Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Year End Wrap Up

Totals: 163 books; 54,490 pages

TOP FICTION:
Rated 5
5. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, 350 pages 1/10 rating: 5
12. Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo, 528 pages, 1/23 rating: 5
32. Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell, 249 pages, 3/21, rating 5
33. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon , 636 pages, 3/26. rating 5
38. Atonement by Ian McEwan, 351 pages, 4/14, rating 5
67. Life of Pi by Yann Martel, 401 pages, 6/13, rating: 5
86. Infected by Scott Sigler, 342 pages, 7/6, rating: 5
87. The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon, 414 pages, 7/9, rating:5
92. Black Swan Green by David Mitchell, 294 pages, 7/19, rating: 5
114. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, 288 pages, 9/11, rating: 5
128. The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread by Don Robertson, 211 pages, 10/8, rating: 5
129. A Prayer for the Dying by Stewart O'Nan, 195 pages, 10/8, rating: 5
135. The Night Country by Stewart O'Nan, 229 pages, 10/21, rating: 5
136. Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan, 146 pages, 10/21, rating: 5

Rated 4.5
7. Run by Ann Patchett, 295 pages, 1/15 rating: 4.5
9. Blasphemy by Douglas Preston, 415 pages, highly recommended 1/18, rating:4.5
14. Duma Key by Stephen King, 609 pages, 1/31, 609 pages, rating:4.5
16. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon 226, pages, 2/7. rating 4.5
54. Apex Hides the Hurt by Colson Whitehead, 212 pages, 5/17, rating: 4.5
99. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See, 269 pages, 7/29, rating: 4.5
117. Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, 313 pages, 9/18, rating: 4.5
118. Eleanor Rigby by Douglas Coupland, 249 pages, 9/19, rating: 4.5
119. The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich, 389 pages, 9/22. rating: 4.5
120. Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan, 517 pages, 9/25. rating: 4.5
132. The Good Wife by Stewart O'Nan, 312 pages, 10/15, rating: 4.5
130. The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall, 423 pages, 10/11, rating: 4.5
138. Snow Angels by Stewart O'Nan, 305 pages, 10/28, rating: 4.5
145.Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 307 pages, 11/17, rating: 4.5
146. Plainsong by Kent Haruf , 301 pages, 11/18, rating: 4.5

TOP NONFICTION:
Rated 5
37. A Sense of the World by Jason Roberts, 402 pages, 4/11 rating:5
41. The Wild Trees by Richard Preston, 294 pages, 4/20, rating: 5
80. The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson, 301 pages, 7/1, rating: 5
115. The Grizzly Maze by Nick Jans, 274 pages, 9/12, rating: 5
137. American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin, 719 pages, 10/25, rating: 5
156. Precious Dust: The Saga of the Western Gold Rushes by Paula Mitchell Marks, 448 pages, 12/6, rating: 5

Rated 4.5
4. Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer, 207 pages, 1/8, rating 4.5
6. The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million by Daniel Mendelsohn, 513 pages, 1/13, rating: 4.5
34. The Secret Life of Lobsters by David Corson, 306 pages, 3/30, rating 4.5
61. The American Plague by Molly Caldwell Crosby, 308 pages, 6/3, rating:4.5
127. Stiff by Mary Roach, 294 pages, 10/7, rating: 4.5
143. Devil in the Details by Jennifer Traig, 246 pages, 11/12, rating: 4.5

BOTTOM:
60. Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon, 150 out of 356 pages, 6/1, rating: 0
Although a 0 rating means I did not finish the book, I skimmed through this whole book
106. Fairies by Janet Bord, 242 pages, 8/24, rating:1
123. The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, 340 pages, 9/30, rating: 1
8. Barrel Fever by David Sedaris, 196 pages, 1/16 rating:2
51. The Gathering by Anne Enright, 261 pages, 5/13, rating: 2
13. Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell, 326 pages, 1/27 rating:2.5
17. The Effect of Living Backwards by Heidi Julavits, 325 pages, 2/10, rating: 2.5
45. Riding in Cars with Boys by Beverly Donofrio, 204 pages, 4/29, rating: 2.5
48. How the Dead Live by Will Self, 404 pages, 5/8 rating: 2.5

===========
141.The Ideal, Genuine Man by Don Robertson, 276 pages, 11/6, no rating
As I said in my review, this is either a great book or a horrendous book
===========


Monthly list of books, pages, date reviewed, rating:

