Books I Read in 2010

A new list for a new year. This is a list and a quick thought on books I've read this year. I will update it as the year goes on.

1.Green - by Jay Lake. (368 pages) A fantasy novel about a slave who attempts to overthrow a tyrannical government. A little odd, but a well written book with a good story. (1/1-1/19)

2.Ysabel - by Guy Gavriel Kay. (421 pages) A very good read. About a boy vacationing in south France, who gets involved in a 2500 year old battle between a Celtic warrior and a roman soldier who are fighting over a woman.(1/20-2/2)

3.Gwenhwyfar - by Mercedes Lackey. (404 pages) An Arthurian novel told from his wife's point of view. An EXCELLENT novel. A very cool twist on the King Arthur story.(2/3-2/23)

4. A Farewell To Arms - by Ernest Hemingway. (314 pages) A world war one novel. An American classic that I have never read, so I read it! A very good story. A little dry in spots, but the story as a whole was very good. (2/24-3/16)

5. Coraline - by Neil Gaiman. (170 pages) Yes, this is the book the cartoon movie is based on. I was intrigued when I saw it in the Fantasy section, so I picked it up. Definitely a kid's novel, but it was a fun story. (3/16-3/18)

6. The Adamantine Palace - by Stephen Deas. (368 pages) A story where the warriors ride tamed dragons. But when a dragon gets loose during a battle, and he stops getting the potion that keeps him tame, he "wakes up" and want's revenge. It starts slow, but it's a good book overall.(3/19-4/8)

7. The 13th Hour - by Richard Doetsch. (352 pages) A man is framed for the murder of his wife and is trying to to prevent it from happening. He is given a watch that lets him live the last 12 hours over, in reverse order. The book starts a chapter 12 and works it's way back. A really cool and creative story(4/9-4/24)

8. A Journey To The Center Of The Earth - by Jules Verne. (280 pages) A classic. The story of a man on a quest to carve his name on the rock in the center of the earth. An excellent story.(4/24-5/10)

9. Paris In The Twentieth Century - by Jules Verne. (222 pages) A Lost Classic. I read this 14 years ago, but can't really remember it, so I am re-reading it. This book was originally rejected by Verne's publisher, Because it was "unrealistic". This was written in 1863, and it talks about automobiles, fax machines, and computers, and that's just some of the things he mentions. It was found by his great grandson in the early 90's. A good book but it feels incomplete. (5/10-5/20)

10. Neverwhere - by Neil Gaiman. (380 pages) A man stops to help a young girl who is hurt, and ends up in an alternate reality. This is about him trying to get back to the world he knows. A cool fantasy/thriller. (5/21-5/27)

11. The Ruling Sea - by Robert Redick. (616 pages) Not a bad story. The plot is definitely thick at times, and this is not an easy read, but I enjoyed the story. It is a continuation of the Red Wolf Conspiracy, and tells the story of the Chathrand crossing the Ruling Sea. (5/27-7/8)

12. The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway (96 pages) A quick read, but still a good story. This is the 2nd Hemingway book I have read, and it is amazing how different the style is. They both have the same flavor, but the pacing and description are different. A very enjoyable read. (7/9-7/19)

13. Under Heaven - by Guy Gavriel Kay. (573 pages) Not an action packed book, but wonderfully written. Kay is a phenomenal writer. This is the story of a man who is honoring his fathers memory by burring dead soldiers from a long ago ended battle. The enemy princess hears what he is doing, and sends him a gift of 250 horses. A man with 5 of these horses would be set for life. The story is about the troubles this gift cause. (7/20-8/13)

14. Treasure Keeper - by Shana Abé. (311 pages) Turns out this is book 4 in a series. An OK book. About a clan of people who are actually dragons in disguise. One woman's fiancee goes missing, and she goes to find him.(8/14-8/21)

15. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - by Mark Twain. (177 pages) A good story. I never read this before. I read Tom Sawyer in elementary school but not Huck Finn. A good story showing slavery from many different points of view. (e.g. - the slaves, Huck and people so racist they don't see black people as people.) I enjoy Mark Twain. (8/21-9/2)

16. The Way Of Kings: book one of the Stormlight Archive. - by Brandon Sanderson. (1007 pages) An Excellent book. The best I've read this year. Definitely a new all time favorite. There is alot going on, but the main story is about a man trying to escape from slavery, and becoming a hero.  (9/2-9/16)

17. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. 374 pages) A fun YA novel along the lines of the running man. A story set in the future in the ruins of the United States. Every year 24 teens are sent to battle to the death in the "Hunger Games." This is the story of Katniss, and what happens when she gets picked to be in the games. A very good read. (9/17-9/20)

18. Catching Fire: The Hunger Games book 2 - by Suzanne Collins. (391 pages)The continuation of Katniss' story, and her joining up with the   Rebels to overthrow the capitol. Not as good as book 1, but still an enjoyable story.(9/20-9/24)

19. Mockingjay: The Hunger Games book 3 - by Suzanne Collins. (400 pages) The conclusion of Katniss' story, and the Rebels attack on the capitol. A very good read. (9/25-9/26)

20. The Great Divorce - by C.S. Lewis. (146 pages) A retelling of a dream C.S. Lewis had. Some interesting insight into how to God's love works, and how imperfect human love really is. Lewis had good insight into Heaven and Hell, and makes a good illustration of how someone could reject God, even when presented with Heaven. (9/26-9/28)

21. Dreadnought: The Clockwork Century book 2 - by Cherie Priest. (400 pages) A steampunk Zombie novel. The story of a woman crossing the Civil War Era United States, and the zombie problem they run into. Very fun and fast paced.(9/28-10/5)

22. The Mists of Avalon - by Marion Zimmer Bradley. (bailed around page 300) Didn't enjoy this book. Didn't like the writing style. (10/6-11/2 12/5-12/8)

23. The Towers of Midnight: Book 13 of The Wheel Of Time  - by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. (861 pages) Excellent. Sanderson has infused new life into this series. Everything is FINALLY lining up for the last battle. The final volume is due out in early 2012. (11/2-11/8)

24. Against All Things Ending: The Last Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant  book 3 - by Stephen Donaldson. (596 pages) Donaldson is not an easy read, but his books are always an excellent read. This was a great advancement on the story. Covenant finally appears as a major character, and we finally find out what was so important about Jeremiah's race car.(11/9-12/4)

25. Fahrenheit 451 - By Ray Bradbury. (190 pages) A great classic. About a society that decided knowledge caused misery, and where firemen burn books instead of putting out fires. (12/9-12/16)

26. When The Touch Of God Hurts - by Thomas Bish. (138 pages) A fascinating read. A recounting of his fight with cancer, the loss of his leg, and how God used these circumstances in his life. (12/28-12/28)

27. The Abolition Of Man - by C.S. Lewis (113 pages) This was a short book, but a tough read. Very well written (as is everything I have read by Lewis) but very deep. The best I can sum it up is this. Science tries to see through things. It is good that you can see through the window. But the garden blocks your view. So see through that and there is the wall. Then the road. You need to stop somewhere. "To see through all things is the same as not to see." (Page 81) (12/29-1/2)

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