JechtShot's 2010 Challenge

Last year I went from reading 5-10 books a year to a solid 25 and I have to thank LT and this challenge group for that accomplishment. I have been inspired to read more and it is a great feeling! I enjoy tracking my progress in this group and I can't wait to get started on my next challenge.

I look forward to another year of reading, rating, reviewing and ranting in 2010.

My "50 Book Challenge for 2010" will span from 12/01/2009 to 12/31/2010. I am adding an extra month so that in 2011 I can actually start in January.




I am planning to read a couple of whoppers this year, so I am also going to throw down a pages metric. Hopefully, I can at least meet that:

18588/17500 Pages Read (106%)

December:
1. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
2. The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver

January:
3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
4. In The Dark by Richard Laymon
5. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

February:
6. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
7. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
8. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

March:
9. Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
10. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
11. Dexter in the Dark by Jeff Lindsay

April:
12. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon
13. Little Bee by Chris Cleave
14. The Book of Bunny Suicides by Andy Riley
15. Dexter by Design by Jeff Lindsay

May:
16. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
17. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
18. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
19. Splatterpunks by Paul M. Sammon

June:
20. Under the Dome by Stephen King
21. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

July:
22. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
23. Blood Sucking Fiends by Christopher Moore
24. Daemon by Daniel Suarez

August:
25. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
26. On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony
27. The Strange Case of the Composer and his Judge by Patricia Duncker
28. I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert
29. Carrie by Stephen King

September:
30. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
31. Prey by Michael Crichton
32. Paranormal State: My Journey into the Unknown by Ryan Buell
33. The Climb by Anatoli Boukreev

October:
34. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
35. Bearing an Hourglass by Piers Anthony
36. World War Z by Max Brooks
37. Ghost Trackers by Chris Gudgeon
38. The Painted Darkness by Brian James Freeman

November:
39. With a Tangled Skein by Piers Anthony
40. The Coffin Dancer by Jeffrey Deaver
41. Wielding a Red Sword by Piers Anthony
42. The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers

December:
43. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
44. Being a Green Motherby Piers Anthony
45. Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre
46. For Love of Evil by Piers Anthony
47. Ghost Country by Patrick Lee

Previous Challenge Thread:
2009 Challenge

I love the way you've started your 2010 thread so early - actually I was noseying to see if anyone else had started one for the coming year.

I'm already daydreaming about the books I want to read in 2010 as well :>

(Your name is from Final Fantasy right? I love those games, and am looking forward to the release of number 13 in March)

Hi wonderlake, thanks for stopping by my challenge thread. I finished up my personal challenge in November and I am far too impatient to actually wait for 2010. So, here I am starting my 2010 challenge in December :) I have so many books that I want to get through this year and these challenges really keep me motivated. First book of the new challenge will be A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. I am not typically into non-fiction, but the writing style has captured my interest so far.

You are correct about my screen name. JechtShot is a reference from Final Fantasy X (the second best Final Fantasy Game... nothing beats VII). Not too often game chat comes up on these threads, which is your favorite?

1. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid pp. 184



A powerful and thought provoking story told from the viewpoint of a young Pakistani to an American in a cafe in Lahore. This was a quick read, but it really made me consider America through the eyes of an outsider. Love a book that makes the noodle work a bit. (Review).

2. The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver pp. 416



When I first picked up this book and started reading it I thought I had started somewhere in the middle of the Lincoln Rhyme series. Wait, what? The main character is a quadriplegic forensic analyst. What did I miss? To my delight, this was the first book in the series and I love that Jeffrey Deaver dropped me into the middle of the action without holding my hand and walking me through the unknown. This is a suspenseful, exciting, page-turner, sure to delight any that love a good cop mystery story. I have added the next Lincoln Rhyme novel to my wishlist. (Review).

3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling pp. 352



I cannot help but come back to the Harry Potter series over and over again. There is just something magical (pun intended) about this world and I keep coming back for more. (Review).

I've read the Harry Potter series about three times as well, I just love it! I'm in the middle of reading the Twilight series at the moment (3 down, 1 to go). Not quite as good as HP but still good!

Hi Bookbugg, I read through the Twilight series last year. It was a fun read, but I am not sure if it quite has the re-readability of HP :-)

Have you ever listened to the HP audiobooks? If you have not, I highly recommend giving it a go. The voice acting is fantastic.

