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1antqueen
Back again for 2012! I think I'll keep track of the books I buy (or receive) in 2012 here too. My TBR pile went down in 2010, but last year... not so much. I looked at some of the TBR-pile challenges but I know I won't keep up with yet another thread, so I'll just do it here.
I also have a non-fiction thread and a 12 in 12 challenge thread.
Books read: 89
Books purchased: 27
Free books: 20
Audiobooks listened to: 19
Audio short stories listened to: 7
Audiobooks purchased: 19
Free audiobooks: 7
I also have a non-fiction thread and a 12 in 12 challenge thread.
Books read: 89
Books purchased: 27
Free books: 20
Audiobooks listened to: 19
Audio short stories listened to: 7
Audiobooks purchased: 19
Free audiobooks: 7
2antqueen
Books read in 2012
January
1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (TIOLI 23 - 1st in a series by an author you've never read)
2. "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" : Adventures of a Curious Character by Richard P. Feynman (TIOLI 13 - author famous for something other than writing).
3. Moxyland by Lauren Beukes (TIOLI 15 - Sub-Saharan author)
4. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente (TIOLI 2 - dragons)
5. A Year in the Maine Woods by Bernd Heinrich (TIOLI 4 - cover w/a winter scene)
6. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (TIOLI 19 - beverage on page 10)
7. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (TIOLI 14 - Christmas gift you didn't ask for)
8. Winged Obsession by Jessica Speart (TIOLI 11 - narrative nonfiction)
9. The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas (audio) (TIOLI 17 - title word w/three of the same vowel)
10. A Free Man of Color by Barbara Hambly (TIOLI 1 - set in a state in MLK's speech)
11. A Talent for War by Jack McDevitt (TIOLI 22 - chapters prefaced by quotations)
12. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (TIOLI 8 - title word that can be used as multiple parts of speech)
13. Persuasion by Jane Austen (audio) (TIOLI 7 - posthumously published book)
13a. A Gentle Brush of Wings (audio short story)
February
14. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming (TIOLI 1 - animal/beverage on pages)
15. Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde (TIOLI 6 - author's last name has a scrabble score >= 12)
16. Adventures Among Ants by Mark Moffett (TIOLI 7 - published by a university press)
17. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 9 - someone of somewhere)
18. The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester (TIOLI 5 - ungulate on cover or in title)
19. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo (audio) (TIOLI 18 - translated from a language you don't know)
20. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (TIOLI 11 - 2 word title where the 2nd word is alphebetically before the 1st)
21. Machine of Death ed. by Ryan North (TIOLI 3 - 5 or more letter word in the title that's an anagram)
22. Reaper by Rachel Vincent (audio) (TIOLI 6 - author's last name has a scrabble score >= 12)
23. The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 15 - double letters in TIOLI)
24. Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis (TIOLI 13 - set on an island)
25. The Mount by Carol Emshwiller (TIOLI 19 - Nebula winner or nominee)
26. Big Bang by Simon Singh (TIOLI 8 - author who has a blurb on another book in your catalog)
27. Cast in Moonlight by Michelle Sagara (audio) (TIOLI 15 - double letters in TIOLI)
27a. A&P by John Updike (audio short story)
27b. The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami (audio short story) (TIOLI 5 - ungulate on cover or in title)
March
28. The White Mountains by John Christopher (audio) (TIOLI 6 - homonym in the title)
28a. The Empty Family by Colm Toibin (audio short story) (TIOLI 15 - # letters in author's last name divisible by 3)
29. Three Days to Never by Tim Powers (TIOLI 7 - title that contains 2, 4, 8 or 16 words)
30. Macbeth by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 14 - book with a map)
31. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Jan/Feb 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
32. Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang (TIOLI 5 - 20th century women)
33. Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 10 - title is "X and Y")
34. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear (TIOLI 3 - nominated for Agatha Award for best first novel)
35. The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin (audio) (TIOLI 1 - birth city w/one letter from 'March')
36. Shadowmarch by Tad Williams (TIOLI 14 - book with a map)
37. The Genie in the Bottle: 64 All-New Commentaries on the Fascinating Chemistry of Everyday Life by Joe Schwarcz (TIOLI 7 - title with 2,4,8 or 16 words)
April
38. Seeker by Jack McDevitt (TIOLI 11 - 1st person narrator is the opposite sex from the author)
39. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Mar/Apr 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
40. Selections from The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke: 1937-1999 by Arthur C. Clarke (audio) (TIOLI 7 - started between 1/1/12 and 3/28/12)
41. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole (TIOLI 14 - Louisiana, statehood, etc in the title or tags)
42. The First Part of King Henry IV by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 1 - rolling last letter)
43. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (TIOLI 13 - book made into multiple movies)
43a. The Ghosts of Ragged-Ass Gulch by Bill Pronzini (audio short story)
44. The Second Part of King Henry IV by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 1 - rolling last letter)
44a. In the Forests of the Night by Jay Lake (audio short story)
May
45. Collapse by Jared Diamond (TIOLI 3 - NMSP)
46. The Alchemist and the Executioness by Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias S. Buckell (audio)
47. Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie (TIOLI 18 - (embedded) title word can be reversed to make another word)
48. The Life of King Henry V by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 4 - words in a 75er's name)
49. Solaris by Stanislaw Lem (TIOLI 1 - originally written in a Slavic language)
50. The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie (audio) (TIOLI - title suggesting violent death)
51. Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian (TIOLI - NMSP)
52. Our Man in Tehran by Richard Wright (TIOLI - nonfiction set during the first 23 years of your life)
53. Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 3 - NMSP)
June
54. Heidi by Johanna Spyri (TIOLI 14 - 1 word title by a female author)
55. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (audio) (TIOLI 5 - automobile in the (sub)title)
56. Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (TIOLI 15 - bridal rhyme word in the title)
57. Lord of the Shadows by Jennifer Fallon (TIOLI 1 - 3rd word has 3 letters)
58. Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey (audio) (TIOLI 18 - author's 1st name has 4 letters, 2 of which are the same)
59. The Third Part of King Henry VI by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 12 - food starting with 'P' in the title or author's name)
60. Poincare's Prize by George G. Szpiro (TIOLI 8 - title has more letters from the 2nd half of the alphabet than the 1st)
July
61. Favorite Science Fiction Stories, Vol. 1 (audio)
62. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (TIOLI 15 - picture of something that can be blown by the wind on the cover)
63. Diggers by Terry Pratchett (audio) (TIOLI 8 - initials make a common acronym)
64. Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold (TIOLI 13 - name of a planet in the title)
65. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, May/June 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
66. Ethan of Athos by Lois McMaster Bujold (TIOLI 19 - an author whose canon you're trying to complete)
67. Labyrinth by Lois McMaster Bujold (TIOLI 19 - an author whose canon you're trying to complete)
68. The City of Gold and Lead by John Christopher (audio) (TIOLI 10 - Surname that could be a first name)
69. The Giver by Lois Lowry (TIOLI 4 - a title that suggests sharing)
70. Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie (TIOLI 9 - book with a deckle edge)
71. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, July/August 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
72. Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 2 - full name as a title)
73. Dracula by Bram Stoker (audio) (TIOLI 8 - initials make a common acronym)
74. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (TIOLI 18 - Surname is also a place name)
August
75. The Other Wind by Ursula K. Le Guin (audio) (TIOLI 13 - first letters of the title's words can be rearranged to make a word)
76. The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss (TIOLI 17 - embedded first name in the title or author's name)
77. Spook by Mary Roach (TIOLI 15 - title has the word "life" or "death")
78. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (TIOLI 12 - a "Scandicrime")
79. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters (TIOLI 1 - new author from Literature-Map)
September
80. Beguilement by Lois McMaster Bujold (TIOLI 6 - a series book by an author who has written more books in another series)
81. The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova (TIOLI 12 - TBR for more than 6 months, with a buddy)
82. Futures Past, ed by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois
83. Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs (TIOLI 20 - 1001 books)
84. The Republic by Plato
85. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (TIOLI 2 - 'A' in author's first name, 'Z' in last name)
86. Coriolanus by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 9 - Magic 9)
87. Mystic Empire by Tracy and Laura Hickman (TIOLI 5 - family tree diagram)
October
88. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, September/October 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
89. Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen (TIOLI 1 - random tag generator)
90. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie (TIOLI 11 - title word associated with a cemetary)
90a. Good Living by Aleksandar Hemon (audio short story)
91. A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen (TIOLI 1 - random tag generator)
92. The Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen (TIOLI 1 - random tag generator)
93. Jerusalem by Cecilia Holland (TIOLI 7 - JASPER)
94. The Devil's Eye by Jack McDevitt (TIOLI 16 - 2 or more 4s in the ISBN)
November
95. Breaking the Maya Code by Michael D. Coe (TIOLI 16 - no more than 3 letters in author's last name)
96. Fermat's Enigma by Simon Singh (TIOLI 10 - LT average rating between 4.0 and 4.5)
97. Wagner: His Life & Music (TIOLI 17 - ampersand in the title)
December
98. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 6 - rolling challenge - letters in Christmas)
99. The Wizard Hunters by Martha Wells (TIOLI 13 - from one of the Green Dragon compiled lists)
100. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, November/December 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
101. Legacy by Lois McMaster Bujold (TIOLI 5 - a book you've been meaning to read all year)
102. The Merry Wives of Windsor (TIOLI 7 - more than half the letters in the alphabet in the title)
103. The Call of Cthulhu and Other Dark Tales by H. P. Lovecraft (TIOLI 7 - more than half the letters in the alphabet in the title)
104. The Tragedy of King Richard III by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 19 - set in a country starting with a vowel)
105. A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin (TIOLI 16 - gift from a previous year)
106. The Toaster Project by Thomas Thwaites (TIOLI 18 - 2 of the same number within hyphens in the ISBN)
107. Snuff by Terry Pratchett (TIOLI 18 - 2 of the same number within hyphens in the ISBN)
108. What I Didn't See and Other Stories by Karen Joy Fowler (TIOLI 8 - both red and green on the cover)
January
1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (TIOLI 23 - 1st in a series by an author you've never read)
2. "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" : Adventures of a Curious Character by Richard P. Feynman (TIOLI 13 - author famous for something other than writing).
3. Moxyland by Lauren Beukes (TIOLI 15 - Sub-Saharan author)
4. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente (TIOLI 2 - dragons)
5. A Year in the Maine Woods by Bernd Heinrich (TIOLI 4 - cover w/a winter scene)
6. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (TIOLI 19 - beverage on page 10)
7. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (TIOLI 14 - Christmas gift you didn't ask for)
8. Winged Obsession by Jessica Speart (TIOLI 11 - narrative nonfiction)
9. The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas (audio) (TIOLI 17 - title word w/three of the same vowel)
10. A Free Man of Color by Barbara Hambly (TIOLI 1 - set in a state in MLK's speech)
11. A Talent for War by Jack McDevitt (TIOLI 22 - chapters prefaced by quotations)
12. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (TIOLI 8 - title word that can be used as multiple parts of speech)
13. Persuasion by Jane Austen (audio) (TIOLI 7 - posthumously published book)
13a. A Gentle Brush of Wings (audio short story)
February
14. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming (TIOLI 1 - animal/beverage on pages)
15. Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde (TIOLI 6 - author's last name has a scrabble score >= 12)
16. Adventures Among Ants by Mark Moffett (TIOLI 7 - published by a university press)
17. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 9 - someone of somewhere)
18. The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester (TIOLI 5 - ungulate on cover or in title)
19. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo (audio) (TIOLI 18 - translated from a language you don't know)
20. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (TIOLI 11 - 2 word title where the 2nd word is alphebetically before the 1st)
21. Machine of Death ed. by Ryan North (TIOLI 3 - 5 or more letter word in the title that's an anagram)
22. Reaper by Rachel Vincent (audio) (TIOLI 6 - author's last name has a scrabble score >= 12)
23. The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 15 - double letters in TIOLI)
24. Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis (TIOLI 13 - set on an island)
25. The Mount by Carol Emshwiller (TIOLI 19 - Nebula winner or nominee)
26. Big Bang by Simon Singh (TIOLI 8 - author who has a blurb on another book in your catalog)
27. Cast in Moonlight by Michelle Sagara (audio) (TIOLI 15 - double letters in TIOLI)
27a. A&P by John Updike (audio short story)
27b. The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami (audio short story) (TIOLI 5 - ungulate on cover or in title)
March
28. The White Mountains by John Christopher (audio) (TIOLI 6 - homonym in the title)
28a. The Empty Family by Colm Toibin (audio short story) (TIOLI 15 - # letters in author's last name divisible by 3)
29. Three Days to Never by Tim Powers (TIOLI 7 - title that contains 2, 4, 8 or 16 words)
30. Macbeth by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 14 - book with a map)
31. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Jan/Feb 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
32. Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang (TIOLI 5 - 20th century women)
33. Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 10 - title is "X and Y")
34. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear (TIOLI 3 - nominated for Agatha Award for best first novel)
35. The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin (audio) (TIOLI 1 - birth city w/one letter from 'March')
36. Shadowmarch by Tad Williams (TIOLI 14 - book with a map)
37. The Genie in the Bottle: 64 All-New Commentaries on the Fascinating Chemistry of Everyday Life by Joe Schwarcz (TIOLI 7 - title with 2,4,8 or 16 words)
April
38. Seeker by Jack McDevitt (TIOLI 11 - 1st person narrator is the opposite sex from the author)
39. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Mar/Apr 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
40. Selections from The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke: 1937-1999 by Arthur C. Clarke (audio) (TIOLI 7 - started between 1/1/12 and 3/28/12)
41. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole (TIOLI 14 - Louisiana, statehood, etc in the title or tags)
42. The First Part of King Henry IV by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 1 - rolling last letter)
43. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (TIOLI 13 - book made into multiple movies)
43a. The Ghosts of Ragged-Ass Gulch by Bill Pronzini (audio short story)
44. The Second Part of King Henry IV by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 1 - rolling last letter)
44a. In the Forests of the Night by Jay Lake (audio short story)
May
45. Collapse by Jared Diamond (TIOLI 3 - NMSP)
46. The Alchemist and the Executioness by Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias S. Buckell (audio)
47. Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie (TIOLI 18 - (embedded) title word can be reversed to make another word)
48. The Life of King Henry V by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 4 - words in a 75er's name)
49. Solaris by Stanislaw Lem (TIOLI 1 - originally written in a Slavic language)
50. The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie (audio) (TIOLI - title suggesting violent death)
51. Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian (TIOLI - NMSP)
52. Our Man in Tehran by Richard Wright (TIOLI - nonfiction set during the first 23 years of your life)
53. Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 3 - NMSP)
June
54. Heidi by Johanna Spyri (TIOLI 14 - 1 word title by a female author)
55. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (audio) (TIOLI 5 - automobile in the (sub)title)
56. Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (TIOLI 15 - bridal rhyme word in the title)
57. Lord of the Shadows by Jennifer Fallon (TIOLI 1 - 3rd word has 3 letters)
58. Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey (audio) (TIOLI 18 - author's 1st name has 4 letters, 2 of which are the same)
59. The Third Part of King Henry VI by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 12 - food starting with 'P' in the title or author's name)
60. Poincare's Prize by George G. Szpiro (TIOLI 8 - title has more letters from the 2nd half of the alphabet than the 1st)
July
61. Favorite Science Fiction Stories, Vol. 1 (audio)
62. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (TIOLI 15 - picture of something that can be blown by the wind on the cover)
63. Diggers by Terry Pratchett (audio) (TIOLI 8 - initials make a common acronym)
64. Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold (TIOLI 13 - name of a planet in the title)
65. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, May/June 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
