Twenty-first Five Books of 2009

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Warning: This is one of those book posts that's at least as much about me and my life as it is about the books.

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105) Blindness by Jose Saramago, finished December 18

I saw the tv ads for this movie when it was about to come out. Here's something from the same advertising campaign:



I saw that it was based on a book, saw that the book was written by a Nobel Prize winner, saw that it had an awesome cover, I saw I saw I saw.

Ah, how seeing seems to natural, like such a given.

How lucky we are.

Of all the postapocalyptic fiction I've read this year, the epidemic of blindness felt most like something that could happen to me.

I added this book to my wish list last year shortly before Christmas and Ceila and Matt bought it for me. Then I lost it (which is to say, Lady Steed stuck it on a shelf somewhere) for about half the year.

Had I picked this book up in a bookstore, I probably would not have bought it. Long long paragraphs with minimal punctuation tend to turn me off as obnoxious pretentious and hard to read. And it did slow my reading, to be sure. But, it ends up, Saramago had a solid reason for writing the book this way (though you're unlikely to guess the reason until about fifty pages before the end) and even without that solid reason, the uncertainty it gives accurately echoes the characters' blindness --- without proper tags and paragraphing it can be very hard to tell one voice from another,

I've heard pretty middling things about the movie (and it certainly wasn't in theaters very long), but this clip has made me put it back on my to-see list:



The book, however, should be on your to-read list no matter what. I can see why there is this love for this writer. Which thing I did not know before I started carrying around one of his books. It's a good way to meet people. You should try it.

half a year, give or take

104) Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson, finished DATE

REMARKS



This is the back of the bookmark that was in Hell's Angels. I've read all those books since we moved here. And as I think about it, I realize that I read the first five the summer of 2007, finished the sixth (I had just been using the dustjacket flaps, but when i got serious about finishing it, hello bookmark), and started this book. This book I picked up free at a library giveaway and I enjoyed Thompson's tales of hanging with the Hell's Angels in my town. Fascinating account. Good read and I recommend it.

At first, I was going through the book quite quickly. It was the latest book to be kept in the Lapper's door pocket. And then the Lapper's health plummeted. Then we bought a new car. And so the book-I-read-in-the-Lapper became neglected. In fact, if the Lapper hadn't refused to start last Monday after a union meeting in Richmond, it might still be unfinished. As it ended up though, I had some time.

One aspect of keeping track of books, for me, is the journalistic component. And while I could say much more about this book, for me, it's story is the story of the paperback's life with me. (Question begged: the book was forty years old when it got to me --- where else has it gone, what else has it done?)

about two and a half years

103) The Best of Mormonism 2009 edited by Stephen Carter, finished December 13

My earlier review still basically holds now that I've finished the book. I did love the essay on nothing, but my overall impression of to many essays holds. Not because they weren't good, but because I get tired of essays. Read also my interview with the editor.

couple weeks

102) Missile Mouse by Jake Parker, finished December 11

Incredibly, I haven't written my Fob Comics review for this. It's percolating. And then I intend to write a longer version for Fantasy Magazine. But for such a seemingly simple story, I'm having a hard time getting my mind around what I need to say. I have a mental outline, but that is all. The main point is that it's good and enjoyable and I recommend it highly if you're looking for an adventure comic for your kids. I'll post links when I get more indepth elsewhere.

about three days

101) The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, finished December 3

When I was in high school it seemed like the high-fantasy illustrations of the Hildebrandt brothers were about the hottest thing around. But based on these illustrations, I don't really get it.

I also don't get what the big deal is with Baum's text. There must've not been much competition back in the day because it's not that great.

We read it because a house around the block does a big Wizard of Oz display for Halloween each year so the Big O asked to read it. I read probably 75% and Lady Steed the other 25 and the kids enjoyed it. In fact, the Big O remembers it far better than most stories we've read. So maybe its weak literary merit and problematic ethos matter less than being "fun" and "exciting".

Anyway, now he wants to read A Christmas Carol again, so that'll be fun. Maybe he's old enough to sit still for it this year? He did for Baum. Dickens shall be the test.

twenty-three days

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Previously:

100) Nightwing: Year One by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty, finished November 22
099) Witch Baby by Francesa Lia Block, finished November 20
098) The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Rip Van Winkle The Spectre Bridegroom by Washington Irving and condensed and adapted by W.T. Robinson and K.R. Knight, finished November 8
097) Green Monk by Brandon Dayton, finished November 7
096) Push by Sapphire, finished November 5
095) Rift by Todd Robert Petersen, finished October 24
094) Book of Mormon Stories illustrated by Jerry Thompson and Robert T. Barrett, finished October 8
093) Invincible: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1 by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, finished October 5
092) The Walking Dead Volume 1: Days Gone Bye by Kirkman Walker Ottley Crabtree, finished October 5
091) The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker, finished October 2
090) Y: The Last Man, Vol. 1, Unmanned by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra, finished September 30
089) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith, finished September 24
088) Tales From the Bog by Marcus Lusk, finished ~September 18
087) The Complete Peanuts 1969-1970 by Charles M. Schulz, finished September 13
086) Crush by Murphy Hall, finished September 1
085) Full Color by Mark Haven Britt, finished August 31
084) Manhunter: Forgotten by Marc Andreyko et al, finished Aug 25
083) Glacial Period by Nicolas de Crécy, finished August 20
082) House of Mystery primarliy by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges, finished August 19
081) The Portable Frank by Jim Woodring, finished August 19
080) Runaways Vol. 3: The Good Die Young by Brian K Vaughan et al, finished August 15
079) Runaways, Vol. 2 by Brian K Vaughan et al, finished August 13
078) The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom, finished August 10
077) Runaways, Vol. 1 by Brian K Vaughan et al, finished August 10
076) Essex County Volume 1: Tales From The Farm (Essex County) by Jeff Lemire, finished August 8
075) A Damp Squid: The English Language Laid Bare> by Jeremy Butterfield, finished August 8
074) How Sex Works: Why We Look, Smell, Taste, Feel, and Act the Way We Do by Dr. Sharon Moalem, finished August 6
073) We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson, finished August 6
072) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, finished July 29
071) The Left Bank Gang by Jason, finished July 22
070) The Juggler of Our Lady by R.O. Blechman, finished July 22
069) Waterwise by Joel Orff, finished July 22
068) The Saga of the Bloody Benders by Rick Geary, finished July 22
067) 10 Books That Screwed Up the World (And 5 Others That Didn't Help) by Benjamin Wike, Ph.D., finished July 21
066) We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson, finished July 11
065) Hooper Haller by Dean Hughes, finished July 18
064) Stay (MS) by Moriah Jovan, finished July 15
063) The Question: The Five Books of Blood by Greg Rucka et al, finished July 14
062) Daisy Kutter: The Last Train by Kazu Kibuishi, finished July 13
061) Gravity vs. the Girl by Riley Noehren, finished July 11
060) The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy, finished July 1
059) Letters from a Nut by Ted. L. Nancy, finished June 21
058) The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling, finished June 21
057) Lowboy by John Wray, finished June 16
056) One silent sleepless night by Spencer W. Kimball, finished June 14
055) Blue Beetle: Boundaries by Sturges/Albuquerque/Coelho, finished June 6
054) [title in flux] (MS) by B.G. Christensen, finished June 5
053) Invincible Volume 1: Family Matters words by Robert Kirkman, pictures by Cory Walker, finished June 3
052) Der Ostwind (MS) by Kohl Glass, finished June 2
051) The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde, finished June 2
050) The Bible Salesman by Clyde Edgerton, finished June 2
049) Superman / Madman Hullabaloo! by the Allreds, finished May 29