I'm happy to find someone else who likes Jefferey Deaver. Lincoln Rhyme is one of my favorite characters and i can't help but see Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie in my mind every time i read a Rhyme novel. All of the others are as good as the first one!!!

I am excited to hear that the other Lincoln Rhyme novels are as good as the first. I will definitely be reading a few more of this series throughout my 50 book challenge! Have you read any other Deaver books outside the Lincoln Rhyme series? I read The Blue Nowhere many years ago and remember really liking it. If you have any other recommendations I would love to hear them.

I've never listened to an Audio book before but i've been thinking about it for when i'm driving - will definitely check if my library has the HP cds!

Excellent! I frequently listen to Audio books and the HP ones are far and away the best. The voice-acting by Jim Dale is amazing. Happy listening.

Hi, it's Tammy here again. Didn't mean to leave you hanging about the Jefferey Deaver books. I went digging in the boxes in the basement. I found The Devil's Tear Drop and Hell's Kitchen. I know I have also read The Stone Monkey, The Empty Chair, The Coffin Dancer and just finished The Vanished Man (all Rhyme novels). And The Blue Nowhere, A Maiden's Grave and Praying for Sleep. Praying for Sleep was my least favorite but still good. I plan yet to read Speaking in Tongues, Bloody River Blues,and Shallow Graves.

On another note if you like Deaver, you may also like P.J. Parrish. His writing is a bit simpler,but they are about 1 main character and good quick murder mysteries. or Kirk Mitchell murder mysteries with a Native American twist. or The Robert J. Parker Jesse Stone series, a bit simpler and quick to read but still good murder mysteries and they were made into movies starring Tom Selleck, fun to watch after reading the books. Hope this isn't too much information. I like to share and sometimes I'm to enthusiastic.

I agree totally re Harry Potter. How can you not re-read every now and then, they are so fun.

I particularly like A Short History of Nearly Everything. Bryson's writing style (wide-eyed, constant wonder and enthusiasm), is just fantastic.

Enjoy!

Re; Final Fantasy... I have to say I think my favourite is FF 8. I think the whole initial setting in a school/ military academy was really easy to relate to and get into... I loved the Triple Triad mini game.

I disliked the cartoony graphics/ characterisations for FF 9. FF 10 was okay, but I preferred FF 10-2 for the all-female line up !
I never played 11 or 12, so I'd really like to get 13 when it's released but I kindof wonder if I'll have the time anymore to dedicate to playing it. I'm one of those players who loves to get the strategy guide so I know about every single side quest and all the special items :P

13> Tammy, thanks for taking the time to put that list of authors/books together. I see my wishlist growing even more now... and there is no such thing as "too enthusiastic" when it comes to talking about books you love.

14> I am not typically a huge fan of non-fiction, but Bill Bryson did something very right with "A Short History...". At times I feel like the facts are flying at me a little too quickly, but overall a great read.

Wonderlake, we are too similar :) I am also a video game completest. If I don't finish every side mission, get every master weapon, skill, etc... I feel as if I did not "finish" the game. I always start without the strategy guide, but quickly realize, especially with square games, that the strategy guide is needed if you hope to find everything. Cheers!

4. In The Dark by Richard Laymon pp. 503



Jane, the local Donnerville librarian, receives a $50 bill and instructions from a mysterious stranger, the master of games (MOG). The clues continue and every time she succeeds at solving the "game" the money is doubled. This formula continues ad nauseum until you are ready to beat the protagonist with a stick and then flush the book down an airplane toilet. This book will be added to my "return to half price books" pile. (Review).

5. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander pp. 190



A tale of adventure featuring an assistant pig-keeper, an exuberant princess, a somewhat untruthful bard and of course an evil villain. For some reason this series went unnoticed by me in my childhood, but thanks to LT it was found. I saw a posting on the 75 book challenge thread for this series and thought I would give it a try. A great story for young and old alike. (Review).

6. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson pp. 560



Bill Bryson really does a magnificent job of meeting his goal of sharing "A Short History of Nearly Everything" and I do mean Everything. From the Big Bang to the advent of the biped and all things in between. The first half of the book flowed like a boat going downstream, but somewhere towards the middle the information whirlwind struck. I look forward to picking this book up again in a few years and hopefully more of the facts will stick with each subsequent reading. (Review).

7. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold pp. 400



I am fairly certain that I did not love this book, but there were aspects that were quite touching and different. I went into the story with a few misconceptions and I think that may have been the reason for a more average rating. This is not a 'who done it' crime novel, but rather a story about death, heaven, earth and family. (Review).

8. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling pp. 448



Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third installment of the Harry Potter novels. This book, to me, is where the story really gets going. Harry arrives at Hogwarts only to find that presumably one of Lord Voldemort's most loyal follower's has escaped from the Wizard Prison, Azkaban, and has his sights set on young Harry Potter. (Review).

9. Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay



The second book in the Dexter series is where the fork in the road is hit and all similarities between the book and the show cease to exist. In this novel we find Dexter under constant surveillance by his good "friend" sergeant Doakes, which puts a serious damper on his extracurricular activities. (Review).

10. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling



Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in the Harry Potter series. In this novel, Harry Potter once again returns to Hogwarts, but this time faces the trying task of competing in the Tri-Wizard tournament in spite of his young age. Rowling does a fantastic job of demonstrating the growth of the characters as they move further into their teen years. (Review).

11. Dexter in the Dark by Jeff Lindsay



In the third novel of Jeff Lindsay's series, the lovable and witty serial killer, Dexter Morgan, finds himself in a period of self examination as he tries to understand the darkness within. This novel deviates a bit from the first two books in the series and regrettably the author decided to focus too much on personifying the "dark passenger". (Review).

12. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon



The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a fantastic, insightful novel that pulls the reader into the mind of an autistic child and does not let you go until the last page. The premise of the novel is fairly simple: an autistic boy finds a dog murdered in the neighbor's front lawn and this event leads him to write "his story". Parts of the book are challenging and you can practically taste the pain and frustration of the parents, while simultaneously empathizing with the main characters reactions to his situations. (Review).

Hi Jechtshot, I loved The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and would also recommend A Spot of Bother too. Mark Haddon really seems to have a knack of getting right inside peoples brains. A Spot of Bother is about a recently retired gentleman gradually losing his mind as he struggles to come to terms with this new jobless chapter in his life.

Hi Bookbugg, thank you for the recommendation. A Spot of Bother has been added to the wishlist! I could not agree with you more on Mark Haddon's ability to capture the thoughts of others. Please drop by with other recommendations if you know of any authors with similar writing styles.

13. Little Bee by Chris Cleave



Let me start out by saying that this is a hard book to read. No, it had nothing to do with the writing or writing style, but the subject matter was difficult to digest. The author opted to use two narrative voices to tell this tale and this method was a very effective means of delivering his message. This was a very well written and engaging story, despite its somewhat depressing overall themes. (Review).

14. The Book of Bunny Suicides by Andy Riley



I'm almost embarrassed to include this in my challenge thread, but it is technically a book and I will find a way to pardon my guilty conscience on this one.

The very definition of 'What You See Is What You Get'. This is a very compact collection of comical artwork depicting rabbit suicide scenarios. Few things make me laugh more than a rabbit kicking an alien in the junk to invoke demise by alien death-ray. A fun book to page through again and again. (Review).

15. Dexter by Design by Jeff Lindsay pp. 304



Dexter by Design picks up with a Dexter who is now even more ensconced in normalcy: Father, brother, husband and forensic blood splatter analyst. This book, where better than the third, did not have the magic the first two stories possessed. (Review).

16. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling pp. 652



Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth book in the Harry Potter series and, in this reader's opinion, second only to Deathly Hallows. This books primary focus is to educate Harry on Voldemort's history in order to help him understand what he must ultimately know to destroy his lifetime foe. Rowling sets the stage brilliantly for the final piece in the Potter Puzzle; leaving Harry with a very important mission to complete in his final year. (Review).

17. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson



The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo takes the reader on a whirlwind mystery ride entrenched with family history, graphic violence, troubled pasts, financial corruption, and a host of fascinating and somewhat troubling characters. (Review).

Hi JechtShot, I loved The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I read the second one in the trilogy recently - it's quite different but you get a great insight into Lisbeth's character. Am saving the last book until my holidays to read beside the pool!

18. Lord of the Flies by William Golding pp. 208



Welcome to the dystopian boyscout camp know as Lord of the Flies. The book begins with a plane crash and a group of young boys are forced to fend for themselves on an island with no adult supervision. In the beginning, democracy prevails, but this is soon shattered as the boys begin to get in touch with their savage roots. (Review).

19. Splatterpunks by Paul M. Sammon pp. 346

Paul M. Sammon has collected some of the most extreme horror available on the market and compiled it into this gem of an anthology. This book is not for everyone. The subject matter is well beyond societal norms and should not be read by those who find taboo material offensive. If am describing you, read something else. Those willing to tow the line of decency with me, read on...

Splatterpunks is comprised of 17 short-stories and an essay by the author on the splatterpunk genre as a whole. My favorites of the collection include: Clive Barker's "Midnight Meat Train" - story of a killer feeding off of the New York underground, John Skipp's "Film at Eleven" the story of a battered wife who has led a battered life and once she plots her revenge, things do not go as planned and Edward Bryant's "While She Was Out" - A woman is attacked by four men in a parking lot at Christmas; revenge ensues.

Some of the stories are a bit weak at times, but all in all this is a great collection from this subset of the horror genre. (Review).

20. Under the Dome by Stephen King pp. 1088



When I first heard whisperings of "Under the Dome", I thought great, The Simpson's Movie with a horror spin. How happy I was that I was wrong and gave this book a chance. This story on the surface is about a mysterious dome that encompasses the town of Chester's Mill, Maine, but the Dome is far less important than what happens to the many residents as they begin to react to the dome's presence. (Review).

21. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane pp. 400



Welcome to Shutter Island; a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane where a patient has managed to escape confinement undetected. U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels and his partner are sent to investigate this mysterious disappearance, but things are not what they seem as the story unfolds. Dennis Lehane has crafted a delicious mystery that will be keep you guessing until you turn the final page. An extremely fast read and highly recommended. (Review).

22. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling pp. 870



Harry Potter and the Order the Phoenix marks the fifth book in J.k. Rowling's Harry Potter universe. It is Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts and his powers grow stronger, his courage and leadership really shine and of course he once again is forced to battle with "he who shall not be named". Harry Potter is welcomed back to a wizarding world where Lord Voldemort is back and securing his dark forces. The Ministry of Magic refuses to accept this information as fact and it is Harry and Company vs. the Ministry for much of the action. A few new characters are introduced to the cast, most notably Delores Umbrige, senior under-secretary to the Minister of Magic. Rowling has written this character in such a way that you cannot help but despise, hate, loathe, etc... from the moment she is introduced.

The overall intention of this novel is for Harry to understand how and why his connection to Lord Voldemort was forged. Admittedly, this book is not my favorite in the series; it has its ups and downs and sections do tend to drag out a tad longer than necessary, but elements of the story contain critical information for the future titles. A must read for all Potter fans. (Review).

23. Blood Sucking Fiends by Christopher Moore pp. 304



Jody loves Tommy. Tommy loves Jody. Only there is one complication: Jody is a vampire. In this first part of the "Love Story" series we follow fledgling vampire Jody on her quest for answers and companionship in the city of San Francisco. Christopher Moore has put together a fantastic cacophony of characters in his unique and witty take on the oft overdone vampire Genre. The story is absurd yet hilarious and I would recommend it if you are looking for a light and entertaining read. (Review).

24. Daemon by Daniel Suarez pp. 448



A forewarning to the potential reader of this book: This novel is for techno geeks. The author does not hesitate to throw around tech jargon like a banana merchant at a monkey convention. If this disclaimer does not ward you off, then please read on...

Daemon is the story of a cutting edge game designer, whom upon his death unleashes a daemon (distributed computer process) that threatens to change society as we know it. The daemon has access to all information on the internet and rallies the hacking community behind his cause. Scenes from this book play out like the most intense MMORPG instance runs with heart pounding excitement pouring out of the action sequences. The author paints a very interesting picture and forces the reader to consider the world we live in today: Do most users understand the technology that they "play" with everyday and is there a technical revolution possible based on our current computer dependencies? A fantastic first novel by Daniel Suarez. (Review).

Thanks for the laugh! I didn't know monkeys held conventions. --- Tammy

25. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson pp. 656



I entered Stieg Larsson's second book with extremely high expectations after reading the sensational book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed as this book did not quite connect with me as much as the former. The character of Lisabeth Salendar is still possibly one of the most unique heroins to grace paper, but one of the strongest points of the first novel was the pairing of Mikael Blomkvist and Salendar. These two extraordinary characters share very little "together" time throughout the lifespan of this novel. For me, this was a detractor and set The Girl Who Played with Fire up to be a very decent mystery story lacking the passion of its predecessor. (Review).

