read 25 books in 2008

Another installment in this YA super-series. I think this is really fun and creative, and quite enjoyable for all ages. _{especially between reading Locke and Steinbeck}

There’s only one more; the Time Paradox, which just came out on the 15th. I really can’t wait.

Far less depressing than most of Steinbeck’s work, Cannery Row actually borders on hopeful, with it’s lovely character study of those with and without means in difficult times. There are no bad guys in the piece, and Steinbeck is careful to describe each of the characters in the most positive light, much as they would see themselves. The conflict, then, is between all these people and the environment of scarcity.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a fast read, a classic, and a great character study for those who are trying to master the art of writing fiction.

This book was recommended to me by the superb ethnohistorian, Ron Takaki, as a superb summary of “recent” (defined as the last 50 or so years) scholarship on pre-contact American society.

It is excellent. Some things that should be in High School American History textbooks, but aren’t:

1) The population of North and South America was likely more than 80-120 Million in 1491; about the same as that of Europe

2) Roughly 95% of the inhabitants were killed by European borne diseases in the 15th and 16th centuries

3) The Americas invented the concept of zero about 500 years before Eurasia.

4) The entire concept of freedom and liberty that is the basis of most modern society likely originated with the Iroquois.

5) The stunning losses caused by disease and the fractuous in-fighting between the tribes caused the downfall of the major Indian cultures.

6) The Americas had some of the largest cities in the world around 1000 AD

This is a young-adult book in the same family as “A year down yonder”, which was actually the second in the series. I enjoyed that one so much that I decided to read this one.

It is written as a series of linked short stories about the two weeks each summer a boy and his sister stay at their grandmother’s, throughout the 30’s. The theme is one of independence and doing the right thing, regardless of what others think of you, and the character of Grandma is so delightful that I don’t hesitate to recommend these two books.

This was nothing short of life-altering. This one man has arguably done more to shape our world than any other before or since, and he did it with a pen. What a fantastic book to read in the original. We’re all familiar with Locke’s philosophy (read the Declaration of Independence for a nice summary) but to see him construct his flawless arguments is nothing short of remarkable.

Great book, but a difficult read. Steinbeck isn’t a cheery author in the best of times, but this one is really quite dark, and a clear metaphor for his own bitter-sweet experience with success.

Still it was haunting, and I will recall it and refer to it for years to come.

This is the fourth of five Artemis Fowl books. It was excellent; probably the best of the first four. I’ve really enjoyed every one of them, though. The characters are really fun and interesting, and the imagination of the author just astounds me.

I can see why this book is a “Must Read” on most book lists. It is a groundbreaking novel in structure, even if the gothic style is reminiscent of Mauham, Faulkner and other turn of the century authors. Some times it seemed to go on too long, taking topics that were trite and boring and elevating them to the level of tedious. Still, it was worth the read, and the last section, written in first person, was what made the novel for me. I will indeed read more.

Another book courtesy of my 13 year old daughter.

This was my favorite of the series so far. I think the first one was quite genuine and creative, but the writing was a bit rough. The quality of the prose was better on this one, and the creative spark is still quite good.

Recommended for young readers.

Ok, I was desperate. I mean, Scoopster’s blazing through this goal, already on book 16, and I’m mired down in Locke and De Tocqueville. And this was on my reading list anyway, courtesy of my daughter.

It was…excellent. Eoin Colfer is really clever, and his writing improves over time. This one solved the problem of “the unstoppable butler” in a very clever way, and brought us a much more flawed bodyguard in the form of his kid sister.

A great read. I think I’ll go ahead and finish the series.