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. (I plan to do a complete Wheel of Time and Dark tower re-read this year.)
1. Scott Pilgrim book 1: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life - by Bryan Lee O'Malley (Graphic Novel, 168 pages) The story of Scott Pilgrim fighting off the first of his new girlfriends 7 evil ex's. A fast and funny read. (1/1-1/2)
2. 1984 - by George Orwell (268 pages) This is a very good book. For some reason I didn't have to read this in school like almost everyone else. A great story and a warning of how absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is set in an ultra fascist socialist state where your thoughts are policed. The only law that exists is thinkcrime, and this is about what Big Brother does when you violate that law. (1/2-1/7)
3. The Dark Tower 1: The Gunslinger - by Stephen King. (231 pages) The beginning of Roland's quest. A very good well told story of the last Gunslinger chasing the Man in Black across the desert. This is a fantasy series, one of only a few books by King that isn't a horror / thriller novel. (1/8-1/11)
4. The Dark Tower 2: The Drawing of the Three - by Stephen King (400 pages) The continuation of Roland's quest for the Dark Tower. He is traveling up a deserted beach searching for 3 magic doorways that will draw people from our world to his. A violent (but fun) read. (1/11-1/13)
5. Passion Play - by Beth Bernobich. (367 pages) A story about a girl running away to avoid an arranged marriage. This is the authors first novel, and you can tell. Not a bad book, but there is a big hole in the plot, and it needs a little more polish. (1/14-1/21)
6. Scott Pilgrim book 2: Scott Pilgrim vs the World - by Bryan Lee O'Malley (Graphic Novel, 200 pages) The 2nd evil ex-boyfriend. Fun and fast paced.(1/22-1/22) (These books only take an hour or so to read, so I am counting all 6 volumes as 1 book.)
7. The Dark Tower 3: The Waste Lands - by Stephen King (422 pages) Roland and the people he drew from our world (his Ka-Tet) journey through Mid-World to find Blaine the Mono, a psychotic computer run monorail. They talk their way into a ride across the Waste Lands, but not everything is good about this deal... (1/22-1/25)
8. The Dark Tower 4: Wizard and Glass - by Stephen King (672 pages) When Roland and his Ka-Tet reach the end of Blaine the Mono's line, they find that they are in Topeka Kansas. Sort of. As they travel toward a glass building, Roland recounts the tale of his youth, and of the Wizards Rainbow. A very good (and again violent) read.(1/26-2/2)
9. The Wheel of Time 1: The Eye of the World - by Robert Jordan (746 Pages) One of my all time favorite books. The story of three village boys, all destined to play a major roll in the last battle. I last read it 10 years ago, and I had forgotten how good of a story it is. Highly recommended.(2/3-2/13)
10. Scott Pilgrim book 3: Scott Pilgrim & the Infinite Sadness - by Bryan Lee O'Malley (Graphic Novel, 192 pages) The third of Romona's Evil Ex-Boyfriends. This one is a vegan. With superpowers. Cause vegans are better then everyone else. Another fast and fun read. (2/13-2/13)
11. The Dark Tower 5: Wolves of the Calla - by Stephen King (714 pages) As the Ka-Tet travel the path of the beam, they come across a town that needs help. The Wolves come once a generation and steal half of the towns children, and return them brain dead. Roland and company stay to help. Violent and bloody but such a great story! (2/13-2/19)
12. The Dark Tower 6: Song of Susannah - by Stephen King (413 pages) This is an interesting one. Roland and Eddie meet up with Stephen King in the 70's before he got famous and give him the inspiration for the Dark Tower Series. While Susannah, Jake, Oy and Don end up in 1999 with Susannah in labor in a restaurant for vampires. Really. This is the weakest offering in the series. I still liked it, but WEIRD! (2/19-2/22)
13. The Dark Tower 7: The Dark Tower - by Stephen King (845 pages) A really cool ending to the series. Not even close to what I expected. A couple weird moments, but not like book 6. Fun, violent and exciting. (2/22-3/2)
14. The Clockwork Century 3: Clementine by Cherie Priest (344 pages) A steampunk novel. A story of an airship pirate who has his airship stolen, and him chasing the thief across the country. Fun and fast paced. An enjoyable read. (3/3-3/6)
15. The Kingkiller Chronicle day 2: The Wise Man's Fear - by Patrick Rothfuss (994 pages) Definitely not a quick read, but a great story, and wonderfully told. The story of Kvothe, and how as an outsider he became one of the Adem, and how he entered and escaped the Fae realm and Felurian. (3/7-4/3)
16. Scott Pilgrim book 4: Scott Pilgrim gets it together - by Bryan Lee O'Malley (Graphic Novel, 216 pages) Scott get's a job! And defeats the 4th evil ex. Fun and fast paced. (4/3-4/4)
17. The Wheel of Time 2: The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan (660 pages) The horn of Valere is stolen, and the Seanchan attack at Toman Head. I love these books! (4/4-4/26)
18. The Wheel of Time 3: The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan (636 pages) Rand decides that if he is the Dragon Reborn, he needs to prove it. He journeys to Tear to attempt to retrieve Callandor. Sort of a King Arthur sword in the stone thing. An excellent read. (4/27-6/4)
