Books of 2008

[checkers65477]

I'll start off the year with a book post.  I've read lots of good ones recently.

If you've never read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, rush out right now and get a copy.  It's that good.

Written in 1988 by a Brazilian author, it tells of a boy--his name is divulged in the first sentence, then never mentioned again, I believe--who is a shepherd in Spain.  After a dream about hidden treasure, followed by a visit to a fortune-telling gypsy and a chance meeting with a man who claims to be a king, the boy decides to sell his sheep and travel to the pyramids in Egypt to search for this treasure.  Along the way on his quest he meets up with an assortment of people, including a man who is an alchemist.  The journey is a life-changing process for the boy and for everyone he meets.  But the plot of the book isn't the most important thing here.

This book made me think about my life in a way I don't often take the time to do.  We all have a Personal Legend, says the book, something we were meant to do.  We can determine our own journey--and our life's meaning--by listening to our hearts and finding the courage to make necessary changes.  The blurb on the cover calls The Alchemist "dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom" and it is.  It's a slim 167 pages, includes some magical realism, a little symbolism, and offers much food for thought.  I highly recommend it to everyone, especially those contemplating making a change or who are on the cusp of making life decisions.

I was worried about Robin McKinley's book Chalice.

I'm a huge fan of Robin McKinley's writing, but her previous book, Dragonhaven, was not the book for me.  I couldn't make it past page 50 or so.  So I was relieved to find Chalice a delight: lush and lovely, with very cool magical elements in the setting.  I have a whole new respect for bees and the people who keep them, after reading this book and The Secret Life of Bees.  Chalice probably won't appeal to most younger readers, but teens and adults who enjoy McKillip-like fantasies should find it terrific. 

The Hunger Games. 

I can't think of anything to say about The Hunger Games that hasn't already been said by someone else.  It's not a perfect book, but it's terribly compelling.  I couldn't put it down and everyone I've given it to, to read, has felt the same.  This one's going to be tremendously popular.  It's by Suzanne Collins.

Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book is really different.

I liked it.  I LOVED his narration of the audiobook.  My favorite part was the ending.  It satisfied me, for reasons I don't quite understand.  I suspect I wanted a more normal life for Bod and was glad he had the opportunity to go out and find one, in the end.

I read around 70 books this year.  My favorites were:  Book of A Thousand Days (Hale), Mort (Pratchett), Tomorrow, When the War Began (Marsden), Melusine (Monette), Speak (Anderson), People of the Book (Brooks), Frederica (Heyer), Airborn (Oppel), HIs Majesty's Dragon (Novik), The Willoughbys (Lowry), House of Many Ways (Jones), Dreamhunter (Knox), The Secret Life of Bees (Kidd), Nation (Pratchett), Rapunzel's Revenge (Hale), Moccasin Trail (McGraw), Chalice (McKinley), The Hunger Games (Collins), and The Alchemist (Coelho). 

All in all, a great reading year.

Comments

[crowinator.livejournal.com]

I loved The Graveyard Book so much; it'll probably rank one of my top reads for the year. I will have to check out the audio book -- I can't usually stand to listen to a whole book (I get antsy) but I'd like to hear part of it anyway. I thought the ending was excellent as well, and I cried through the whole last scene. I'm such a dork. (c:

Since you liked Airborn, you should read Skybreaker; it's also very good. I might even have liked it more. I just found out the third in the series will be out in February (Starclimber) and it's on my must read list.

I liked The Virtu more than Melusine (Monette's second book) by far, but I had trouble with the third book The Mirador (not because of bad writing but because she went somewhere I didn't want to go). I think I've read The Virtu several times by now, though, and I'll read the fourth when it comes out.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I didn't love The Graveyard Book, though I'm not sure why. I think it was just too "young" for me at first. I read part and listened to part of the book--like you, I can't seem to listen to an entire book. I tend to fall asleep. :)

I'll have to read Skybreaker. Are they making a movie of Airborn? I think it could be fabulous, if done well.

I can't remember if I liked The Virtu better or not. They both kind of blend together on me. I've never been able to get my hands on the third book, but someone (maybe you?) had told me it wasn't as good as the others. Ooh, I didn't know there was a fourth one being written. Yay!

Loling at your icon!

