MadLibn's 50 books in 2008

Starting in April, I will include the books I can remember reading since Jan. If I can't remember them, should they count anyway?

1. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett--read in anticipation of the new book, World Without End. I have started World and don't think it is as good as Pillars. Pillars is the best historical novel of the medieval period I have read. Even though it is long, I couldn't put it down, and this was the second read. Wonderful study of the social systems of medieval England. Sent this one to my sister who is recovering from a serious illness.

2. Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
3. Dearly Devoted Dexter
4. Dexter in the Dark--wanted to read these before I started watching the series on CBS. Love the books, not too sure about the tv show & it freaks the husband out.

I'm not counting these, but I've listened to all 7 Harry Potter books in my car while driving back & forth to work. I wanted to do this after reading Deathly Hallows where she tied up all the strings from 6 previous books. I hadn't re-read the books as the new ones came out (don't have as much time as the teenagers). There was a complexity to the series that I hadn't perceived as I read them a year apart as they were issued.

5. Daughter of the Sun by Barbara Wood--it seemed a bit of a stretch to have the Toltecs in Chaco Canyon intersecting with the Anazasi. I really enjoyed her other books Green City in the Sun and The Dreaming. I don't know if their historical accuracy was better or if I just didn't know enough to doubt it. DH has been reading about Maya and other pre-columbian civilizations and of course letting me know everything. We have been on a couple of visits to the Yucatan and seen some of the Mayan Ruins. I also recommend Wood's Domina.

OK, I finally got these touchstones correct.

6. The Dead Place by Stephen Booth--A very tense book. The prose is short & choppy. Makes me feel like everyone is uncomfortable. The cops are all nervy worried about what others think about them. Excellent combination of suspense and police procedural. I think this is the first book I've read because of a LT recommendation. I look forward to reading his others.

edited for typo.

7. Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline --Mary DiNunzio becomes involved in a case that makes her come to grips with her guilt and with her heritage.

Busy week. Here are two more:

8. Biting the Moon by Martha Grimes
9. Death of a Gentle Lady by M. C. Beaton

10. Compulsion by Jonathan Kellerman (fixed touchstones) -- his latest Alex Delaware novel. Milo is back to work after his gunshot wound. I liked the way this one straight through from start to finish. Milo and Alex search persistently for a mysterious & unusual serial killer. They find him through persistent investigation--not a lot of twists and turns.

11. Betrayal by John Lescroart -- his latest with Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitsky. Military contractors in Iraq use cash and power to keep their contracts, and frame a soldier in the process. Excellent story.

12. Dakota by Martha Grimes -- follow up to Biting the Moon. Andi Oliver stops over in the Dakotas and becomes involved with a commercial pig farming operation.

13. Blood on the Tongue by Stephen Booth -- Secrets of the past and present come together as DS Fry and DC Cooper try to solve several mysteries, past and present.

14. Black Dog by Stephen Booth -- first in the Fry and Cooper series.

15. Killer Heat by Linda Fairstein -- latest for Alex Cooper. Exciting with much danger for Miss Cooper, but the killer was barely mentioned in the story until the end.

16. True Justice by Robert K. Tanenbaum -- I can't get enough of Marlene and Roger!

17. Death Will Get You Sober by Elizabeth Zelvin -- When Bruce's roommate in the Bowry detox unit dies unexpectedly, Bruce finds that he cares enough to stay sober long enough to find out why. Interesting, intriguing--I would try the next one if there is to be one.

18. The Physics of NASCAR -- really! Leslie-Pelecky takes one aspect of making a car go fast, safely, in each chapter, explains the physics, and visits with appropriate NASCAR team staff to give us an inside view of what makes the cars go. Just right for the intelligent non-physicist.

19. Dancing with the Virgins by Stephen Booth -- 2nd of the Fry and Cooper series. He's got such a great setting in the Peak District. Many small communities and farms, with moors to get lost in and rocks to fall from. This one involves the assault of one woman and the murder of another in a national park, in the vicinty of the standing stones called "The Dancing Virgins".

edited for typo.