26. On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony pp. 366



Zane, an everyman down on his luck and ready to end it all, is given the opportunity to take on the role of Death personified. Piers Anthony turns the concept of the grim reaper upside down as we learn that Death is merely a mortal man, who through magical means, takes on the facade of the skeletal persona that is associated with death. Zane is forced to learn through trial and error how to perform the job of Death with the help of other incarnations: Time, War, Nature and of course Fate. Through a little dash of Satan into the mix and this becomes quite an enjoyable read. (Review).

27. The Strange Case of the Composer and his Judge by Patricia Duncker pp. 272



On the surface, The Strange Case of the Composer and his Judge is a mystery shrouded in a cult/sect known as 'The Faith'. However, the mystery aspects of the novel are pushed aside and this becomes much more a story of love and spirituality between the Judge and The Composer. My first impression of the novel was that the author focused too much on vivid descriptions and not enough on the plot. Upon further reflection, I think the author treated this novel more like a musical score, which is brilliant considering the subject matter. The words were lyrical, the crescendos built the tension and the decrescendos serves as a break from the action. Everything flowed in a very orchestral fashion. I am uncertain at this time if I loved or just liked this novel, but it was certainly worth the read. (Review).

28. I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert pp. 240



Oh Stephen Colbert, you make me laugh long time. I America (And So Can You!) is a hilarious take on America from the viewpoint of Stephen Colbert of 'E!' fame. This book is an extension of the character played by Mr. Colbert on his show and the humor translates fairly well to the page. Stephen Colbert tackles all topics from the tame to taboo including: race, religion, homosexuality, science and sex. Colbert has gone out of his way to ensure that his humor encompasses the entire page including foot and margin notes (so don't gloss over those).

I read this book over the course of a single day, which I would not recommend. The jokes do start to get stale when read in short order. In other words, read this book a few chapters at a time to maximize the 'LOL factor'. This satirical romp is probably most enjoyed by those of a leftist political persuasion, but I think most people will find at least parts of this book entertaining. (Review).

29. Carrie by Stephen King pp. 199



Carrie is Stephen King's first published novel, released in 1974. In this story, Carietta (Carrie) White is born with telekinetic abilities which appear to be heightened at the onset of puberty. Carrie is a late-bloomer thanks to her religious zealot mother who did nothing but preach to and berate her daughter throughout Carrie's life. This upbringing set Carrie as an immediate social outcast often mocked by her fellow students. A chain of events starting with a prank at the prom leads to Carrie unleashing a telekinetic apocalypse on her town.

Compared to Stephen King's earlier works, this novel is brief and to the point. King utilizes a unique style of including news articles, book excerpts and interviews interspersed within the story to inject realism into the situations playing out. King's gift of writing believable characters in supernatural environments sets him apart from many others in the horror genre. Carrie is a quick engaging read and highly recommended.

(Review).

30. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer pp. 368



In May of 1996, Multiple climbing teams pursued the ultimate goal of reaching the highest point on the planet, Mt. Everest. An unfortunate chain of events compounded with an unexpected snow storm high upon the mountain resulted in a tragedy that took the lives of several climbers. Reporter Jon Krakauer accompanied one of the climbing teams to capture the highs and lows of summiting Everest for Outside magazine. Krakauer, an accomplished mountaineer at lower altitudes, reached the goal of the summit, but the article he intended write went a very different direction when he witnessed first hand the wrath of Everest.

This book serves as a follow up to his article for Outside magazine and is a cathartic memoir of the events that occurred in May of 1996. Krakauer seamlessly collates the memories of the events from several of the climbing participants and gives a heartbreaking and accurate account of the tragedy. Into Thin Air captures the soul of the reader from the very first page and holds on to it long after the book is closed. (Review).

31. Prey by Michael Crichton pp.528



Prey is a techno-thriller where Michael Crichton takes us deep into the world of nanotechnology. In this science space, millions of nanoparticles act as a swarm to achieve a common goal. However, what happens when the swarm evolves faster than the humans that design it? Crichton has authored a suspenseful story in which nanomachines are used to develop innovative medical diagnostic images by essentially creating a nano-eye that can traverse the blood stream, but all is not as it seems as the true reason for the technology comes to light.

