As it's now 2008, my 2007 reading list must be moved to its own page to avoid an unnecessary cluterfuck of bookish magnificence!
To reiterate, these aren't in-depth reviews of the books or anything, they're just random thoughts and opinions as/if they come to me. Doesn't matter if people disagree with me. They can go jump in a lake. :)
Quick-reference links, listed in order of most recently read:
- November 10th, 2007: 'A Crown Of Swords' by Robert Jordan
- October 28th, 2007: 'Lord Of Chaos' by Robert Jordan
- October 15th, 2007: 'The Fires Of Heaven' by Robert Jordan
- October 8th, 2007: 'The Shadow Rising' by Robert Jordan
- October 1st, 2007: 'The Dragon Reborn' by Robert Jordan
- September 26th, 2007: 'The Great Hunt' by Robert Jordan
- September 21st: 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' by George Orwell
- September 18th: 'The Eye Of The World' by Robert Jordan
- September 13th: 'Guilty Pleasures' by Laurell K. Hamilton
- September 6th: 'Lightning' by Dean Koontz
- July 22nd: 'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows' by J. K. Rowling
- July 21st: 'Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince' by J. K. Rowling
- July 20th: 'Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix' by J. K. Rowling
- July 18: 'Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire' by J. K. Rowling
- July 17th: 'Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban' by J. K. Rowling
- July 16th: 'Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets' by J. K. Rowling
- July 15th: 'Harry Potter And The Philospher's Stone' by J. K. Rowling
- June 25th: 'The Mummy or Ramses The Damned' by Anne Rice
- June 19th: 'Seize The Night' by Dean Koontz
- June 16th: 'The Phantom Of The Opera' by Gaston Leroux
- June 7th: 'Shadow Of Shadows' by Ted Allbeury
- June 1st: 'Black Hawk Down' by Mark Bowden
- Date Unknown: 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry
- Late March/Early April: 'Eragon' & 'Eldest' by Christopher Paolini
- Date Unknown: 'Just Annoying!' by Andy Griffiths
- Date Unknown: 'S.N.A.G.' by Margaret Clark & 'The Excuse' by Allan Baillie
- Date Unknown: 'Stupid White Men' by Michael Moore
- Date Unknown: 'Blood Brothers' by Nicholas Adams, 'Love You To Death' by Bebe Faas Rice, 'Deadly Stranger' by M. C. Summers
- Date Unknown: 'The Hobbit' by J. R. R. Tolkien
- Date Unknown: 'Much Ado About Nothing' by William Shakespeare
Date Finished: October 28th, 2007 & November 10th, 2007 respectively
Finally, the sixth and seventh books of 'The Wheel Of Time' series (previous books: 1, 2 & 3, 4 & 5)! And boy can things change in the space of a book or two. I've begun really disliking Perrin, quite enjoying Mat, and cringing at the way Rand behaves sometimes. Of course, some things stay pleasantly consistent, such as my dislike for the female characters (every. Last. One of them. Without exception, and I swear by solemn oath that I'm not exaggerating in this). Hussies! Dominatrixes! Impossible idiots!
*deep breath* Anyway. Still enjoying the series, apart from those... small points. ;)
Date Finished: October 8th, 2007 & October 15th, 2007 respectively
Onto books four and five of 'The Wheel Of Time' series! As mentioned in the entry for books two and three, I can't say much more here than I did in there and for the first book, but what I can say is that with every book, my disgust for the female characters deepens and boils.
I truly can't help but wonder if Robert Jordan wasn't an absolutely male-chauvanistic fuckforbrains. It's the only explanation for writing every single female character (and they are numerous and prominent, at that) as manipulative, domineering, man-whipping and at the same time man-whipped, incomprehensible bitches. It boggles my mind. I can only hope he just prefers writing them that way and doesn't actually imagine all women really are like that.
Oh, well, I guess he's dead now, so it doesn't much matter.
Also, I was very sad that there was so little (if any? I can't quite remember) of the character Perrin in the fifth book. I quite like Perrin.
Date Finished: September 26th, 2007 & October 1st, 2007 respectively
Woo! The second and third books in 'The Wheel Of Time' series. :) I can't really think of much to say that I didn't cover when I added the first book to this page, unfortunately. Since I'm reading the books one after the other with no outside books in between, they all sort of blur into each other, and I can only really give overall impressions. So they are: still enjoying, still hating every female character, onto the next book!
Date Finished: September 21st, 2007
About time I read this. It's a total classic, and I should be ashamed of myself that it's taken this long to get around to it. At least I've read it now, though. I thought it was very interesting; the concept, and a bunch of the ideas within it. Big Brother, Newspeak, Doublethink, the Thought Police (haha, I finally know the reference. Nice). It was really quite a fascinating book, and to think that Orwell started writing this in 1946... well. And okay, maybe it's just me and my occasional brain mode of "bigger books = better books", but I wish the book had been longer.