048) Beyond Fair Chase: The Ethic and Tradition of Hunting by Jim Posewitz, finished May 26
047) Brave and the Bold: Demons and Dragons by Mark Waid et al, finished May 20
046) Atonement by Ian McEwan, finished May 20
045) Love and the Light: An Idyl of the Westland by Orson Ferguson Whitney, finished May 20
044) Tales Of The Batman: Tim Sale by Tim Sale and some motley group of writers, finished May 17
043) Catwoman: The Dark End of the Street by Ed Brubaker et al, finished May 13
042) Aztek - the Ultimate Man by Grant Morrison), Mark Millar, Keith Champagne, Steven Harris; finished May 11
041) Cypher by Brad Teare, finished May 7
040) My Faith in Frankie by Mike Carey, Sonny Liew, Marc Hempel, finished May 5
039) Janes in Love by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg, finished May 5
038) Batman: R.I.P. by Grant Morrison et al, finished May 4
037) 1000 Steps To World Domination by Rob Osborne, finished May 4
036) 110 Per¢ by Tony Consiglio, finished May 4
035) Mendoza in Hollywood by Kage Baker, finished May Day
034) All Star Superman, Vol. 2 by Grant Morrison, and Frank Quitely and Jamie Grant, finished April 22
033) All Star Superman, Vol. 1 by Grant Morrison, and Frank Quitely and Jamie Grant, finished April 20
032) Bound on Earth by Angela Hallstrom, finished April 19
031) Batman: The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul by Grant Morrison and colleagues, finished April 18
030) Madman Atomic Comics Volume 2 by Mike Allred with Laura Allred, finished April 14
029) For a Good Time by K. Voss, finished April 11
028) The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told, finished April 11
027) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, finished April 6
026) Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey by Karen Wilkin (essay) and Edward Gorey (art), finished April 5
025) Owly: A Time to be Brave by Andy Runton, finished April 1
024) Blue Beetle: Endgame by John Rogers and Rafaele Albuquerque, finished March 29
023) Blue Beetle: Reach for the Stars by Rogers, Torres, Albuqerque; finished March 26
022) The Complete Peanuts 1967-1968 by Charles M. Schulz, finished March 25
021) Blue Beetle: Road Trip by various, finished March 25
020) Love That Dog by Sharon Creech, finished March 18
019) Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block, finished March 17
018) The Proviso by Moriah Jovan, finished March 16
017) An Ensign to the Nations: History of the Oakland State by Evelyn Candland, finished March 7
016) Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley, finished February 27
015) Batman: The Black Glove by Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel and J.H. Williams III, finished February 23
014) The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story by Richard Preston, finished February 22
013) Lex Luthor: Man of Steel by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo, finished February 19
012) Blue Beetle: Shellshocked by Keith Giffen and Cully Hammer, finished February 18
011) The Joker by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo, finished February 17
010) Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, finished February 18
009) Superman: Red Son by MJR&M, finished February 11
008) The Best American Comics 2008 edited by Lynda Barry, finished February 9
007) The Blot by Tom Neely, finished February 6
006) JSA: Darkness Falls by Goyer, Johns, et al, finished January 28
005) The Road by Cormac McCarthy, finished January 24
004) Poor Sailor by Sammy Harkham, finished January 19
003) The Waitress was New by Dominique Fabre and translated by Jordan Stump, finished January 19
002) Stagger Lee by Derek McCulloch and Shepherd Hendrix, finished January 12?
001) The Arrival by Shaun Tan, finished January 8

the first five, 1-5
the second five, 6-10
the third five, 11-15
the fourth five, 16-20
the fifth five, 21-25
the sixth five, 26-30
the seventh five, 31-35
the eighth five, 36-40
the ninth five, 41-45
the tenth five, 46-50
the eleventh five, 51-55
the twelfth five, 56-60
the thirteenth five, 61-65
the fourteenth five, 66-70
the fifteenth five, 71-75
the sixteenth five, 76-80
the seventeenth five, 81-86
the eighteenth five, 86-90
the nineteenth five, 91-95
the twentieth five, 96-100