January -14 books; 4720 pages
1. The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean, 284 pages 1/1 rating:4
2. The Giver by Lois Lowry, 180 pages, 1/2 rating: 4
3. Martin Dressler by Steven Millhauser, 293 pages, 1/6 rating: 4
4. Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer, 207 pages, 1/8, rating 4.5
5. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, 350 pages 1/10 rating: 5
6. The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million by Daniel Mendelsohn, 513 pages, 1/13, rating: 4.5
7. Run by Ann Patchett, 295 pages, 1/15 rating: 4.5
8. Barrel Fever by David Sedaris, 196 pages, 1/16 rating:2
9. Blasphemy by Douglas Preston, 415 pages, highly recommended 1/18, rating:4.5
10 A Child Called "It" by David Pelzer, 184 pages 1/19 rating: 3
11. The Lost Boy by David Pelzer, 340 pages 1/19 rating:3
12. Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo, 528 pages, 1/23 rating:5
13. Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell, 326 pages, 1/27 rating:2.5
14. Duma Key by Stephen King, 609 pages, 1/31, 609 pages, rating:4.5

February - 9 books; 3814 pages
15. Einstein by Walter Isaacson, 675 pages, 2/6, rating: 3.5
16. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon 226, pages, 2/7. rating 4.5
17. The Effect of Living Backwards by Heidi Julavits, 325 pages, 2/10, rating: 2.5
18. The Swarm by Frank Schatzing 881 pages 2/15 rating: 4
19. & 20 Obernewtyn & The Farseekers by Isobelle Carmody, 440 pages, 2/18, rating: 3
21. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes, 280 pages, 2/21, rating: 4
22. The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty, 335 pages, 2/23, rating: 3.95
23. The Rest of Her Life by Laura Moriarty, 303 pages, 2/25, rating: 4
24. The Uses of Enchantment by Heidi Julavits, 354 pages, 2/27, rating 2.9

March - 11 books; 4475 pages
25. Firestar by Michael Flynn, 573 pages, 3/6, rating 4
26. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder, 352 pages 3/8
27. Life and Times of Michael K by J. M. Coetzee, 184 pages, 3/9, rating 4
28. Rogue Star by Michael Flynn, 570 pages, 3/12, rating 3.5
29. Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult, 447 pages 3/14, rating 4
30. Lodestar by Michael Flynn, 365 pages, 3/16 rating 3.5
31. Falling Stars by Michael Flynn, 414 pages, 3/18, rating 4
32. Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell, 249 pages, 3/21, rating 5
33. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon , 636 pages, 3/26. rating 5
34. The Secret Life of Lobsters by David Corson, 306 pages, 3/30, rating 4.5
35. The Culled by Simon Spurrier, 379 pages, 3/31

April - 10 books, 3167 pages
36. Event by David Lynn Golemon, 482, 4/4
37. A Sense of the World by Jason Roberts, 402 pages, 4/11 rating:5
38. Atonement by Ian McEwan, 351 pages, 4/14, rating 5
39. Here, There Be Dragons (The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica) by James A. Owen, 326 pages, 4/16
40. The Search for the Red Dragon by James A. Owen, 371 pages, 4/18
41. The Wild Trees by Richard Preston, 294 pages, 4/20, rating: 5
42. The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier, 253 pages, 4/22, rating: 4
43. Dahlia's Gone by Katie Estill, 239 pages, 4/24, rating: 3.5
44. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell, 245 pages, 4/27, rating: 4
45. Riding in Cars with Boys by Beverly Donofrio, 204 pages, 4/29, rating: 2.5

May - 14 books, 4824 pages
46. The Maytrees by Annie Dillard , 216 pages, 5/5, rating: 4
47. The Mothman Prophecies by John Keel , 272 pages, 5/6
48. How the Dead Live by Will Self, 404 pages, 5/8 rating: 2.5
49. Microserfs by Douglas Coupland, 371 pages, 5/11, rating: 3.9
50. Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade by Patrick Dennis, 299 pages, 5/12,
no rating
51. The Gathering by Anne Enright, 261 pages, 5/13, rating: 2
52. Amsterdam by Ian McEwan, 193 pages, 5/14, rating: 4
53. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, 370 pages, 5/16. rating: 3.5
54. Apex Hides the Hurt by Colson Whitehead, 212 pages, 5/17, rating: 4.5
55. The Terror by Dan Simmons, 769 pages, 5/20, rating: 4
56. The Way the Crow Flies by Ann-Marie MacDonald, 722 pages, 5/23, rating 4
57. Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris, 137 pages, 5/25, no rating
58. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, 372 pages, 5/29, rating 4
59. Born On A Blue Day by Daniel Tammet, 226 pages, 5/30, rating 3.5