Date Finished: September 18th, 2007
Oh, I loved this book (the first in 'The Wheel Of Time' series)! I admit I was a bit nervous at first, worrying that it'd be one of those book series where there are fifty thousand weird-to-pronounce place names (not that there aren't, but there's a glossary in the back that tells you how to pronounce them all. ;), and characters with sevety-two different titles depending on who's addressing them, etc., but it was actually very easy to stick with, and the maps were a huge help (I love having maps as references in books. Love to whoever came up with that idea). There are a few characters I could easily live without, but I guess you can't have everything, eh?
Also, I have to say it: after reading this book, I've come to the conclusion that all fantasy authors do all day is sneak around copying each other's ideas. Seriously. The only way to tell whose idea was the original one is to check the fucking publishing date! I have slightly less stellar opinions of a particular author these days, but I guess that's life.
Date Finished: September 13th, 2007
So finally, I get around to starting the 'Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter' series that I've been hearing about for years. I quite enjoyed this book. I was expecting not to, you see, as I've heard a few less than complimentary things about the author, so it was a nice surprise. I do think the ending was rather abrupt; it felt rushed, but other than that, I'll definitely be continuing the series as soon as I finish the series I began just after this book.
Date Finished: September 6th, 2007
After reading 'Seize The Night' a couple of months ago, I've been itching to get my hands on more of Dean Koontz's books, and by happy coincidence, my grandma recently picked up a couple more. So she lent me this one, and I loved it! Not quite as much as 'Seize The Night', but dang, it's still freakin' awesome! I don't want to spoil it, but it was utterly fascinating to see... certain events and people from such an unreal, unique perspective. Reading a fictional story about a fictional writer is something I've always found very amusing as well. I'm very much looking forward to reading more of Koontz's work, and heck, if I can find more science fiction writers who keep me this interested (I'm more of a fantasy genre girl, truth be told), I'll be happy to extend my boundries.
Now... what's Gran's phone number again?
Date Finished: July 22nd, 2007
Ahhh, well. It's all over now. It's been a wonderful ride, hasn't it? Well, I think so. I know a great many people were disappointed by the ending of this book, the infamous epilogue, but while I've been just as obsessed as most of them for a number of years now, I can't say I agree with them. Admittedly, I wasn't at all pleased with the whole book. In fact, I was torn to pieces by a certain character's unfortunate demise. The epilogue, in contrast, didn't phase me. It seemed like a fitting end to the journey. I think the people who've ranted and raved over the epilogue were expecting too much. Or expecting too strongly for things to turn out just the way they wanted them to, and it's not like Rowling could pander the finale to every fan's wishes, could she?
No, I'm content with the way we said goodbye to Harry and friends. I'm horribly disappointed (like any good fan) that the series is actually over, but to continue it would most definitely be overkill. I'm stoked by the idea of a 'Harry Potter' encyclopedia, but an 8th book? No, thanks. It would ruin everything by just... trying too hard.
I'll miss you, Potterverse, but there'll always be fanfiction. *grin*
Date Finished: July 15th - July 21st, 2007
The week before the release of the 7th and final 'Harry Potter' book was definitely a busy one for me. For months before hand, I'd been reminding myself constantly to re-read the series in preparation for the release of the final, to refresh myself on everything that had happened (even though I've read the books a number of times since I first became interested in them. Technically, I've now read the 1st book 5 times, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th books 8 times, the 5th book 3 times, and the 6th book 2 times), but never got around to it. Good thing I did eventually, though, because I'd forgotten a lot from the 5th and 6th books.
I'll always love this series. It's pretty much beyond my ability to explain why I adore it so much, but to be terribly lame and utterly clichéd, there's just something magical about it. At the same time, I do think Rowling needs to find herself a touch more originality (it really is obvious, when you know what you're seeing, that she's taken bits and pieces from numerous other fantasy novels). Regardless, she's created something very special, and I will for a very long time to come, if not always, have a special place in my heart for little Harry Potter, the best boy wizard who ever Lived.
Date Finished: June 25th, 2007
This book contained a number of elements that just don't interest me in a book. 1) Female lead characters. They all feel the same to me, and I always find them to be quite bland and uninteresting. 2) Love story as part of the main plot. Girl/boy romance = not my thing.
Are you shocked? Didn't think so.
While I found some parts and some characters fascinating enough to keep me reading, it didn't do much for me.
Date Finished: June 19th, 2007
Even though I just found out this is the second book in the 'Moonlight Bay' trilogy and I despise reading books out of the order intended, I'd say that just says something about the fact that this book can stand so well on its own. I absolutely adored it. Fucking awesome.
The main character, Chris, is immediately likeable, and all through the book his sense of humour, black though it may be at times, makes it even easier to get attached to him. His relationships with Bobby (who is an equally gorgeous character) and Orson are so touching; you can easily feel the depth of connection between them all.
That said, parts of the book totally freaked me out! I'll never look at a monkey without fear again. And I think my maggot and maggoty-like-creature hate just grew to phobic proportions. Everyone should read this book.