20. Blind to the Bones by Stephen Booth -- 4th in the Fry and Cooper series. Clan loyalties present problems for Fry and Cooper as they investigate separate crimes. Fry's long-lost sister contacts Cooper. These books are hard to put down.

21. Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith -- first novel by Smith. In 1950's Soviet Union, Leo Demidov begins looking into child murders despite the official line "There is no crime" in Stalinist Russia.

22. Peeled by Joan Bauer -- new YA by Bauer. High School reporter Hildy and pals uncover a conspiracy by an evil developer to put a theme park in their town. Hildy just won't stop asking questions. Good story of sticking to your beliefs, honoring your parents, and seeking help when needed.

23. Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich

24. Walking the Perfect Square by Reed Farrel Coleman -- first in the Moe Prager mysteries, which I read about on the Mysteries discussion group. Moe is a retired NY cop turned p.i. who also owns a wine shop with his brother.

25. One Last Breath by Stephen Booth.

26. Phantom Prey by John Sandford -- latest Lucas Davenport thriller.

27. Redemption Street by Reed Farrel Coleman -- Moe Prager, a hard-boiled, wise-cracking, NY Jew, investigates a 16-year-old fire in the Catskills.

28. The James Deans by Reed Farrel Coleman -- Moe takes on murdering politicians.

29. Cold Hit by Linda Fairstein

30. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein -- heartbreaking. Extremely well told by Enzo the dog.

31. In a Strange City by Laura Lippman

Been on vacation. Here's what I was reading:

32. Bad Blood by Linda Fairstein
33. Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver -- Rhyme's brother is accused of a rape/murder.
34. A Voyage Long and Strange by Tony Horwitz -- Interesting and creative exploration of the early European visitors to north America. Starts with the Vikings and ends with the Pilgrims.

35. The Murderer by Georges Simenon -- psychological study of a doctor who murders his wife and her lover. Written in 1936 by Belgian author Simenon. Highly recommended.

36. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich -- nice, quick read. One of her better ones.

37. Pandora's Daughter by Iris Johansen -- not my usual thing, but suspenseful with a little romance.

38. Typhoon by Robin White -- a little too much like Tom Clancy's Hunt for Red October, but an excellent submarine story.

39. Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais -- his latest Elvis Cole book, with an appearance by Carol Starkey. Very suspensful story -- they are chasing a serial killer who may be a high police official.

40. Maigret at the Gai-Moulon by Georges Simenon -- first of the Maigret novels.

41. Legal Limit by Martin Clark -- first one of his I've read. Excellent. Are brotherly bonds stronger than the law when you are a Commonwealth Attorney in rural Virginia? Great writing, strong story.

42. Siberian Light by Robin White -- set in Siberia, a local mayor tries to find the killer of a prominent citizen and two of his militia officers. Corruption and poverty abound, but Gregori Nowak refuses to give up.

43. Damage Control by J.A. Jance -- her latest Joanna Brady mystery.

44. Ice Curtain by Robin White -- Nowak is now assistant to the Siberian Delegate, whose duties involve investigating official corruption in post-Soviet Russia. They are searching for gem quality diamonds supposedly shipped from a far-north diamond mine to the vault in Moscow. Another great thriller, with the Siberian's typical phlegmatic approach to murder and mayhem.

45. The Mercedes Coffin by Faye Kellerman -- latest with Pete Decker and Rina Lazarus.

46. Maigret Afraid by Georges Simenon -- Maigret stops in Fontenay-le-Comte to visit a college friend. A strange triple murder is causing the local anxiety.

47. Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer -- first book by tv producer Kramer. TV reporter in Minneapolis is tipped to a possible serial killer of women named Susan.

48. Winter Study by Nevada Barr -- Anna Pigeon returns to Isle Royale, MI to observe the winter wolf study program.

49. Death's Half Acre by Margaret Maron. Judge Knott tries to figure out who's behind a recent murder as the town struggles with rapid growth. One of her best efforts yet.

