What is the best book you've read this year? And...what is on your

[AgadorSparticus]

To Be Read pile?

[jobycom]

1. Tracy Chevalier's "The Virgin Blue."

I have her "Falling Angels" beside my bed now, but I haven't been in a reading mood lately.

[OKDem08]

2. best: Night by Elie Wiesel

to read list: Will Pitt's books

[AgadorSparticus]

3. This book is in my TBB (To Be Bought) pile. You'll have to post about

Falling Angels when you are done with it.

[jobycom]

4. The Virgin Blue, you mean?

Chevalier's become my favorite for the moment. I just finished The Lady and the Unicorn (fantastic), too. "The Virgin Blue" is my favorite, so far, although it took me a while to warm to it. It's a book that will stick with you long after you're finished.

[AgadorSparticus]

6. yes, The Virgin Blue. It sounds like a great read.

I've read The Girl with a Pearl Earring when it first came out and loved it. I like Chevalier's style in that book and I hope Hyacinth is just as good.

I'm currently reading Shantaram and it's too early yet for me to come to any conclusions. I had read somewhere on here that it is a good book to read. We shall see.

[jobycom]

13. I got hooked after TGWTPE, too.

I was worried she couldn't live up to that, and when I started reading Virgin I felt I was right. But somewhere along the way it kicked in, and the ending was overwhelming. She builds a constant suspense through the book, too, in a way few writers can do. You anticipate everything as it is happening, either longing for or dreading what she seems to be leading to. Brilliantly done. It's the kind of book to make an amateur writer like me give up with feelings on inadequecy.

[yellowdogintexas]

17. All of Tracy Chevalier's books are very good.

I loved "Virgin Blue", "Falling Angels" and "Unicorn and the Lady"

The ending to Virgin Blue really kicked ass, didn't it?

[AgadorSparticus]

22. That is why I hesitated too on reading any of her follow up books.

But after reading so many good reviews, I am hooked. I must find out now for myself. I love historic fictions.

[bookman]

5. 1776

And I found out George Washington could not be a Republican. He's willing to admit mistakes.

:)

[Richardo]

10. Astonishing book...

Makes you realize how much this country owes to Washington, his vision, discipline and powers of persuasion.

Makes the recent TV show naming Reagan "Greatest American Ever" that much more of a laughable travesty.

[progressivepolitics]

7. The Kite Runner

the Kite Runner

[flamingyouth]

16. I just picked that up

It's on my list. Looks good. :)

BTW - welcome to DU! :hi:

[peaches2003]

24. It is!

It's wonderful; best I've read this year also. Am looking forward to his next, coming Summer 2006.

[jannyk]

43. One more Kite Runner enthusiast here

I found it a very powerful and poignant read. Can't wait to read more by the author.

[spindrifter]

57. Truly a great book. I'm

eager to read his next.

[shenmue]

8. Strange

Ordinarily I read at least a few dozen books a year, but since I lost my job I just haven't had the will for it. Don't think I've finished a book for months. Right now I'm trying to get through "The Runes of the Earth" by Stephen Donaldson. I like almost everything else he's ever done. It's just that I can't concentrate these days.

I'm really waiting for the new Fran Lebowitz book to come out, and the new Al Franken one as well. Lebowitz's in particular. Should be stellar.

[Bullwinkle925]

29. I hope you get back on the reading binge again. I understand your

feelings, though - it is hard to concentrate when you have problems going on.

Get better!

:hi:

[Rowdyboy]

9. Currently enjoying "Dance of Death" by Doug Preston and Lincoln Childs

Favorite so fat this year is "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire".

[Richardo]

11. "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"

Followed closely by "Assassination Vacation" and "1776".

[peaches2003]

25. Terrific book

One of my favorites and a huge hit with book clubs. You'll laugh, you'll cry, it's a gem.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

12. Skallagrigg by William Horwood

It's about a girl called Esther with cerebral palsy and her quest to uncover the truth behind the Skallagrigg - a mythical being said to rescue the disabled from their torments in times past.

Second favorite would be Jonathon Coe's satire on eighties Britian cum farce - "What a Carve Up!".

I've got a tonne of stuff to read (although none of it new this year( including "An Instance of the Fingerpost", "House of Leaves" and "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay".

[Richardo]

14. On my 'to read' list: 'Lincoln Lawyer' by Michael Connolly

As soon as I'm done with 'Guns, Germs and Steel'.

