After looking back over what I’ve read this year, I’d like to post some of my thoughts on some of these books and authors.

Favorite author I discovered this year: It’s a tie between Janet Evanovich, P.C. Cast., and Stephenie Meyer. I love the Stephanie Plum books! They had me rolling on the floor (Thank you, Teresa, for introducing me to them), and made me green with envy. I want to write hilarious characters like that! I discovered P.C. Cast at Conestoga, and I’m grateful I did. I enjoyed her Divine books, but I’m really loving the House of Night books she writes with her daughter. Also, the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I cannot say enough good things about these books. I discovered them by accident, and devoured them. I can’t wait for the next one to come out!

Favorite books I haven’t read in years: The Anne of Green Gables series, by L.M. Montgomery. I’d forgotten how much I loved these books! And how much Anne’s lively imagination reminds me of myself. I actually hadn’t read the last two books in the series before, but I enjoyed them as well.

Favorite shorter work: I bought the e-book Muse by Lazette Gifford (of Forward Motion), and absolutely loved it. It was the first e-book I’ve ever bought, and I was skeptical at first. But this book cracked me up! I loved the setting, and the characters, especially the cats named after writers.

Favorite last-book-in-series: I know you think I’m going to say Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Well, I am. But Confessor, by Terry Goodkind, is also a tie. I love both of these series, and I thought both of the books were good endings.

Most overrated (to me) book: The Road, by Cormac McCarthy. Yeah, I know it won a bunch of accolades and awards, but frankly, I found it depressing and dissatisfying. Sorry. Good writing, but not a story I enjoyed.

Most disappointing book: Hands down, Rhett Butler’s People, by Daniel McCaig. I did not expect it be anywhere near as good as Gone with the Wind. But seriously? The Mitchell family should have let well enough alone. After the uproar over Scarlett, they should have learned their lesson. Leave the best alone. Don’t mess with the classics. Even good writing doesn’t make up for that.

Of course, these are all just my opinions. Take them for what they’re worth (which isn’t very much, and is about the same as anyone else’s is worth).

And here are the rest. Books 126-135.

LeGuin, Ursula K.: A Wizard of Earthsea (12/01/07)*

Ray, Kimberly: Your Coffin or Mine? (12/05/07)

LeGuin, Ursula K.: The Tombs of Atuan (12/07/07)

Diamant, Anita: The Red Tent (12/08/07)*

LeGuin, Ursula K.: The Farthest Shore (12/15/07)

Patterson, Kim; Liu, Marjorie M.; Sands, Lyndsay; Pettersson, Vicki: Holidays Are Hell (12/19/07)*

Mitchell, Margaret: Gone with the Wind (12/30/07)

Davidson, Mary Janice: Swimming Without a Net (12/30/07)*

Evanovich, Janet: Metro Girl (12/31/07)

Matheson, Richard: I Am Legend (12/31/07)*

Now, aren’t you glad I’m through boring you with everything I read last year?

Books 101-125.

Freedman, Rory and Barnouin, Kim: Skinny Bitch (09/17/07)

Stewart, Mary: The Last Enchantment (09/19/07)

Harris: Charlaine: All Together Dead (09/24/07)

Stewart, Mary: The Wicked Day (10/04/07)

Cast, P.C. and Kristin: Betrayed (10/06/07)

Brigg, Patricia: Blood Bound (10/08/07)

Raye, Kimberly: Dead End Dating (10/10/07)*

Raye, Kimberly: Dead and Dateless (10/13/07)

Vaughn, Carrie: Kitty and the Midnight Hour (10/13/07)*

Gerritsen, Tess: The Bone Garden (10/14/07)

Vaughn, Carrie: Kitty Goes to Washington (10/17/07)

Vaughn, Carrie: Kitty Takes a Holiday (10/19/07)

Mulvany, Catherine: Something Wicked (10/20/07)*

Arthur, Kerri: Kissing Sin (10/27/07)

Chance, Karen: Touch the Dark (10/28/07)*

Chance, Karen: Touched by Shadows (11/01/07)

Cornwell, Patricia: Book of the Dead (11/02/07)

Russe, Savanah: Beneath the Skin (11/03/07)

McCaig, Daniel: Rhett Butler’s People (11/10/07)

Hamilton, Laurell K.: A Lick of Frost (11/12/07)

Goodkind, Terry: Confessor (11/22/07)

Frost, Jeanine: Halfway to the Grave (11/22/07)*

Britain, Kristen: The High King’s Tomb (11/26/07)

Sparks, Nicholas: A Bend in the Road (11/28/07)

McCarthy, Cormac: The Road (11/30/07)*

Books 76-100.

