I'm not going to do a big year-end wrap up of what went on in my life because, well, if you've been reading this blog you pretty much know all of it. Most of it had to do with Hint Fiction, and I need to thank everyone who has helped spread the word about the anthology, who has bought a copy of the anthology, who has even given the anthology a moment's glance at the bookstore. Your support means more than I can put into words ... but that's just because I'm lazy. What does 2011 have in store? Well, that's the thing. You just never really know. I will say that there are a few surprises coming, one of which I hinted at on Facebook yesterday, the other a collaboration with a legend in the horror field that I'm very excited about. And, who knows, maybe a few more surprises will pop up. Guess you'll just have to wait and see.
So then I'll close out the last post of the year with my favorite books. I read just over 60 books this year. Not bad, but I think I can do a whole lot better. Also, it's always hard to judge what to count as a book. Like if I read and critique a friend's manuscript, does that count? What about a literary journal? Or a graphic novel? (Also, what is up with year's best lists that don't include books that came out in that year? Like the other day, I saw a list that contained two books being released this February. I mean, WTF?)
Anyway, this list is not a "best of" list so much as a list of books I read and really enjoyed and think you might enjoy them too. As some of them were audiobooks, I thought I would note that along with the narrator, as oftentimes a particular narrator really brings an extra energy to the story. Also, the list is in no particular order ... except the order in which they were read and/or listened to.
- PRIDE OF BAGHDAD by Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon (graphic novel)
- CITY OF THIEVES by David Benioff, read by Ron Perlman (audiobook)
- RAIN GODS by James Lee Burke, read by Will Patton (audiobook)
- BRIGHT SHINY MORNING by James Frey (novel)
- STITCHES: A MEMOIR by David Small (graphic novel)
- THE SECRET HISTORY by Donna Tartt (novel)
- SHARP TEETH by Tony Barlow (novel)
- THE LINCOLN LAWYER by Michael Connelly, read by Adam Grupper (audiobook)
- THE SPOT by David Means (story collection)
- THE PASSAGE by Justin Cronin (novel)
- PRINCE OF THIEVES by Chuck Hogan (novel)
- OLIVE KITTERIDGE by Elizabeth Strout (story collection)
- THE MIDNIGHT ROAD by Tom Piccirilli (novel)
- THE GLASS RAINBOW by James Lee Burke, read by Will Patton (audiobook)
- NEVER LET ME GO by Kazuo Ishiguro (novel)
- GONE TOMORROW by Lee Child, read by Dick Hill (audiobook)
- HOW THEY WERE FOUND by Matt Bell (story collection)
- THEN WE CAME TO THE END by Joshua Ferris (novel)
- LONG LOST by Harlan Coben, read by Steven Weber (audiobook)
- ROOM by Emma Donoghue (novel)
Heading into the new year, I plan to start with a bunch of YA books I have piled around my office: The Hunger Games trilogy, The Graveyard Book, The Book Thief, etc. There are three certainties in life: death, taxes, and never enough time to read everything you want.
So what about you? What were some of your favorites this year?