Date Finished: June 16th, 2007
This book was so different to what I was expecting. The 2004 version of the movie sure has a lot to answer for! Gerard Butler makes such a hot O.G., but in the book, he's hideously ugly; we're not just talking a few burn scars here. The book version Phantom is such a pitiful character. It was hard to hate him, but at the same time so easy. Christine and Raoul annoyed me to pieces.
My favourite character without a doubt was the Persian. The narration by Mr. Leroux was also a pleasant change from regular non-specific third-person view. :)
Date Finished: June 7th, 2007
My sister found this book on a train recently, and apparently she quite liked it. I can't say the same. I was kind of bored by it, to be honest. Not to mention confused. KGB this, SIS that, MI5 what, MI6 where, IRA which. Poland, Moscow, Berlin, London, America, Egypt. I couldn't keep track of half the stuff in there. So yeah. I guess it wasted some time, but that's about all it did for me.
Date Finished: June 1st, 2007
This book wrenched at me something immense. Just reading it felt... important. Somehow. I can't explain why; I'm not for any of the wars our world is waging upon itself all over the place right now, so why would I recommend a book about any war (or battle, in this case)? I don't know, but it really tore at me. Probably because it's not a completely fictionalised story. I nearly burst into tears a few times near the end. I would recommend it, though. I would. Though perhaps not to those with sensitive dispositions or weak stomachs.
Date Finished: UNKNOWN
This is an old school book that my grandma brought over from her house because my sister and I had stashed a bunch of deleted library books over there for some reason. I don't imagine many people would know it, or remember it if they'd read it, but there was something profound about this book. It was creepy and fascinating, and I loved it, but... Sorry if this is considered a spoiler, but I can't shake the feeling that the ending is somewhat metaphorical and much sadder than we (or younger people, or we when we were younger) might be lead to believe. I hope I'm wrong, but having a lot of experience with vague endings in fanfiction, I do wonder.
Nonetheless, it's a beautiful book and though I'm pretty sure it'd be horribly difficult to find in a bookstore, it is available online, so if you've got the cash resources to purchase it, I'd absolutely recommend doing so.
Date Finished: late March/early April (?).
omg omg omgomggomgoogm. Wow. Fantastic books. I know people say all these kinds of books are the same these days, but bugger them is what I say. I think they're unique and clever, and unlike anything I've read before. I can't even compare them to LotR or HP because the three series are on such different levels.
It's a shame 'Eragon' the movie sucked kind of hardcore, it really is. The book and film are so different as to practically be completely unrelated stories.
Date Finished: UNKNOWN
I've read this one before, but so many years ago that I hardly remembered the stories at all, and I can't deny it: I totally had giggles while reading this book. I know it's another young kids' book like the ones I so despised just below here, but the difference is that this book is actually, you know, funny. Surprise, surprise. You know what totally shocked me, though? Some of the illustrations throughout the book (the margins on every single page are chockablock with little drawings and cheesy jokes by the book's illustrator, Terry Denton, who, coincidentally, also illustrated 'S.N.A.G.' as previously mentioned below) are actually quite adult-oriented. And I'm talking shockingly so! The only way Denton gets away with it, I imagine, is that the age demographic who would normally read this book wouldn't figure it out with a compass and a high-powered torch. Tricky. Heh.
Date Finished: UNKNOWN
My God, these books were painful to read. Having run out of material of substance to chew on, I resorted to old kids'/young people books that were laying around, and I feel stupider for having done so. I know I was probably unimpressed by them because they're rather below my reading age, but ugh, do kids really like this shit? Little crappers.
Date Finished: UNKNOWN
This book made me sick and angry. I can't presume to know if it's all fact or properly represented fact, at least, and I'm aware it's perfectly biased, but my God. I pity, pity any American who lives under Bush Jr. and his current government's rule, even if only a handful of the facts are properly represented.
Date Finished: UNKNOWN
When I was an adolescent (HAHA, I can say that now!), I mowed my way through the horror section of my highschool library and anywhere else I could find horror books. For some reason, this 3-in-1 book ('3 Times The Fear') has been in the house for years, and I'd always assumed I'd read it. When I picked it up to read again in lieu of better materials, I discovered I hadn't in fact done so. Joy! Not the best books ever, but good for passing time and satisfying a reading itch.
Date Finished: UNKNOWN
For the third time, I think. Utterly awesome, as usual. I love Smaug. I know I shouldn't, but I can't help myself. And Beorn! He's great. Hairy, but great. Tell you who I don't like? Thorin. Bilbo was just trying to help! I'm really looking forward to the movie, once it's finally done (I suppose it has to get started before it gets done, though). New Line fucking sucks, however. WE WANT PJ!
Date Finished: UNKNOWN
What a killer story. I have to admit I got the inspiration to really read this because of an incredible HP fic where the characters perform this play. Diehard lit fans would think me terribly plebian for it, but I definitely enoyed it doubly because I was imagining Harry and Snape as Beatrice and Benedick the whole time, but what can I say? Fun's fun, and I had fun reading it.