50. Persepolis 2 -- by Marjane Satrapi. Sequel to Persepolis. Marjane tells about her life in Austria and returning to her family in Tehran. These two books are a MUST READ! They are graphic novels, but entirely readable and made more poignant by the illustrations.

51. Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs -- stayed up all night reading it.

52. Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall -- Lydia Ivanova and her mother are Russian refugees stuck in the International Section of Guangzhou, China without passports or any money. Lydia, 16, falls in love with a Chinese communist and is embroiled in the political machinations between the communists and the nationalists, a conflict exacerbated by the meddling of the British expats. Furnivall's new book is The Red Scarf.

53. The Master Sniper by Stephen Hunter -- A master sniper undertakes a special mission at the end of WWII with new nightvision equipment. Very thrilling.

54. Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger -- Ridley Jones has a wonderful life until she is photographed rescuing a toddler from NYC traffic. Then all hell breaks loose.

Why aren't touchstones working?

55. Fractured by Karin Slaughter -- Abigail opens her front door to see a man with a knife bending over her bleeding daughter. She attacks and kills him. Georgia Bureau of Investigation officer Will Trent is given the case. Excellent mystery with many twists and turns. Trent is the flawed hero -- he is very dyslexic and can barely read. He is partnered with an Atlanta P.D. officer whose mother he had targeted as part of an internal affairs investigation.

56. Red Scarf by Kate Furnivall -- every bit as good as The Russian Concubine, except better.

57. Lonely Hearts by John Harvey -- murders of single women seem to be connected to Lonely Hearts classifieds in the local paper.

58. Tethered by Amy MacKinnon -- ethereal story of a woman frightened by contact with people so she chooses to be an undertaker. But she is captivated by a live girl, and risks her life to destroy the criminals who are hurting the girl.

59. A Cure for Night by Justin Peacock-- first novel by a brooklyn attorney. Joel Devereaux left his Manhattan white shoe law firm when his friend died of cocaine overdose in the firm restroom. Now employed by the Brooklyn public defenders office, he is partnered with a woman public defender in the defense of an African-American man accused of shooting a white college student in the projects. Not a TV ending. Well worth reading.

60. Sunset Express by Robert Crais

61. Scared to Live by Stephen Booth

62. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

63. Mockingbird a portrait of Harper Lee

64. No Reservations
65. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

Hi Madlibn,

I was thinking of reading To Kill a Mockingbird and Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper of Harper Lee together. How did that go for you?

Nancy

Sorry, I've been busy and haven't checked for awhile. I would recommend reading the novel first, then the biography. I did understand a lot more about To Kill a Mockingbird knowing how it was written.

66. The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly

67. Heat Lightning by John Sandford

68. Hardly Knew Her by Laura Lippman -- I recommend this set of short stories by Lippman.

69. The Road by Cormac McCarthy -- Pulitzer prize for fiction 2007. Movie being released in 2009. I'm thinking of concentrating on Pulitzer prize winners in 2009.

70. Bones by Jonathan Kellerman -- women are found buried in a protected area. Milo takes a protegee.

71. Cross Country by James Patterson -- Alex Cross follows an international conspiracy to Nigeria.

72. Company of Liars by Karen Maitland -- a company of misfits travels about the English countryside trying to avoid the Plague.

73. The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain -- a collection of columns & articles written for food mags, etc. I would have preferred that the notes on each article be at the end of the article instead of at the end of the book.

74. A Conspiracy of Paper by David Liss -- his first novel, features Jewish detective Benjamin Weaver. Set in 18th century London, Weaver is the son of what would now be called a stock broker. This is during the beginnings of the stock exchange in London. Weaver sets out to find the murderer of his father and becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue.

75. Against Medical Advice by James Patterson and Hal Friedman -- account of Hal's son, Cory's struggle with Tourettes and OCD through his childhood and teen years. Touching, gripping, not to be missed.

76. The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffery Deaver -- new book, different setting and characters. Dep. Anna McCafferty investigates an aborted 911 call in remote Wisconsin and must flee for her life and that of a witness to a cold blooded murder. Twists, turns, and surprises a la Deaver.