[crowinator.livejournal.com]

Here's the imdb info for the Airborn movie (I actually didn't know about this until you asked and I decided to look it up): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421177/

I have a love/hate relationship with the Doctrine of Labyrinths series now. The Mirador was just as well-written, I thought, but she added another POV when I wasn't sure it was needed, and she killed a character I adored. It totally worked with the plot, and I'm not sure it could have gone another way (felt almost inevitable), but it hurt to read, and now I'm afraid to read the fourth book (called Corambis, I think). I think I like The Virtu best because Felix (and his many terrible flaws) is my favorite character, and that one is sort of his return to glory. It has a mostly hopeful ending, as well, and in a dark series, that was pretty nice.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

she killed a character I adored

Ooh, now I'm really nervous about reading it. Ha, I'm a Mildmay girl, myself, though I liked Felix's flawed character a lot.

I hope the Airborn movie turns out as good as the book deserves.

[crowinator.livejournal.com]

I guess that might be considered a spoiler for The Mirador, so I'm sorry about that. Duh on my part.

I have read How I Live Now, which you mentioned below being like Tomorrow, When the War Began. That makes me want to read it, since How I Live Now is one of my favorites. I'll put it on my to read list, but of course that list is ridiculously long. (c:

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

JF;IOAJEFIAOJIOSJDSKLF!!!!

THERE IS GOING TO BE AN AIRBORN MOVIE???

THERE ARE AIRBORN SEQUELS????

THIS IS WHY I LOVES THE INTERWEBS!!!!

AJFIOERJOEIJFOJSIRF!!!!!

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I haven't read any sequels yet, but have heard they are as good, or better, that Airborn. I think it'll make a great movie!

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

I am totally freaking out! that was such a great book!

I wonder if they're holding auditions for Kate???

*raises eyebrows*

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Go for it!

Although, I think the movie has actually already been made. Sorry. :)

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

It actually says, 'pre-production', which means they haven't started filming yet. 'post-production' means they have made it and are finishing the editing and such.

The only person they have down is Matt... but sometimes that just means they haven't released the other names. I'll check around!

[tearoha.livejournal.com]

Happy New Year!
What did you think of Tomorrow, When the War Began?

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Loved it! After reading some blurbs for the other books in the series, though, I decided not to go on with them. I liked the characters too much to be able to face all the awful things that happened to them later. Did you read any of the others?

[tearoha.livejournal.com]

I've read them all! Aren't they awesome :)
They'e pretty big over here and get studied in second or third year high school. Most kids go on to read the whole series and get thoroughly traumatised by what happens to them all.

Did you know Marsden is also writing a follow-up series for the Tomorrow books? They mostly follow Ellie, and I think there are three out. I didn't enjoy them as much, though - after a while it got a little same-y.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that! He's written a lot of other books, too, though I haven't read any of them. I've stayed far, far away from Checkers after hearing what it's about.

This (http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/youth/teentopix/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/war.jpg) is the cover of the copy of Tomorrow, When the War Began I have in my library and, let me tell you, it's a hard sell to get anyone to read it, no matter how much I rave about how good it is. I should get a copy with a cooler cover. (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519ARRJZMSL.jpg) emmaco encouraged me to read the book. She's from Australia, ya know.

[crowinator.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that cover is pretty bad. I haven't read the book but I wouldn't bother if that was the cover I saw first.

Covers really are important. I bought new paperback copies of the Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner and they all got checked out immediately, while the ugly hardcovers sit on the shelf. (Well, The King of Attolia isn't an ugly cover, because it's new, but you know what I mean.) (c:

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I do know. Any older book with a dated-looking cover just isn't going to circulate among teens. Doesn't matter how good the book it.

Oh, you should read Tomorrow, When the War Began! It's excellent! Did you read Life As We Knew It or How I Live Now? It's along the lines of those.

[tearoha.livejournal.com]

That second one IS a very cool cover. The follow-up series to the Tomorrow books is called 'The Ellie Chronicles'. It has cool covers but that's about it :)
I don't know many of John Marsden's other books either, but you should read Letters from the Inside. It is AMAZING, and if your library doesn't have it, YOU SHOULD GET IT!!! (Although it might be a bit dark for young teenagers.)

I didn't know emnmaco was from Aussie, but I suspected! I just listened to her on the Queen of Attolia readaloud, and her accent... yep. In among all those lovely American accents it was quite a surprise. But a nice one :)

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I just read a synopsis of Letters From the Inside, and I don't know...it sounds soooo grim. Though, well-written grim I can usually take.

