“What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you.
Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.”
— Anne Lamott
One of the highlights of the act of blogging is engaging in year end discussions on favorite books, films, television shows and games consumed over the course of the year. And here at Stainless Steel Droppings I aim to please by giving you a clear and *cough* concise review of the stories that have engaged my imagination throughout the year. In the interest of bringing you the very best, I have spent much of the last few weeks sequestered with my crack research team revisiting 2011.
The results have now been delivered and I am excited to share with you, in no particular order, my favorites in 2011. If title is underlined it is an indication of the presence of a review that you may access by clicking on said title.
Ship Breaker ~Paolo Bacigalupi
Award-winning author Paolo Bacigalupi turns his attention to the field of Young Adult fiction with this novel that generated a lot of buzz on “best of” lists at the end of 2010. In my review I described the book as:
“…inspired in part by the actual industry for which it is named, [Ship Breaker] follows a young teenage protagonist, Nailer, as he lives the hard and dangerous life of salvaging materials from derelict oil tankers, left over from the Accelerated Age. Nailer and the crew he works with live a thankless and poor existence, trusting to the Fates and hoping for a lucky strike that will allow them to rise above their squalid conditions. One night a “city killer” storm visits the beach, raining down death and destruction. The next day, as Nailer and his crew mate Pima search the area, they come across an unexpected boon: the wreckage of a clipper ship, filled with the kind of salvage that could make them rich beyond their wildest dreams. There is only one problem–a beautiful young girl has survived the crash and she needs help, the kind of help that can only mean one thing: danger! What is a boy to do?”
Ship Breaker was a book that I considered a no-brainer when recommending it at the start of 2011 and then was surprised to see a group of blogging friends not take to it with the passion that I did. Still, there was no question it would make my list. It has been nearly a year and the warm glow I felt when reading the book then returns whenever I recall the story.
Walton’s magical semi-autobiographical story of a passionate young reader was as much a love letter to childhood experiences with fantasy and science fiction as it was a compelling coming-of-age fantasy. The novel taught me a new word, “karass”, for that all-important gift of having a group of friends with like reading passions with whom one can share a love of reading. The book struck such a cord with me that I turned right around and read it aloud to my wife. I think Robin Hobb’s quote on the cover really says all of what needs to be said:
“If you love science fiction and fantasy, if reading it formed your teen years, if you remember the magic you used to do, if you remember the absolute joy of first discovering those books, then read this.”
The Name of the Wind ~Patrick Rothfuss
I set aside my reluctance to read “chunksters” and in so doing had two of the best experiences reading fantasy that I have ever had. The first of these was The Name of the Wind and as I sat at the computer after finishing it I typed these words in all sincerity and I believe they accurately reflect the way I feel about this book:
“I do not know what the typing equivalent is to a whisper, but I feel as if I must do so. Type gently, quietly, or it might break the spell that I am under. For a spell it is. I stand transfixed. Undone. And once again transformed by the power of the gift of good storytelling. A scant thirty minutes have passed since I turned the final page of Patrick Rothfuss’ debut novel, The Name of the Wind, and I literally feel that tiny quivering, that emanating glow, that comes when I find myself wholly immersed in story. Patrick Rothfuss has lit a fire in this man’s mind and it has suffused me with a warmth known only to other passionate readers.
Wow.”
The Way of Kings ~Brandon Sanderson
What was I thinking picking up the first book book in a proposed ten book series? By the time I was finished, however, I was convinced that the cycle of reading and waiting that I have now embarked upon was the most wonderful decision I could have made. In the review I wrote:
“The Way of Kings is a marvelous achievement, worthy of whatever string of pretty words critics and fans alike might choose to laud upon it. The book is at once simple and infinitesimally complex. Brandon Sanderson juggles a manageable set of characters and plots and weaves them together so subtly that you don’t realize you are being ensnared in an elaborate web of masterful storytelling until it is too late–you are caught.”
If anything, several months removed from the experience, I think I may have undersold it. It is an achievement that must be experienced for yourself.
The Star Beast ~Robert A. Heinlein
I actually “read” this book courtesy of the excellent Full Cast Audio recording, but in remembrance of the recently departed artist Darrell K. Sweet I decided to use his cover image above. Kudos go out to everyone who has ever encouraged me to give Heinlein’s juvenile novels a try. Over the past few years I have discovered novel after novel densely packed with “sense of wonder” and this has been one of my favorites thus far.
“In The Star Beast, Robert A. Heinlein alternates between a plucky, suspenseful boy-and-his-dog adventure tale and a fascinating political shell game with characters in both story lines intersecting in ways that keep the story fresh and exciting. John Thomas Stuart and Betty Sorensen are engaging teenage protagonists who do not easily fit into the stereotypical molds of a 1950′s boy and girl. While authentically displaying the narcissism common to the typical American teenager, they also show a range of emotion, ingenuity, and occasionally move beyond assigned gender roles. Mr. Kiku, a Kenyan who fills the role of Undersecretary but is clearly the power behind the throne, so to speak, is an absolute corker of a character. His dry wit and consummate skill at verbal fencing once again proves that a “Heinlein juvenile” is not light after-school-special material.”
Years of broken summer promises to read Frank Herbert’s masterpiece finally came to an end with a group read of Dune this past summer. It proved to be an intricate and intriguing novel with timeless themes and characters who kept me turning the pages. The group discussion of the book was deeply rewarding and I was so pleased that after this level of analysis of the story I came away with great affection for Dune. There is a reason that Frank Herbert’s most well-known novel remains so popular today: it is really that good.
Metatropolis ~John Scalzi, ed.
There are two books that I sincerely regret neglecting to review this year and Metatropolis is the first of these books. Five SFF authors came together to create a near-future vision that goes beyond the standard dark post-apocalyptic imagingings to create something plausible, interesting and exciting. Authors Elizabeth Bear, Tobias Buckell, Jay Lake, Karl Schroeder, and project editor John Scalzi each take the helm to tell a short story set in this universe. The stories are consistently good and the book as a whole is a real gem. There was at least one story reminiscent of the quality of Heinlein’s juvenile novels and I have already determined that this book has to be re-read in order to give it a proper review. That will probably be my excuse, at any rate. The book itself is that good and deserves a return trip.