Michael Crichton spends a great deal of time on the scientific details of nanotechnology and distributed computer processing, which are essential in understanding the plot. Each nanoparticle is given a very simple program to run and a very small brain (CPU/Memory) to achieve its objective. As more and more particles are introduced into the system each particle communicates with nearby particles, in essence increasing the brain power of the machine. Crichton takes this a step further by allowing the swarm to learn and evolve at a rate much higher than expected. The result: Prey. A fun and suspenseful read.

(Review)

32. Paranormal State: My Journey into the Unknown by Ryan Buell pp. 400



Ryan Buell is the lead investigator and founder of the Paranormal Research Society (PRS),a student organization of ghost hunters out of Penn State. This book serves as a companion to the first season of the A&E show Paranormal State and provides some interesting insight into what goes on behind the scenes. Buell goes into great detail on what went into creating the show as well as the challenges of not compromising his paranormal integrity with moderate stardom on the horizon. It was of great interest to learn that though psychics and mediums play a large role on the show that Ryan himself is very skeptical of their abilities and warns others not to blindly trust those offering to help you with your spiritual "issues".

Hands down, this book is written for followers of Paranormal State. A reader with no familiarity with the show will get very little from the book and may even be confused as the author frequently references investigations without providing context. Overall, this book serves more as the "bonus feature" DVD than a standalone paranormal research text. As a fan of the show, I did enjoy the book and would recommend it to others who enjoyed the first season of Paranormal State.

33. The Climb by Anatoli Boukreev pp. 416



I read The Climb immediately upon completion of Jon Krakauer's award winning memoir, Into Thin Air. Anatoli Boukreev's book is oft referenced as a counterpoint to Krakauer's work and in it he defends many of decisions that were questioned in Into Thin Air. This book also describes the Mt. Everest climbing disaster in May of 1996, but this time the story shifts from that of client to that of guide. Boukreev serves as a climbing leader for Scott Fischer's Mountain Madness and his memoir tells the story from this angle.

Observing the same people and places from another vantage point is fascinating and educational, but I lost interest towards the end of the book when the novel switches from a tragic yet heroic tale of Everest to a 100+ page diatribe on why Krakauer was incorrect. I do understand wanting to keep your name clean, but I think the actions spoke strongly throughout the text and did not need a 100+ pages of bonus material to ensure you wore the "Team Boukreev" T-shirt. Aside from the last bit, this is a very well written novel that I would highly recommend.

34. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling pp. 784



The final installment of the epic Harry Potter story comes to a breathtaking conclusion in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Following the events of Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter is tasked by the late Albus Dumbledore to find and destroy horcruxes to aide him in his endeavor to defeat Lord Voldemort once and for all. Harry, Hermoine and Ron must risk it all to save magicians and muggles alike. The gloves come off in this novel. Hermoine is whipping spells around like a seasoned witch, Ron finally comes out from behind Harry's shadow and Harry must come to terms with the prophecy foretold many years ago.

J.K. Rowling continues to prove her brilliance as a writer. Elements from each and every novel come into play and you can truly appreciate that all seven novels were well planned out even before the first went to print. Rowling's meticulous attention to every detail make this one of the most re-readable series' to grace our bookshelves. I look forward to my next spin through the series when I will have the opportunity to once again watch Harry grow from his first day at Hogwarts to his last. Thank you J.K.

35. Bearing an Hourglass by Piers Anthony pp. 372



Bearing an Hourglass is the second book in Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality series. In this novel, we follow the path of Norton, a nature loving wanderer, who by a series of events takes on the role of Chronos, the incarnation of time. In this often confusing role, Norton lives backwards as others move forward to enable him to know future events and perform his duties. The hourglass is his primary implement, allowing him to phase in to "normal" time to interact with others as well as progress forward and backward through time and space.

This novel was a bit weaker than On a Pale Horse, as the majority of the novel is spent in alternate realities crafted by Satan to distract Chronos from his duties. Though confusing and fraught with paradox, this is a decent addition to the Incarnation series.

36. World War Z by Max Brooks pp. 352



An infection is detected in China that reanimates the dead. This 'deadly' virus is spread by the virus entering the blood stream, most commonly via a bite. In short order, the pandemic viral outbreak sweeps over the world forcing the globe to abandon the comforts of life and face an enemy never before encountered, the army of zombies. They are slow moving, but tough to kill.

World War Z is a fictional piece authored by Max Brooks that tells the story of the great Zombie war though a series of 'non-fiction' style interviews. The novel is surprising believable and incredibly creative. Highly recommended for fans of the zombie genre.

