Category Archives: Lists
Best Books Read in 2011
5. Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
For the first hundred or so pages of this book, I did a lot of complaining about the amount of math and the detail into which Stephenson goes about mathematical theory. Somewhere along the way, I managed to be drawn into this many layered story that is at times, humorous, at times tragic, and at times WTF. I ended up loving it.
Original Review
6. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
7. The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
8. Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
9. A Great & Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
10. The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
5 Comments | tags: 5 stars, alternate history or perception, best books read in 2011, book review, books, cryptonomicon, cyberpunk, fiction, nazis, neal stephenson, review, science fiction, so much math | posted in Best Books Read in 2011, Lists, Words
5 Comments | tags: (auto)biographies & memoirs, 1 star, abandoned, book review, books, Crohn's disease, godawful, gotham, health, jon reiner, man who couldn't eat, random discovery, review, skeptical, the body, what's up doc?, worst books read in 2011 | posted in Lists, Words, Worst Books Read in 2011
6 Comments | tags: 4.5 stars, best books read in 2011, bibliophilia, book review, books, bosnia, contemporary fiction, fiction, geraldine brooks, haggadah, historical fiction, holocaust, i hear you like books in your books, libraries are awesome, museum, nazis, people of the book, pleasant surprise, racial tension, review, sarajevo, sarajevo haggadah | posted in Best Books Read in 2011, Lists, Words
6 Comments | tags: 1 star, boneshaker, book review, books, braaaains, cherie priest, fiction, godawful, intriguing review, review, science gone wrong, seattle, steampunk, worst books read in 2011, you think your family has issues | posted in Lists, Words, Worst Books Read in 2011
Best Books Read in 2011
7. The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
I neglected Raymond Chandler for far too long. The Long Goodbye hit that home with a vengeance. What a beautiful, heartbreaking book. I love Los Angeles, but the setting was mere backdrop to the complex, dark, and brilliant story which unfolded. It is rare that I immediately put a book on my favorites list, but this deserved it.
Original Review
8. Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
9. A Great & Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
10. The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
12 Comments | tags: 5 stars, beautiful people, best books read in 2011, book review, books, boozy, bourbon coffee & smokes, city of angels, copious coffee consumption, crime, fiction, los angeles, murder, mystery, noir, raymond chandler, re-read potential, review, the long goodbye | posted in Best Books Read in 2011, Lists, Words
9 Comments | tags: 1.5 stars, abandoned, bloody spiders, book review, books, crime, criminals, godawful, heard about on public radio, jennie erin smith, non-fiction, reptiles, review, smuggling, stolen world, turtles, up to no good | posted in Lists, Words, Worst Books Read in 2011
Best Books Read in 2011
8. Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
Leviathan Wakes is an absolutely fantastic science fiction novel. I was skeptical when I read the description, but emerged a true believer. Without doubt the best scifi of many I read this year, and one of the best out of 200 books overall.
Original Review
9. A Great & Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
10. The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
Leave a comment | tags: 5 stars, best books read in 2011, book review, books, braaaains, fiction, james sa corey, leviathan wakes, other worlds, review, science fiction, science gone wrong, space, space opera, spaceships, the fuck is this the fuck was that, vomit zombies, we're all going to die, zombies | posted in Best Books Read in 2011, Lists, Words
Worst Books Read in 2011
8. The Black Company by Glen Cook
As I suspected at the time, The Black Company proved utterly forgettable. I also hated the naming convention and it felt like I was reading an idea for a book rather than the book itself.
Also, the big, bad wizard people had flying carpets. Seriously. Shame on you, Glen Cook. Shame on you.
Original Review
9. A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
10. The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale
8 Comments | tags: 1.5 stars, black company, book review, books, boozy, disappointing, fantasy, felt dirty, fiction, glen cook, godawful, questionable motives, review, the fuck is this the fuck was that, up to no good, witches & wizards, worst books read in 2011 | posted in Lists, Words, Worst Books Read in 2011
Best Books Read in 2011
9. A Great & Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
A Great & Terrible Beauty earned its place on this list by showing me that young adult paranormal fantasy can be enjoyable. I remain surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It’s genuinely good. Unfortunately, the second is kind of awful, but the third is also great.
Original Review
10. The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
9 Comments | tags: 4.5 stars, a great and terrible beauty, best books read in 2011, book review, books, fantasy, fiction, gemma doyle, libba bray, magical creatures, re-read potential, review, witches & wizards, you think your family has issues, young adult | posted in Best Books Read in 2011, Lists, Words
Worst Books Read in 2011
9. A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
I didn’t give a damn what happened to any of the characters and there was a PowerPoint chapter. Bleh.
Original Review
10. The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale
9 Comments | tags: 1.5 stars, a visit from the goon squad, are you high, book review, books, contemporary fiction, drugs, fiction, godawful, historical fiction, jennifer egan, losers unite!, music, musicians, powerpoint, review, skeptical, wanna get lost in that rock & roll, washed up, worst books read in 2011 | posted in Lists, Words, Worst Books Read in 2011
Less whimsical than the title would suggest... 