Scalzi’s reboot of the classic novel by H. Beam Piper was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and he delivered with a fun page-turner that prompted this opening:
“Evil corporations stripping planets bare of their natural resources all in the pursuit of wealth. Cute, cuddly creatures who turn out to be smarter than they first appear. A charming rogue torn between his own self-interest and the greater good. Multiple ecosystems in peril.
‘What’s that?’
‘You say you’ve heard that all before?’
If you are thinking that it all sounds familiar, you may be right.
Perhaps George Lucas’ teddy bears..er, Ewoks…sprang to mind, or the blue-skinned Navi from James Cameron’s Avatar. Or perhaps that all sounds familiar because you have read Little Fuzzy, the 1962 classic that provided the inspiration for John Scalzi’s latest novel. Whatever the case may be, I promise you that John Scalzi is a whiz at paying loving homage to science fiction classics while giving a contemporary kick-in-the-pants to well worn sf tropes. The result is a book that rekindles that excitement you felt when your older brother, best friend, neighborhood librarian (or in my case, uncle) handed you that first science fiction novel and said, “Here, try this.”
If you have yet to do so, allow me to pass along those three simple words and the encouragement to give this book a try.
A Red Herring Without Mustard ~Alan Bradley
“In A Red Herring Without Mustard murder returns to the village of Bishop’s Lacey and Flavia de Luce cannot help but find herself caught up in the investigation. Alan Bradley’s mysteries rest comfortably in the cozy mystery niche carved out by the great Agatha Christie and others. While paying homage to those who have have come before, Bradley’s books step out of the shadow of the greats in their character examination of Flavia and the members of her family, both living and dead. It has become more and more apparent that the real mystery in the Flavia de Luce novels is not the one sparked by the murder du jour, but that one originating in the death of a young mother which continues to have deep and painful repercussions on the de Luce family.”
This is the third in Bradley’s series starring precocious Flavia de Luce and it is my favorite thus far. A day or two spent with dear Flavia and her bicycle Gladys is a charming way to spend one’s time.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children ~Ransom Riggs
This was the first book ever to grab hold of my attention because of a book trailer, and oh what a trailer it was. I promptly purchased the book upon its release and devoured it:
“It is easy for a young boy to believe the tales woven by a loving grandfather–of monsters, a magical home, and children with amazing powers. But as that boy matures his grandfather’s tales develop the taint of untruth and what once seemed so very real is now nothing more than fairy stories. So what if his grandfather had pictures of these children, pictures that in childhood were quite convincing? To the boy’s eye these photos now appear faked, doctored, impossible. And so the grandfather stopped telling the stories and a special bond was lost. Then one night tragedy struck and the now adolescent boy saw something–something that should not be real, could not be real. That one night will send the boy on a journey in which he discovers that truth is sometimes stranger, and scarier, than fiction.”
Ransom Riggs’ debut novel was so compelling that I found myself fighting off a nearly overpowering urge to go to sleep and instead stayed up well into the wee hours to finish it. I could not bear the thought of going away from the story just to catch a few more hours of sleep.
The Third Bear ~Jeff Vandermeer
This collection of short stories from the unusual imagination of Jeff Vandermeer was the first book I completed in 2011. I effusively wrote:
“I am about to make an assertion that perhaps only book lovers will forgive me for: a good story can be as heady and electric as a first kiss, as intoxicating as the finest wine (or a really good margarita), as breathtaking as the most beautiful sunset. A good story can induce a state of euphoria that flows through you like an electrical current. A good story can make you want to be something that you are not.
Jeff Vandermeer tells a good story.”
12 months have passed and I still believe that. Do you know why? It is because there are several stories in that collection I desire very strongly to revisit. You won’t find a lot of standard genre-fare here. But you will find some great examples of what can be done through the medium of the short story.
Bolo: The Annuals of the Dinochrome Brigade ~Keith Laumer
My success with Vandermeer’s collection left me hungry for more short fiction so I picked up this collection of 6 stories by Keith Laumer and proceeded to read through it at an alarming pace. It was that good. The stories shared a kinship to and perhaps were paying an homage to Asimov’s robot short stories and they also reminded me of stories written by Harry Harrison that kept me company during my youth.
On the Way to Other Country ~C.W. Gusewelle
This was a book I discovered while wandering through the nonfiction aisles at my local library and throughout the month of May it was my companion, speaking to me of the wonders of the mundane and of a life well lived. I felt so inadequate in describing these beautiful essays:
“Collected here are over 100 brief but powerful essays categorized into seasons and steps along the journey of life. With an economy of words and a lyrical style Gusewelle shares thoughts on youth, parenthood, solitary walks in the woods, growing old, the deep connection we feel with the land, and with our pets and so very much more. What sets Gusewelle apart is that his writing is really and truly beautiful. Not flowery, not given to long-winded exposition. Instead he sets out to share an insight or two and takes the reader on a journey that is rapid in the telling but can lead to a great deal of thought and discussion afterwards.”
This sometimes irreverent, often funny and surprisingly profound collection of essays by Wil “Wesley Crusher” Wheaton was an unexpected pleasure. His candid discussion of the process of coming to grips with life post-Star Trek was and remains a real inspiration. Wil Wheaton made me want to be a better blogger while also reminding me through his reminiscences just how much pleasure I derive from blogging. Wheaton proves with his anecdotes and observations that he is just a normal geek with the same hopes and fears and desires to succeed that we all share.
Beagles’ latest short story collection is the second of the two books I regret not reviewing. If you have not read the work of Peter S. Beagle, this is the place to start. If you have read him then you undoubtedly know just how fine a storyteller the man is and you too should make room in 2012 to partake of the magic of this short story collection. The book contains 13 tales, three of which are new for this collection.