[peaches2003]

51. Lincoln Lawyer

I purchased it yesterday for my daughter-in-law as a Christmas gift. Heard it was great.

QUESTION: If I'm very careful is it alright if I read it before I wrap it? Has anyone done that?

[flamingyouth]

15. Carlos Ruiz Zafon's "Shadow of the Wind"

An excellent read. :thumbsup:

[catbert836]

38. Seconded!

n/t

[yellowdogintexas]

18. Best book this year?????

That is hard to say. I read a lot of mystery and light fiction, and fantasy stuff too.

Best literary fiction I read this year was Phillip Roth's newest novel..and the name of it escapes me but it is the one that just cam out in paperback. I really did like it even if I can't get the name to jump into my head. (on edit: "The Plot Against America" duh!)


my to read pile is pretty tall:

The REd Tent
God's Politics

various mystery novels, and a couple of other fantasy novels.
and I will be reading A Feast for Crows as soon as it is released.

[Angry Girl]

19. Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

And I'd like to check out his Baroque series.

[bemildred]

20. "The Master and Margarita" -- Bulgacov

Also read "Anna Karinina", which was good, but not as good.
And three or four Jane Austen novels.

[raindrop]

37. Master and Margarita

M&M is an incredible book. I wish we had a writer with Bulgakov's urbane wit and cutting satire to chronicle the imbecilities of the Bush administration. Bulgakov had a sad life--most of his works were banned while he was alive and he died in his 40s without ever being permitted to leave the Soviet Union--but I suppose you could say that he had the last laugh over totalitarianism, because M&M is now a classic around the world, and revered in Russia.

[Dorian Gray]

21. Steinbeck's East of Eden.

I loved it.

TBR: I have a lot! I want to tackle Candide this year. And The Brother's K. I also have some "trashier" and lighter fare to read.

[Ezlivin]

56. Steinbeck rules!

Hearing someone mention a John Steinbeck novel is wonderful. I really enjoy his writings.

Although I've read nearly all of his work, I still think that "East of Eden" is better than "The Grapes of Wrath."

[pitohui]

23. cloud atlas by david mitchell

don't miss this one

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

26. I thought it was okay

and cleverly constructed, but I much preferred Ghostwritten and number9dream.

[pitohui]

27. haven't read ghostwritten

will have to look for it, thanks

[Jean Louise Finch]

28. Never Let Me Go - kazuo ishiguro

and to be read: On Beauty, zadie smith's new one.

[smbjoe]

30. Must read 3 Wise Men by Stephen Buckler

This book is better than Da Vinci Code, if you like a good political thriller and aren't some conservative republican type, then read it. you'll never guess who the "terorists" are

[Laura PourMeADrink]

66. thanks for the tip. If you like political thrillers, you would love

The Camel Club - Balducci. Just finished it = excellent page turner with a whole lot of current wisdom..

[terrya]

31. The best book I've read this year is "The March" by E. L. Doctorow.

Folks...this is a superb book. Doctorow is one of America's best writers. And once again, he's produced a first-rate novel. In this case, about General William Techumseh Sherman's march through the South. Vivid characters...including Sherman himself and other real life characters. Plus, one of the fictional characters is Coalhouse Walker...father of Coalhouse Walker, Jr, from Doctorow's "Ragtime"

Read it when you get a chance.

On my to read list: Middlemarch by George Eliot. I just started "The Magnificent Ambersons" by Booth Tarkington. I bought these books from Barnes and Noble...they have a pretty decent classics section.

[Richardo]

35. Thanks, terrya - the Doctorow sounds great.

:thumbsup:

[graywarrior]

32. Harry Potter

LOVED them.

Problem is, now I'm spoiled and can't get into anything else for now.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

33. Have you read the Phillip Pullman trilogy

"His Dark Materials"? Highly, highly recommended.

1. Northern Lights (aka The Golden Compass in US)
2. The Subtle Knife
3. The Amber Spyglass

The His Dark Materials trilogy is the masterpiece in three books by Philip Pullman, loosely based upon the classic Paradise Lost, and told with a power and skill matched by few other writers. The trilogy has won many awards, including the prestigious Whitbread Prize, the first ever "Children's" book to do so; but this is a work that is appealing and powerful no matter what your age.

