harvest 2006

Continuing the cleaning . . . As I mentioned previously, to this point, I've listed in the sidebar all the books I've read since my blog's inception, though now I'm going through to consolidate it and reflect on what I've read.

The problem we run into with 2006 is, well, I wasn't very good about writing about the books I'd read. Not good at all. But I read a lot, at least. Okay. So I only read 36 books, which only averages out to 3 per month. But a lot happened that year.

1. Totally Joe

   This book seems to be the most popular draw to my blog. Okay. Maybe it's not the book so much as it is the alphabiography. But this was the book that started all that . . . Rereading the post, I'm amused that we apparently got into a discussion of the gayness of folding one's legs. Hmm. At least that's a less controversial subject than, say, circumcision.

   
   
2. Marly's Ghost

   I love rereading the comments; it reminds me of the days when I and others actually had time to carry on lengthy and extensive commentversations. *le sigh*

   
   
3. 13

   I just reread "Jeremy Goldblatt Is So Not Moses." Still love it. Story collections are good for things like that.

   
   
4. Guys Write for Guys Read

   And some story collections aren't good for things like that.

   
   
5. Grand & Humble

   Thinking on things, I think this may be my favorite Hartinger title. In terms of storytelling, this is his novel where I think he's strongest.

   
   
6. Inexcusable

   Believe it or not, I actually get google hits for this novel. I wonder if I should be concerned that they're never searches for the title of the book but generally something along the lines of "date rape novel." I would still rather people read Speak instead of this novel.

   
   
7. Looking for Alaska
   
8. The Last Chance Texaco
   
9. Criss Cross

   Still hating this book. Stupid Newbery committee. Even if some people seem to have found some merit in it.

   
   
10. Playing the Field

    As promised by the author in the comments (I love when authors send me e-mails and comments), Busted was released this summer; it's sitting on my shelf of books to read. I recently finished it.

    
    
11. I Am the Messenger
    
12. Me Talk Pretty One Day

    I love how comments veer away from the book being reviewed. Today, as I review these posts, that just brings me so much joy. The comments on this post largely focus on boxed European milk. Oh! how I chuckle at the memory. Like FoxyJ, I must confess to actually having liked the taste of the milk. Weird, I know.

    
    
13. Burned

    Still a bad book. But the comments about the propriety of spoiling Harry Potter plotting is entertaining.

    
    
14. Gossamer

    And still loving this book. Maybe if I ever make time to reread a book, I'll reread this one.

    
    
15. Between Mom and Jo

    This was the book that stalled the reviews. And with good reason. I finished this book about the same time that the legislature was debating HB138 which basically said that gay parents are scum of the earth and have no parental rights if the children aren't the actual spawn of their loins. Interestingly enough, that's essentially what this book is about. Jo is the Not the Birth Mama. But Jo is the one who the boy actually identifies with as a mom. Anyway, when the Birth Mama has an affair and decides to divorce Jo, she tries to completely separate the protag from her. And all this when Not the Birth Mama stayed by the Birth Mama's side as she battled breast cancer. By and large, I actually enjoyed the book. I just couldn't bring myself to blog about it because of the Utah political drama going on at the time. And then I just didn't pick up the reviewing again because it's one of those Must Do in Order obsessive compulsion things I have.

    
    
16. Born to Rock

    Normally I'm an avid Korman fan. This book is okay. Better than Jake, Reinvented but not as good as Son of the Mob.

    
    
17. Fly on the Wall

    Lockhart is one of those authors who I don't particularly like (much like Stephenie Meyer but without the utter loathing of the destruction she is single-handedly foisting on the YA market) but still have this odd obsession with reading. Go figure.

    
    
18. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

    There's no denying how much I love Levithan. This was his first collaboration with Cohn. It was okay. One of the things I will say for both these authors, though, is that I like how they include gay characters without going Look! There Are Gays!

    
    
19. The Lightning Thief
    
20. The Sea of Monsters

    I love the Percy Jackson Chronicles. I think it's a great idea and a stellar series to transfer one's Harry Potter obsession. I find the characters to be more likeable and believable. Plus you always have some prophecy from the Oracle that will be fulfilled but there's joy in figuring out how it's going to be fulfilled.