There is no simpler way to state it than this: Peter S. Beagle crafts beautiful short stories. Even when they are set in modern times they feel like the fantasy equivalent to nonfiction stories about growing up in the 40’s and 50’s. There is a nostalgic sensibility that comes from his imagination and it infuses his stories with just the right about of sentimentality. Two of my favorites are “The Rock in the Park” which tells of two young boys who meet a family of centaurs in the woods, and the second is “The Rabbi’s Hobby” which relates the tale of a hapless young man and the Rabbi who tries to help prepare him for the bar mitzvah. The two become haunted by the image of a woman on the cover of an old magazine which leads them on a touching journey of discovery.
Those two stories are great, but so is the rest of the collection.
The Positronic Man ~Isaac Asimov
This was the last book I completed in 2011 and I feel fortunate to have ended the year on a high note. Over the last 5 years I have become a big fan of Asimov’s work and he and Silverberg have collaborated here to turn one of Asimov’s short stories into a novel that feels deeply at home with Asimov’s other robot stories. In this novel the concept of what makes us human is examined through the eyes of a very unique robot, Andrew, over the course of his evolution from a mere servile machine to something unforeseen by his creators. Though the themes that The Positronic Man are not unique in this day and age, I find that Asimov’s stories maintain a timeless quality in the way in which these themes are handled. Like previous experiences with Asimov’s work, I expect this one to linger in my thoughts for a long time.
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Well there you have it, my top reads for 2011. After finishing 90 reads last year my reading settled back into a more normal pattern and I finished 50 books this year. In looking back over my years of book blogging it appears that anywhere from 50 to 70 completed reads is about where I come out if I am just allowing myself to read for pleasure and not pushing myself to read to meet any external expectations. I did have two months this year when I only completed one book the entire month, but those books (On the Way to Other Country and The Way of Kings) both made it onto my favorites list for the year.
The overall quantity of good films was down in 2011 and while I saw and enjoyed several movies there were very few that merited the kind of effusing “you must see this” praise that would put a film on my “best of” list. I recently came across this rather excellent observation on the decline of ticket sales by noted critic Roger Ebert. I had a much stronger reaction to some of the television series I caught up with in 2011.
This one was pretty simple. The J.J. Abrams/Steven Spielberg collaboration, Super 8, was a sweet sentimental reminder of my own childhood growing up in the 70’s and 80’s. It is a coming of age film for a young boy attempting to overcome the tragic death of his mother while navigating the world of friendship and young love. It is also an homage to films like Spielberg’s own E.T. I saw the movie twice in the theater and have already viewed it once on DVD and it has retained its charm with each viewing.
I enjoyed this movie so far above anything else this year that I am content to let it stand alone as the only film on my “favorites” list this year. Honorable mentions would be Captain America, which I felt did the super hero thing right by giving it the feel of a World War II flick and War Horse which made me cry like a baby as it showed some of the true horrors of war by focusing on the young people, the families, and the horses effected by that war and Jane Eyre which I did not have the privilege of seeing in the theater, more’s the pity.
2011 was the year my wife and I finally caught up with Dr. Who, continuing on with where we had left off with the David Tennant series in 2010 all the way up through the current season with Matt Smith. Like the rest of you who are big fans, we ran the gamut of emotions watching this series. I wasn’t sure I would survive when Rose was no longer the Doctor’s companion and then I proceeded to find myself feeling the same way about each successive companion. David Tennant’s final line before his regeneration can still choke me up just thinking about it, and now I’m on the Matt Smith band wagon, love Amy Pond, and am doubly sad about the long wait for new Dr. Who episodes and the inevitable changing of the cast. The writers of this show have been very skillful in getting the viewer to care about the characters which is why they have been able to move cast members in and out while maintaining a devoted fan base. If you haven’t caught the fever yet, it is time.
My wife and I have a penchant for British murder mystery/detective series and Netflix streaming has been one of our prime sources over the past few years for partaking of these television shows. Through streaming and the library we have watched 17 seasons (series) of this show. While each roughly hour and a half mystery is self-contained there is a running storyline that takes place through the series as we follow Detective Inspector Tom Barnaby and his family. Like Dr. Who, Barnaby goes through his own companion changes as different partners enter and then leave the series but each has been fun in their own right. Midsomer Murders can only be described as subtly over-the-top. It is a well filmed drama with a line of humor that runs through each episode, and if you look really closely at it you cannot help but see how absurd it is that this many people would meet such heinous ends in these small English villages. Unreality aside, Midsomer Murders is a fun show which gets better every season. It is enjoyable to watch not only for the show itself but as a who’s who of British actors and actresses. Mary and I often pause episodes to figure out where we’ve seen this or that actor/actress before.
One of the things that cut into my reading time more than ever before was the immersion into so many great games this year. Though I completed and enjoyed several games this year that came out in 2010, I’ll stick to favorites from those released this year.
Rockstar Games is consistently putting out top quality titles and L.A. Noire was stunning in its delivery. Set in the glamorous 1940’s, L.A. Noire utilized state of the art facial recognition technology and hired a bunch of well known character actors to lend their acting and voice talents to the various major and minor characters who populated the game. L.A. Noire captures the look and more importantly the mood of the gritty noir detective stories which are its inspiration. You play one main character as he rises up the ranks from beat cop to detective and experience his ups and his downs as he makes choices in how to deal with a corrupt police force and the triple temptation of dames, drugs and danger. Everything about the game is top-notch. I particularly enjoyed driving around the city, being berated by whichever partner I happened to be with at the time when I would inadvertently crash the car or endanger an innocent pedestrian bystander.
Dragon Age II is a follow up to Bioware’s Dragon Age: Origins but is a game that can be played whether or not you’ve played the first. The Dragon Age games are a little more linear than many of the open-ended fantasy role playing games that have come out over the last few years but it still allows the player to make choices that affect how the game plays out. Dragon Age II retained all that was good about the first game and built upon it to tell an exciting fantasy story that you the player are able to get lost in. One of the things I particularly like in the Dragon Age games is that you meet and develop relationships with several companions, getting to know more about them as you interact with them, especially if you choose to fulfill various quests with them or on their behalf. There is an element of strategy as each companion has different abilities and formulating your 4 person team as you go out on each quests is a fun element of the game. But in the end the reason I like these games so much is that they attempt to give you a good story experience and where Bioware is concerned I believe they succeed.
