stories outside of the comic run, although I forget the name. It's about each of the Endless in turn. Pretty wacked out, but in a good way.

I've been wanting for a while to write in some sort of encounter with the Endless into the Ariel comics. I know it isn't Marvel but I'll make an exception in this case, since they're not strictly DC either.
Multi-line arcs. Oh yeah.

Yeah, I'm only about halfway through The Wake but the first few issues I have to admit I got kinda teary-eyed myself.

I hope that sometime a Sandman movie gets done. There's already a couple movies based on Gaiman novels in the works and there's been tons of comic book movies so if only those two genres can be combined.

Yeah, Death is my favorite character. She looks like she'd be pretty awesome to hang around and she's hot as heck too, in a goth sort of way. Too bad she's, you know, the physical personification of death and all...

Anyway, the name of the graphic novel that you're thinking of is Endless Nights. It has seven stories about one Endless each. It's at the university library and I'll check it out soon. I've wanted to know more about the Endless Desire, since it seems that he/she/it is the Endless that holds the most sway over my life...

I just reread Crystal Singer(trilogy) by Anne McCaffrey, and I'm folowing up with Swan Song by Robert McCammon..

Swan Song is similar to The Stand but it has more character..he's also got a book about zombie natzies from a submarine, I have it somewhere around here, and I have to get around to reading it..sigh. It was OOP when I bought it on eBay:) So many books, so little time:)

Damn, but I can't spell today for some reason or other!

Books I've read this year

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject