2009 Recap

I know I'm a little late in the game for posting my year in review for 2009 at least compared to many other people, but I think early January is still just as much game as December. The following are my stats for the year reading-wise, hope you enjoy:

Read in 2009: 41

Books read over 1000 pages: 3

Books read 500 to 1000 pages: 8

Biggest surprises: The Man Who Was Thursday and Revenge of the Sith

I never thought I would ever enjoy a novelization of a movie, but Revenge of the Sith was amazing. I now own Heroes Die by Matthew Stover because this guy has a way with words.

Rereads: 3

I did a reread of the Lord of the Rings trilogy on audiobook. Rob Ingles was the narrator and it was really well done; he even sings all the songs and poems in the books.

Most read publisher: Tor with 10 books

Couldn’t finish: 3

I got 300 pages into The Stand by Stephen King and had to put it down. I didn't like any of the characters but maybe one and the story dragged. I still don't get the hubbub. I also own three more Stephen King books in the Dark Tower series, so we'll see if I ever get to them.

Book blog contests won: 6

It was my lucky year. I couldn't believe it. The following are the books and blogs:

Dust of Dreams, by Steven Erikson - Ubiquitous Absence
The Gathering Storm, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson - Only the Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Bauchelain and Korbal Broach (novellas in the Malazan series), by Erikson - Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
7th Son: Descent, by J.C. Hutchins- Graeme's Fantasy Book Review
The Magicians, by Lev Grossman - SFF Chat
Malice, by Chris Wooding - SciFiGuy


"Short" stories read: 2


These "short" stories were each over 100 pages, so not extremely short, but not enough to count in the books read category. Both were in Dreamsongs by George R. R. Martin: The Hedge Knight, and The Skin Trade. The Hedge Knight is a novella in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, which is one of my favorite series and The Skin Trade was a little fun reading I had for Halloween since it was about werewolves.

Audio books: 11

My Top Ten of 2009:

1. Memories of Ice – Erikson

2. Starship Troopers – Heinlein

3. The Lies of Locke Lamora – Lynch

4. Revenge of the Sith – Stover

5. The Bonehunters – Erikson

6. Dune – Herbert

7. Warbreaker – Sanderson

8. Midnight Tides – Erikson

9. Night of Knives – Esslemont

10. The Man Who Was Thursday - Chesterton

This is my attempt to put these books in order from my favorite to lesser favorites, but it was so close that it's really almost impossible to say I liked any a lot more than the others. The difference is really negligible. Lord of the Rings would definitely be on here, but I didn't count rereads. These are all rated 5 stars, so go to town.

This was really fun to do and I am probably the biggest fan of lists that you'll ever meet. It's the economist in me that does it. If you can think of anything more to add, please say so. Have a great year in reading!