66. Ethan of Athos by Lois McMaster Bujold (TIOLI 19 - an author whose canon you're trying to complete)
67. Labyrinth by Lois McMaster Bujold (TIOLI 19 - an author whose canon you're trying to complete)
68. The City of Gold and Lead by John Christopher (audio) (TIOLI 10 - Surname that could be a first name)
69. The Giver by Lois Lowry (TIOLI 4 - a title that suggests sharing)
70. Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie (TIOLI 9 - book with a deckle edge)
71. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, July/August 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
72. Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 2 - full name as a title)
73. Dracula by Bram Stoker (audio) (TIOLI 8 - initials make a common acronym)
74. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (TIOLI 18 - Surname is also a place name)
August
75. The Other Wind by Ursula K. Le Guin (audio) (TIOLI 13 - first letters of the title's words can be rearranged to make a word)
76. The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss (TIOLI 17 - embedded first name in the title or author's name)
77. Spook by Mary Roach (TIOLI 15 - title has the word "life" or "death")
78. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (TIOLI 12 - a "Scandicrime")
79. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters (TIOLI 1 - new author from Literature-Map)
September
80. Beguilement by Lois McMaster Bujold (TIOLI 6 - a series book by an author who has written more books in another series)
81. The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova (TIOLI 12 - TBR for more than 6 months, with a buddy)
82. Futures Past, ed by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois
83. Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs (TIOLI 20 - 1001 books)
84. The Republic by Plato
85. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (TIOLI 2 - 'A' in author's first name, 'Z' in last name)
86. Coriolanus by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 9 - Magic 9)
87. Mystic Empire by Tracy and Laura Hickman (TIOLI 5 - family tree diagram)
October
88. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, September/October 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
89. Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen (TIOLI 1 - random tag generator)
90. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie (TIOLI 11 - title word associated with a cemetary)
90a. Good Living by Aleksandar Hemon (audio short story)
91. A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen (TIOLI 1 - random tag generator)
92. The Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen (TIOLI 1 - random tag generator)
93. Jerusalem by Cecilia Holland (TIOLI 7 - JASPER)
94. The Devil's Eye by Jack McDevitt (TIOLI 16 - 2 or more 4s in the ISBN)
November
95. Breaking the Maya Code by Michael D. Coe (TIOLI 16 - no more than 3 letters in author's last name)
96. Fermat's Enigma by Simon Singh (TIOLI 10 - LT average rating between 4.0 and 4.5)
97. Wagner: His Life & Music (TIOLI 17 - ampersand in the title)
December
98. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 6 - rolling challenge - letters in Christmas)
99. The Wizard Hunters by Martha Wells (TIOLI 13 - from one of the Green Dragon compiled lists)
100. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, November/December 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
101. Legacy by Lois McMaster Bujold (TIOLI 5 - a book you've been meaning to read all year)
102. The Merry Wives of Windsor (TIOLI 7 - more than half the letters in the alphabet in the title)
103. The Call of Cthulhu and Other Dark Tales by H. P. Lovecraft (TIOLI 7 - more than half the letters in the alphabet in the title)
104. The Tragedy of King Richard III by William Shakespeare (TIOLI 19 - set in a country starting with a vowel)
105. A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin (TIOLI 16 - gift from a previous year)
106. The Toaster Project by Thomas Thwaites (TIOLI 18 - 2 of the same number within hyphens in the ISBN)
107. Snuff by Terry Pratchett (TIOLI 18 - 2 of the same number within hyphens in the ISBN)
108. What I Didn't See and Other Stories by Karen Joy Fowler (TIOLI 8 - both red and green on the cover)
3antqueen
Books acquired in 2012
January
1. Moxyland by Lauren Beukes (gift)
2. The Secret History of Moscow by Ekaterina Sedia (gift)
3. Persuasion by Jane Austen (audio)
4. The Gentle Brush of Wings (short story, audio, free)
5. The Painter of Battles by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
February
6. The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (audio)
7. Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine, Jan/Feb 2012
8. The Myth of the Garage and Other Minor Surprises by Dan and Chip Heath (free audio)
9. Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine, Mar/Apr 2012
March
10. One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jaspre Fforde (audio)
11. Watership Down by Richard Adams (audio)
12. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (audio)
13. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (borrowed)
14. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson (borrowed)
15. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson (borrowed)
16. Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey (audio)
17. Dracula by Bram Stoker (audio)
18. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (audio)
19. Green Rider by Kristen Britain (audio)
20. The City of Gold and Lead by John Christopher (audio)
21. The Pool of Fire by John Christopher (audio)
22. Coraline by Neil Gaiman (audio)
23. Heidi by Johanna Spyri
April
24. Shadowplay by Tad Williams (gift)
25. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (gift)
26. Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie
27. The Magicians' Guild by Trudi Canavan
28. Good Living by Aleksander Hemon (free audio short story)
29. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (free audio)
May
30. Solaris by Stanislaw Lem
31. Our Man in Tehran by Robert Wright
32. Dragondrums by Anne McCaffrey (audio)
33. Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb (audio)
34. Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb (audio)
35. Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine, May/Jun 2012
36. The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem
June
37. Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen
38. A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen
39. The Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen
40. Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen
41. The Master Builder by Henrik Ibsen
42. The Iceman Cometh by Eugene O'Neill
July
43. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, July/August 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
44. The Sagan Diary (free audio)
August
45. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters
46. The Devil's Eye by Jack McDevitt
47. Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones
48. Fidelity: Five Stories by Wendell Berry
49. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey
September
50. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, September/October 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
October
51. The Call of Cthulhu and Other Dark Tales by H. P. Lovecraft
52. The Queen of the South by Arturo Perez Reverte
53. The Prisoner by Thomas Disch
54. Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, June 1979
55. The Longest Journey by E. M. Forster
56. Wagner: His Life & Music by Stephen Johnson (gift)
November
57. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction November/December 2012
58. Iorich by Steven Brust
59. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
60. Listening is an Act of Love (free audio)
December
61. Jhereg by Steven Brust (audio)
62. Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny (audio)
63. The Phoenix Guards by Steven Brust (audio)
64. Wings by Terry Pratchett (audio)
65. The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Arthur Conan Doyle (free audio)
66. The Unreal and the Real, Volume One: Where on Earth by Ursula K. Le Guin (gift)
67. Robbing the Bees by Holley Bishop (gift)
68. Trampoline, ed. by Kelly Link (gift)
69. The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 2012, ed. by Rich Horton (gift)
70. What I Didn't See and Other Stories by Karen Joy Fowler (gift)
71. The Toaster Project by Thomas Thwaites (gift)
72. Zoo City by Lauren Beukes (gift)
73. Snuff by Terry Pratchett (gift)
January
1. Moxyland by Lauren Beukes (gift)
2. The Secret History of Moscow by Ekaterina Sedia (gift)
3. Persuasion by Jane Austen (audio)
4. The Gentle Brush of Wings (short story, audio, free)
5. The Painter of Battles by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
February
6. The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (audio)
7. Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine, Jan/Feb 2012
8. The Myth of the Garage and Other Minor Surprises by Dan and Chip Heath (free audio)
9. Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine, Mar/Apr 2012
March
10. One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jaspre Fforde (audio)
11. Watership Down by Richard Adams (audio)
12. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (audio)
13. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (borrowed)
14. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson (borrowed)
15. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson (borrowed)
16. Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey (audio)