June - 20 books, 6094 pages
60. Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon, 150 out of 356 pages, 6/1, rating: 0
61. The American Plague by Molly Caldwell Crosby, 308 pages, 6/3, rating:4.5
62. The Puttermesser Papers by Cynthia Ozick, 236 pages, 6/5, not rated
63. A Boy of Good Breeding by Miriam Toews, 237 pages, 6/6, rating: 4
64. A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews, 246 pages, 6/8, rating: 4
65. The Ruins by Scott Smith, 319 pages, 6/9, rating: 3.9
66. Plague Year by Jeff Carlson, 292 pages, 6/11, not rated
67. Life of Pi by Yann Martel, 401 pages, 6/13, rating: 5
68. Blindsight by Peter Watts, 384 pages, 6/14, rating: 3
69. Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich, 321 pages, 6/15, rating: 2.9
70. Four to Score by Janet Evanovich, 313 pages, 6/16, rating: 2.9
71. High Five by Janet Evanovich, 317, 6/17, not rated
72. Goodnight, Irene by Jan Burke, 351 pages, 6/19, not rated
73. Liar by Jan Burke, 388 pages, 6/20, not rated
74. Undercurrents by Ridley Pearson, 100 pages (reread/ didn't finish) 6/21, no rating
75. Bone Cold by Erica Spindler, 506 pages, 6/22, not rated
76. Dead Run by Erica Spindler, 466 pages, 6/24, not rated
77. Sleeping Dogs by Thomas Perry, 308 pages, 6/25, not rated
78. Blood Money by Thomas Perry, 371 pages, 6/27, not rated
79. In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming, 358 pages (read 80) 6/29, not rated

July - 20 books, 6197 pages
80. The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson, 301 pages, 7/1, rating: 5
81. Peoples of the World by Mirella Ferrera, 320 pages, 7/2, not rated
82. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks, 315 pages, 7/3, rating: 3
83. Cold Plague by Daniel Kalla, 335 pages, 7/4, rating: 4
84. World Made by Hand by James Howard Kunstler, 317 pages, 7/5, rating: 3.5
85. Pest Control by Bill Fitzhugh, 306 pages, 7/5, rating: 4
86. Infected by Scott Sigler, 342 pages, 7/6, rating: 5
87. The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon, 414 pages, 7/9, rating: 5
88. The Usual Rules by Joyce Maynard, 390 pages, 7/10, rating: 4
89. The Sugar House by Laura Lippman, 42 pages - did not finish.
90. Bloom by Wil McCarthy, 310 pages, 7/14, rating: 3.5
91. Pandemic by Daniel Kalla, 407 pages, 7/17, rating: 4
92. Black Swan Green by David Mitchell, 294 pages, 7/19, rating: 5
93. Lullaby Town by Robert Crais, 317 pages, 7/21, rating: 4
94. Free Fall by Robert Crais, 288 pages, 7/22, rating: 3.9
95. Voodoo River by Robert Crais, 383 pages, 7/23, rating: 4
96. Indigo Slam by Robert Crais, 307 pages, 7/24, rating: 4
97. The Forgotten Man by Robert Crais, 356 pages, 7/25, rating: 4
98. Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner, 184 pages, 7/28, rating: 2.9
99. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See, 269 pages, 7/29, rating: 4.5

August - 10 books, 3666 pages
100. Critical Judgment by Michael Palmer, 450 pages, 8/1, rating:3.9
101. Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg, 365 pages, 8/7, rating:3.75
102. Horse Heaven by Jane Smiley, 561 pages, 8/17, rating: 4
103. Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart, 282 pages, 8/18, no rating
104. Reservation Road by John Burnham Schwartz, 292 pages, 8/20, rating:4
105. The Sea by John Banville, 195 pages, 8/22, rating: 4
106. Fairies by Janet Bord, 242 pages, 8/24, rating:1
107. San Francisco Is Burning by Dennis Smith, 294 pages, 8/27, rating: 4
108. Last Orders by Graham Swift, 295 pages, 8/28, rating: 4
109. Desperation by Stephen King, 690 pages, 8/31, rating: 4

