The idea for this article actually came from a comment on my 2008 books read list from Amanda. Since I don't think she ever came back to read the answer I left for her, I thought this subject might make for an interesting discussion.
So what is the best book you read in 2008?
From a literary/writing worthiness standpoint, Somebody Elses's Daughter by Elizabeth Brundage was by far the best for me. You can read my review of it, here if you are not familiar with the title.
I also have to give a shout-out to the Twilight Series of novels: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse & Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. While they aren't literary masterpieces by any means, the saga is one of the most compelling and addicting stories I have ever read. I can't ever remember being so drawn into a storyline. For that alone, they're worth checking into.
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Comments: 107
I can't really think of one in particular, but '08 was definitely the year I found some new favorite authors: Stan Nicholls and Joe Ambercrombie come to mind.
I read several series that I enjoyed like Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark, Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling, LKH's Anita Blake series, Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series, Karen Marie Moning's Highlander and Fever series..just to name a few
Read it. You'll thank me.
I have a few that were really good but I think the author that had the best read for me in 2008 was Faye Kellerman. It seems that when I finished one of her books I was anxious to get another ASAP. As far as one favorite, I don't think there is just one.
My best non-fiction read was 'Voodoo Science" buy Robert Park.
--Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama (seriously, it's fascinating and beautifully written)
--The Last Campaign by Thurston Clarke
--What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn
Kris, are those all non-fiction?
Getting away from Vampires, I guess I read too much to actually have one favorite book. I read a lot of Sci Fi Fantasy and am currently working my way through Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series. Then there's my mystery /suspense audio book addiction (nothing like reading while you're driving ...;>P ) and my discovery of Lee Child's Jack Reacher books. I "read" Killing Floor on my drive to Canada in July and found myself parked in my motel parking lot unwilling to go inside until I got to a place in the book where I could stop for the night!
Finally there's my "fluff" addiction... you know the quick read Romance or Adventure novels of which I stumbled over a series called Rogue Angel by Alex Archer that I am devouring as they are published and of course my Sherrilyn Kenyon/Christine Feehan marathons! Then there's... well you get the idea. ;>s
I later read a series she wrote based very loosely (and I mean loosely) on the Sleeping Beauty story... (very loosely...)**
(**some would even say pornographically.)
I do remember loving Shipping News so much I rented the movie.
I also loved the Secret Life of Bees and want to see the movie.
For 2009, I've picked up Twilight recently and I have the first 7 Sookie Stackhouse books (I love the series True Blood), and I received Peter Joseph Swanson's books for Christmas.
Twilight was a little to juvenile for me.
I love Lee Child and I'm going to order a Tanya Huff on your say so.
Water for Elephants was good, so was The Church of the Dead Girls by Stephen Dobyns.
Then there was Between Two Worlds By Zainab Salbi, The Safety of Secrets by Delaune Michel, The Last Days by Joel C. Rosenberg, and Los Alamos by Joseph Kanon....see, I can't decide. lol
For such a person, mankind would be like the tides. Cities would sprout outside your walls, swell, then recede from plague or war before being consumed by the forests. And in a few eons, the process would repeat.
This is just part of the picture Stephenson paints in this incredible 900-page work. He breaths life into a world of monks whose concept of time is completely different-- secure in monasteries dedicated to the pursuit not of religion, but of theoretical mathematics.
Truly a fascinating read!
I'm currently reading the 3rd book in the series-- Lion Among Men and it's quite good (much better than Son of a Witch).
Sharon has read some good stuff too. I gotta say "The Lace Reader" got really good reviews. Sharon, "Water for Elephants" was awesome too. Oh yes, and where Michael Chabon is concerned, I have not read "The Yiddish Policeman's Union", but "Gentlemen of the Road" was really cool.
"Outliers"
"Kludge"
Julia- you are referrring to Marisa de los Santos, right? She wrote "Belong to me" and "Love Walked in".
It's a shame that more people have not read some of these second tier authors, who write stuff that is more interesting than most bestselling books.
I loved the Twilight Series. I have become hooked on YA books and pass them on to my granddaughter.
For fiction I liked "Water for Elephants "by Sara Gruen and "The Vanishing of Esme Lennox" by Maggie O'Farrell. I found this surprising cause I usually don't read these types of books. I love mystery and the supernatural more.
My daughter got the Twilight books for Christmas. I'm hoping she'll lend them to ol' Mom.
I've gotten away from my reading for pleasure in the last few years and mean to take it up again.
The Foundation trilogy..........
newer books best......
The liberal facist
The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng was a beautifully written (and grossly underappreciated) book.
I also enjoyed reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski after Mike C.'s review reminded me that I had it.
The nonfiction book that will stay with me is Taking on the Trust: The Epic Battle of Ida Tarbell and John D. Rockefeller written by Steve Weinberg and reviewed here by Lisa Gensheimer.
"This remarkable debut saga of intrigue and akido flashes back to a darkly opulent WWII-era Malaya. Phillip Hutton, 72, lives in serene Penang comfort, occasionally training students as an akido master teacher of teachers. A visit from Michiko Murakami sends him spiraling back into his past, where he grows up the alienated half-British, half-Chinese son of a wealthy Penang trader in the years before WWII. When Hutton's father and three siblings leave him to run the family company one summer, he befriends a mysterious Japanese neighbor named Mr. Endo."
I highly recommend The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng.
A Mercy
The White Tiger
The Secret Scripture
I want to change my answer. The best book I read was "Team of Rivals." It's about Lincoln's cabinet and it's great. I received it as a gift several years ago but didn't get around to reading it this year.