When 11 year old Lyra Belacqua attempts to rescue her best friend Roger from kidnappers, she has no idea what she’s getting into. She soon finds herself on a quest that will take her from her home at Jordan College in Oxford to the deep North. She will befriend gyptians, witches, talking bears and a Texas balloonist. She will be followed by mechanical spies and kidnapped by Samoyan hunters. She will be betrayed, and she will betray. All the while guided by the Alethiometer, a truth-telling, compass-like instrument that runs on the mysterious Dust, it has been prophesied by the witches of the North that Lyra is the one destined to bring about the end of Destiny…

http://www.bridgetothestars.net/index.php?p=trilogy

Available for the bargain price of $14-26 from:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0440238609/002-1613757-6996865?v=glance

(beware of spoilers lurking all over the internet. Something happens in the 3rd book that has been heavily written about.)

[goddess40]

46. I love those books

they are a great read and they're just as good on tape. The author reads part and there is a cast of actors that play all the different parts. My youngest is reading the series now.

[tammywammy]

41. I'm also going with Harry Potter

I love love love Harry Potter! :loveya:

And it's not just reading it either, it's the whole build up. Counting down the days until I get it. Waiting for the mail to finally arrive and then staying up late to read as much as I can before I can't force my eyes open anymore.

There's not been another book this year and I looked forward to as much as Harry Potter.

I read a lot of good books this year. One off the top of my head was "Like the Red Panda." Oh, and I re-read "Sellevision" by Augusten Burroughs, and remembered how much I liked it the first time (it's very twisted, yet funny too).

[spuddonna]

42. HP:Half Blood Prince has been my favorite so far this year...

I think JKR has grown a lot as a writer and it's been fun to enjoy the ride, too! I'm actually as excited as my kids are for the movie to come out next week!

[CornField]

45. Try...

Jonathan Stroud's trilogy... also fantasy, includes lots of magical 'things' and is narrated by a djinni.

[peacefreak]

34. Last Days of Dogtown--Anita Diament

Greatest Man in Cedar Hole--Stephanie Doyon

[last_texas_dem]

36. Tough pick

Either Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis or Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut if I had to narrow. Both were awesome. I've read three or four books each by Sinclair Lewis, Kurt Vonnegut, and Stephen King all in this year, and I've gotten into all of them.

As for what's on my "to read" pile? Too many to list, but mostly non-fiction political books and famous fiction I've been meaning to read for years but haven't gotten around to yet.

[JitterbugPerfume]

39. the best? Kingsblood Royal by S. Lewis

I am currently reading all i can get my hands on by Studs Terkel . He is a treasure

[JitterbugPerfume]

40. actually

I do not remember everyhing I have read since last November . Hiroshima Joe by Martin Booth is one that stands out but I have read dozens of books in the past year

[CornField]

44. I've fallen in love with Stephen Fry

I read "Making History" first -- really nice read which poses the question, "What if we could go back in time and ensure Hitler never came to power?"

I just finished one called "Revenge" which was also very good -- and very different from his other book. Now I'm reading one called "Liar."

I think what I like most about his books is that they seem to be more true to my life. Gay people, straight people, smart people, dumb people, nice people, mean people... they all have a valid voice.

Another author I've really enjoyed is Jonathan Stroud. His books are fantasy, written for young adults, but I've enjoyed them greatly. The work is much more dark than the HP series (and, IMO, also much better written).

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

48. His autobiography "Moab is my Washpot" is wonderful

(although I'd put some distance between that and 'The Liar' as they bother cover some similar territory. The biography ends with him aged 20 or so.)

You confused me with "Revenge", but looking it up it's the American name for "The Stars' Tennis Balls". Heaven knows which title is better.

He's just published a "how to" guide to poetry called "The Ode Less Travelled" although I'm not sure if it's been published in America yet.

Do you know him as a comedy performer / actor then? I know 'Jeeves and Wooster' was quite popular in the States. I love 'A Bit of Fry and Laurie' but IMO the best thing he's done was a BBC radio show called 'Saturday Night Fry' (which featured Hugh Laurie & Emma Thompson, amongst others).

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

72. I just found a link to download "Saturday Night Fry"

http://www.sadena.com/radio/

I can't recommend this highly enough - it's gorgeousness and gorgeousity made flesh.

The site's also got the recent-ish political/media satire that Fry was in, "Absolute Power". (There's also been two TV series of this, but it didn't translate as well IMO.)