And finally the best of the best is the latest chapter in the Elder Scrolls series, Skyrim. This is another series of role-playing games where you do not have to have played the previous games to enjoy the experience. While some references to past events may be lost on you, they are woven into the story in such a way that you are able to get the general idea of the history of the area. And each game is littered with books that you can pick up and read that in large part tell you the story of the previous games if you are so inclined. I have yet to finish Skyrim although I’ve logged about 140 hours of gameplay. Skyrim is a beautifully rendered world and Bethesda has pulled out all the stops in creating what is personally the most open-ended game I’ve ever played. There are quests galore and yet you can spend hours upon hours just exploring the world and doing what you will, be it learning spells or how to create potions as an alchemist or learning to forge better weapons or learning how to enchant those weapons with special powers. There are myriad character and class variations and yet the game is presented and played in such a way that even a gamer novice can step in and learn how to play. Skyrim is quite the achievement and I sincerely hope it sparks the kind of creative jealousy that has other companies trying to one-up it in the future. Because that means more gaming goodness for us.
Well, those are my favorites of the year. What are yours? Please feel free to share them in the comments, and if you’ve done any sort of year ending post, please share a link below so that the rest of us can see what you liked, despite the danger of it adding to our piles and lessening the contents of our wallets.
Actually share any links to wrap up posts you’ve done. If you’ve done more than one, please link them.
I’m real nervous about this because it’s WAY out of my comfort zone, but I’m going to be trying to read something by Brandon Sanderson this year. I was highly impressed with his NaNoWriMo pep talk,and he seems to think about writing very similarly to the way I do, so I want to give him a try. Hopefully it will work out.
It is a BIG book and of course the first of a series, but as its the only book of his I’ve read I cannot recommend The Way of Kings enough. After a short and somewhat vague prologue it gets right into the meat of the story and never lets go. And even though it is the first of a series of 10 books it ends in such a way that I could honestly say if I decided to never read any of the rest that it was a great book.
The one I got was Mistborn. It sounded the least out of my comfort zone. 😀
I plan on trying Mistborn next and I’ve heard good things about the trilogy.
I keep meaning to buy Jo Walton’s book. I read her dragon one last year (I think it was 2011) and enjoyed it and everyone raves about Among Others so it really should be higher up my TBR pile!
War Horse isn’t out here til mid Jan, but it is one I really want to see, even though I’m sure I’ll bawl at it. Horses are my weakness!!
Been really enjoying Doctor Who, I’m not a huge fan, by which I mean I don’t tend to rewatch them but I do try to catch them all.
Hope 2012 is as good for books as 2011 was for me. And that it is a lot better filmwise, as I didn’t go see too many. But I’m starting it off in the right way. Just about to begin watching the Blu-ray version of LOTR. Although I think it’ll be spaced out over a few days 🙂
You better take a couple of dozen boxes of tissues with you to War Horse, that’s all I’m sayin’.
Among Others deserves the raves, you do need to slide it on up the pile.
Dr. Who ended up being much better than I ever expected it to be. I would love to buy the Tennant series at some point to rewatch them.
Oh, I envy you seeing LOTR in blu-ray. I imagine I’ll be able to do so sometime in the future. It was so much fun seeing the Extended Editions re-released in the theater last summer. Have a wonderful few days with the Fellowship.
Well, first off, I love the Hanes vintage ad pic you included not just because it’s a fantastic picture, but because it’s also in the new design of my header at my site! Hanes has a series of pictures in which they incorporated books into it, which is just fabulous. Not sure what the overall desire to do it was, but I certainly think it’s wonderful!
There are several on your list here that are shouting at me from my Goodreads TBR list. The ones that are really yelling are The Name of the Wind, The Way of Kings, and Among Others. I really need to get on those!
That is so fun, Natalie. I’ll be over to check it out. The “nerdy girls are sexy” trend is certainly hot (has it ever not been??) so I can see the appeal of having pretty women in glasses holding books as their ad campaign.
Those are all very good books. Give in, you want that shouting to stop, don’t you? 🙂
Wonderful post, Carl, as usual! I too feel the urge to reread some of those Vandermeer shorts, I can’t get enough of that guy.
I’ve been on the waiting list at the library for that Jo Walton since you posted your review, still haven’t made it anywhere near the top of the list, looks like I’ll have to go through Interlibrary loan. And after seeing Wil Wheaton on TV on the Nerdist, I want to read his book too.
I want to read Fuzzy Nation this year, can you believe I read Little Fuzzy for the first time, ever, over this New Years weekend? How did I wait so long to read this?
shhhh… you hear that sound? it’s my Want-to-read list, exploding, again!
I need to find time to get to City of Saints and Madmen, especially since I started backwards by reading Finch first.
I know what you mean about waiting lists. I’ve been on the waiting list for Ready Player One for quite awhile now. But then I heard the other day that Wil Wheaton reads the audio version and I had the good fortune of getting right at the start of that list. Should be in sometime this week.
Hey, I hadn’t even heard of Little Fuzzy, though I had heard of Piper, before Scalzi decided to reboot it in homage to the original (a somewhat controversial move, but I love the book so I don’t care).
I can’t recommend Just a Geek enough. I think it is a book every blogger period should read, especially every blogger who is entrenched in geek culture.
Your book “count” might be lower than normal but you have a few “heafty” books you read!
I read 5 that you did.. the 3 Flavia books, Miss Peregrines Home for Perculiar Children and Name of the Wind (actually I read both of Rothfuss books.. I sure hope it’s not 2 yrs before book 3 comes out lol.