37. Ghost Trackers: The Unreal World of Ghosts, Ghost-Hunting, and the Paranormal by Chris Gudgeon pp. 80



Chris Gudgeon's, Ghost Trackers, is a short book that serves to educate young readers on the history of the paranormal and to provide insight into the world of ghost-hunting. The book is clearly geared towards younger readers and provides some interesting features, such as pointers to web links to continue your paranormal education beyond the provided content.

I do find it a bit disconcerting that a book on ghost-hunting is geared towards children. Granted, handing junior a DVR camera and an EMF detector may be a great way to get the kids out the house while you watch the football game, but that would probably not be the best means to gain an award in parenting. I would advise that parents read this book first to ensure that they are comfortable with their children consuming this subject matter. An enjoyable read and a great introduction to the world of the paranormal.

38. The Painted Darkness by Brian James Freeman pp. 175



A young boy sneaks off into the woods during a snowstorm and witnesses an event that will change him forever. Time passes, and the young boy grows to become an artist, forgetting his past. The lines of fantasy and reality are blurred as he begins to remember the events from long ago. "I paint against the darkness" is his mantra and these words may save him in the end.

The Painted Darkness is a novella that will keep the reader engaged to the very end.

39. With a Tangled Skein by Piers Anthony pp. 416



In the third book of the Incarnations series, With a Tangled Skein, Piers Anthony tackles the aspect of Fate. An immortal divided into three parts: Clotho - who weaves the threads of life, Lachesis - who measures the threads and Atropos - who cuts the threads. Niobe Kaftan, the most beautiful woman of her generation, takes on the role of Clotho in her youth and later is given the opportunity to return as Lachesis. Niobe must use her powers as Fate to foil that wacky Satan and his devious plots.

In my opinion, this book focuses more on setting the stage for future novels. We learn of a prophecy that foretells that Luna will love death (see book 1) and that Niobe's daughter Orb will love Evil and will become an incarnation (read: foreshadowing / pre-selling of later books in the series). Fate's role in this book is essentially to ensure that Luna is able achieve her seat in government 20 years hence.

I sense that the Incarnations novels are starting to lose some steam at this point, but I won't give up just yet. An entertaining read.

40. The Coffin Dancer by Jeffrey Deaver pp. 560



Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are paired together again to uncover the identify of the mysterious Coffin Dancer. The Coffin Dancer is a hit man with a knack for getting the job done, leaving no evidence behind and for being about three steps ahead of the police. Enter Lincoln Rhyme. Lincoln has dealt with the Coffin Dancer in the past and lost, now it is time to turn the tide.

The story is action packed and keeps you guessing throughout and my only complaint is the love interest that is brewing between the main characters. In my opinion the story can do without the romance. In my mind Rhyme and Sachs have more a father/daughter or teacher/student relationship and the budding romance feels a tad incestuous.

Jeffrey Deaver once again delivers a police thriller/mystery with an ending that is sure to delight.

41. Wielding a Red Sword by Piers Anthony pp. 320



Wielding a Red Sword is the fifth book in the Incarnations of Immortality series. In this story, we follow Mim, the stuttering prince of India who is destined to become Mars the incarnation of War. Mim seeks to leave his royal life behind and joins a band of performers and encounters the love of his life, Orb Kaftan. Circumstances drive him to back to the royal palace where he encounters the second love of his life, Rapture. Eventually, much later in the book, Mim is finally bestowed with the red sword marking him as Mars, bringer of War. Mim spends a while acclimating to his new role and then the Piers Anthony formula kicks in. That is, Satan intervenes and Mim is forced to battle the Prince of Lies. Hopefully this does not qualify as a spoiler, but big surprise here, Satan is thwarted once again.

This book really takes the series in a giant nose dive towards terrible land for a few reasons. Reason one: the formula is growing stale and the books have gone away from explaining the nuances of the "office" and have become more a fantasy love story. Reason two: Piers Anthony sucks at writing female characters. The women are all portrayed as flat, generic, gender stereotyped automatons that do not strike me as interesting in any way, shape or form. It is going to be a real struggle to finish the series after this train wreck.

42. The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers pp. 400



This is my first encounter with the Steampunk genre and with the work of Tim Powers. Simply put, I thought this book was brilliant. This novel quite possibly has it all: time travel, adventure, villanious clowns, savage beggars, alternate history, Egyptian mythology, body jumping and magic.

