Thursday, August 06, 2009

May-July 2009 Book List

By the end of July, I had already read 61 books for 2009. More actually, because looking back on my list, I had forgotten to include some titles back in Feb-Mar.

May
1. The Thackery T. Lambshead Pocket Guide to Eccentric and Discredited Diseases (edited by Jeff Vandermeer and Mark Roberts)
2. The Sugar Queen (Sarah Addison Allen)
3. General Winston's Daughter (Sharon Shinn)
4. The Observations (Jane Harris)
5. Lady of Sherwood (Jennifer Roberson)

As mentioned in my last post, I also started reading Palimpsest by Cathrynne Valiente and The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson but finished neither, for different reasons.

June
1. Lady of the Glen (Jennifer Roberson)
2. Criss Cross (Lynne Rae Perkins)
3. A Curse Dark as Gold (Elizabeth C. Bunce)
4. Belle (Cameron Dokey)
5. Pretty Monsters (Kelly Link)
6. The Time Traveler's Wife (Audrey Niffenegger)
7. My Imaginary Ex (Mina V. Esguerra)
8. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks (E. Lockheart)
9. Carved in Stone (Linda Newbery)
10. The Mysterious Benedict Society (Trenton Lee Stewart)
11. When It Happens (Susane Colasanti)
12. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (Patricia McKillip)

July
1. Every Soul a Star (Wendy Mass)
2-5. Heartquest (Ring of the Ruby Dragon, Talisman of Valdegarde, Secret Sorceress, Isle of Illusion)
6. The Ninth Stone (Kylie Fitzpatrick)
7. Devil's Cub (Georgette Heyer)
8. Ransom My Heart (Mia Thermopolis)
9. The Historian (Elizabeth Kostova)
10-11. Murkmere and Ambergate (Patricia Elliot)
12. The Reluctant Heiress (Eva Ibbotson)

Just realized that I only read two male authors throughout this period, and I didn't even finish the other one. I'm not counting Mr. Vandermeer's work, though. I'm on my third book in August, and I still haven't picked up another title from a male author.


--
And because I can't guarantee that I'll edit this post to tell you what I think of each book, here's a list of my highly-recommended titles.

For those looking for a new perspective:
The Thackery T. Lambshead Pocket Guide to Eccentric and Discredited Diseases
Pretty Monsters (brilliant brilliant unpredictable brilliant)
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (lovely, lyrical fantasy)

For those who want a thrilling page-turner to keep them up at night:
The Historian (I'd be first in line at the theaters if this was ever made into a film)
A Curse Dark as Gold (a fairy tale retelling in the form of gothic YA)

For those who turn to books for their romantic fix:
The Time Traveler's Wife (has universal appeal despite the deliberately messy timeline)
My Imaginary Ex (fun chick lit from a local publisher)

For those who never outgrew their childhood:
Every Soul a Star (now one of my fave YA titles)
The Mysterious Benedict Society (engaging characters tackle nail-biting mysteries)