17. Dracula by Bram Stoker (audio)
18. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (audio)
19. Green Rider by Kristen Britain (audio)
20. The City of Gold and Lead by John Christopher (audio)
21. The Pool of Fire by John Christopher (audio)
22. Coraline by Neil Gaiman (audio)
23. Heidi by Johanna Spyri
April
24. Shadowplay by Tad Williams (gift)
25. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (gift)
26. Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie
27. The Magicians' Guild by Trudi Canavan
28. Good Living by Aleksander Hemon (free audio short story)
29. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (free audio)
May
30. Solaris by Stanislaw Lem
31. Our Man in Tehran by Robert Wright
32. Dragondrums by Anne McCaffrey (audio)
33. Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb (audio)
34. Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb (audio)
35. Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine, May/Jun 2012
36. The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age by Stanislaw Lem
June
37. Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen
38. A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen
39. The Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen
40. Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen
41. The Master Builder by Henrik Ibsen
42. The Iceman Cometh by Eugene O'Neill
July
43. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, July/August 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
44. The Sagan Diary (free audio)
August
45. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters
46. The Devil's Eye by Jack McDevitt
47. Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones
48. Fidelity: Five Stories by Wendell Berry
49. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey
September
50. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, September/October 2012, ed. by Gordon Van Gelder
October
51. The Call of Cthulhu and Other Dark Tales by H. P. Lovecraft
52. The Queen of the South by Arturo Perez Reverte
53. The Prisoner by Thomas Disch
54. Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, June 1979
55. The Longest Journey by E. M. Forster
56. Wagner: His Life & Music by Stephen Johnson (gift)
November
57. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction November/December 2012
58. Iorich by Steven Brust
59. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
60. Listening is an Act of Love (free audio)
December
61. Jhereg by Steven Brust (audio)
62. Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny (audio)
63. The Phoenix Guards by Steven Brust (audio)
64. Wings by Terry Pratchett (audio)
65. The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Arthur Conan Doyle (free audio)
66. The Unreal and the Real, Volume One: Where on Earth by Ursula K. Le Guin (gift)
67. Robbing the Bees by Holley Bishop (gift)
68. Trampoline, ed. by Kelly Link (gift)
69. The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 2012, ed. by Rich Horton (gift)
70. What I Didn't See and Other Stories by Karen Joy Fowler (gift)
71. The Toaster Project by Thomas Thwaites (gift)
72. Zoo City by Lauren Beukes (gift)
73. Snuff by Terry Pratchett (gift)
4antqueen
Book 1: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Genre: young adult, dystopian science fiction
Why I have it: Christmas present from my brother
TIOLI 23: Read a first book (either debut or first in a series) by an author you've never read before
When 16 year old Katniss's sister is chosen for the Hunger Games, a reality-tv-on-steroids, fight-to-the-death competition forced on the provinces by the ruling city, she volunteers instead. It's hard to know what to say about a book that so much has been said about. I mean, there are 1510 reviews on LT. Anyway, I can see why it's so popular. It's a fast-paced read, intense but not too much so for a younger audience. Even my brother liked it, and he's not much of a fiction reader.
Book 2: "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" : Adventures of a Curious Character by Richard P. Feynman
Genre: Non-fiction, autobiography
Why I have it: Christmas present from my brother-in-law
TIOLI 13: Read a book written by someone who was already famous for something OTHER than writing
A series of autobiographical anecdotes by physicist Richard Feynman, from his childhood through to after he won the Nobel Prize. Very funny, and often insightful. He comes across as both cocky and uncertain, which is probably more realistic than a lot of biographies I've read, where they try to make everything too consistent. Several of the sections deal with the way people perceive science, and the way we try to teach it (the one where he talks about reviewing math text books is hilarious). Definitely worth reading.
Currently reading: A Year in the Maine Woods by Bernd Heinrich and The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas.
5lkernagh
I get to follow your reading in two places - here and the 12 in 12! Happy reading! I keep thinking about picking up the Hunger series.... one of these years I will surprise myself and do just that!
7alcottacre
Glad to see you back with us again for 2012!
8souloftherose
Happy New Year and welcome back! It's funny how many members of this group have problems keeping their TBR piles under control :-)
9antqueen
Thanks for all the welcomes! Maybe this year I'll lurk less and post more :)
5> If last year is anything to go by I'll think about posting something different in both places, but then I'll think "Well, maybe next time..."
And speaking of TBR piles... my first new books of the year! I wound up with two copies of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, so I took one of them back today. Books bought with store credit count as free books, of course. I wanted to get something for the TIOLI challenge, and I also wanted to something by a female author I'd never read before.
1. Moxyland by Lauren Beukes, for the Sub-Saharan African Author TIOLI challenge
2. The Secret History of Moscow by Ekaterina Sedia, because it looked interesting
5> If last year is anything to go by I'll think about posting something different in both places, but then I'll think "Well, maybe next time..."
And speaking of TBR piles... my first new books of the year! I wound up with two copies of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, so I took one of them back today. Books bought with store credit count as free books, of course. I wanted to get something for the TIOLI challenge, and I also wanted to something by a female author I'd never read before.
1. Moxyland by Lauren Beukes, for the Sub-Saharan African Author TIOLI challenge
2. The Secret History of Moscow by Ekaterina Sedia, because it looked interesting
10alcottacre
I had not heard of either one of the books you got today. I will be interested in seeing what you think of them when you have had a chance to read them.
11antqueen
I hadn't heard of them either :) I'd seen Beukes' Zoo City on LT but decided to grab Moxyland instead. And I confess, it was mainly because Zoo City was a trade paperback and therefore twice as expensive...
3. Moxyland by Lauren Beukes
Genre: science fiction, cyberpunk
Why I have it: for the TIOLI challenge, and it looked interesting
TIOLI 15: Sub-Saharan author
We follow several characters here -- all in first person, which is a little unusual -- in a near future, cyberpunk dystopia version of Cape Town. Not bad, though it won't be one of my favorite books. None of the characters really grabbed me. Maybe because it seemed like they were either meandering or being led about. Either of which can work, but it didn't do much for me here, and I think she could have done more with the 'led about' part. Still, an entertaining and quick read with a good ending. I'll probably pick up Zoo City sometime.
4. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
Genre: YA fantasy, fairy tales
Why I have it: Christmas present from my brother-in-law
TIOLI 2: Dragon Appreciation (well, ok, wyverns in this case...)
A charming fairy tale in which September from Omaha is spirited away to Fairy Land, where she meets all sorts of fantastical critters, including a wyvern whose father might be a library, and of course a wicked ruler, in this case a Marquess. Playful and quirky, quite fun. I liked the ending, too.
5. A Year in the Maine Woods by Bernd Heinrich
Genre: Non-fiction, nature/biology
Why I have it: I'd read several of his before and liked them
TIOLI 4: Cover with a winter scene
In this, Heinrich writes quasi-journal-style about a year spent in his Maine cabin. I've read a couple of his other books too, and I still enjoy his descriptions of the land, plants, and animals, and the sketches that accompany them.
Currently reading: The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas
Next up: Winged Obsession by Jessica Speart and probably Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
3. Moxyland by Lauren Beukes
Genre: science fiction, cyberpunk
Why I have it: for the TIOLI challenge, and it looked interesting
TIOLI 15: Sub-Saharan author
We follow several characters here -- all in first person, which is a little unusual -- in a near future, cyberpunk dystopia version of Cape Town. Not bad, though it won't be one of my favorite books. None of the characters really grabbed me. Maybe because it seemed like they were either meandering or being led about. Either of which can work, but it didn't do much for me here, and I think she could have done more with the 'led about' part. Still, an entertaining and quick read with a good ending. I'll probably pick up Zoo City sometime.
4. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
Genre: YA fantasy, fairy tales
Why I have it: Christmas present from my brother-in-law
TIOLI 2: Dragon Appreciation (well, ok, wyverns in this case...)
A charming fairy tale in which September from Omaha is spirited away to Fairy Land, where she meets all sorts of fantastical critters, including a wyvern whose father might be a library, and of course a wicked ruler, in this case a Marquess. Playful and quirky, quite fun. I liked the ending, too.
5. A Year in the Maine Woods by Bernd Heinrich
Genre: Non-fiction, nature/biology
Why I have it: I'd read several of his before and liked them
TIOLI 4: Cover with a winter scene
In this, Heinrich writes quasi-journal-style about a year spent in his Maine cabin. I've read a couple of his other books too, and I still enjoy his descriptions of the land, plants, and animals, and the sketches that accompany them.
Currently reading: The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas
Next up: Winged Obsession by Jessica Speart and probably Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
12thornton37814
Heinrich's book sounds interesting! My library doesn't have a copy. Maybe I'll run across a copy in a used bookstore sometime!
13Dejah_Thoris
I read Catching Fire earlier this month and as you liked The Hunger Games I'd guess you're almost certain to enjoy Catching Fire, too.
I've got Winged Obsession out from the library, but I don't know when I'm going to get to it. I'm looking forward to hearing what you think about it!
I've got Winged Obsession out from the library, but I don't know when I'm going to get to it. I'm looking forward to hearing what you think about it!
14antqueen
12> I found Heinrich through the 75 Book group last year. I hope you find a copy somewhere!
13> Coming up!
6. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Genre: young adult, dystopian science fiction
Why I have it: Christmas present from my brother
TIOLI 19: beverage on page 10
The second book in The Hunger Games trilogy. Threatened by President Snow, Katniss tries to dampen any potential rebels during her and Peeta's victory tour. Both the hints of rebellion and the personal and romantic situations between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale get more complicated in this one. I liked the first one a little more. I got a deeper sense of the characters here, and I liked several of the new ones. But the actual events got to be somewhat repetitive. Still, a good book. Despite the horrible cliff-hanger of an ending. Good thing I already had the next one.
Speaking of which...
7. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Genre: young adult, dystopian science fiction
Why I have it: Christmas present from my brother
TIOLI 14: Christmas gift you didn't ask for
The stunning conclusion! That's what you're supposed to say, right? Seriously, it really was a good ending. Nothing terribly surprising, though I got the impression I was supposed to feel like a couple of things were. Katniss must decide whether to become the visible face of the rebellion, Peeta is a prisoner of President Snow, and Gale waxes vengeful. The more I think about it, the more I like the ending. It felt right with the characters and the rest of the series. The first book's still my favorite of the three, though.
8. Winged Obsession by Jessica Speart
Genre: Narrative nonfiction
Why I have it: Borders closing sale. Mainly, I confess, because it was cheap and the cover is pretty :)
TIOLI 11: narrative nonfiction
A US Fish and Wildlife undercover agent tries to catch a butterfly smuggler and ventures into the world of hawk-killing pigeon owners. The agent had recorded quite a few conversations for evidence, so Speart had a lot of material to reconstruct scenes, and the glimpses into both his life and the smuggler's were very interesting, though by the end I was tired of the smuggler's sexual innuendo, which started to feel like a book-marketing ploy even if it did have an impact on the case. I think the book worked pretty well, though.
9. The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas (audio)
Genre: Swashbuckling adventure. Really, The Three Musketeers is practically a genre of its own now...
Why I have it: I'd read it before, and it seemed like something that would be fun to listen to in the car
TIOLI 17: title word w/three of the same vowel
It's been a long time since I read this. I was a little surprised at the things I remembered (a few odd details especially) compared to what I'd forgotten (a few major plot points). It was, indeed, fun to listen to in the car :)
Currently reading: Adventures Among Ants by Mark Moffett
Next up: Persuasion by Jane Austen (audio) and probably A Free Man of Color by Barbara Hambly
13> Coming up!
6. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Genre: young adult, dystopian science fiction
Why I have it: Christmas present from my brother
TIOLI 19: beverage on page 10
The second book in The Hunger Games trilogy. Threatened by President Snow, Katniss tries to dampen any potential rebels during her and Peeta's victory tour. Both the hints of rebellion and the personal and romantic situations between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale get more complicated in this one. I liked the first one a little more. I got a deeper sense of the characters here, and I liked several of the new ones. But the actual events got to be somewhat repetitive. Still, a good book. Despite the horrible cliff-hanger of an ending. Good thing I already had the next one.
Speaking of which...
7. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Genre: young adult, dystopian science fiction
Why I have it: Christmas present from my brother
TIOLI 14: Christmas gift you didn't ask for
The stunning conclusion! That's what you're supposed to say, right? Seriously, it really was a good ending. Nothing terribly surprising, though I got the impression I was supposed to feel like a couple of things were. Katniss must decide whether to become the visible face of the rebellion, Peeta is a prisoner of President Snow, and Gale waxes vengeful. The more I think about it, the more I like the ending. It felt right with the characters and the rest of the series. The first book's still my favorite of the three, though.
8. Winged Obsession by Jessica Speart
Genre: Narrative nonfiction
Why I have it: Borders closing sale. Mainly, I confess, because it was cheap and the cover is pretty :)
TIOLI 11: narrative nonfiction
A US Fish and Wildlife undercover agent tries to catch a butterfly smuggler and ventures into the world of hawk-killing pigeon owners. The agent had recorded quite a few conversations for evidence, so Speart had a lot of material to reconstruct scenes, and the glimpses into both his life and the smuggler's were very interesting, though by the end I was tired of the smuggler's sexual innuendo, which started to feel like a book-marketing ploy even if it did have an impact on the case. I think the book worked pretty well, though.
9. The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas (audio)
Genre: Swashbuckling adventure. Really, The Three Musketeers is practically a genre of its own now...
Why I have it: I'd read it before, and it seemed like something that would be fun to listen to in the car
TIOLI 17: title word w/three of the same vowel
It's been a long time since I read this. I was a little surprised at the things I remembered (a few odd details especially) compared to what I'd forgotten (a few major plot points). It was, indeed, fun to listen to in the car :)
Currently reading: Adventures Among Ants by Mark Moffett
Next up: Persuasion by Jane Austen (audio) and probably A Free Man of Color by Barbara Hambly
15jadebird
I have that same edition of the The Three Musketeers! Cool cover art.
You've been reading a lot of interesting ya. I've put some on my reading list.
You've been reading a lot of interesting ya. I've put some on my reading list.
16antqueen
I hadn't thought about it, but now that you mention it, I have been reading a lot of YA... Good ones, too.
And I forgot to mention some new books. Two on audio, Persuasion by Jane Austen, which I'm listening to now, and The Gentle Brush of Wings by David Niall Wilson, which was a free short story. I also managed to get out of my last visit to the book store with only one book, which is an accomplishment :) It's The Painter of Battles by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, an author I always enjoy. One of these days I'm going to pick up one of his in the original Spanish. I'm far from fluent, but I enjoy reading things in the language from time to time.
10. A Free Man of Color by Barbara Hambly
Genre: Historical mystery
Why I have it: I've seen it recommended by several on LT. Reading it now because of the TIOLI challenges.
TIOLI 1: set in a state (Louisiana) mentioned in MLK's "I have a dream" speech
Benjamin January is, well, a free man of color in 1830's New Orleans. Recently returned from Europe, he not only has to cope with deteriorating conditions for blacks but also with a murder that, for various reasons, he feels he must investigate. I've read a number of Hambly's books, though it's been a long time. This one was a little too heavy on the back story at the start, but once that was out of the way it moved quickly. January is a good choice of protagonist. Not only is he likeable, but he's both been away long enough to give us an outsider's view and also connected enough to New Orleans society that Hambly doesn't have to manufacture reasons for him to go places or speak to people. Overall, an enjoyable book. I put the next one, Fever Season, on my wishlist.
