My final total for 2010 was 44 books, which I'm aiming to at least double. In fact, I think one of the challenges I joined for 2011 is related to that but more on challenges in a later post.
Given that I have only read 44 books, here are my top five, in no particular order:
1) Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness - the final book in the Chaos Walking trilogy. Perfection, Mr Ness. Now, what are you working on next?
2) The City & The City by China Mieville - Well aren't you a clever author then Mr Mieville? Yes you are. (Disclaimer: sleep and coffee-deprived blogging)
3) Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey - Kiwi YA at its very, very best.
4) Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert - Heartbreaking.
5) The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson - Smart mystery.
Okay. Short reviews:
Juno of Taris and Fierce September by Fleur Beale:
Kiwi YA dystopic novels about a young girl living in a biodome with 500 other people; sent away when it looked like the world was going to crumble around them. Juno is rebellious and outspoken, questioning everything. The world of Taris is a kind of careful, not always benevolent dictatorship, but the dome is failing ...
A very readable duo of books, and I'm hoping there's more in the Juno series :-)
8/10 That movie that you've watched 100 times and you never get tired of
Enchanter's End Game and Guardian of the West by David Eddings:
Mr Eddings, I still have nothing but much love for you <3
9/10 So good, you'd take it to meet your Mum
By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham:
When Peter Harris's wife's younger brother Mizzy comes to stay, Peter knows that his world is going to be turned upside down. Mizzy is young, charming - and a drug addict. It's a recipe for disaster waiting to happen. By Nightfall is good, but there's something at the core of it that left me slightly cold.
7/10 Someone else cooks dinner – yay!
The Wench is Dead by Colin Dexter:
Detective Chief Inspector Morse finds himself in hospital with a perforated ulcer. When someone visiting another patient drops off a self-published book about a 19th-century murder, Morse finds himself intrigued - and bored enough to do a little investigating of his own. It's a good premise, but The Wench is Dead didn't quite live up to its summary for me.
6/10 Leaving work 30 minutes early
Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie:
When Luka's father falls ill, Luka travels to the magic lands, searching for a cure. Everything there is something from a story his father has told him, and Luka finds himself on a quest with a very disparate group. Luka has a certain charm to it, but once again, there's something lacking at the core of it for me - a certain warmth.
7/10 Someone else cooks dinner – yay!
Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie:
I've read this so many times - lol. Hercule Poirot investigates the murder of a very old, very rich man, whom no one liked. It's a classic locked-room mystery, and there is a lot of blood. Perfect Christmas reading!
I've read this so many times - lol. Hercule Poirot investigates the murder of a very old, very rich man, whom no one liked. It's a classic locked-room mystery, and there is a lot of blood. Perfect Christmas reading!
8/10 That movie that you've watched 100 times and you never get tired of
6 comments:
There is another book coming after Fierce September - it and Juno of Taris were the first two books in a trilogy. :)
I haven't found a specific release date/title yet for #3 but I assume it comes out later this year.
Awesome, thank you! :D
Yay, you picked some top books after all! I knew you'd have MONSTERS OF MEN on your list. :)
Something escaped me with Steig Larsson :( He's good, bnut is he THAT good. I've been hearing a lot of buzz about the Chaos Walking trilogy, will take a closer look.
Memory: I did! Lol of course Monsters of Men is on there ;)
Alexandra: It's not for everyone, for sure. Chaos Walking is amazing :-)
Heartbreaking - Yes, that's right, take that people who don't feel sympathy for Emma.
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