    
    
21. The Opal Deception

    And this is one book too many in the series. Which is unfortunate, seeing as how I actually enjoyed the series up to this point.

    
    
22. The Sledding Hill

    As I recall, I read this book because Fobby recommended it. But I didn't like it. I think it was because the author is absurdly self-referential. He even makes an appearance in the book. If only that meant the author were actually fictional . . .

    
    
23. The DaVinci Code

    I read The DaVinci Crap while on a road trip to Vegas for a conference. I think that my loving nickname for the book tells you what I really think of it. Just proves that nothing pushes books like a good controversy.

    
    
24. Fablehaven

    This book is supposed to be the next great fantasy. It's surprisingly adequate, considering that it's published by Deseret Book. Of course, it falls prey to gender stereotypes. Oh, and the conflict all stems from the stupidity of the male character, which makes it rather difficult to have any sympathy for him. It's not surprising to me that Dec has been reading this book to the kids for the last year and is only halfway through it.

    
    
25. Every Man for Himself

    I don't remember any of the stories from this book, but I remember that I picked up the book because I liked the diversity of authors represented in the book. For the most part, I think I liked this one because it actually was what Guys Write for Guys Read should have been.

    
    
26. The Beatrice Letters

    I read this book to prepare for The End. Mostly it's just a gimmick. I was left with a meh feeling.

    
    
27. River Secrets

    I think I've pointed out before how much I love Shannon Hale. I was pleased that she took Razo's point of view for this story; he just needed his own book.

    
    
28. Wide Awake

    Looking back, I'm realizing why I like the month of September: lots of good books by authors who I love to read. (This is also why I don't like December—I have nothing on my shelf that I'm dying to read, and so I'm left to read books that kinda sorta maybe interest me and thus will take me six weeks to read.) As has been more than duly noted, I'm a Levithan fan. I generally am not so keen on his more utopian fantasies (such as Boy Meets Boy) because I have difficulty accepting said universe. However. I really want to accept this one. This is by far his most political, especially considering that it takes place in the undefined near future when the country has elected it's first gay and Jewish president. Of course, the Christian fundies in the midwest are inventing ways to block it. So the main character and friends are off to protest at the governor's mansion. I like how Levithan didn't just Red/Blue it; he has Greens and Yellows as the moderate breakoffs from the parties as well. Overall, it was a good book.

    
    
29. An Abundance of Katherines

    I enjoy Green's writing. Personally, I think this book was better than Looking for Alaska. Of course, what's not to like about a protagonist who has devised a mathematical equation to explain his relationships with all nineteen of his former girlfriends (who also all happened to be named Katherine)?

    
    
30. Is He or Isn't He?

    Stupid book. Unlikable protagonists. Utterly predictable romantic resolution. Blech.

    
    
31. Peter and the Shadow Thieves

    Of the three books in the series (to date), this is the weakest. It's still an intriguing story with a rather scary villain.

    
    
32. The End

    I'm certain that I commented on this book somewhere because I remember Theric asking my thoughts on it. But now I can't find those comments. Mostly I felt it was an appropriate end to the series. I like some of the twists and turns that it threw at the reader.

    
    
33. The Boy Book

    Another Lockhart book. I know . . . two in one year. Oh well. This one was better than Fly at least.

    
    
34. The Pox Party

    It took for-freakin'-ever to read this book. Boring. To the extreme. Which is a shame since the plot premise is interesting. I doubt I'll pick up the following books.

    
    
35. Psyche in a Dress

    I wish I could remember this book; in the back of my mind I think I found it intriguing. I do remember suggesting it to Coworker, but I think that had more to do with her research into adaptations of Psyche.

    
    
36. After the Wreck, I Picked Myself up, Spread My Wings, and Flew Away

    I always enjoy Joyce Carol Oates. I find her books intense, and I like that she tackles difficult issues. For some reason, my general impression of her work is that it's "real." Not that I'm willing to define what that is, mind you.

I'm trying to do better at staying on top of my reviews, because it's rather difficult to go back and remember something I read over a year ago. (And I say that as I'm behind, like, ten reviews . . .)