Currently reading: Persuasion by Jane Austen on audio, Adventures Among Ants by Mark Moffett and A Talent for War by Jack McDevitt
And I forgot to mention some new books. Two on audio, Persuasion by Jane Austen, which I'm listening to now, and The Gentle Brush of Wings by David Niall Wilson, which was a free short story. I also managed to get out of my last visit to the book store with only one book, which is an accomplishment :) It's The Painter of Battles by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, an author I always enjoy. One of these days I'm going to pick up one of his in the original Spanish. I'm far from fluent, but I enjoy reading things in the language from time to time.
10. A Free Man of Color by Barbara Hambly
Genre: Historical mystery
Why I have it: I've seen it recommended by several on LT. Reading it now because of the TIOLI challenges.
TIOLI 1: set in a state (Louisiana) mentioned in MLK's "I have a dream" speech
Benjamin January is, well, a free man of color in 1830's New Orleans. Recently returned from Europe, he not only has to cope with deteriorating conditions for blacks but also with a murder that, for various reasons, he feels he must investigate. I've read a number of Hambly's books, though it's been a long time. This one was a little too heavy on the back story at the start, but once that was out of the way it moved quickly. January is a good choice of protagonist. Not only is he likeable, but he's both been away long enough to give us an outsider's view and also connected enough to New Orleans society that Hambly doesn't have to manufacture reasons for him to go places or speak to people. Overall, an enjoyable book. I put the next one, Fever Season, on my wishlist.
Currently reading: Persuasion by Jane Austen on audio, Adventures Among Ants by Mark Moffett and A Talent for War by Jack McDevitt
17jadebird
I've read quite a few in the January series. Hambly is a great writer, but I prefer her fantasy works like Dog Wizard, Stranger at the Wedding and Bride of the Rat God. She wrote a couple of great Star Trek novels too.
18Dejah_Thoris
I'm hoping to fit A Free Man of Color in this month, but I'm running out of time!
Jadebird -- I'm a fan of Hambly's fantasy, too. I particularly like Dragonsbane (although I've avoided the sequels, The Ladies of Mandrigyn and the original three Darwath books. I even remember one of the Star Trek books -- Ishmael. I admit, I haven't kept up with her books for a while.
Antqueen -- what of Hambly's fantasy have you read?
Jadebird -- I'm a fan of Hambly's fantasy, too. I particularly like Dragonsbane (although I've avoided the sequels, The Ladies of Mandrigyn and the original three Darwath books. I even remember one of the Star Trek books -- Ishmael. I admit, I haven't kept up with her books for a while.
Antqueen -- what of Hambly's fantasy have you read?
19antqueen
Jadebird, I prefer her fantasy too, compared to this one at least. I still have a copy of Ishmael... one of the few Star Trek books that followed me from my parents' house after college.
Dejah_Thoris, I've read all of the ones you and jadebird mentioned except Bride of the Rat God and a few others, but you've hit the ones I liked best. The Darwath books were my favorites. It would be nice to revisit them, now that I think about it. I remember liking Dragonsbane and I read the sequel, but it obviously didn't make much of an impression because I never read the third one.
Dejah_Thoris, I've read all of the ones you and jadebird mentioned except Bride of the Rat God and a few others, but you've hit the ones I liked best. The Darwath books were my favorites. It would be nice to revisit them, now that I think about it. I remember liking Dragonsbane and I read the sequel, but it obviously didn't make much of an impression because I never read the third one.
20jadebird
I did the same thing: Liked Dragonsbane, but set the sequel aside, unfinished. The other Hambly I really wanted to like, but just couldn't read, was Renfield: Slave of Dracula. The Darwath books are great, though, and her vampire books: Those Who Hunt the Night and Traveling with the Dead.
21dk_phoenix
My copy of Winged Obsession just came in the mail today (from a bookcloseouts.com sale)... good to hear it's a relatively decent read. :)
23antqueen
I haven't read Renfield: Slave of Dracula... apparently a good thing :) And yeah, I'm going to have to reread the Darwath books sometime. I hope I like them as much this many years later...
I hope you enjoy it, dk_phoenix!
And that reminds me, I really should stop lurking so much on other people's threads...
11. A Talent for War by Jack McDevitt
Genre: Science fiction
Why I have it: I've already read the 2nd in the series, Polaris
TIOLI 22: chapters prefaced by quotations
Alex Benedict, a far-future antiques dealer, inherits not only a house and fortune but a mystery whose investigation could change recorded history. I don't usually read series out of order even when it doesn't matter, but I'd picked up the second one, Polaris, without realizing it was a series. It stood alone, so it didn't really matter, but then, of course, I had to get the first one. Anyway, it was fun to see the characters in their first adventure together. Good, fun book.
12. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Genre: American classic, which isn't really a genre. Tragedy, I guess?
Why I have it: it's my husband's
TIOLI 8: title word that can be used as multiple parts of speech
In which an old man contends with himself, the sea, and a huge marlin. I had only read one of Hemingway's works before this, For Whom the Bell Tolls, which I read for a high school class. I didn't really care for his writing style, which had too much of the newspaper journalist in it for me. But I figured it's been a while and this one was downstairs, so I picked it up. The writing still strikes me as too spare, and I'm not going to rush to read the other Hemingways down there, but it was a good book.
13. Persuasion by Jane Austen (audio)
Genre: Romance
Why I have it: I read it a while ago and decided to listen to it too
TIOLI 7: posthumously published book
Years ago, Anne Elliott refused a proposal from Captain Wentworth despite her love for him, and now he has returned in search of a bride. I like Austen's books. This is probably my second favorite of hers, after Pride and Prejudice, but my ordering changes depending mainly on how recently I've read each :)
Currently reading: Adventures Among Ants by Mark Moffett, Casino Royale by Ian Fleming, Machine of Death by Ryan North, and listening to The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo.
I hope you enjoy it, dk_phoenix!
And that reminds me, I really should stop lurking so much on other people's threads...
11. A Talent for War by Jack McDevitt
Genre: Science fiction
Why I have it: I've already read the 2nd in the series, Polaris
TIOLI 22: chapters prefaced by quotations
Alex Benedict, a far-future antiques dealer, inherits not only a house and fortune but a mystery whose investigation could change recorded history. I don't usually read series out of order even when it doesn't matter, but I'd picked up the second one, Polaris, without realizing it was a series. It stood alone, so it didn't really matter, but then, of course, I had to get the first one. Anyway, it was fun to see the characters in their first adventure together. Good, fun book.
12. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Genre: American classic, which isn't really a genre. Tragedy, I guess?
Why I have it: it's my husband's
TIOLI 8: title word that can be used as multiple parts of speech
In which an old man contends with himself, the sea, and a huge marlin. I had only read one of Hemingway's works before this, For Whom the Bell Tolls, which I read for a high school class. I didn't really care for his writing style, which had too much of the newspaper journalist in it for me. But I figured it's been a while and this one was downstairs, so I picked it up. The writing still strikes me as too spare, and I'm not going to rush to read the other Hemingways down there, but it was a good book.
13. Persuasion by Jane Austen (audio)
Genre: Romance
Why I have it: I read it a while ago and decided to listen to it too
TIOLI 7: posthumously published book
Years ago, Anne Elliott refused a proposal from Captain Wentworth despite her love for him, and now he has returned in search of a bride. I like Austen's books. This is probably my second favorite of hers, after Pride and Prejudice, but my ordering changes depending mainly on how recently I've read each :)
Currently reading: Adventures Among Ants by Mark Moffett, Casino Royale by Ian Fleming, Machine of Death by Ryan North, and listening to The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo.
24jadebird
A Talent for War sounds fun. I'll look for that one.
25antqueen
14. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
Genre: Spy thriller
Why I have it: Um... I don't know. I think my husband borrowed them from my parents. Or his parents. Or somebody. Anyway, it was in the basement.
TIOLI 1: animal/beverage on facing pages w/3s
In which Bond takes on the communist bad guy at the gambling tables. I've seen a bunch of the Bond movies, but I'd never read one of the books. It was about what I expected, I guess. Quick and mostly fun, in a '50s sort of way.
15. Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde
Genre: Fantasy, mystery, humor
Why I have it: next one in the Thursday Next series
TIOLI 6: author's last name has a scrabble score > 12
Thursday, who was living in the book world in the last book, is back in Swindon again, trying to regain her eradicated husband (and avert the end of the world, of course) amidst all of the political (and religious) contrivances of the mega-corporation Goliath and the corrupt (and fictional) politician Yorrick Kaine. As wacky as I have come to expect. I think I liked it better than the last one. Even with Hamlet instead of Miss Haversham. Much fun and silliness.
16. Adventures Among Ants by Mark Moffett
Genre: Nonfiction, biology, entomology, myrmecology
Why I have it: Gift from my husband
TIOLI 7: published by a university press
Lots of fascinating information about ants, with the focus mainly on ants with large colonies, such as marauder ants, army ants, weaver ants, driver ants, Argentine ants. Moffett makes a lot of comparisons with human cultures and practices as well; sometimes it was interesting and sometimes it felt like it was distracting from the ants. I think my only quibble would be those distracting times, and there weren't too many of them. And his photographs are gorgeous. If that seems like an odd thing to say about pictures of ants, then go find a copy of the book and see for yourself :)
Currently reading: Big Bang by Simon Singh, Machine of Death by Ryan North, and listening to The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
Up next: Hamlet by William Shakespeare, I think, a reread for me. Something Rotten made me do it :)
26jadebird
I read Ian Fleming now and then. Adventures Among Ants sounds great.
27Dejah_Thoris
I really need to fit in some Fforde this month....
28antqueen
26> I'll probably read more of the James Bond books, especially since they're already in the house.
37> Speaking of Fforde, I have First Among Sequels waiting on the shelf too... not sure if I'll pick it up this month or not.
37> Speaking of Fforde, I have First Among Sequels waiting on the shelf too... not sure if I'll pick it up this month or not.
29jadebird
My library has Adventures Among Ants! I hope to get to it next week. :)
30dk_phoenix
The old Bond books are great... well, I should say, they're fun but not works of great literature by any stretch! Haha. I bought a box set of them all a few years back, after reading some old copies (we're talking first print run editions) off my parents' shelves.
31antqueen
29> I hope you enjoy it!
30> My copies aren't first run, but they are old and rather musty :)
17. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare
Genre: Tragedy
TIOLI 9: someone of somewhere
Why I have it: It's in my Big Book O' Shakespeare. I think I have another copy somewhere too, that I read in college.
I shan't bother with a summary. Don't know what to say, come to that. I like Hamlet. Always have. Reading it just after Something Rotten was interesting...
18. The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester
Genre: Science fiction
TIOLI 5: ungulate on cover or in title
Why I have it: I like science fiction, and "classic" sf is often interesting
Ben Reich is a corporate giant faced with a dilemma -- how do you commit a murder in a world full of telepaths? It shows its age (written in the 50s) in a lot of ways, and it got a little... well, some of the reviews use the term 'psycho-babble', which captures it pretty well. I thought a few of the "twists" were odd and unnecessary. A good story though, overall, if you don't try to judge it by modern standards, and I found the telepaths interesting.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo (audio)
Genre: Tragedy
TIOLI 18: translated from a language you don't know
Why I have it: It's been a long time since I've read it, so I grabbed it in audio.
You wouldn't think that this book would be so hard to find a touchstone for. Par Dieu! Anyhow, gosh. While I remembered the un-Disney-ness of the real book, I had forgotten just how depressing it is. Poor Quasimodo, poor Esmerelda, poor priest, poor brother, poor everybody. An excellent depressing book, though.
Currently reading: Big Bang by Simon Singh, Machine of Death, edited by Ryan North
Next up: Probably Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
30> My copies aren't first run, but they are old and rather musty :)
17. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare
Genre: Tragedy
TIOLI 9: someone of somewhere
Why I have it: It's in my Big Book O' Shakespeare. I think I have another copy somewhere too, that I read in college.
I shan't bother with a summary. Don't know what to say, come to that. I like Hamlet. Always have. Reading it just after Something Rotten was interesting...
18. The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester
Genre: Science fiction
TIOLI 5: ungulate on cover or in title
Why I have it: I like science fiction, and "classic" sf is often interesting
Ben Reich is a corporate giant faced with a dilemma -- how do you commit a murder in a world full of telepaths? It shows its age (written in the 50s) in a lot of ways, and it got a little... well, some of the reviews use the term 'psycho-babble', which captures it pretty well. I thought a few of the "twists" were odd and unnecessary. A good story though, overall, if you don't try to judge it by modern standards, and I found the telepaths interesting.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo (audio)
Genre: Tragedy
TIOLI 18: translated from a language you don't know
Why I have it: It's been a long time since I've read it, so I grabbed it in audio.
You wouldn't think that this book would be so hard to find a touchstone for. Par Dieu! Anyhow, gosh. While I remembered the un-Disney-ness of the real book, I had forgotten just how depressing it is. Poor Quasimodo, poor Esmerelda, poor priest, poor brother, poor everybody. An excellent depressing book, though.
Currently reading: Big Bang by Simon Singh, Machine of Death, edited by Ryan North
Next up: Probably Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
32Dejah_Thoris
"an excellent depressing book, though"
You cracked me up with that! I do know what you mean.
I thought the telepaths (the Guild, the recruitment, levels of ability, ethics, etc.) were the most interesting part of The Demolished Man, too. It also was not depressing, unlike Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - I'm partway through and had to stop for a while....
You cracked me up with that! I do know what you mean.
I thought the telepaths (the Guild, the recruitment, levels of ability, ethics, etc.) were the most interesting part of The Demolished Man, too. It also was not depressing, unlike Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - I'm partway through and had to stop for a while....
33antqueen
I thought I had replied to your comment. Apparently I dreamed it or something...
Anyway, yeah, in The Demolished Man there were several times I wished he spent more time with the telepaths than with Mr. Megalomaniac. And I should find an audio version of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. It's been quite a while since I've read that one. I don't remember it being so depressing either. Probably says something about me :)
And I am so very behind with reviews. But it's not going to get better tonight...
Anyway, yeah, in The Demolished Man there were several times I wished he spent more time with the telepaths than with Mr. Megalomaniac. And I should find an audio version of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. It's been quite a while since I've read that one. I don't remember it being so depressing either. Probably says something about me :)
And I am so very behind with reviews. But it's not going to get better tonight...
34antqueen
20. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
Genre: Science fiction, cyberpunk
TIOLI 11: 2 word title where the 2nd word is alphabetically before the 1st
Why I have it: gift from my husband
A software hacker and a teen skater set off to save the (highly corporate (and Mafia) owned) world from a combination computer/biological virus. This book almost worked for me. So close. I liked the first part, before they knew what was going on. The last part... well, I won't say much, to avoid spoilers, but... Sumer? Really? I liked the book overall, just got stuck on a few details.