Kingsolver, Barbara: The Poisonwood Bible (07/12/07)

Rowling, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (07/21/07)

Gaiman, Neil: Anansi Boys (07/22/07)

Rowen, Michelle: Fanged and Fabulous (07/24/07)*

Cast, P.C.: Divine by Mistake (07/26/07)*

Cast, P.C.: Divine by Choice (07/27/07)

Viehl, Lynn: Night Lost (07/30/07)

King, Stephen: Lisey’s Story (08/02/07)

Duane, Diane: Wizards at War (08/05/07)

Koontz, Dean: The Husband (08/07/07)

Hoyt, Elizabeth: The Raven Prince (08/07/07)

Forsyth, Kate: The Forbidden Land (08/11/07)

Forsyth, Kate: The Skull of the World (08/13/07)

Forsyth, Kate: The Fathomless Caves (08/15/07)

Stewart, Mary: The Crystal Cave (08/18/07)

Kinsella, Sophie: Can You Keep A Secret? (08/22/07)*

Stewart, Mary: The Hollow Hills (08/29/07)

Cast, P.C.: Divine by Blood (08/31/07)

Meyer, Stephenie: Twilight (09/01/07)*

Kinsella, Sophie: Confessions of a Shopaholic (09/02/07)

Cast, P.C.: Goddess of the Sea (09/02/07)

Richards, Susan: Chosen by a Horse (09/03/07)*

Cast, P.C. and Kristin: Marked (09/05/07)*

Meyer, Stephenie: New Moon (09/13/07)

Meyer, Stephenie: Eclipse (09/14/07)

I’ve actually read a lot the last couple of weeks. I haven’t been working much, so I’ve had plenty of time. That’s kind of nice, actually. I read Swimming Without a Net, by Mary Janice Davidson. I really enjoyed this book a lot. The heroine is great, the world was interesting. In fact, if I hadn’t been seeing more mermaid stuff lately, I would be tempted to use the idea. But this story had some good humor as well as nice characters. I’m going to be searching for the previous book with these characters, although this one works well as a stand-alone.

Next up is Metro Girl, by Janet Evanovich. Now, I’m a big fan of the Stephanie Plum novels, but I’ve never read anything else of Evanovich’s. This one wasn’t bad. Funny, like the Plum books, and the heroine got in a lot of hilarious scrapes. I do like the Plum books better, but I’m glad I branched out a bit. Plus, she completely has my luck.

Then I read I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson. Maybe I made a mistake in watching the movie first, because I loved the movie. However, I did not care for the book at all. In fact, the movie and the book bear only a passing resemblance. I much preferred the Robert Neville character from the movie, as opposed to the depressed alcoholic in the book. Also, the end of the movie came about halfway through the book, and the rest were random, unrelated short stories. Some of them were interesting, I’ll admit, but I was still less than impressed. I thought the storyline in the movie was much stronger. In fact, I almost threw this book across the room when I finished it.

First for this year was Coraline, by Neil Gaiman. It was…different. Gaiman is a talented writer, of course, but this story was just plain weird to me. And a little creepy, what with the disembodied hand and all.

I read Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson. I’ve been wanting to read this for a while, and finally stumbled across it in a used bookstore. I really, really liked this book. The characters are great, the writing is strong. I could relate to some of the things the characters went through, and it made me cry. Just once. I really recommend it.

I also read Tempting the Beast, by Lora Leigh. My best friend loaned it to me. Not a bad premise, in itself, but there was a lot of sex in this book (published by Ellora’s Cave). In fact, the whole “mating frenzy” thing reminded me quite a bit of Laurell K. Hamilton’s ardeur.

I re-read Margaret Sidne’s Five Little Peppers And How They Grew. I had actually completely forgotten about this book. I’ve read it a couple of times, and it reminds me a lot of Little Women. It’s just so wholesome, and that makes it an enjoyable read.

Last but not least, I re-read Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll. What can I say? I just revisited some childhood favorites recently.

Books 51-75.

Kidd, Sue Monk: The Secret Life of Bees (05/22/07)*

Douglass, Sara: The Wayfarer Redemption (05/27/07)

Douglass, Sara: Enchanter (05/29/07)

Douglass, Sara StarMan (05/31/07)

Douglass, Sara Sinner (06/02/07)

Douglass, Sara Pilgrim (06/06/07)

Douglass, Sara: Crusader (06/07/07)

Robards, Karen: Bait (06/10/07)*

Hamilton, Laurell K: The Harlequin (06/11/07)

Rowling, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (06/11/07)

Rowling, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (06/12/07)

Rowling, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (06/13/07)

Cruisie, Jennifer and Mayer, Bob: Don’t Look Down (06/14/07)*

Viehl, Lynn: Way of the Cheetah (06/16/07)

Rowling, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (06/16/07)

Rowling, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (06/19/07)

Rowling, J.K.: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (06/22/07)

Evanovich, Janet: Lean Mean Thirteen (06/22/07)

Picoult, Jodi: My Sister’s Keeper (06/23/07)

Goodkind, Terry: Wizard’s First Rule (06/28/07)

Dean, Cameron: Passionate Thirst (06/29/07)*

Dean, Cameron: Eternal Hunger (07/01/07)

Spaeth, Frank: Mysteries of the Deep (07/05/07)*

Lisle, Holly: Mugging the Muse (07/06/07)

Gifford, Lazette: Muse (07/09/07)*

moar funny pictures

Here are books 26-50.

