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Booking Through Thursday

What books did you get for Christmas (or whichever holiday you may have celebrated last month)?

Do you usually ask for books on gift-giving occasions or do you prefer to buy them yourself?

None and I didn't ask for any. I have over 200 books in my leaning to-be-read-piles so for a few years now, I've been of the opinion that I should read them first before buying anything new.

I much prefer to buy books myself.

It's time for this year's first reading challenge which is going to be

The fourth book in the Temeraire –series. It starts immediately after the previous book, Black Powder War.

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I still have one more review to do about the last audiobook I listened to on 2009, but instead I decided to take a look at the reading I did last year.

I managed to read and listen and review 83 books, and read 25 graphic novels (one not reviewed), so 108 in all. It's around my average. I was a bit surprised to realize that I didn't read much from my old favorite authors Lois McMaster Bujold (1), Anne Logston (0), Steven Brust (0), and Roger Zelazny (1 + 1 short story). On the other hand, in 2008 I found a new favorite author, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and read this year 6 books from her. Otherwise, I read a lot of new authors and books which were first in the series.

Monthly numbers:
First in a series: 5+6+4+1+1+2+1+3+1+1+3+3
Stand alones: 1+3+1+2+0+3+1+0+1+1+2+0
Later in a series: 5+2+2+2+3+2+2+4+3+4+1

Fantasy:5+7+4+3+2+5+2+6+4+2+2+3
SF:6+3+3+1+2+1+1+0+1+3+3+1
Mystery:2+0+1+1+0+1+1+0+0+1+2+0

I took part in five challenges: 1st in a series, 2nds challenge in 2009, ebook challenge, 9 books for 2009, and comic book challenge 2009. The only one I didn't complete was the 9 books for 2009 -challenge. I admit that I took a wrong tactic with all of them. I should have started reading the challenge books right at the start of the year. I also made lists beforehand and tried to keep to them too doggedly instead of just growing the lists while reading. I've certainly learned my lesson and will take the latter tactic this year. :)

I mean to sign up again for a variety of challenges. Also, many of the challenges this year allow the same book to be read for many different challenges, which makes things easier. I'm thinking of joining at least five challenges this year, too. Many of them are the same ones.

Best lists:

The Booking through Thursday's previous post went through the new reads but I just have to add these.

The Best Nostalgic Read: John Byrne's Fantastic Four run. Without a doubt.

Best Short Story Collection: Datlow and Windling: Coyote Road. This was a hard choice between this and the fantasy pirate collection.

Happy birthday, stoutfellow!

Happy birthday, idiotgrrl!

My final review to the Curled up with a Good Book -site during 2009: Kage Baker's the Empress of Mars.

Fun, light-hearted science fiction.
4 stars from 5

My newest fantasy review: Alex Bledsoe's The Sword-Edged Blonde

Western crossed with fantasy and detective stories.
4 stars from 5

Booking Through Thursday

It’s the last day of the year, and you know what that means … nostalgia and looking back.

What were your favorite books of the year? (Books that were new to you in 2009, if not necessarily published this year.)

Happily, I read a lot of good and excellent books last year. It's difficult to come up with just one or few books so I have more categories:

In reading order:
Best stand-alones:
Matheson: I am Legend. This was a surprisingly good read since I don't usually like horror.
Sanderson: Warbraker. Stand-alone epic fantasy with a unique magic system.
Willis: To Say Nothing of the Dog. Hilarious!

Best series, science fiction:
Rusch's Retrieval Artist -series. This year I read parts 4-7 (Buried Deep, Paloma, Recovery Man, Duplicate Effort).

Best series, fantasy:
Novik's Temeraire -series. I was happy to find out that Audible has the whole series as audiobooks. I'm currently listening to the latest one.

Best series, mystery:
Elizabeth Peters': Amelia Peabody -series. Last year I read only two parts, six and seven. I must read more this year.

Happy and prosperous year 2010 to everyone!

The last one of my 1st in the series challenge! Huray! This is the first in a duology of books. I already have the second book.

Stephen is a young orphan boy who has joined a gang of thieves so that he can survive. One night he’s so hungry that he tries to steal from a Lord of the land: Lord Elseth. However, the attempt fails and Lord Elseth sends two of his hounds to chase after Stephen. The boy is terrified and is caught. Lord Elseth carries him away. Stephen thinks that something terrible is going to happen to him.
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Despite the work load I was able to listen to a couple of audio books.

One of the books in my first in a series-challenge.

The newest Rusch book! This seems to be the first in a new science fiction series about a space ship wreck diver. The main character is a woman in her forties. Her name is never given but the others call her Boss. The book is almost a collection of three novellas; however, each of the stories starts where the previous one ends.
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