21. Machine of Death ed. by Ryan North
Genre: Science fiction
TIOLI 3: 5 or more letter word in the title that's an anagram
Why I have it: I saw it mentioned by a few people on LT a while ago
A machine is invented that can predict how you will die -- always correct, but often cryptic. There were a bunch of good stories in this, from humorous to heart-wrenching.
22. Reaper by Rachel Vincent (audio)
Genre: urban teen fantasy
TIOLI 6: author's last name has a scrabble score >= 12
Why I have it: it was free :)
This is not something I would have picked up if it hadn't been free. It's a prequel to a teen urban fantasy series (Soul Screamers), and tells the story of how Tod, a Banshee, becomes a Reaper (as in Grim Reaper). I enjoyed this more than I expected to. The narrator was good, as were the characters. I doubt I'll pick up the rest, just because it's a very teen target audience and urban/paranormal fantasy isn't my favorite genre. But if she ever strays away from paranormal I'll probably try her again.
23. The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare
Genre: comedy
TIOLI 15: double letters in TIOLI
Why I have it: It's Shakespeare!
Two young friends leave home, fall for the same woman, and generally make fools of themselves. Pretty simplistic and with a astoundingly abrupt and implausibly happy ending. But it was fun, and I liked it anyway.
Currently reading: The Genie in the Bottle by Joe Schwarcz and listening to The White Mountains by John Christopher
Up next: Three Days to Never by Tim Powers, I think
35antqueen
24. Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis
Genre: Satire
TIOLI 13: set on an island
A satire on post-WWII British college life. Jim Dixon is trying to keep his job as a lecturer even though he hates pretty much everything about it, and winds up getting himself into lots of odd predicaments. I enjoyed parts of it, but I don't really have much to say about it as a whole.
25. The Mount by Carol Emshwiller
Genre: Science fiction
TIOLI 19: Nebula winner or nominee
Earth has been conquered by aliens who keep humans primarily as mounts. Charley is a boy brought up to be a prize mount to the future ruler. When he and his rider both wind up with free human rebels, they both have to adjust not only to their changed circumstances but also to their changing relationship. The plot is pretty predictable, but the characters are well written and while it's obviously a book with a message, it isn't as heavy-handed as you might expect. Overall, an enjoyable read.
26. Big Bang by Simon Singh
Genre: Nonfiction, science history
TIOLI 8: author who has a blurb on another book in your catalog
A history of the scientific discoveries, from ancient Greece onward, that led to the Big Bang theory and its acceptance. More history than science, though the science was explained in a general way when needed. Singh does a good job of that, I think, though his explanations were low-level enough and in areas that I'm already familiar with that it's hard to say for sure what someone totally new to it would think. Anyway, I read it for the history, and there were certainly a lot of interesting characters in the story. I'd like to read more about some of them.
27. Cast in Moonlight by Michelle Sagara (audio)
Genre: Fantasy
TIOLI 15 - double letters in TIOLI
This was another free audio novella, and I'm guessing at spelling for names. But we have Kaylin, an orphaned girl who tries to kill a lord and is given into the care of the lord's law enforcement agency, who promptly put her on the case to track down a mage who is killing children in some rite. I'm over-simplifying a bit, but it's safe to say the premise struck me as unlikely. None of the characters really grabbed me either. Not actively bad, but a definite meh. Possibly if I was already familiar with the series? I doubt it.
Currently reading: The Genie in the Bottle by Joe Schwarcz
37antqueen
I picked that one up last fall, just haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I thought The Code Book was very good too.
28. The White Mountains by John Christopher (audio)
Genre: YA Science Fiction
TIOLI 6: homonym in the title
Aliens have ruled the Earth for generations, applying a mind-control device to all humans in their teens. As Will's time approaches, he begins to question this, and when he hears about a group of free humans in the mountains, he sets off to join them. I loved this series as a child, and it's still fun to read and holds up surprisingly well for a SF book written in the '60s.
29. Three Days to Never by Tim Powers
Genre: Fantasy, thriller
TIOLI 7 - title that contains 2, 4, 8 or 16 words
A girl and her father are caught between two groups searching for a mysterious and powerful device created, and hidden, by Albert Einstein. It has the feel of a spy thriller, plus time travel, ghosts, telepathy, and disembodied heads. Odd and mostly entertaining, but it fell a little flat. I had a hard time caring much about the characters. Except Lepidopt. I liked Lepidopt.
30. Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Genre: Tragedy
TIOLI 14 - book with a map
Macbeth is... well, Macbeth. What else can I say? Fate, ambition, power, fate. I like Hamlet better, but this one is up there too. And, on a somewhat-related note, I had forgotten that the 'Stars hide your fires' line was from Macbeth. I wound up with the Mumford & Sons song stuck in my head for the rest of the day. And darn it, now it's back...
Currently reading: The Genie in the Bottle by Joe Schwarcz and listening to The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin.
Next up: Shadowmarch by Tad Williams
28. The White Mountains by John Christopher (audio)
Genre: YA Science Fiction
TIOLI 6: homonym in the title
Aliens have ruled the Earth for generations, applying a mind-control device to all humans in their teens. As Will's time approaches, he begins to question this, and when he hears about a group of free humans in the mountains, he sets off to join them. I loved this series as a child, and it's still fun to read and holds up surprisingly well for a SF book written in the '60s.
29. Three Days to Never by Tim Powers
Genre: Fantasy, thriller
TIOLI 7 - title that contains 2, 4, 8 or 16 words
A girl and her father are caught between two groups searching for a mysterious and powerful device created, and hidden, by Albert Einstein. It has the feel of a spy thriller, plus time travel, ghosts, telepathy, and disembodied heads. Odd and mostly entertaining, but it fell a little flat. I had a hard time caring much about the characters. Except Lepidopt. I liked Lepidopt.
30. Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Genre: Tragedy
TIOLI 14 - book with a map
Macbeth is... well, Macbeth. What else can I say? Fate, ambition, power, fate. I like Hamlet better, but this one is up there too. And, on a somewhat-related note, I had forgotten that the 'Stars hide your fires' line was from Macbeth. I wound up with the Mumford & Sons song stuck in my head for the rest of the day. And darn it, now it's back...
Currently reading: The Genie in the Bottle by Joe Schwarcz and listening to The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin.
Next up: Shadowmarch by Tad Williams
38antqueen
31. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Jan/Feb 2012, ed. Gordon Van Gelder
A good issue. I especially liked Naomi Kritzer's Scrap Dragon, which managed to be both funny and touching.
32. Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang
Genre: Nonfiction, memoir, history
TIOLI 5: 20th century women
Jung Chang tells the story of her grandmother in the early days of the 20th century, her mother, who helped the Mao's Communists come to power, and herself, who grew up fully indoctrinated and only gradually came to be able to doubt her rulers. In the introduction, the author mentions reading Orwell's 1984 and thinking how many similarities there were between it and the China she grew up in. It's scary, the control leaders can have over people. Definitely worth reading.
33. Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
Genre: Tragedy
TIOLI 10 - title is "X and Y"
Doomed love again, between Marc Antony and Cleopatra. Tragic love stories aren't really my favorites, and this one wasn't an exception. I'm not sure how much of it was that I was sick when I was reading it, but certainly not my favorite Shakespeare play.
34. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
Genre: Historical mystery
TIOLI 3 - nominated for Agatha Award for best first novel
I read the second in the series, Birds of a Feather, a while ago, and it was interesting to see how Maisie got her start. In this first book, she takes on what appears to be a straightforward case of investigating a spouse's infidelity, but before long the trail has led her to a home for wounded veterans of WWI, tapping into her own background as a nurse in the war. Much of the novel is a flashback (if you can call the whole middle half of the book a flashback) of her experiences before and during the war. Pretty good, though less mystery than I expected. I liked the second one better. I'll probably pick up the third one day.