September - 14 books, 4372 pages
110. Goodnight, Nebraska by Tom McNeal, 314 pages, 9/2, rating: 4
111. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, 290 pages, 9/4, rating: 4
112. Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson, 219 pages, 9/6, rating: 3
113. Getting Stoned with Savages by J. Maarten, 239 pages, 9/9, rating: 4
114. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, 288 pages, 9/11, rating: 5
115. The Grizzly Maze by Nick Jans, 274 pages, 9/12, rating: 5
116. The Keep by Jennifer Egan, 255 pages, 9/15, rating 3.5
117. Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, 313 pages, 9/18, rating: 4.5
118. Eleanor Rigby by Douglas Coupland, 249 pages, 9/19, rating: 4.5
119. The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich, 389 pages, 9/22, rating: 4.5
120. Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan, 517 pages, 9/25. rating: 4.5
121. In the Woods by Tana French, 429 pages, 9/27, rating: 3.9
122. 20th Century Pop Culture by Dan Epstein, 256 pages, 9/29, not rated
123. The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, 340 pages, 9/30, rating: 1

October - 16 books, 5129 pages
124. The Sportswriter by Richard Ford, 375 pages, 10/2, rating: 3.9
125. Independence Day by Richard Ford, 451 pages, 10/5, rating: 4
126. What-the-Dickens by Gregory Maguire, 295 pages, 10/5, rating: 3.9
127. Stiff by Mary Roach, 294 pages, 10/7, rating: 4.5
128. The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread by Don Robertson, 211 pages, 10/8, rating: 5
129. A Prayer for the Dying by Stewart O'Nan, 195 pages, 10/8, rating: 5
130. The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall, 423 pages, 10/11, rating: 4.5
131. The Speed Queen by Stewart O'Nan, 212 pages, 10/13, rating: 3.9
132. The Good Wife by Stewart O'Nan, 312 pages, 10/15, rating: 4.5
133. All Families are Psychotic by Douglas Coupland, 279 pages, 10/17, rating: 4
134. Miss Wyoming by Douglas Coupland, 311 pages, 10/19, rating: 3.9
135. The Night Country by Stewart O'Nan, 229 pages, 10/21, rating: 5
136. Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan, 146 pages, 10/21, rating: 5
137. American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer
by Kai Bird, Martin J. Sherwin, 719 pages, 10/25, rating: 5
138. Snow Angels by Stewart O'Nan, 305 pages, 10/28, rating: 4.5
139. Darwinia by Robert Charles Wilson, 372 pages, 10/30, rating: 3.5

November - 13 books, 4703 pages
140. The Physician's Tale by Ann Benson, 655 pages, 11/3, rating: 4
141.The Ideal, Genuine Man by Don Robertson, 276 pages, 11/6, no rating
142. The Genesis Code by John Case, 435 pages, 11/10, Rating: 4
143. Devil in the Details by Jennifer Traig, 246 pages, 11/12, rating: 4.5
144. The Names of the Dead by Stewart O'Nan, 399 pages, 11/14, rating: 4
145.Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 307 pages, 11/17, rating: 4.5
146. Plainsong by Kent Haruf , 301 pages, 11/18, rating: 4.5
147. Eventide by Kent Haruf, 300 pages, 11/18, rating: 4
148. The Disappeared by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, 374 pages, 11/20, rating: 4
149. Extremes by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, 373 pages, 11/22, rating:4
150. Buried Deep by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, 372 pages, 11/24, rating: 4
151. Old Man's War by John Scalzi, 318 pages, 11/26, rating: 4
152. The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi, 347 pages, 11/29, rating: 3.9

December – 11 books, 3329
153. Plague War by Jeff Carlson, 289 pages, 12/1, no rating
154. Federal Bodysnatchers and the New Guinea Virus by Robert S. Desowitz, 242 pages, 12/1 rating: 3.9
155. The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough, 302 pages, 12/4, rating: 5, (re-read)
156. Precious Dust: The Saga of the Western Gold Rushes by Paula Mitchell Marks, 448 pages, 12/6, rating: 5
157.The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips, 90 pages, Rating: 0
158. The Road to Wellville by T.C. Boyle, 476 pages, 12/9, rating: 4.5, (re-read)
159. The Secret River by Kate Grenville, 334 pages, 12/12, rating: 4
160. Esther by Leonard Sanders, 294 pages, 12/16, rating: 3.5
161. I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris, 305 pages, 12/19, rating 4
162. The Used World by Haven Kimmel, 308 pages, 12/24, rating: 3
163. Children of Men by P.D. James, 241 pages, 12/30, reread

1 comment:

Jane said...

Wow! You are my reading hero!
I love the way you listed your top picks in fiction & non fiction.