2008 in Review: Books
Sunday, December 28th, 2008After reading over 55 books in 2007, 61 in 2006, and 37 in 2005, I’m rather aware that this year has seen a significant drop in my reading habits. I blame the months I spent studying for the LSAT every night, the cross-country move, and the recent poverty. I expect the next three years of law school will also contribute to a drop in the reading. Regardless, he’s the fourth annual round-up of my reading record.
- Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
- The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
- The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
- Firebird by Mercedes Lackey
- For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison
- Watchmen by Alan Moore
- Law School Confidential by Robert H. Miller
- Moral Politics by George Lakoff
- I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max
- Un Lun Dun by China Mieville
- The Logic of Life by Tim Harford
- Blind Fall by Christopher Rice
- The Harlequin by Laurell K. Hamilton
- The Folding Star by Alan Hollinghurst*
- Hero by Perry Moore**
- The Beautiful Miscellaneous by Dominic Smith
- Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
- Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
- Dexter in the Dark by Jeff Lindsay
- A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire
* Started and abandoned
** Reread from previous year
There are a few nonfiction books missing from the list because I forgot to make a note of them, and I left off audiobooks, but it’s a pretty good list. 20 books in 52 weeks isn’t exactly slacking.
Favorite Book of the Year: Probably Blind Fall. There were a lot of good ones, though.
Worst Book of the Year: Without doubt, The Secret. What a waste of paper. Ooh, magical thinking can change your life. Somehow, though, I can’t think away the memory of this crap.
Biggest Surprise of the Year: I Hope They Sell Beer in Hell. Tucker Max is an ass, a shallow excuse for a human being, a selfish hedonist who shouldn’t be allowed to influence young people. That said, he tells a wicked story (even if they are exaggerated) and despite my political sensibilities, found myself laughing more than once.
Favorite Discovery of the Year: Darkly Dreaming Dexter. This year featured quite a few titles outside my usual reading comfort zone, but the first Dexter book was the one that made me glad to be trying out new things.
Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Dexter in the Dark. After a very promising beginning to the series, the third book jumped the shark and let me down. I’m not 100% sold on continuing with the series now.