[Spider Jerusalem]

47. Best novel: "Atonement", by Ian McEwan.

Best nonfiction: Guns, Germs and Steel.

On my reading list: Long Day's Journey Into Night by Louis-Ferdinand Céline; The Good Soldier Svejk, by Jaroslav Hašek; volumes 2-6 of Gibbon's History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (I'm a masochist--I decided to read the whole thing); another McEwan, The Innocent; The Portage to San Cristobal of AH, by George Steiner, and Collapse by Jared Diamond. (I'm on something of a European-lit kick at the moment...there's a lot of stuff on my "to buy" list at Amazon after I get throught he current batch).

[Richardo]

49. If you're ordering on line, may I recommend bn.com?

A solid blue company and I think they're getting a lot more competitive as far as shipping charges go.

:thumbsup:

http://www.buyblue.org/node/326/view/summary

[Spider Jerusalem]

50. Barnes & Noble is my brick and mortar retailer of choice...

and they're who I go to for most of my books and magazines...I only buy harder-to-find things online, and whenever possible I buy THROUGH Amazon but not FROM them (used/remaindered from independent resellers). And I'm kind of stuck, anyway--I was given a $250 Amazon gift certificate that I'm working through. But I'll keep B&N in mind for future online purchases.

[peaches2003]

52. BN.com is great!

I recommend also. I ordered 6 books and a CD from them yesterday at noon and got the email that they were shipped (free) last night! They have online service down to a science all year round.

[Sequoia]

53. "1776"

"Thomas Paine and the Promise of America", "To Live" and another book about TP. Looks like a rainy holiday so by the tree and fire I'll be just reading away.

[The-Cynic]

54. The Book of All Books

Best Book
---------
Non Other than the book itself, from the cynic of all cynic, the man, the beast, the grand pooba of all black humorists Kurt Vonnegut's "A Man Without A Country"

Great book.


-----------To Be Read List----------
-National Plan for Victory in Iraq

-Dreamer of Dune: Frank Herbert.....

-Time Life: 2005 Year in Review (That'll be a real interesting one)

[Ezlivin]

55. Don Quixote

I had heard so much about it for so many years, particularly all the references that kept popping up in our culture (tilting at windmills), I figured I had better tackle it. I got the Edith Grossman translation and started. It was an excellent read and I found myself laughing out loud on numerous occasions. I read passages to my wife. (I read "Great Expectations" aloud during one year's winter months.) It was a fabulous book, even more so considering its age.

On my to-read pile:

"Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update" by Donella H. Meadows
"Atheist Universe: Why God Didn't Have A Thing To Do With It" by David Mills
"The Cage" by Audrey Schulman
"The Art of Electronics" by Paul Horowitz
"Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" by John Perkins
"Future: Tense : The Coming World Order?" by Gwynne Dyer

[LWolf]

58. I can't remember.

Honestly; I read a lot of books. Some were new reads, some rereads, and I read so much I'm not sure where one year ends and the next begins. The best I can do is mention some that made a strong impression on me in the last year or so; the "or so" because I don't really remember if it was this last year, or the year before for some. May include some rereads:

The Life of Pi
Inkheart/Inkspell
The Onion Girl
Shadow of the Wind
The Telling

Currently reading: Blind Assassin and 2 professional books.

"To be read" pile:

The Education of Little Tree
Secrets of the talking jaguar
Mocassin paths
And a whole pile of professional stuff.

[SCDem]

59. I'm two years (and many more) behind on my reading!!

Favorites this year
The Eight (written in 1988) by Katherine Neville
The Da Vinci Code again not a current book

Reading right now
My Life by Bill Clinton - absolutely love it

Looking forward to reading
The Kite Runner
and lots of other great ones that people have listen above

[PA Democrat]

60. Best: The Known World by Edward P. Jones

The novel is the story of a freed slave who goes on to become a slave owner himself. Interesting view into how people could justify slavery despite their own legacy. Also of interest to me was how organized religions at the time supported slavery and even informed slaves it was their duty to God to do the will of their masters.

I also liked The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

[Onceuponalife]

61. Of the 32 books I read in 2005

My faves were:

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
The Nameless Day by Sara Douglass

[DPirate]

62. Starship Troopers

Starship Troopers

[terrya]

63. "The Lincoln Lawyer" by Michael Connelly

It's so, so good so far. Absolutely engrossing...it's a mix of John Gresham with Jonathan Kellerman. Connelly is an excellent writer....this is the first book of his that I've read so far. Eager to read more of his books.

