Top Reads of 2007, and a Preview of 2008

Every so often, my creative gland stops secreting, and I turn to my fellow bloggers for inspiration on topics to address. Over at Cognitive Blindspot yesterday, zero_zero_one listed all the books he'd read in 2007 (and an impressive list it is!); today, his c0-blogger noisims listed his top 5 reads of 2007.

Well, I didn't keep a list of everything I read last year, so I can't match zero_zero_one's list, but I can look back at the best and worst reads of the past year as noisims did...

My top 5 good reads of 2007 (not in any particular order):

Who Will Tell the People, by William Greider: a marvelous look at how our democratic political processes have been corrupted to the point at which our representative government truly represents only those wealthy and organized enough to buy or demand representation. Worst thing: this book was originally published in 1992, and 15 years later, nothing has changed.

Book of the Dead, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child: great brain candy - the final book of the trilogy documenting the battle between Special Agent Pendergast and his Evil Brother Diogenes.

The Quest, by Wilbur Smith: more great brain candy, but meticulously researched and well-written. If you are fascinated by ancient Egypt, over-the-top sex scenes, and hairy-chested macho adventure, anything by Wilbur Smith is for you.

Sharpe's Fury, by Bernard Cornwell: great historical fiction; the latest in the ongoing adventures of soldier/adventurer Richard Sharpe, who evidently took part in every battle of the Napoleonic Wars...in this book, the battle of Barossa in 1811. This is a man who can write great action stories.

The World Without Us, by Alan Weisman: interesting speculative nonfiction...what would happen to all man's works if man suddenly disappeared?

And the worst reads:

The Book of the Dead, by Patricia Cornwell: I like much of her work, but this one left me yawning, particularly over the ludicrous cardboard character of her nemesis, Dr Self. A waste of good reading time.

Hannibal Rising, by Thomas Harris: beautifully written, as is everything by Harris, but it really took much of the mystery and inherent evil out of the character of Hannibal Lecter. A real disappointment.

Right now, I'm re-reading Thunderhead, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (my mealtime and bathroom book, and a rocking brain candy adventure) and The Fall of Berlin, 1945, by Anthony Beevor (my commuting book), a gripping look at the vast and bloody battle for the Nazi capital at the end of World War II.

There's a lot of 2008 left, a stack of unread books (and books deserving of re-reads) at home, and people keep writing even more books. In July, Harry Turtledove will publish his new novel The Man With the Iron Heart, an alternative history of the aftermath of World War II in Europe...how would history have been different if the occupation of defeated Nazi Germany had been more like today's bloody occupation of Iraq? I heard Turtledove talk about this book at the National Book Fair back in September, and can't wait to read it.

What's your reading plan for this year?

Gotta go - Punky needs walking, my lunch needs to be packed, and a new day of work awaits.

Sigh.

Have a good day. Read more. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo