A while back I started a post not just reviewing books (since anyone can review a book), but instead explaining how I came to read those specific books. I will now finish that for the remaining books I read this year. Starting at book #32:
32. A Game of Thrones- George RR Martin 809 Pages -- A
I loved the HBO show. On a whim I bought the books on Amazon when I saw a deal where they were selling the books for approximately $20 for the first four books. I wasn't sure I'd like the books, but I figured why not. I guess you can tell, I liked them. If anyone's looking to read these themselves I recommend this cheap set: http://www.amazon.com/Books-Thrones-Clash-Kings-Swords/dp/B005CC0CMC/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1323232864&sr=8-22
33. A Clash of Kings - George RR Martin 969 Pages - A
I didn't expect to jump right into this second book in the series. I thought I would space them out and take my time, but that's not really my style I guess. I couldn't help myself. I had to know what was going to happen to the characters. Especially since reading the first book was a lot like just watching the TV show again which I had just watched a few months prior.
34. Shopgirl - Steve Martin 130 Pages -- B+
Earlier in the year, I read An Object of Beauty, Steve Martin's newest novel about a young woman. I happened to be in my laundry room and saw his earlier novel from about 10 years ago covering a similar subject matter. I had seen the movie, but didn't remember it. The book was good and smart, but I'm happy he expanded the themes of his newest novel.
35. A Storm of Swords -- George RR Martin 1,128 Pages -- A+
I read a short book, but couldn't stay away from the world George Martin has sucked me into. I went back after a short hiatus and am happy I did so since this was the best book I read this year, and one of the best books I've ever read in my life.
36. No Country For Old Men - Cormac McCarthy 309 Pages --C+
I found this in my laundry room when I found Shopgirl. I don't get Cormac McCarthy. After reading this and The Road, I have officially decided he's not for me.
37. The Big Sleep - Raymond Chandler 230 Pages-- B-
This was my book club book, so I ordered it from the library and read it quickly so I could run back to my world of Dragons, Direwolves and Kingslaying.
38. A Feast For Crows -- George RR Martin 976 Pages -- A
I could only stay away for one book before reading the final book in the set that I bought. I thought I would save it, but I couldn't.
39. A Dance With Dragons -- George RR Martin 959 Pages -- A
I went out with my friend Mike and he told me he had the book and said since he was a little behind me he wouldn't get to it for a few weeks. If I could promise to read it, and give it back within 3 weeks I could have it. So I jumped at the opportunity to catch up with all the other fans and then to dive into the websites for theorizing.
40. The Postmortal -- Drew Magary 365 Pages -- B+
The newest book club book had to be read. While walking through the rough aisles of Comicon, I happened to see that the book that was assigned was being sold at the nerd-haven. Without thinking, I bought the book just so I had it
41. The Tao of Pooh -- Benjamin Hoff 158 Pages -- B-
One weekend I went over my friend Evan's house. He is a fellow lover of books and had a sweeping bookshelf of books that I was interested in reading. I told him about my challenge and he mentioned that he was sure he had a ton of short, good books. The next few books on this list come from Evan's shelf.
42. After The Quake -- Haruki Murakami 145 Pages -- A-
I got Evan into Murakami when I read The Wind-up Bird Chronicles. Since then, we have both read a few of his books. Evan had this one so I stole it before even he had read it.
43. The House on Mango Street -- Sandra Cisneros 110 Pages -- C
While going through Evan's books, Aubrey asked if she could borrow this one. He said OK. I decided to read the book simply because it was in my apartment and it was short. It bored me.
44. Techno Pulp - Arty Nelson 203 Pages -- C-
Evan recommended this book saying he enjoyed it while he was traveling through Europe when he was 20. I can see why it may have appealed to him, but reading it as a 34 year old, I couldn't relate as well. But it fit my length criteria. And the only good thing is I read it on the day my nephew was born.
45. Son of Neptune -- Rick Riordan 513 Pages -- C+
I've read all of Rick Riordan's Demi-god series of books. My brother works for Disney publishing and this is one of his biggest sellers. My brother gave this book to me and since they are quick, fun page-turners I decided to read it. And I was getting sick of reading short books.
46. Black Swan Green -- David Mitchell 294 Pages -- B-
Evan gave me this book. David Mitchell is an author that he is in love with and I find to be very smart and very good. This was not his crowning achievement (for that read Cloud Atlas).
47. Bodega Dreams -- Ernesto Quionez 213 Pages -- B+
Another book that Evan recommended to me. I had no expectations of this book which is a retelling of The Great Gatsby but in present-day Spanish Harlem. I was pleasantly surprised by this story and how well the story was told in today's day.
48. Miracle on the 17th Green -- James Patterson 195 Pages -- B
This summer I really got into golf. This book was a book about golf by an Author who I have read at least 10 novels by. I know he's a short read, and this was about golf. I saw it on the library shelf and figured I would knock it out in a day. I was right (I read it on the Friday after Thanksgiving), I just wasn't expecting to enjoy this sappy, predictable melodrama as much as I did.
49. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button -- F. Scott Fitzgerald 63 pages-- C-
I had seen the movie, but I had just read Bodega Dreams and didn't want to re-read Gatsby. But I figured Fitzgerald deserved some respect. I saw it in the library and it was only 3pages long with pictures. It took 45 minutes to read. Oh yeah--- It's also one of the rare instances where the book is better and longer than the movie. And I didn't really like the movie.
50. Piercing - Ryu Murakami 185 Pages -- B+
Ryu Mrakami's books are always next to Hiraku Murakami in the library. I've always been interested in what I see and heart his books were good, but disturbing. After reading this one, I agree. He's like the Japanese Chuck Palahniuk and that's a good thing.
51. While Mortals Sleep -- Kurt Vonnegut 255 Pages -- C+
Saw this in the libraray and being someone that needs to read everything by an author, this series of unpublished short stories by the man needed to be read. So I grabbed it off the shelf.
52. The Visible Man -- Chuck Kloserman 225 Pages -
The first book I read this year was Eating the Dinosaur by Chuck Klosterman. I have never read his fiction before, but saw it in the library and thought there was something fitting about reading my 52nd book of the year by the same author that I read the first by. I'm glad I read this book. Although I'm getting sick of Klosterman's style and his obsession with what "matters and means" and if something is "important" (Seriously!!! Read anything he writes and check out how many times he uses those words Like This Article)
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