I totally enjoyed Super 8 too … it seems I only saw 2 movies in 2011 .. Super 8 and We Bought a Zoo. (they took a lot of creative license in that movie but it worked well).. not a movie that will take home Oscars but I love that (cutie Pahtootie) Matt Damon took a break from his normal type movies and did this one..
There were many books I enjoyed this year but none that really “wow’d” me like Drood or Thirteenth Tale…. maybe this year!
Happy New Year!!
That is for certain. Name of the Wind and Way of Kings were chunksters and so was On the Way to Other Country.
I had hoped to see We Bought a Zoo over the holiday but it didn’t happen. Still, we are going to try to fit it in over the next week or so.
I hope we both have books that Wow us this year.
I only recently discovered you blog, and am loving its content. There are some books here that I have heard of, but was on the edge about, but I definitely will be trying to fit them in now. The Jo Walton book, particularly. We definitely have some cross over on our lists, with Fuzzy Nation, and Patrick Rothfuss (although it was The Wise Man’s Fear on my end of the year list.)
I loved Super 8 as well, the only movie that I personally liked more this year was Attack the Block, which I only recently watched.
Have a great 2012.
I’m so glad you did, Bob, and thanks. I’ll be over to check out your blog and your list. Among Others is great and I feel confident recommending it because of the wide variety of different readers I know who liked it.
I don’t recall hearing about Attack the Block but now that I’ve watched the trailer I’m interested.
lovely list (from which to hurrah! and to verify they are on the TBR list). sent Sean the review link to Wil Wheaton’s as I’ve recently registered that Sean is a fan of his, too.
keep seeing Midsomer Murders, and we will make sure to watch them for real this time.
was a lovely year reading your blog, Carl.
Then he has to read Just a Geek. It is really great. I bought my friend Jeff a copy of his smaller essay book “Dancing Barefoot” which I got to borrow back a couple of days ago and I’m nearly finished with it.
Midsomer Murders has been very addicting to us. It is also very popular here in our town, evidently, as I am number 37 in line waiting for the next series of disks!
It was lovely reading yours as well, I can’t wait to see what 2012 has in store.
I looked at the other sites to see which books were the most popular. Just from eyeballing it and memory I’d say Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, which I haven’t read, and Among Others, which I have and highly recommend. Ship Breaker was picked by 2-3 people. I bought it on audio but haven’t listened to it yet.
I’ve seen Among Others on a surprisingly wide variety of sites, not just on those who read a lot of SFF and that makes me happy because I think the book does an excellent job of celebrating childhood reading and reading in general.
It has been fun seeing Miss Peregrine on so many sites too. Sometimes I wonder if it is just me that feels a book is special and while it ultimately doesn’t matter if I’m the only one, it is still rewarding when I make a good call on a book.
I’d really be interested in your thoughts on Ship Breaker coming from your feelings about the environment and about educating the generations.
Okay, you had one heck of a pile of goodness in your 2011, didn’t you? I probably read about the same amount of books as you, but I couldn’t pick out even close to that many as true favorites. I’m hoping 2012 will find me reading many more books that I really, really love. And I’m hoping it brings you at least as many as 2011 did! One of the few that totally stole my heart this year was A Monster Calls–I just have a feeling you would so love it, too. In fact…I really think you should find out, so watch your mail, okay? 😀
At the rate I was going I was a little worried that I would end up picking half of my 50 reads as favorites, but these were all so good in my opinion I could not justify leaving any one of them off the list in favor of the other.
I’ve heard many great things about A Monster Calls and saw the author on some videos this past summer and I liked him. It is definitely on my radar.
And hey, I shouldn’t be getting anything from the S. family as I still have a package waiting to be mailed out to you with a certain list I believe you are on the lookout for.
I love end of the year lists, gives me lots of book ideas to look forward to. I am adding Among Others to my wishlist on Amazon now — it sounds really good and I’ve seen it mentioned in other top of 2011 lists too.
Thanks for sharing your list with us and Happy New Year!
Me too Maria, and I’m off to check yours out. I don’t know why but I thought I had read a review of Among Others on your site. Obviously not though. 🙂 I hope you enjoy it.
Happy New Year to you as well.
We have several of the same favorites, though some of yours I’ve also never heard of which makes me truly want to run out and find them and read them right now.
I tried to play Skyrim the other day, my kid (16 yr old) was laughing his head off. And now he asks me every day, have you played more? I have never played a video game before (I mean a “real” one) and the talk about this one has me so very curious that I think I really want to try.
Ah, Doctor Who. I knew before I jumped into this that I would love it. And now I’m like you say, telling everyone I know… if you haven’t watched it yet… it’s time! 🙂 I still haven’t watched the last David Tennant episode! I’m avoiding it and so scared!
Awesome wrap up. Thanks. I’ve done several wrap up posts this past week, but I’ll add my link to my list of top ten books.
I run into that same thing when I read other people’s list, Suey. You would think being a book blogger would make us all much more cognizant of what is out there, but there is just so much being published that it isn’t possible. Heck, SF Signal just put up a post with 90 SFF books coming out in January. 90! That is more books than I average in a year and that is just for one month. No wonder I can’t keep up. LOL!
I encourage you to stick with Skyrim. You should have your kid help you do some of the “easier” things that don’t involve a lot of combat until you’ve gotten comfortable with the game. Sounds like you are one of the cool moms!!!
I still haven’t watched the last Matt Smith episode of this season because I know it is going to make me sad because a) they almost always do, and b) I’ll be waiting along with everyone else for a long time before seeing any new Dr. Who.
You are going to love, and hate, that last episode. 🙂
And please feel free to add all of your links to wrap up posts if you want.
I’ve been seeing “Among Others” getting positive reviews all over the place for the last year or so. Now that it’s coming up on so many best of lists, i think I’d better add it to my reading list. Maybe Miss Peregrine’s, too – love that cover. Hope you had a great New Year’s!
And Among Others comes out in trade paperback tomorrow, so you can even get it a bit cheaper! Yes, you should find both of those books, they are well worth reading.
I did enjoy my holiday season and I hope yours was wonderful as well.
I’m in totally in the Shipbreaker is awesome camp! I had just such an instant connection with it, that I knew it’d be a favourite within a few pages (Same with Ransom Rigg’s book.) 🙂
Wish I could say the same for Among Others, with which I just can’t at the moment. 🙁 (Which I’m putting down to a bit of a reading slump/malaise towards the end of the year. Had the same issue with a lot of books) Don’t get me wrong, I’m enjoying it, just can’t be as absorbed by it, like I know it deserves. So for now, I’ve put it to one side and will revisit it later.
Talking of revisiting, I know I’ll be back to peruse the books in here again in the next few days to add to my wishlist.
Happy New Year, to you Carl.
Glad to hear it. And I don’t want to sound like I’m putting down anyone for not liking it. Not liking the book is fine. It was really more about a few specific bloggers who had an honest, genuine not so thrilled experience with the book and it made me feel almost guilty that I had loved it and lauded it so much.
Kind of sounds like the same thing you have going with Among Others. I often wonder if something being hyped for too long sets up unrealistic expectations for it. If a person gets in when the hype is fresh it might not be a big deal, but Among Others has been praised for a year now.
Happy New Year to you too Darren, I’ll be over to check out your links.
I think it’s a bit of a pacing issue. It’s a slower book (and I was reading it at the same time as The Night Circus, which itself is a slower book) I think what I needed at the time (and maybe still) is one of those books that grabs you by the scruff the neck and has you turning pages quicker than you could read them.
Rather that one you want to savour every page of. I think reading two of ‘savourers’ at the same time and mixed with a natural slump, was too much.
That makes sense. I got distracted from The Night Circus despite enjoying the first 50 or so pages because at the time I just wanted to be reading other things. I’ll get back to it and suspect I’ll love it, but the timing was just off.
Surprisingly the very thick The Way of Kings was for me one of the books that is just like you described wanting to read. It grabbed hold of me and I found myself every moment wanting to sneak in a page here or there, wanting to find out what happened next.
What a wonderful list you’ve given us! You’ve inspired me to watch all of the Midsomer Murders mysteries. I’ve watched a few, liked them, and then managed not to get around to watching more. I’ve linked to my 2011 list. It’s not precisely presented as a “best of” but I do comment on my favorites at the bottom of the post so thought I’d leave a link 🙂
Thanks Terri, and I’m glad you linked your post, I’ll be over to check it out.
If you already like Midsomer Murders the by all means “yes”, do try watching more in 2012 as I think they just get better the more time you spend with Tom and his wife and daughter.
What a great post! Although I certainly added to my to-read-watch list…. 🙂
Thanks…or I’m sorry, Trisha, whichever works. 🙂
Super 8 was such an amazing movie! I’ve watched it several times last year. Carl, you’re the reason I picked up my first Peter Beagle short story collection. He’s such an amazing and talented writer. I’ll add Sleight of Hand and The Name of the Wind to my wish list while I bump Among Others to the top of my reading pile. I hope 2012 is a fantastic year for you.
I am so glad to hear it, he really is a talented writer and Sleight of Hand is a fantastic collection. I’ve been very impressed with Tachyon’s books over the last year and a half. They are putting out some great short story collections.
I imagine I’ll be watching Super 8 several more times this year. Abrams has the touch, evidently. I find myself watching the reboot of Star Trek on regular intervals.
Great post!
As for the books I’ve read 8 of those on your list and I have either partially read and/or own 5 more of them.
Best reads for me this year. I would have to put Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Among Others by Jo Walton, Just A Geek by Whil Wheaton, The Puppet Masters by Robert A Heinlein, and Prince Valiant Vol 1 Hardcover by Hal Foster at the top of my list.
My favorite movie of the year was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Honorable Mentions go to Super 8, The Adjustment Bureau, Source Code, and War Horse.
I will agree that Skyrim is an amazingly immerse video game experience. I just wish it had a online element.
As for TV shows. I finally fell for Dr Who this year and boy did I fall hard. I had attempted to watch it twice before but I just couldn’t get through the Chris E. episodes each time. Carl kept raving about the David Tennant episodes though so I slogged through season one and I to fell in love with the Tennant years as well. Count me a Matt Smith fan too ( I’m also have a crush on Amy Pond ).
Other tv shows I enjoyed this year were: Big Bang Theory, Star Trek The Original Series in remastered HD ( its awesome ), I discovered How I Met Your Mother, Burn Notice, Veronica Mars, and Stargate Universe.
One more thing. You’re description of Midsomer Mysteries reminded me of Murder She Wrote. It used to crack me how all those people would die each week around Angela Landsberry and no one thought it was odd at all. 😉
Thanks! It was fun that we were able to share so many reading experiences this year. I’m glad to have read Rothfuss and Sanderson together and am thrilled you shared the Wheaton book with me as it was so great (and I’m pages away from my first completed book of 2012, Dancing Barefoot).
I did like Adjustment Bureau and Source Code. Wouldn’t mind picking up cheap blu-ray versions of those some day.
I’m on the opposite side and am thrilled Skyrim doesn’t have an online element. I much prefer the single player experience and to me it is rare that a game can do both well. It either has a weak single player experience because it is more focused on the online play, or it tacks on an online element as an afterthought. What I do wish is that the added gameplay elements that they make for games that you can download would be cheaper right from the start.
Raving? Moi? I’m so glad you fell for Dr. Who. I just knew you would and I would have been way off my game if it had turned out that I was wrong about that.
I’m glad you mentioned that they put the original series of Star Trek in its HD version on Netflix. It has been fun to watch and is truly awesome as you say. I hope to get back to it as part of the Science Fiction Experience. Also glad you enjoyed Veronica Mars and How I Met Your Mother.
And no kidding about Midsomer Murders. At the rate folks die (almost never just one an episode) you would think England would be devoid of people altogether.