Maybe you should do a readaloud chapter...got a mic? Though I'm not sure there are chapters available.

[tearoha.livejournal.com]

I would LOVE to do a readaloud chapter, but last time I checked they were all taken. Also, I don't have a mike, although I could track one down from somewhere...

(I love the readaloud. I downloaded all the QoA chapters to my MP3 and listen to them on the way to work!)

Letters From the Inside IS grim, but it's good. It's not unmitigated awfulness, but the ending is the best bit even though it is... grim. It's one of those where the reader gets to decide for themself what they think happened. And it is definitely well-written.
That said, it's still not a book you'd want to read late at night.

[emmaco.livejournal.com]

Hello fellow Southerner! I am living in England at the moment so am jealous of your summery weather.

We read Letters from the inside in about grade 8 I think and lots of kids connected with the story, so it might be worth checking out Checkers. I don't remember it being too depressing, not like Dear Miffy, which freaked me out when I read it.

That Tomorrow, when the war began cover is atrocious.

I always forget that I did that chapter and that people listen to it!

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I listen to the readaloud chapters, too, though I think it's pretty universal that we all HATE the chapters we did and love everyone else's. I always want to yank ch 3 of QoA, though I'm a little happier with ch 4.

Sometime soon I'll post a reminder about unfinished chapters, and giving them up if the person's never going to do them. If you're serious about wanting a chapter, why don't you go to the original readaloud post here (http://community.livejournal.com/sounis/134717.html) and state your intentions. Then, if one opens up you'll be the first to get it.

[tearoha.livejournal.com]

Thanks, checkers, I will :)
(I like chapter 3. It must have been hard to do.)

[emmaco.livejournal.com]

I have added The Alchemist to my list. Thanks for the rec! And I don't know if I told you but I loved The secret life of bees. I loved how the author evoked the landscape and time. I don't know if it's because you recommended it, or whether you're picking up Southern patterns of speech, but at times the writing reminded me of your voice!

I have heard so many good things about Chalice that I will definitely read it, probably when it's out in paperback though as I am accumulating too many space hungry hardbacks.

Hunger games sounds freaky but like you say everyone who reads it seems to like it so it's on the list too.

I really enjoyed Graveyard book when reading it but afterwards feel a bit more distant from it. Am not sure why.

I think I've read nearly all of the other books on your favourites list and liked them too, so you obviously have excellent taste :)

My best of 2008 list will be done sometime this week!

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I'm most definitely picking up Southern patterns of speech, as my family up north reminds me often! Ha, no wonder the writing in Bees seemed so effortless to me. It's pretty much how I talk.

The thing I loved most about Bees was the deep South setting. It was dead-on, though I live farther north and haven't spent a whole lot of time down there.

Yes, do read The Alchemist. And I'm looking forward to reading your 2008 list, you of the excellent taste. :)

[avian-xj.livejournal.com]

I'm loving that book posts for the new year. My list is growing from everyone with such good taste, you included!

So I was at the library today, passing through because I can't drive by without at least looking around inside, and I saw a copy of The Alchemist and grabbed it thinking of this post. You're right - the blurb sums it up well. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much for the rec.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Aww, it's made my day that you found the book and decided to read it, based on my inane blogging. But it IS beautiful, isn't it? Profound, but easy to understand. I just loved the way that it made me think about what I've done with my life, and what I'll do next. I'm so glad you liked it, too!

[avian-xj.livejournal.com]

Yep yep, you're that awesome, Super Check!

It's been in my bag for the last two days because I've been meaning to return it to the library, and SO many people have seen a corner of it sticking out and gushed about it. I had no idea it was this popular! My English teacher caught a glimpse of it and wants me to write a formal review as well. Goodness. I somehow introduced her to John Green in the process of that conversation too, and she wants to borrow my copy of Katherines (which has been making the rounds of the school among my friends and their friends and their friends). Funny how easy it is to spread book love :)

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I didn't know it was popular, either. Anniemal read it in one of her college English classes and passed it on to me. I raved about it at work, but no one had heard of it. If you do write a review, you ought to post it. and yay for passing on the John Green love. Katherine is my favorite of his books. Oh, did you know he put his arm around me, once? :P

[avian-xj.livejournal.com]

It looks like I will be writing the review, but as for posting... depends how it comes out.

AND YES I DID KNOW THAT WAY TO RUB IT IN GOSH XP