[Southsideirish]

64. Margaret Atwood's Blind Assassin. I can't describe it - you have to read

it. Let me say I recommended it to a co worker who is a "so-so" reader - she looked at it (fairly big book) and said "Well, it will take me 6 months to read THAT!". I told her "just start it" and she came over to me about 10 days later and handed me the book. She said "Wow, that was great." 'Nuff said.

[TexxMatty]

65. Since it's only January

I've only read a few books this year so I'll go with best book(s) 2005.

Memoirs of a Geisha-Arthur Golden

Life of Pi-Yann Martel

The Red Tent-Anita Diamant

I read some other really good books last year but these stuck with me.

As far as my TBR pile too many to name.I just finished Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult it was pretty good but I hated the ending.

-Matty

[Democrats_win]

67. "Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus" by Mary Shelly

An exhibit: "Frankenstien: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature" is traveling around the country and will eventually visit 60 libraries.

The book is very deep and is different than you might expect. In addition to the question of how far science should go, the book focuses on the responsibility people must accept for their creations.

Prometheus is the person who give mankind fire and in 1817, Mary Shelly wanted her readers to think of Dr. Frankestein's ability to create life as something dangerous/beneficial too.

For instance, Dr. Frankestein abandons his creature who is very ugly but otherwise innocent and benevolent. The act of abandoning the creature was his greatest sin and came back to really harm Dr. Frankenstein and his family.

We could even apply this to politicians and scientists today.

[MISSDem]

68. Something More

re-reading it.

[japple]

69. The Glass Castle - Jeanette Walls

I also loved Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Susan Straight's The Gettin Place, and the non-fiction work by the women in Wally Lamb's writing classes (sorry, can't think of the name of it, but it was tremendous).

Some of the things on my pile:

Dow Mossman, The Stones of Summer
Louise Erdrich, The Master Butcher's Singing Club
William Kennedy, Ironweed
Cormac McCarthy, No Place for an Old Man
John Crowley, Little Big

[terryg11]

70. Poisonwood Bible and Watership down on the done pile

Both were very good and recommended. Poisonwood is about the family of a Baptist preacher who takes his family to the Congo in 1960 so he can do his missionary work there. The story is told through the eyes of the family and what happens to them and the country is quite awesome.

Watership Down, it's about rabbits looking for a home in the English countryside. Great through the eyes of the rabbits look and some nice commentary on society

[Broken_Hero]

71. so far...hmm...:)

I have to say Needful Things...it was a tough one. so far this year, I have cut through some novels, it was one of my resolutions for this year, cause last year, I read three worthless books, and spent enormous amounts of time online, and decided to get back in tune with my joy of reading...so far, I have cut through...

The Talisman by S. King
Black House by S. King
Eyes of the Dragon by S. King
The Stand by S. King
Needful Things by S. King
Bag of Bones by S. King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes by S. King
The Green Mile by S. King
The Bear and the Dragon by T. Clancy
Red Rabbit by T. Clancy...

The two clancys totally sucked, its rehased garbage in my opinion...the worst King novel i read in the above list is Bag of Bones, it was dragged out horribly....but the rest were good, Needful Things took me by surprise, it was also a help, that I haven't seen the movie yet either....As far as books on my plate, I'm 50 pages deep into Dolores Clairborne, and i got Thinner next...and then some Koontz but I don't know if i am going to mesh well with Koontz, I tried reading whisper last year and i got bored quick, i think i made it to page 50 and then decided I would rather pull my teeth out with a hot poker....I also got two Grishams on my plate, but I like him...just haven't stayed current with him in a few years, i got some catching up to do.

I also got Angels and Demons, and The Da Vinci code to read, I haven't boughten them yet, but i'm poor, and by lord, I haven't seen a single copy in a used book store yet, but i'm biding my time...:)

[Dulcinea]

73. Try eBay or half.com.

Cheap books there.

I love to read, but with 2 toddlers, my reading time is limited, but I loved "Case Histories" by Kate Atkinson & "Twilight" by Katherine Mosby.

[unhappycamper]

74. Have your tried your local library system?

In the years I have been using the Boston Public Library system, there's only been a handful of titles that have been unavailable. I know many libraries are linked & can get loaner books from their 'sister' libraries.

I couldn't afford my habit if I had to buy the books I read.