ANNOUNCEMENT: I've changed my username. My aihre account has been buggy (for reasons I won't get into) and giving me problems with my library. LT hasn't responded to my requests to fix it -- maybe it can't be fixed? -- so I've moved to a new account. My new username is vegalivia so I'll be posting as that from now on. This is just a note via aihre that I'm the same person.

Cheers all!

(reposted from the old thread - I accidentally deleted the first post, yike!)

Thought I'd document my year's reading at a place other than my book blog. I read 50 books in '06 and '07, fell short in '08, and am shooting for 50 again in '09.

Long reviews for all of these books can be found at my book blog, the Athenaeum.

So far:

1. Neil Gaiman, The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes
2. Neil Gaiman, The Sandman: The Doll’s House
3. Neil Gaiman, The Sandman: Dream Country
4. Neil Gaiman, The Sandman: Season of Mists
5. Neil Gaiman, The Sandman: A Game of You
6. Steve Tomasula, IN & OZ
7. Margaret Mahy, The Changeover
8. Madeleine L’Engle, A Wrinkle in Time
9. Neil Gaiman, Coraline
10. Masamune Shirow, Ghost in the Shell (graphic novel)
11. Rosemary Kirstein, The Steerswoman
12. Rosemary Kirstein, The Outskirter’s Secret
13. Glenn Beck, The Christmas Sweater
14. Dan Simmons, Ilium
15. Sylvia Kelso, Amberlight
16. A. Lee Martinez, The Automatic Detective
17. Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler’s Wife
18. Jostein Gaarder, Sophie’s World
19. Clare Bell, Tomorrow’s Sphinx
20. Shaun Tan, Tales From Outer Suburbia
21. Jack Kerouac, On the Road
22. Kathy Tyers, Firebird
23. Jeff VanderMeer, Secret Lives
24. Kathy Tyers, Fusion Fire
25. Kathy Tyers, Crown of Fire
26. China Mieville, King Rat
27. Ursula K. Le Guin, A Fisherman of the Inland Sea
28. R.C. Sproul, The Truth of the Cross
29. Harold Rhenisch, Winging Home
30. John Scalzi, Zoe's Tale

Message edited by its author, May 23, 2009, 9:19pm.

#29: WINGING HOME by Harold Rhenisch
This is the best book I've read so far this year. It's a memoir of Rhenisch's life living in 100 Mile House in British Columbia, Canada, and his musings about birds, the passing of seasons and life in the wilderness. The bids are the focus (the book's subtitle is A Palette of Birds) but ultimately it's not just a story about nature, it's also a story of his and his family's life amidst nature.
Rhenisch gives his animal subjects such memorable, anthropomorphic character -- his descriptions of wildlife show me that he's a keen observer of both animal behaviour and human character. The descriptive writing is beautiful, capturing the scenes so luminously and evocatively. A beautiful, poignant memoir of human life amidst birds and nature. Highly recommended!

Currently reading Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi, which definitely won't make this round of SF Group Reads...

Thanks for the link to your new account thread. I have to admit that I was pretty happy about Neuromancer being chosen as I already had the book. I had so much trouble getting a copy of the last book. Maybe I will be more on time this go round. Winging Home sounds wonderful. I am adding it to my wishlist. Have a great day!
--BJ

Hey BJ! I hope Neuromancer is chosen next! I'd already read the book, so I hope to contribute some thoughts -- although I read it a few years back and my memory's a little sketchy, hehe!

Message edited by its author, May 23, 2009, 9:29pm.

#30: ZOE'S TALE by John Scalzi
Unlike the other Old Man's War novels, this is not a standalone -- you need to have read The Ghost Brigades and The Last Colony at least. This is Zoe Boutin-Perry's perspective on the events in those two books. A good tie-in with The Last Colony, a fun and light reading. I commend Scalzi's attempt to write from a teenage girl's perspective, and that he answered several questions that were left hanging after The Last Colony. A good way to end the Old Man's War series!

Currently reading Eyes of the Calculor by Sean McMullen.

Well, it looks like Neuromancer lost another tiebreaker. I was surprised because I thought it had already won. I am just going to have to read this one on my own. My daughter read it and told me that it was pretty good. I tried to find the other book at the bookstore, but it was not available. I guess I will get it from amazon. I always like an excuse to order from them. :) Have a nice day!
--BJ