Friday, October 3, 2008

Weekly Geeks #19 - Top Books Published in 2008

Man. I feel like I have been gone for weeks!! OK....so it's only been like 4 days since I've posted, but still. It has the feel of a lot longer. Between soccer games and practice, football games and practice, the kid's homework, and both my jobs.....life has certainly gotten in the way of my blogging! I've also been watching a lot of political news and debates. The election is just around the corner, and it's interesting to me. One of these days, I'll be posting some of my thoughts and opinions (basically the "Why I hate Sarah Palin" post), but I didn't want to start all that controversy today! I have a couple of book reviews to write, but frankly, I just didn't feel like it today. So I thought I would participate in the Weekly Geeks. It's been a few weeks since I have, but I figured this one was easy. Wouldn't take too much work or brain power!!

1. Compile your list of favorites. Please be sure that books you choose actually were published in 2008, or at the very earliest in the winter holiday season of 2007. Sometimes books that come out then are left out.

2. Come back and sign Mr Linky with the url to your top books of 2008 post.


3. If you happen to see any non-WG bloggers making similar lists, please grab the url and come put it in Mr Linky for them. Let them know you’re doing that, please, in case they have some sort of objection; if they do, they can ask me to remove their link. I’ve already seen a couple favorites of 2008 posts, which is another reason I wanted to get started early.


4. Feel free to make changes to your list if you read something new in the next few weeks. After about October 25, I can’t guarantee your changes will be reflected in the master list. We’ll probably start compiling lists around then.

5. Please consider whether you’d like to help me compile lists.

So far this year, out of the 40 or so books that I have read, 14 were published in 2008. That's actually a lot for me. I don't tend to read books right away, but with the ARC's coming in, this number was a bit higher than usual. So I guess I'll give you the top 7 books of 2008. (Why 7?? Seems like a lucky number!):


  • The Host by Stephenie Meyer - Ok...this book will probably be my favorite book of the year! For some reason, it really affected me, and I just loved it!!
  • Vampyres of Hollywood by Adrienne Barbeau and Michael Scott - LOVED this book! Fun and campy.
  • Untamed: A House of Night Novel by PC Cast and Kristin Cast - Book 4 in the House of Night series was a real winner. If you like this series, this is one of the best!
  • The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason - Book 3 in the Gardella Vampire Series. So far, this has been my favorite book from the series. In which Victoria kicks some major Vampire Ass!
  • When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason - Book 4 in the Gardella Vampire Series. Although I didn't like it as much as Book 3, it still ranks right up there as a favorite of the year. Besides, some of the romance-y stuff is getting resolved.
  • This Charming Man by Marian Keyes - Surprisingly good book that is marketed as "Chick Lit", but oh so much more. A great read!!
  • The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti - Again, another surprisingly good read!! A lot of fun and adventure with a young, one-handed hero!!

(I have the reviews linked in my sidebar if you'd like to read them!)

Who knows, by the end of 2008, this list may change!! I guess I will just have to keep reading to find out!!

13 comments:

Marg said...

Definitely agree on The Host. It is one of only two books that I have graded as 5/5 reads.

Just read the second Gardella book, so still working my way up to these last two books that you mentioned.

This Charming Man was good, but not great for me. I have enjoyed some of her other books much more.

Haven't read the others on your list yet!

Stephanie said...

Yep, The Host was fantastic!! And I'm so glad you are reading the Gardella books!! I'm anxious to hear what you think of them.

This Charming Man was my first Keyes book. I was really impressed. Probably because it was not what I was expecting. I highly doubt it will make my top ten reads of the year, though!

Anonymous said...

Hi Stephanie,

I was just passing by reading your blogs I noticed you have not read any of the Shadow Series by Orson Scott Card , related to Enders game and its series. At least I could not find any thing on your blog to correct my conclusion.

I just finished reading the last book (published) Shadow of the Giant and was sad that it was over.
The Shadow Series following Beans life are truly amazing and leave you questioning a lot about our existince in this world of ours and political views although futuristic not far from the thruth. I would advice you read the series by Orson Scott Card , I choose to read Beans stories because it seemed more instersting vs Enders after Enders Game. If you havent read Enders Game , reading Enders Shadow is just the same only from Beans point of view. But both are good books and each novel in the series are amazing now that I am done with Beans Life for now ( there are rumors of one more last installment for the shadow series to be released in '09 we can only hope) I am picking up where I left off in Enders Life after Enders game, I read Speaker for the Death, which is more Sci Fi then Beans stories , and a bit harder to relate to in my opinion as to why I was able to stop reading and finish beans, but now I am picking up on Xenocide the third book following Ender. I will admit unlike Beans Journey , I cant help but feel lost reading about ender he isnt the same character in Enders game , and he seems like a stranger all through out Speaker of the Death, Card left to much to question in the series and to much time passed to ever get to know the character unlike Beans story you stay connected to his character there is no Huge time gap left wondering who he became like Enders.

Anonymous said...

I agree , the series following Enders Life are completly unrelated to the same boy we first met in Enders game. Although the Speaker for the Dead follows Ender, it is not based on Ender Along Orson Scott made a point that the book was not intended as a 2nd installment to enders life, the book could be read and stand on its own with out ever having to read Enders Game. How ender was protayed in Enders game is completly unrelated to the rest of the series and its a bit dissapointing but the each book stands on its own and are addicting.

And unlike Enders series ,you do stay connected to Bean in the Shadow Series there is no question about his character. He only seems to grow more and more with each installment after Enders Shadow. You can not read any of the Shadow Series with out reading in order, starting with enders shadow. You cant help but attach yourself to Bean , unlike Ender who to me seemed to be a stranger.

Both great series

Stephanie said...

No, I haven't read the Shadow Series by OSC. But they are all on my infinite TBR list!

The Bookworm said...

I loved The Host too :) I hope she writes more like it.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

Bookfool said...

Colleen made it onto my favorites list twice, too. :)

Iliana said...

Vampyres of Hollywood sounds like a lot of fun. The Good Thief is another one I'd really like to get to one of these days.

Ladytink_534 said...

I read This Charming Man too (I haven't got a review up for it yet)

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

Eeeks! I haven't read any of those! Although I do have The Good Thief on my list thanks to your review. :)

Ana S. said...

I was going to say the same thing Trish did. And that goes for some others too, like Vampyres of Hollywood.

Anonymous said...

Aha! I just bought "The Good Thief" and was wrecking my brain trying to remember who'd reviewed it lately. It was you! (And an excellent review too.) I'm happy to see this made your top books list. Everything I've heard of it sounds really good.

Sarah Pekkanen said...

Hi there -- I"m also a huge Marian Keyes fan (which is how I found your blog). I was wondering if you'd mind checking out my website, too? I'm a new novelist with a book coming out in early 2010 -- the same genre as Marian Keyes. I'd love to get your feedback, as a fellow fan. Thanks!
Sarah
www.sarahpekkanen.com