Terrific post, Carl, and I’ve added several books as a result (must try the Jo Walton one, in particular). I was very happy when I unwrapped The Name of the Wind on Christmas Day from younger son (older son gave me vouchers to buy Kindle books, which is great too). Think I’ll get one of the sons the Wheaton book for a birthday present. I read Little Fuzzy in 2011, after reading Scalzi talking about Fuzzy Nation – loved it, and will read Scalzi’s book soon, but I’ve got Agent to the Stars to read first.
Mine’s not much of a wrap-up, but I wrote it just before I read your post, so I’ve added a link to it.
I also wanted to say thanks for another year of wonderful challenges in 2011 (especially the group reads) and to wish you all the best for 2012!
Thanks GC. I hope you like the Walton book, it is such a gem. I have Agent to the Stars to read as well, and a good friend who keeps kicking me in the butt to get it read.
The Name of the Wind is a GREAT Christmas gift, kudos to both sons for great gifts.
You are most welcome, thank you and everyone else who participates for making the challenges wonderful in the first place.
Great job, Carl! I always enjoy a Flavia novel, They’re such fun. Thanks for the Roger Ebert link. I agree with him about the theatre experience. The older I get, the crankier I get about talkers, and kickers, and explainers, and munchers, and…
You are welcome, I thought that was a great overview of the current state of the movie business in regards to attending the theater. I hadn’t noticed it until I read it and my friend Jeff mentioned it but I have been very fortunate in it being a LONG time since I’ve been to a movie and wanted to go strangle anyone. LOL!
You certainly read some classics with DUNE and BOLO! I’ve read Keith Laumer since he started publishing. Laumer’s Retief stories (especially the early ones) are funny and brilliant. Sadly, Laumer died of Alzheimer’s. I appreciate your video games recommendations, too.
I was actually impressed with myself, in a silly way, for finally getting to Dune and for reading those big tomes The Name of the Wind and The Way of Kings. I was able to pick up a copy of Retief stories not long ago and it is on my radar for reading this year. The one that was in the Dinochrome Brigade collection assured me that I would love Retief.
It is sad, I just read about that recently. And I hate thinking about Terry Pratchett suffering with that disease right now.
You’ve got three books up there I believe I will need to add to my TBR list:
Ship Breaker
Metatropolis and
Fuzzy Nation
I’ve recently started watching Doctor Who and what can I say, I’m addicted. Only a couple of episodes in and it’s amazing how you’re able to connect with the characters so quickly! And like you I added Captain America to my list of favorite movies. I was just watching it again over the weekend thinking this is just one darn good movie! Plus, I love Tommy Lee Jones.
Glad to hear it Sarah, they are all really good books. I would love to be able to work in a re-read of Metatropolis this year.
Dr. Who is very, very addicting.
Just A Geek was my favorite book this year. Thanks for turning me on to it!
I was glad you read it and liked it. I knew you would. I’m going to have to pick up a copy of that for myself as it is a book I can see myself reading again.
Yes I’ve read two on your list, but we read them together. I was glad to see them on the list! I’ll have to add the rest to my growing TBR list. At least I’ll never run out of books to read. And I loved Super 8. It made me feel like a kid again…just like when I watch Goonies.
No doubt that those were going to make the list. The books were good and the experience of reading and discussing them together was even better.
I haven’t seen Goonies in forever. I need to set aside some time this year to revisit some of those movies I loved as a kid.
Thanks for recommending The Third Bear earlier this year. It was probably my favorite read of 2011, one that I still think back on, one I was thoroughly engulfed in. A truly remarkable book.
I only just watched Super 8 this weekend, and I LOVED IT. I kept telling Keisha, “It’s just like an 80s movie!” Made me think of all those great childhood flicks filled with wonder and awe.
I’m also very glad that you read and enjoyed Mr. Rothfuss’ NotW. Of course, reading people’s reactions to that book always gives me a smile.
And, lastly, I must remark on Skyrim, if only to give you a general update. I’m around 50+ hours now, level 34, and not one step closer to even beginning the Main Quest. I’m loving the Dark Brotherhood quests, and the Thieves Guild is proving fun, too. I did finally get around to crafting me a full light-armor set of Dragon Armor, and I’m mostly finished with a full heavy-set for my follower. I see this game giving me another full year’s worth of enjoyment.
It is right there near the top for me as well, Logan. If pressed I might pick The Way of Kings, but honestly this group of books represents a pretty even mix of books I made big emotional connections to for various reasons and that I thought were outstanding in one way or another. The Third Bear was a pretty incredible collection.
It is just like an 80’s movie. I’m so glad to hear that you liked it.
Yes, it is fun having you as a longer time Rothfuss fan enjoying that the rest of us have finally caught on.
I’m doing a lot of Thieves Guild quests and just recently did the first one to get the Dark Brotherhood storyline going. I didn’t do those in Oblivion but I intend to in Skyrim. I hit level 57, I think, over the weekend. You should email me your gamer tag so that we can friend up on XBox Live.
Alas, I play on PS3, thus the impossible. Here, though, I go by logankstewart.
I did every Thieves Guild quest in Oblivion, but not all of the Dark Brotherhood. Both of these were tremendous fun, but Skyrim seems to have improved them tremendously. I’ve done nothing for the Companions, and only the intro quest for the College of Winterhold, so still plenty of quests awaiting me.
By the way, have you ever read any of the Elder Scrolls novels? They’ve got mediocre reviews, but the covers are beautiful and I’m slightly itching to try one.
Ah, that’s too bad. Not sure why I just assumed you did it on Xbox. I should have remembered that you’ve written about some cool-sounding PS3 games in the past.
I’ve not read any of the ES novels. You are correct, they do have beautiful covers. I’m thinking Jeff might have bought one recently and his wife and son were thinking about reading them.
I did all the TG quests in Oblivion as well. Unfortunately I screwed up and ended up selling off my Thieves armor in this one, not knowing I needed to fully do all the TG quests and I’m screwed now because it was HOURS AND HOURS later that I realized it and I wasnt’ going to even attempt to see if I had that old of a save game to go back and undo my mistake. While I like games to have consequences, I wish I had known there would be some before I made that choice.
