InsaneJournal

Books 2008 - Part 4
This is the last installment for 2008. With some luck, I'll started on the 2009 list before the year's over ... we'll see.

31. When You Are Engulfed in Flames, by David Sedaris.
Having recently read Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, I was pleased to see David Sedaris interviewed for his new book on The Daily Show. If you didn't get to see the interview, Sedaris mostly talked about his time in Japan, and the book expands on his anecdotes. They're hilarious, by the way. I highly suggest you give his books a try.

32. Dispatches From The Edge, by Anderson Cooper.
I heard a lot about this book before I read it. One thing I heard was that, partway through, Anderson comes off as ... less than perfect. I'm not sure exactly what part this was referring to, but I actually liked the whole thing. Autobiographies can be good reads, and even though Cooper's has a lot to say about grief and injustice, it is also somewhat uplifting.

33. Bloodsucking Fiends, by Christopher Moore.
This is a re-read. I've probably read Bloodsuckng Fiends three or four times, but I enjoy it the same every time. If you like vampire stories, any kind of vampire stories, then I suggest checking this out and seeing if it strikes your fancy. There's definitely a lot of comedy, but that doesn't take away from the action or mystery.

34. 158-Pound Marriage, by John Irving.
How happy was I when I found out that John Irving had written a book about polyamory? Thrilled, is what I was. To be completely upfront, the ending isn't exactly cheery and I knew that going in. Perhaps the knowing was what let me enjoy it so much, but I think it was the way Irving develops all the different relationship dynamics, and delves into the characters' histories. Like all of Irving's novels, 158-Pound Marriage features unexpected detail, which never fails to pull me in.

35. Life and Death of Harriet Frean, by May Sinclair.
I read this for an English class. It is surprisingly short, but the compact format really works to its advantage. Also, it's meant to be a 'psychological novel' because of the author's interest in what was the burgeoning field of psychology in her day. It's quite intriguing, actually.

36. The Chrysalids, by John Wyndham.
HOW MUCH do I love this book? I love it so much that I don't even mind that the second half isn't as good as the first. In an ideal world the book would have taken a completely different turn after Petra came into the picture, but the concept behind the story just blows me away. I love it to itty-bitty pieces. The fact that it's set in Canada is just gravy :-D

37. Little Scarlet, by Walter Mosely
This was my favourite of the books assigned by my English professor. Technically it's one of a series of novels following the cases of private detective Easy Rawlins, but I was able to follow it without any previous exposure to the character. A good mystery is always fun, and this one was just BURSTING with drama.

38. More Information Than Your Require, by John Hodgman.
If you want an example of pure ridiculousness, here it is. Hodgman is a master of the absurd, spinning bizarre tales about pretty much anything. His previous book, Areas of My Expertise, focussed largely on hoboes ... this one, on molemen. That's hardly it, however. This book (which is a direct continuation of the previoous one, starting on page 237) has such articles as "Some Hangover Cures Involving Gin" and "Some Internet Rumours That Will Not Die!"

39. The Ladies of Grace Adieu, by Susanna Clarke.
I picked this up cheap around Christmas. It's a selection of short stories and the title story is something of a missing scene from her novel, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. I find her writing style quite charming, and her stories really bring magic to life.

That's it for now. Next up: 2009.