Refreshing for a journal update

Okay so when was the last time I actually posted something? I can't remember.

Anyway! My read 50 books for the year thing didn't quite work out but I did get to 41 books which is still more than I read last year :D

Bolded ones were my faves, italics are re-reads (I do re-reads a lot!) strikes are ones I wasn't too fond of
( List! )

As I tend to do, I went through reading phases: My re-read phase especially the Hornblower books, I'm slowly adding to my collection of those :D My Terry Prachett phase (I'm planning on reading more of his in '09) and Orson Scott Card phase and probably my biggest phase, Gold Rush era California/The Old West!

My top five favorites for the year are:

5: Slippin' Into Darkness by Norman Partridge
--I made a post about this book earlier in the year and I may be a bit biased because the author is an old high school friend of my dad's, but it really is a spectacular book! If you like plot twisty horror, that is! It kept me hooked and wanting to read more, plus I felt like I knew every single character right away :D

4: Going Postal by Terry Prachett
--My first Prachett book! I am now totally and completely hooked and am planning on reading MANY MORE next year :D Also, Moist von Lipwig has got to be one of my top favorite book characters ever!

3: The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
--I read this HUGE book in less than two days by staying up to 4am, crashing, and reading all the next day. SO COMPLETELY HOOKED by this one...the movie doesn't even compare (but was still good on its own anyway!)

2: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
--My roommate Teresa said I should read it and lent me her copy...I CAN'T BELIEVE I HADN'T READ THIS SOONER. I am pretty sure I can't say anything about this book that hasn't been said already. It also launched my Orson Scott Card phase, which I will continue into '09.

1: MAURICE BY E. M. FORSTER
--I saw the movie first and LOVED it so I decided to read the book and see how different they were. The biggest surprise: they weren't very different at all! Gah, this book is so HEARTWRENCHING and ROMANTIC and all the other things I love about books and I LOVED every single character, yes EVEN Clive though he WAS being a dumbass about Maurice but, his loss, because Maurice gets his guy anyway. Did I mention how ROMANTIC it was? My use of all caps should be an indication of how much I loved it :D

So yeah, if you're looking for something new to read next year, try those!