Did you sell the armor to some random merchant? If so, you could get lucky and come across it somewhere, possibly. But dang, that sucks, friend. Good luck. And if all else fails, just, uhm, go all Brotherhood against the Guild for their lack of forthrightness. 🙂
Unfortunately I’ve read online and the way the game is set up once you sell it, it disappears. I know exactly who I sold it to and it is not in their inventory to purchase. I keep hoping enough people will complain and the company will issue a fix of some sort. It wouldn’t have been so bad but there are all kinds of other gifts you are given that you can sell with no consequences and after doing that so many times I just assumed it was the same with the armor. I still have my Nightingale armor but you cannot use that to have the one lady in the TG upgrade, so it is all the missions she would assign that I am not able to do. And there isn’t even some random Thieves Guild member wandering around that I could…em…dispatch to “borrow” their armor.
Quickly – my top rated books for 2011: BERSERKERS: the Beginning (Saberhagen), MIDSHIPMAN’S HOPE (Feintuch), NEW TALES OF ZORRO ( Starr, ed.), THE RAILWAY DETECTIVE (Marston), 10 Pern novels by Anne MacCaffrey.
Video – none
Games – none
Music – none
Pretty pathetic, I know. Meanwhile you read, and listed, some really nice things. Good job.
I’m surprised you don’t have any music favorites for the year as you do have a big music collection and if I recall you did purchase stuff this past year.
Nice to see your favorites. I have a friend who has encouraged me in the past to read Saberhagen. And of course Deslily is dying for me to read Pern.
Hi Carl. Love your list. Not read even half of them though! Will definitely pick up Sanderson. Always fancied Miss Peregrine’s but never got round to it for some reason – I will do so! 140 hours on Skyrim – that’s an impressive chunk of time (addicted at all? LOL)
And, finally, today my library got me Positronic and Foundation – yay! I love my library!
Lynn 😀
Thanks Lynn. That is, I guess, the fun of reading these lists. I say “I guess” because it all depends on how much one wants their wallet to be lightened. Ha!
You would have loved our Sanderson group read, I’m sorry you didn’t get in on it. In our idealism we all intend to do a group read of the second when it comes out, so catch up (you have a long time) and come in with us on book two!
Addicted? Hmmph…of course not! 😉
Cool, glad you got those. The first few chapters of Foundation can be a bit like “huh?” but then, in my opinion, it really picks up.
I did a Review post listing out my 5 favorite books of 2011 too, and have linked to it up top! I have read Dune which I quite liked, but could never quite make it to the remaining books in the series. Am a big fan of both Heinlein and Asimov, and have read Alan Bradley’s “The Sweetness at the bottom of the pie” – very nice!
That is great, Amodini. I’ll check out the link. I have had several other things I’ve wanted to read, but I still may go back and at least read the second Dune book at some point. I don’t feel any driving need to read all of them, the first one is really good and although it is open-ended to a degree I feel that it stands alone nicely.
A blogging friend recommended your site and I wanted to come by and hi. Hi.:)
I’ve done a ‘best of 2011’ post a few days ago, books only.
I haven’t read any of the books you reviewed here but I’ve heard of a few, The Name of the Wind, Miss Peregrine’s and A Red Herring.
A few years ago I read a couple of Dune books and I remember liking them.
Also, I just got a copy of the movie Super 8 so I’ll be watching that soon.
Have a great 2012!
I’m so glad you came by, hello to you as well. I’ll come over and check out your blog and your best of post.
I hope you enjoy Super 8. I’m a bit of a sentimental romantic and so it hit all the right emotional notes for me.
Love it…you have a “crack research team”. My team is falling down on the job. They promised me some sequestered time this week, but they pulled the rug out on that and took off for another job. geesh.
I am hoping that my list will be compiled next week sometime.
I am pretty certain that Among Others will make it to my list too.
I am 100% that both The Name of the Wind and The Way of Kings will be on my list.
I need to read Ship Breaker – maybe I will get to it this year.
Fantastic that Dune made it to your list considering how long it has taken you to read the book.
Wow… Fuzzy Nation is on your list. I remember your post about the book, and I was rather curious but never did read it. It is on my TBR list though.
Since I am really liking the reading of Foundation, I am now curious about The Positronic Man. I must admit, when you post about those type of books my attention wanders a bit. I figured that there would be no way that I would like any classic type sci-fi.
Your list is varied and interesting. I look forward to seeing what 2012 brings your way in reading.
Your movie/Tv list far outweighs even the amount I viewed almost in total for 2011.
We now have netflix streamed right to our tv via blueray so i suspect my viewing will increase during 2012.
Skyrim is a HUGE favorite here. I like it a lot. I suck at it, but I like it. Also, i am bit nervous about being killed considering that I do suck so horribly with the controllers. Yeah, i am on level one. I know, I know…I suck. My girls are on level 12.
Well, it helped that I was on vacation when these posts were researched and written. The crack team is much more efficient when on holiday. 🙂
I’m glad your kids are having fun with Skyrim. And speaking of Christmas presents, could you send me that Etsy link where you bought that coffee cup?
There are some really wonderful classic science fiction stories out there. I’m glad you are enjoying Foundation and I hope that you join us in the group reads for books 2 and 3. Although there are later books in the series, this original trilogy makes a really nice well rounded story.
Dune really blew me away. There were a few on the group read who were less impressed, but by and large the entire group really got into it and it was such an amazing reading experience.
I wish you all the best in your reading and all else in 2012.
Finally I got to your Best of and it is another very dangerous one. I loved Among Others but forgot to put it on my list. I’m a bit sad about that but here is is. After having discovered Enchanted Night through you I have a feeling this list contains more than one title I would love.
Let me see… I’m very tempted by Miss Peregrine, Gusewelle’s book and Bacigalupi and Sanderson…
Well, sorry to bring more peril into your life, Caroline, but thems the breaks when you decide to read a Best Of list. 😉 I put myself in harm’s way every year when I launch out to check out everyone else’s year end lists.