19. The Wheel of Time 4: The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan (961 pages) One of my favorites in the series. Rand travels to the Aiel Waste (a harsh desert) to learn about his past, and become the "Chief of Chiefs" of the Aiel. He also gains a teacher in the use of the Power. (6/5-6/22)
20. The Wheel of Time 5: The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan (868 pages) Rand and company travel from the Aiel waste to Cairhien to stop the Shaido, and he conquers it in the process, The Band of Red Hand is formed by Matt, and Perrin defends Two Rivers. The book ends with a great battle scene between Rand and Rahvan, and a murder mystery that doesn't get clearly resolved until book 13. (Looking back I can see who did it, but I couldn't figure it out until I read the answer in book 13.) (6/23-7/10)
21. The Wheel of Time 6: The Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan (978 pages) This always has been my favorite of the series. Everyone's attempt to control Rand thwarted, and the finest battle scene ever written (in my humble opinion.) (7/11-8/2)
22. The Wheel of Time 7: A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan (726 pages) Every book I re-read in this series reminds me of why I love this series. Rand ans Sammael finally have their showdown. The cause of Rands later problems channeling happens here, even if you wouldn't catch it on a first read. (8/3-8/26)
23. A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis (89 pages) Written immediately after the death of his wife, originally under a pseudonym. It chronicles how he almost completely gave up on God and his faith because of it, and how he worked thru things. On page 81 Lewis writes: "When I lay these questions before God, I get no answer. But a rather special sort of no answer. It is not the locked door. It is more like a silent, certainly not uncompassionate, gaze. As though he shook His head not in refusal but waiving the question. Like, 'Peace, child: you don't understand.' " An interesting and insightful read on how anyone's faith can be shaken like a house of cards. (8/27-8/28)
24. Scott Pilgrim book 5: Scott Pilgrim vs. the Universe - by Bryan Lee O'Malley (Graphic Novel, 184 pages) It turns out the 5th and 6th Evil Ex-boyfriends are twins who build robots and finish each others sentences. This one ends on a cliffhanger. Did Ramona break up with Scott??? A fast & fun read. (9/3-9/3)
25. Scott Pilgrim book 6: Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour - by Bryan Lee O'Malley (Graphic Novel, 248 pages) Ramona comes back! Also, Scott grows up and defeats Gideon. A fun and fast read as usual. (9/3-9/3)
26. Bloodshot by Cherie Priest. (359 pages) A heist novel, with a vampire as the main character. A witty and fast paced read. A violent but cool story. (8/28-9/8)
27. The Wheel of Time 8: The Path of Daggers - by Robert Jordan (557 pages) I remember not liking this the first time I read it, but read back to back with other books in the series, it is actually very good. I also remember being disappointed with the battle sequence, but again, read back to back with the rest of the story it is very well written, and goes well with the over-arching storyline.(9/8-9/30)
28. The Wheel of Time book 9: Winters Heart - by Robert Jordan (601 pages) The 3 "dry" books in the series are so much better when the story is read as a whole. books 8,9 and 10 REALLY dragged for me the first time, but viewed as a whole they are much better. Plus this book has a HUGE payoff ending. (10/1-10/19)
29. The Wheel of Time book 10: The Crossroads of Twilight - by Robert Jordan (650 pages) The first time I read this I was disappointed. It felt like nothing happened. I was like - I waited 2 years for this??? However, reading as a whole, and knowing what comes next, I can see how everything was being lined up in this book. Still my least favorite in the series, but not on such an extreme scale. (10/20-11/14)
30. To Train up a Child - by Michael & Debi Pearl (136 pages) An advice book about raising children. A good book, with some good advice, but there is some really wacky advice too. Used with discernment it can be a great help. (11/15-11/21)
31. The Smoke Thief - by Shana Abe (294 pages) Not a bad book, but a tad weird. In 1700's London, there is a thief that is so good that it is rumored they can turn to smoke. Turns out they can. (11/22-11/30)
32. Mistborn book 4: The Alloy of Law - by Brandon Sanderson (332 pages) This is story is set 300 years after the original Mistborn series. The story of a old west style lawman, called back to the city to run his house after the death of his family. Very fun and fast paced, with a ton of cool action scenes. An interesting blend of fantasy and steampunk. (12/1-12/2)
33. The Clockwork Century 4: Ganymede - by Cherie Priest (349 pages) Not as many zombies in this book. The rotters are part of what makes the series cool. Still a good book, about smuggling a submarine out of confederate territory. (12/3-12/15)
34. The Wheel of Time book 11: Knife of Dreams (781 pages) (12/16-1/1) I am going to read like a madman to try and finish this book this year! And, I didn't make it. An excellent book in the Wheel of Time series. Mat and his deal with the Daughter of the Nine Moons deal is finally tied up, and the Perrin & Faile plot line is tied up after 3 (!) books. An excellent read, and the last written exclusively by Robert Jordan.
(15,393 Pages)
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