Roberts, Nora: Dance of the Gods (03/20/07)

Roberts, Nora: Valley of Silence (03/26/07)

Moore, Christopher: You Suck (03/28/07)*

Flock, Elizabeth: But Inside I’m Screaming (04/01/07)*

Picoult, Jodi: The Pact (04/05/07)*

Montgomery, L.M.: Anne of Windy Poplars (04/07/07)

Montgomery, L.M.: Anne’s House of Dreams (04/11/07)

Montgomery, L.M.: Anne of Ingleside (04/15/07)

Montgomery, L.M.: Rainbow Valley (04/16/07)

Montgomery, L.M.: Rilla of Ingleside (04/18/07)

Roberts, Nora: Angel Falls (04/19/07)

Evanovich, Janet: Four to Score (04/23/07)

Evanovich, Janet: High Five (04/24/07)

Evanovich, Janet: Hot Six (04/25/07)

Evanovich, Janet: Seven Up (04/26/07)

Evanovich, Janet: Hard Eight (04/27/07)

Evanovich, Janet: Ten Big Ones (04/28/07)

Evanovich, Janet: To the Nines (04/28/07)

Evanovich, Janet: Eleven on Top (04/29/07)

Evanovich, Janet: Plum Lovin’ (05/07/07)

Evanovich, Janet: Twelve Sharp (05/10/07)

Evanovich, Janet: Visions of Sugar Plums (05/10/07)

Haydon, Elizabeth: Rhapsody (05/10/07)*

Haydon, Elizabeth: Prophecy (05/19/07)

Haydon, Elizabeth: Destiny (05/21/07)

Since I did so much reading this year, I want to post a list of everything I read. It’s too long to put in one post, so I’m breaking it up into groups of 25 books. The * denotes an author I had never read before.

Sunny: Mona Lisa Awakening (01/01/07)*

Saintcrow, Lilith: Working for the Devil (01/02/07)*

Saintcrow, Lilith: Dead Man Rising (01/03/07)*

Gaiman, Neil, and Pratchett, Terry: Good Omens (01/05/07)*

Shayne, Maggie: Prince of Twilight (01/06/07)

Hendee, Barb and J.C.: Thief of Lives (01/12/07)*

Hendee, Barb and J.C.: Sister of the Dead (01/14/07)

Bennett, Janice, Blayne, Sara, and Ellis, Monique: Lord of the Night (01/16/07)*

Montgomery, L.M.: Anne of Green Gables (01/18/07)

Brashares, Ann: Forever in Blue (01/19/07)

Montgomery, L.M.: Anne of Avonlea (01/19/07)

Montgomery, L.M.: Anne of the Island (01/20/07)

Lisle, Holly: Courage of Falcons (01/24/07)

Lisle, Holly: Sympathy for the Devil (01/26/07)

King, Stephen: The Shining (01/27/07)

Stackpole, Michael A.: Talion Revenant (02/01/07)

King, Stephen: Secret Windows (02/19/07)

Marillier, Juliet: Lady of the Forest (02/22/07)*

Marillier, Juliet: Son of the Shadows (03/07/07)

Marillier, Juliet: Child of the Prophecy (03/10/07)

Evanovich, Janet: One for the Money (03/11/07)*

Evanovich, Janet: Two for the Dough (03/12/07)

Evanovich, Janet: Three to get Deadly (03/13/07)

Kopelman, Jay Lt. Col.: From Baghdad, With Love (03/15/07)*

Roberts, Nora: Morrigan’s Cross (03/17/07)

I finished reading the anthology, Holidays are Hell. Pretty entertaining read, although I don’t usually do short stories. I like to get much more involved with the characters. I did enjoy the Rachel Morgan story, from before the series. That was pretty good, although I missed Jenks. I’ve read Lyndsay Sands as well, and this was a good short story, too. I’m glad there was a story by Marjorie M. Liu, since I’ve been hearing good things about her. This gave me a chance to sort of preview her writing, and I was impressed, so I’ll probably be buying more of her stuff. The story by Vicki Pettersson was interesting to me. I liked the whole set-up of the world, it was an interesting take on superheroes. All in all, a good read, just a little bit short.

I like thick books. I like to get involved with the character and the world, and all the intricacies of plot and just lose myself in the story. That said, I’m now reading my favorite book ever. Gone with the Wind. Again. For at least the twentieth time. I’ve read it at least once every year since I was eleven. (I left it kind of late this year, so I may not finish before the first.) Even though I know every single thing that is going to happen, I still love it. I have the first line memorized (and the second and third), and the last line, of course. Kind of nerdy, I admit, but that just sort of happened by accident.

I think Scarlett O’Hara is a great character. She’s flawed, definitely, but that only makes her more interesting. She’s self-centered and conceited, but she’s smart enough to realize she’s different from everyone else she knows. Except for Rhett, of course, and I think he’s a great character, too. I get so mad every time I read this book! I just want to slap Scarlett and shake some sense into her, and tell them both to quite being so prideful! So, that’s all I’m reading now, just getting lost in the world of Southern belles and the Civil War.