In reverse order
(Grade A-F, no E's) Title-Author Additional thoughts
A The Red Queen by Matt Ridley A reread spurred by some recent discussions and thoughts on sex and evolution. The book addresses 3 main questions, although never answers them: Why does sex exist?, How does sex affect human personality, and ....
A- Bearers of the Black Staff by Terry Brooks Been a Brooks fan since reading the Stones of Shannarra many years ago, this book (and the previous three) reminded me of those early stories much more than a lot of the intervening books.
B Confronting Collapse by Michael C. Ruppert Must read! Although you really want a lot of booze on hand when you're done with it.
B- American Gods by Neil Gaiman My first Gaiman. Interesting take on gods.
B- The Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
B Pyramids by Terry Pratchett
A The History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell Took me over a year to read this book, but it was worth it. Need to reread it already, but some many other books that haven't been read once yet.
B+ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by R.K. Rowlings Not as good as the first, but one of those books that keep the kids coming back for more.
B+ Shadowrise by Tad Williams The story is progressing along, but needs to end with the next book or it will become tedious as Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series did.
D A Figure in Hiding by Franklin Dixon All the Hardy Boys stories are the same.
F Star Wars The Last of the Jedi #4 Death on Naboo by Jude Watson Didnt read it for my sake Part 1.
B+ Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
B Never Call Retreat by Bruce Catton
D The Three Muskateers (kids edition)
D The Sinister Signpost by Franklin Dixon All the Hardy Boys stories are the same.
C Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett
B+ Guards, Guards by Terry Pratchett
B Terrible Swift Sword by Bruce Catton
F Star Wars Jedi Apprentice #1: The Rising Force by Dave Wolverton Didn't read it for my sake Part 2.
D Tuck by Stephen R Lawhead The first 2 books were realistic in the suffering and losses of the characters. This one wrapped everything up too nicely.
C The Curse of the Blue Figurine by John Bellairs
A The Coming Fury by Bruce Catton I especially liked the discussion of events (election of Lincoln) leading up to the secession of South Carolina and the Civil War
C The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder by John Bellairs
C Corrupted Science: Fraud, Ideology and Politics in Science by John Grant
A+ The Truth by Terry Pratchett. My favorite Pratchett book to date, beating out Mort and Reaper Man.
D The Hidden Harbor Mystery by Franklin Dixon All the Hardy Boys stories are the same.
26 books this year. Of course you have to consider 10 were read to my son. Of the remaining 16: 9 were fiction for fun (of which Terry Pratchett wrote 5), 3 were US Civil War history, 1 was philosophy/history, 2 were science (1 was biology), and 1 was policy/environmentalism.
I won't give you my list, but it's science and history heavy and devoid of "read to" because my husband does the reading to the children. That poor man has read almost every word JK Rowling wrote in the Harry Potter series--out loud. Imagine.
ReplyDeleteI was on my second iteration of the HP books. He was told that The Goblet of Fire was the last one I was reading to him. Its on him now to finish the series. I've paid my dues.
ReplyDeleteI love Bertrand Russell's writing...I have a non-science Einstein book that also has some interesting philosophy in it that is along the same lines.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if you enjoyed Confronting Collapse, try "The Long Emergency". The author is somewhat of a nut, but it is an interesting read nonetheless... you will need to restock the liquor cabinet for that one as well.