Books read so far in 2008

[fenchurch]

So, here's my paltry little list. Behind each cut, I've written a little about each one (obviously not going into terribly great detail). I'm actually thinking I may have posted about some of these already (simply because bits of what I wrote sounded VERY familiar), or perhaps I started writing it up and never got around to putting it on my LJ (because it's not like I've never done that before *cough*). So, if any of it is a repeat, well, it's my own fault for apparently forgetting to tag my previous entries.

1. The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett

This was a re-read for me... although it had been long enough that I didn't really remember much beyond a few scenes. Everything Terry Pratchett writes is wonderful... and this time I had the opportunity to read it aloud, since this was the book I was reading to rackham on our drive back from Utah after Christmas.

2. Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

Obviously, the first book of the year got me in the mood... which is good, because it turns out I'd never gotten around to reading this one before. Also a lot of fun to read aloud (which I did on yet another roadtrip).

3. The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex

We probably never would have picked up this book, except someone sent rackham a link to this video on YouTube (for reasons that will become obvious if you know him), which got us curious about what it was based on. What a fun book! Although I'm really not sure what age group it's being aimed at -- it's being marketed toward a younger crowd, but I think the story skews a bit older. A bit zany, but well-paced. It's a book I suspect I'll be rereading from time to time.

4) Eat Britain! 101 Great British Tastes by Andrew Wheeler

Yes, it's a cookbook... sort of. There are definitely recipes (gathered together in the back of the book), but it's more a celebration of British food. I've had the author on my flist here on LJ for ages now (to the point where I don't even remember how I stumbled across him in the first place), which is how I even knew this book existed, since it isn't available in the US -- I had to ordered it from Amazon UK.

anw goes through what are, essentially, his 101 favorite dishes and foods with short write-ups on each... talking about his memories of them, sometimes a bit of history about the food and some explanation of why it's a classic British dish. There are wonderful photographs of each item and I found myself getting hungrier and hungrier as I read through it.

I've made no secret of the fact that I love British food... and this was a great way to remember things I've already tried and discover new dishes I'd never even heard of. I've also loaned it out to several British friends who live locally and they've all said it was a fantastic trip down memory lane. Entries include things like Chip Butty, Balti, the '99' Cone, Cornish Pasties and Queen of Puddings, as well as ingredients like parsnips, Aberdeen Angus, Channel Island Milk and the King Edward Potato.

5. Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher

I love all of these books and Jim Butcher does a good job of delivering consistently enjoyable stories. This one had just a little too much by way of in-jokes (the fandom and convention stuff, in particular). It had been sitting on my Teetering Pile for way too long, since I believe it was originally released not long before our car accident... and so even though I'd started it a few years ago, I'd had to put it aside for awhile and only recently got back to it. Lots of good action in this one, and not too much beat-the-wizard-while-he's-down (which is my one complaint about the earlier books in the series). And it was obviously good, because when I finished it, I headed straight out to the bookstore and bought the next in the series...

6. White Night by Jim Butcher

Also an enjoyable read... although it seemed to mostly exist as a way to set things up for the events in the next book in the series (which I still haven't read, even though I bought it and the audiobook (duh! It's read by James Marsters!) right when they first came out).

7. Peace War by Vernor Vinge

This was another re-read... it's the sort of book I just get a yen for every few years. I think I'd gotten into a discussion with someone on the Net on the subject of the Singularity, which of course led me straight back to this book (although, technically, it's more a subject that's covered in the sequel, Marooned in Realtime). If you've never read this one, I highly recommend giving it a try... pure SF, but I think it's still pretty accessible to the mainstream reader. Chock-full of all sorts of intriguing ideas, but I wouldn't expect anything else from the man who brought us "True Names" (which is a subject for its own LJ entry someday).

As for #8, well, take a look at my previous entry!

Now I just need to remember to grab a book off my Teetering Pile from time to time... and not just when I want something to keep my mind busy while I'm exercising!

Comments

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Also an enjoyable read... although it seemed to mostly exist as a way to set things up for the events in the next book in the series (which I still haven't read, even though I bought it and the audiobook (duh! It's read by James Marsters!) right when they first came out).

It's already released in audiobook? Didn't know that. Will have to buy (though not listen because I don't want to go out of order and I'm only up to "Proven Guilty".

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Yep! The audiobooks are being done by a new company and are now being released at the same time as the hardcovers. I think they're planning on going back and doing the few books that haven't been recorded yet, eventually, but I'm just glad that the new company kept JM reading the books. It wouldn't seem right, otherwise.

[kellyhk.livejournal.com]

I read The Light Fantastic back in high school, and to this day it is one of my favorite Pratchett books. I really should go back and reread it. I just remember sitting on a bus on the way to a soccer match and busting out in laughter at the hilarity of that book!

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Pratchett, yay! The Light Fantastic is one I haven't read in quite a while. There are so many Pratchett books, it's hard for me to remember sometimes what happened in which book! I tend to think of them as "a Rincewind book," "a Night Watch book," a "Witches book" or a "Death book." :) I think the Night Watch books are my favorites, though. I'm such a fan of Angua and Carrot! :)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I remeber reading Equal Rites to D-d as a bed-time story - it was the fisr Pratchett we ever read to her - she must have been five or six at the time. I must go back to it - I'm nor sure that I've ever re-read it since! I love Witches Abroad. And all the Lancre books really, it's a shame he hasn't written a Lancre one for so long, I still wonder about Agnes.