The books I read in 2005

[klwilliams]

Last year about this time I realized I had read about 45 books or so the year before, since I had read most of the Patrick O'Brian books in 2004 alternating with other books, and had started this reading pattern in late January. I mentioned this at work, and the response was a surprised, "You read that many books?", except for the other reader in the company who said, "That sounds about right." Out of curiosity, and because I own a Palm Pilot, I began keeping track of how many books I read (and completed) in 2005. These turn out to be mostly fiction, as the non-fiction books I read were usually to learn something specific (such as The Dummy's Guide to Gold), and once I found out what I wanted to know I didn't finish them. I also read a number of sf magazines, and, of course, LJ and sff.net.

So, here are the books I read. I liked most of them. I added some minimal commentary below.

1. The Hundred Days -- Patrick O'Brian
2. Skeleton Man -- Tony Hillerman
3. Blue at the Mizzen -- Patrick O'Brian
4. Mean Woman Blues -- Julie Smith
5. 21 -- Patrick O'Brian
This one was a heartbreaker, since it stopped right in the middle of an important scene, and also appeared to be a book about Stephen actually getting the woman of his dreams. I couldn't make out O'Brian's handwriting very well, so I didn't understand a lot of what was there, anyway.

6. High Country Fall -- Margaret Maron
7. Time Travelers, Ghosts, and Other Visitors -- Nina Kiriki Hoffman
8. Deep Pockets -- Linda Barnes
9. Dilbert andthe Way of the Weasel -- Scott Adams
10. Just A Geek -- Wil Wheaton
I had been looking forward to this one for a while, and wasn't disappointed. This is an interesting memoir about deciding what to be when you grow up, not just in terms of what job you'll do, but what person will you become.

11. Banquet of the Lords of Night -- Liz Williams
12. Stardust -- Neil Gaiman
13. A Bone From A Dry Sea -- Peter Dickinson
This is a children's/YA book, and was a little dull.

14. The Crystal Cave -- Mary Stewart
15. The Hollow Hills -- Mary Stewart
16. The Last Enchantment -- Mary Stewart
I had first read these when they came out in the seventies, and they've been out of print for a long time. They are still excellent! I didn't get the fourth one, because it's depressing (we all know what's going to happen), and because it's not as good as the others.

17. With No One as Witness -- Elizabeth George
18. Dragonflight -- Anne McCaffrey
19. Dragonquest -- Anne McCaffrey
20. Dragonsong -- Anne McCaffrey
21. Dragonsinger -- Anne McCaffrey
22. The White Dragon -- Anne McCaffrey
This was my year for re-reading things I had loved as a child, and these stood up very well, too. Reading them as an adult, though, I have started thinking of the series as DragonSex.

23. The Serpent in the Crown -- Elizabeth Peters
24. The Chestry Oak -- Kate Seredy
I adored this book as a romantic, sentimental ten-year-old, and it still brought me to tears as an adult. I really wish somebody would reprint her books.

25. Blacklist -- Sara Paretsky
26. The Hunter's Tale -- Margaret Frazer
27. The Hallowed Hunt -- Bujold
28. The Seville Communion -- Arturo Perez-Reverte
This book contains some of the steamiest sex scenes I've ever read, without mentioning body parts.

29. Locked Rooms -- Laurie R. King
30. The Boy From The Basement -- Susan Shaw
This is a YA book about an abused boy escaping from a basement. OK if you like that genre, but not great.

31. Fire Sale -- Sara Paretsky
32. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince -- J.K. Rowling
33. The Dangerous Hour -- Marcia Muller
34. Fair Peril -- Nancy Springer
I loved this book.

35. The Ghost Sister -- Liz Williams
36. Blind Lake -- Robert Charles Wilson
These two are by people who write delicious novels. I always know when I read something by either one of them that I'm going to really enjoy it.

37. Louisiana Lament -- Julie Smith
I read this right after Katrina. It's set in New Orleans, and begins right after a major hurricane from a couple of years ago, and the characters commenting on how lucky they were to escape major damage. I hope she writes a Katrina book in this series.

38. Turn the Other Chick -- Esther Friesner
39. Spirit Gate -- Kate Elliott
40. Rituals of the Season -- Margaret Maron
41. When the Tripods Came -- John Christopher
42. The White Mountains -- John Christopher
42. The City of Gold and Lead -- John Christopher
43. The Pool of Fire -- John Christopher
Another childhood re-read. This also stood up, though I found the last one rather dull, just as I did the first time I read it.

44. Good Night, Mr. Tom -- Michelle Magorian
Another in the "abused child finds a better home" genre.

45. Mort -- Terry Pratchett
I am becoming such a Terry Pratchett fan.

46. A Play of Dux Moraud -- Margaret Frazer
47. Anansi Boys -- Neil Gaiman
48. Isaac Asimov's Christmas -- Gardner Dozois & Sheila Williams
49. Anastasia Krupnik -- Lois Lowry
This one was banned, so I had to read it.

50. Equal Rites -- Terry Pratchett
51. S is for Silence -- Sue Grafton

Comments

[sfmarty.livejournal.com]

I am going to print that list out. I read many of them as well so I think our tastes in books are pretty much the same.

I seem to be reading a lot of Robin Hobb lately. A friend lent me 7 of her books and I am hooked.

I just finished Skeleton Man (Hillman) and didn't enjoy it as much as his earlier stuff. Still, he is always readable.

Pratchett? MORE! MORE!

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Whew! Thank you.

The Mary S novels are among my favourite books ever, though like you, I usually don't re-read the last one as much. I re-read them on average every 2 years and they never fail to disappoint - as much for the evocations of Britain as for the excellent characterisation and genuine sense of the supernatural.

[maryosmanski.livejournal.com]

I feel ashamed that I don't keep track of what I read and re-read.

I know I did my annual re-read of all the Deverry books. During the summer I read several mystery novels with historical(=medieval) settings which were lent to me a friend in the local SCA shire. I know I didn't do as much pleasure reading in the summer as usual because I was taking a grad course.

And in the last couple weeks of the year, I finally read the entire Chronicles of Narnia.

But early in the year, or in the spring? I just can't remember.

[acanthusleaf.livejournal.com]

An impressive list!

You must also, however, list what you have written. That was at least two short stories, plus whatever else you haven't shown me.

[darcyjavanne.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I wish I had more free time for reading fiction! Your list sounds yummy!

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Yes, the genuine sense of the supernatural, that's it exactly.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I felt pretty compulsive, actually, by writing down everything this year.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Most of my reading time is grabbed in minutes, like a paragraph or two at a stoplight, or waiting in line.

[aberwyn.livejournal.com]

Like frenchteacher I need to start writing things done. I remember what books I've read, I just don't remember when I read them.

I do a lot of fast reading for research, is part of the problem. Skim off the information I need, and then on to the next book!

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

Lovely photo! So nice to 'see' you!

Elizabeth George is one of my favorites, or has been. I'm angry with how she's managed some of my favorite characters of hers. :)

Most of what I read this year was New Orleans and Louisiana history. My fiction reading was not too much, but it did include the James Lee Burke Dave Robicheaux novels. Most of my fiction reading 2005 was New Orleans, I guess.

Love, C.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I look like the picture, but the picture doesn't necessarily look like me. :-)

I really like Elizabeth George, but that last one left me reeling. How could she?!

I read the Julie Smith New Orleans mystery right after Katrina. It starts off with her main character talking about how they had survived the previous big hurricane and how they always seem to.