The story starts innocently enough with a historian, Brendan Doyle being offered a chance to travel from 1983 back to the Georgian era of England to hear Samuel Taylor Coleridge speak. All does not go according to plan, and Brendan Doyle is is trapped in the early 1800s when he is kidnapped by a band of gypsies. As the Egyptians seek global domination, Brendan Doyle plays a central role in shaping the world's future.

I usually shy away from time travel stories as they are typically full of plot holes and paradox. However, Tim Powers has managed to craft a world where time travel not only seems probable, but possible. I highly, highly recommend this novel.

43. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling pp.128



The Tales of Beedle the Bard was released after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and was a fun, though quick, read of five "wizarding" fairy tales. J.K. Rowling's commitment to the potter-verse continues to amaze me as she penned this book of morality tales in order to support "The Three Brothers" referenced in the final novel. The stories share a likeness to muggle fairy tales with themes of love, hate, death, honesty and the like. The spin on these tales is of course the wizarding perspective. As an added bonus, Rowling has added full commentaries of the stories by the late Albus Dumbledore. A great addition to your Harry Potter collection.

44. Being a Green Mother by Piers Anthony pp.320



Being a Green Mother has the distinct honor of being the worst of the five Incarnations of Immortality Books thus far. In the fifth book, Piers Anthony tackles the incarnation of Nature, the supposed most powerful of the earthly incarnations. However, I take issue with several points in this book: (1) Orb Kaftan begins manipulating the powers of nature well before she takes office. In previous stories, the Incarnations have stepped in to correct the situation when this occurs and (2) 98% of the book is spent on Orb the mortal and her taking on the role of nature has very little impact on the storyline.

My advice for those contemplating reading this series. Stop at book three and read something else. That said, I am about to start book six: For Love of Evil. I am prepared for disappointment.

45. Vernon God Little by D. B. C. Pierre pp.279



Vernon Gregory Little, a 15-year-old boy from central Texas, who always seems to make inappropriate decisions or be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The book itself is a bit of a dark comedy as the main story arc revolves around Vernon's alleged participation in a violent school shooting where 16 classmates were killed. Hard to imagine this premise would spawn a humor book, but alas it does.

My biggest issue with this novel was my inability to relate to the main character. Parts of the novel were funny, parts confusing, but mostly I just didn't care. I was surprised to find that this was an award winning book, but what the heck do I know I am just one opinion in a sea of many.

46. For Love of Evil by Piers Anthony pp. 336



I had nearly given up on this series after being thoroughly disappointed with Being a Green Mother. However, Piers Anthony salvages this train wreck with the sixth book, For Love of Evil. Parry, a sorcerer turned clergyman, spends his life in pursuit of foiling Lucifer only to find himself in a position to be corrupted by that which he is attempting to abate. Moments before Parry's death he is given the opportunity to assume the role of "Satan". Parry, now Satan, spends centuries running hell and trying to understand the rationale of good vs. evil. The reader finally gets a chance to hear the story of the last five books told from the side of Satan, which provides an entertaining twist on everything you thought you understood. The book also serves as a thought provoking theological counterpoint to the standard Christian view of good and evil. Evil is not so black and white; it is in all of us, but should we be doomed for eternity when situations force one down an "evil" path.

In For Love of Evil, Piers Anthony returns to what made this series so enjoyable in the first place: The mortal person coming to terms and understanding their new role as an incarnation. The first three books in the series accomplished this, but the formula went astray somewhere around book four.

This book could be read on its own, but I think is a stronger novel if you suffer through the first five books. On to the last: And Eternity.

47. Ghost Country by Patrick Lee pp. 384



A pair of cylindrical devices are received from an unknown time and place from a dimensional "breach" that allow the user to see 70 years into the future. Members of an elite group of scientists that monitor the breach turned on the devices to find that the human race had been extinguished and the USA was nothing more that a Ghost Country. The book is action packed from start to finish and you will find it difficult to put down once you realize the chain of events that are about to occur that will ultimately end the human race as we know it.

I have not read the first book in the Travis Chase series, but this book appears to stand fairly well on its own. There are clearly events that occur in the first story that would help the reader understand the character relationships and how they were formed, but other than a few confusing points I kept up with the story pretty well.

I will be adding the first book, Breach, to my "to-read" list posthaste, as Patrick Lee has created an awesome action-packed, political, science fiction series that I want to read more of.

Stopping by to say Hi!! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and sending you Best Wishes for the New Year!!