Everybody lies

posted on Wednesday, March, 10th, 2010 in reading matter

I have read 115 books last year. When I went through my list and tried to come up with a Top Ten list of the ones I enjoyed the most it was just as hard as every year. The ones that jumped at me first (Stephen King’s Dark Tower series) would have taken up 7 places on that list, but since they were re-reads I thought that wouldn’t really be fair.

But going through the list I couldn’t help compiling some statistics:

No. of books not finished: 11

No. of bookrings and -rays through Bookcrossing: 16

No. of books I got from the library (I had to guess on that one, since I don’t write that down):  25

No. of books in german:  21 (most of those were non-fiction books and came from the library)

No. of non-fiction books: 34

No. of collections of short stories: 2

No. of audiobooks: 2 (both of whom I didn’t finish)

No. of graphic novels: 2

No. of YA and children’s books:  5

I find those numbers quite interesting and in come cases surprising. For one, I could have sworn I listened to more audiobooks last year, so either I forgot to list some of them or I am imagining things and hearing voices that aren’t there. Both possibilities are equal, I guess.

I also thought I would have read more YA lit and short stories. Since I am pretty sure that I never forgot to log an actual physical book that passed through my hands, I will have to accept that those numbers don’t lie.

As I said, picking favorites is not easy, even if I leave out re-reads and non-fiction books (an honorable mention has to go to “Catcher in the rye”, which I rediscovered by accident after loathing it with a passion – after re-reading it I now love it equally as passionately).

I went on a serious Preston & Child reading binge, thanks to my rediscovered love for Agent Pendergast. But the kinds of thrillers those two write are like fast food: fun to read, but not very filling. Same goes for Michael Chrichton, whom I gave a chance for the first time last year. His books are entertaining, but nothing that stays with me for long.

As always it is easier for me to pick the bad examples, the books that either bored me to tears or annoyed me or just generally seemed pointless. I call this one my Twilight-category.

Biggest disappointments 2009:

Mary Roach – Bonk

After loving “Stiff” so much I had high expectations for this one. Alas, although it is mildly funny, it didn’t really hold my interest and I ended up skimming the second half of the book just to get it over with. Maybe it was just the subject matter: I find rotting corpses endlessly more fascinating than human mating and sexual rituals, make of that what you want. *shrug*

JG Ballard – The Drought  + The Drowned World

I gave this guy 2 chances to impress me, but both times he failed miserably. Seldom have I read more boring books set in post-apocalyptic settings. Post-apo is normally my favorite genre, but Ballard’s other books got kicked off my wishlist after I tried to slug my way through those 2 meandering stories.

Julian Barnes – England, England + Love, etc.

I don’t remember why I ever put Julian Barnes’ books on my wishlist anyway (it must have been a recommendation from someone), but the two I tried to read bored me silly. That man has such an awful writing style that it turned reading his books into work. Definitely not an author I will ever give another chance.

Stephen King – Duma Key (audio)

The first Stephen King novel I absolutely could not finish. I found my attention wandering every five minutes and had to rewind to the start of the chapter a couple of times, because I couldn’t for the life of me remember what had happened.  I gave up 5 or so chapters in. Maybe audiobooks just aren’t my thing, but I doubt that this one is any better on paper.

Anita Diamant – The Last Days of Dogtown

Another instance of too high expectations. Loved “The Red Tent”, but this one, while not really bad, just left me cold.

Christopher Moore – Practical Demonkeeping

This is the second and in all probability the last book of this author I read. I can’t count the numbers of times I have read high praise for him and how hysterically funny he is supposed to be. I read “Fluke” the year before and now this one and I just don’t get it. Give me Carl Hiaasen and Christopher Brookmyre any day, but Moore is off my reading list.

Stieg Larsson – The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

This one was easily the disappointment of the year for me, although I should have known better than to trust the hype. Again, not exactly a really bad book per sé, but I didn’t like it much at all and I completely fail to see what is supposed to make it such a hit. It went on for far longer than it had to, the female main character is fucking annoying, and half the story is about things that are completely irrelevant to the main plot (maybe they get relevant in the sequels, but I am not going to read them to find out).

Alice Walker – Now is the time to open your heart

I have no idea what this book was supposed to be about. I threw it aside after 50 pages or so.

Marina Lewycka – Two Caravans

Another one I just couldn’t bring myself to finish. Her first book was so great that I kept trying to enjoy this one, but it just didn’t work. The scenes with the chickens did it for me and that was it.

Margaret Forster – Keeping the World Away

Nothing much to say about this one. It was easily readable, but meandered along a bit pointlessly and was easily forgettable.

Iris Murdoch – The Message to the Planet

My first and last Iris Murdoch. No idea what this one is about either. It was so dense and hard to read that I ended up pondering single words or sentences and immediately forgot the plot – if, indeed, it has any.  Gave up after a couple tries, because I just couldn’t bring myself to pick it up again.

Top Ten of most enjoyable books 2009:

Christopher Brookmyre – One fine day in the middle of the night

He is a new discovery for me and I think I will have a lot of fun with his other books as well if this one is any indication.

Richard Russo – Straight Man

Ruso just never disappoints. I have read almost all of his books now and they are firmly in the “can be re-read anytime”-stack on my shelves.

Alan Moore – Watchmen

Who would have thought that I could enjoy graphic novels so much? Certainly not me. Usually the story arcs in graphic novels (or, as I still call them: comics) are too short for my taste and it hardly seems worth it to start reading them. But this one seemed to go on forever and had an actual, intricate story to tell. Once I was finished I’d have loved to start over again right away. Unfortunately I had to send it on its way, but I will get myself an own copy.

Michel Faber – Under The Skin

This one was quite a surprise. I picked it up in a secondhand shop in London, because the blurb sounded vaguely interesting. The story turned out to be something completely different from what I expected, but I enjoyed it a lot.

Eminem – The Way I Am

What can I say? I just love the guy. Not only his music, but him as a person. It was great to read his story in his own words and see all those rather private photos and his scribbled song lyrics. This is the only big format hardcover book I bought at full price in the last couple of years – and I don’t regret a Cent of it.

Allen Steele – Coyote

Judging from the reading list I did slide back into science fiction quite a bit last year. This is one of the books responsible for that. I had never heard of the guy before, but couldn’t put the book down after I started it. The 2 sequels are already waiting on my TBR shelf.

Larry Niven et. al. – Falling Angels

Another sci fi story. An enjoyable romp through science fiction fandom. Good story and frequent chuckles. Love it.

Neal Stephenson – Snow Crash

The first book of this author I read, but certainly not the last one. Mindbending ideas about the future of the internet, great characters and a plot that doesn’t let up. Awesome.

Joanne Harris – Runemarks

Tis is one of the YA books I read last year. Totally different from Joanne Harris’ other books, but just as enjoyable. Sometimes, when reading such books, I am a little bit sad not to have a daughter I could share them with.

Octavia E. Butler – Kindred

It is a tragedy that Ms. Butler died already. She was such a talented storyteller. This is the third of her books I have read and I enjoyed them all immensely. I am spacing out the other ones, because I still want to have something to look forward to from her.

All in all 2009 was not a bad reading year. 2010 is shaping up to be even better, I think. I am already on book #27 (Garth Nix – Sabriel) and even though many of them were gardening books, there were also some really good novels as well.