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)

 (9,968 Pages)

Books I read in 2009

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

1. The Gap Into Ruin: This Day All Gods Die - This is book 5 of the Gap sequence by Stephen Donaldson. A great conclusion to the series. Good Sci-Fi that would make a cool movie. (635 pages)

2. Beowulf - A cool viking legend written in the year 1000 by an unknown author. It's a short book, but it makes you think. (115 pages)

3. The Last Lecture - by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow. A professors last lecture, given before he died of pancreatic cancer. About achieving your dreams. A VERY good read. (207 pages)

4. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - By Mark Twain. An American classic. I read it in elementary school but didn't really remember it, so I decided to re-read it. (139 pages)

5. Elantris - By Brandon Sanderson. An epic fantasy where everything is covered in sludge because the magic broke. This turned out to be one of the best books I ever read. If you like fantasy, I highly recommend it. (638 pages)

6. Tuck - By Stephen Lawhead. Book 3 in the King Raven trilogy. It tells the story of Robin Hood, but in a historically accurate way. e.g. - it's set in the Welsh forests instead of Nottingham. A fun adventure story. (443 pages)

7. Two Came By Sea - By William S Stone. A co-worker recommended this book. A story about 2 Frenchmen in a post WWII era, that were assigned to govern and teach on a French province on an island in Polynesia. An interesting and well written book. (296 pages)

8. To Sail Beyond The Sunset - by Robert Heinlein. A story of a woman reflecting back on a life of over 1000 years. Kind of far fetched weak Sci-fi. Not bad, but not good either. (416 pages)

9. That Hideous Strength - By C.S. Lewis. The third book in his only Sci-fi series.An interesting story with a King Arthur twist. (382 pages)

10. Talyn - By Holly Lisle. About a soldier after an ages old feud is settled by an outside source. But not everything is as good as it seems... An excellent read. (524 pages)

11. Hawkspar - By Holly Lisle. Another story set in the world of Talyn, but years later. I put this book on hold at about page 200, Warbreaker came out and I HAD to read it first! Ok, finished it. A fantasy/pirate book. Very cool. (480 pages)

12. Warbreaker - By Brandon Sanderson. About a world where people who die heroically return as gods, and 2 princess sisters, one forced to marry a god, the other trying to overthrow them. Wow. Every book Sanderson writes is better than the last. Excellent. (592 pages)

13. The Sorceress - By Michael Scott. Book 3 in a series about Nicholas Flamel, an Alchemist from the 1300's who is alleged to be immortal. The man really lived, not sold on the immortal part though. :) It takes place in modern times. (512 pages)

14. The Red Wolf Conspiracy - by Robert V.S. Redick. A pirate / fantasy story. Not the best book I've ever read, but not the worst either. A little quirky at times. (449 pages)

15. Let The Right One In - by John Lindqvist. A really cool vampire book. About a boy that has a girl move in next door to him, who turns out to be a vampire. I don't usually read horror/gore books, but this was good. Had some substance to the story. (472 pages)

16. The Screwtape Letters - by C.S. Lewis. A series of letters between Screwtape, a demon in the upper ruling of hell, and Wormwood, his nephew the apprentice tempter. Helps open your eyes to how temptation works. (209 pages)

17. Wings of Wrath - By C.S. Friedman. Book 2 in the Magister series. A story where to use magic, you either have to burn your own soul, or the soul of someone else. Kind of dark and creepy, but an ok read. (406 pages)

18. The Paradise War - by Stephen Lawhead. A story of two Oxford students that go to Scotland to investigate a tabloid story of a mythical creature appearing, and end up in an alternate universe. A good story filled with Celtic lore. This was actually book one of the "Song Of Albion" Trilogy. (416 pages)

19. The Silver Hand - by Stephen Lawhead. Book 2 of the Song of Albion. The main character goes back to Albion to try to prevent another person from destroying Albion. (399 pages)

20. The Endless Knot - by Stephen Lawhead. Book 3 of The Song Of Albion. A great conclusion to a great Celtic fantasy series. The main character, Lew, races across the ocean to save his wife from the Brazen Man. (415 pages)

21. Boneshaker - by Cherie Priest. A "Steampunk" Zombie book, set in Seattle shortly after the Civil War. Fun and fast paced. A good read. (416 pages)

22. The Gathering Storm - by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson. Book 12 of The Wheel of Time. An EXCELLENT fantasy series. I have been reading these books since 1996. A huge epic fantasy series, telling the story of 3 village boys, one of whom is destined to fight the Dark One in the last battle. Robert Jordon passed away before the series could be finished, so Brandon Sanderson is finishing it. (784 pages)

23. Ghost Ocean - by S.M. Peters. A book about ghost hunters that end up chasing real monsters. Meh. A so-so book. (496 pages)

24. Alcatraz Versus The Knights Of Crystallia By Brandon Sanderson. A fun young adult fantasy. Book 3 in a series about a boy who can use glasses to do magic, and a group of evil librarians trying to stop him. A quirky quick read. (322 pages)

25. Under The Dome By Stephen King. I usually don't read his books, but this one just looked too cool. About a town that has a force field dropped on it, and what happens in the town when no one can get in or out. Has a Lord Of The Flies feel to it. A fun (almost 1100 page!) read. (1074 pages)

26. The Picture Of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde. A book written in 1890. A story of a man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty. And while he doesn't age, a painting of him ages and becomes increasingly hideous. At the time it was considered immoral, but I think it is a good book detailing the consequence of sin. - I finished this book 10 hours after 2009 ended. I would have finished it yesterday, but I didn't feel good. (248 pages)

 (11,485 Pages)