2009 Read List

I've been meaning to do this for years, and always forgot until maybe July or August. This year, I only forgot until February! Anyway, this post will be constantly updated as a compendium of books I've read so far this year. I'm a moderately slow reader, and really only have time to do so during my commutes each day, so it may be a while between updates.

Now for the list:

1. Double Whammy, Carl Hiaasen— B
2. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Michael Chabon— A+
3. Personal Days, Ed Park— B+
4. Girl Factory, Jim Krusoe— B
5. Then We Came to the End, Joshua Ferris— B+
6. Speaker for the Dead, Orson Scott Card— C+ —A decent story that gets too bogged down by the weight of its Mormon theology.
7. Strip Tease, Carl Hiaasen— B+ —Try to forget that this was ever made into a movie... this book deserves so much better than what it got.
8. Indignation, Philip Roth— A- —I just love Roth's writing style. I've only read 4 of his books so far; I need to get my hands on some more.
9. The Yiddish Policemen's Union, Michael Chabon— C+ —The story got a little too big for its own good, and lost its focus a bit at times. After Kavalier and Clay, I wanted to love this, but just can't.
10. Cross Country, James Patterson— C —When did Alex Cross turn into Jack Bauer? This book would've been better if it didn't bastardize an established character.
11. Behind the Scenes, or Thirty Years as a Slave, and Four Years in the White House, Elizabeth Keckley— B- —Read for Book Club at work. Interesting look into the minutiae of Mrs. Lincoln's private life, from POV of her dress-maker. A bit gossip-y, though. ETA: Apparently, there's a whole controversy about this book, that I did not know about going into it. Read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Keckly#Behind_The_Scenes.
12. Please, Peter Darbyshire— B —I'm getting a little tired of these "quirky for the sake of quirky" books, with no real plot line. This one was at least quick and mildly entertaining.
13. Shogun, James Clavell— A —The epic I was waiting for. Points lost for a slightly disappointing ending, but overall a work of staggering beauty. I need to get the miniseries to see if it comes anywhere close to doing this book justice.
14. Neverwhere, Neil Gaiman— A- —I'm as surprised as you are that I hadn't already read this. Oozing with wit, it had just enough fantasy to keep me from getting bored. It didn't get a full A for a few tired old cliches stuck in there, but nonetheless it was thoroughly enjoyed.
15. The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas, Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis— C+ —Read for Book Club at work. Perhaps in Brazil in the 1850s this was funny, but I failed to see much humor in it at all. The concept (an autobiography being written by a dead man) and style (short chapters, some only one or two sentences, some consisting entirely of ellipses) are groundbreaking for its time, but the content just could not hold my interest.
16. A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin— A —A completely engrossing and terrifically written tale of intrigue, war, and family that begins a 6-book epic series (Books 5 and 6 have not been released yet). Hopefully I'll have my hands on the second book soon.
17. A Clash of Kings, George R. R. Martin— A —Starting right where Game left off, this one ups the ante by starting a war between 5 self-proclaimed "Kings" for the rights to one throne. Fantastic.
18. Fluke, Christopher Moore— B- —Had a bit of a slow, predictable start, but ended up anything but. Wildly inventive story with touches of brilliance, but the writing falls a bit flat at times. I'll check out more of his stuff, though.
19. A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin— A —The story continues in Book 3, this one focusing on religion and politics. No character is safe from Martin's pen.
20. The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan— C+ —One of the problems with a book that moves at breakneck speed is that everything is too convenient. I can see how this book influenced Hitchcock and hundreds of other writers and filmmakers through the years. Definitely worth a read, though you may groan a few times.
21. A Feast for Crows, George R. R. Martin— Currently in Progress

More to come!