2012 Book List
2012 Book List
Fiction Read
(A lot of YA and Science Fiction this year since I'm writing in those genres.)
- Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Leviathan Trilogy Book One - A YA au steampunkin' delight. Strong duel protagonists. Great writing and plot depth. Recc'd by my son--and now me.
Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
Leviathan Trilogy Book Two - Very cool mechanizations and beasties; consistently good writing. Exciting ending. Recc'd by my son.
Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
Leviathan Trilogy Book Three. A wonderful conclusion to the series. Great for tweens, teens, and adults who like YA. Recc'd by my son.
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
I still love Camp Halfblood. A must read for Riordan and Jackson fans. Recc'd by my daughter.
The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
Classic Percy. Still loved at my house. Recc'd by my daughter.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater m_stiefvater
This poignant YA novel is about the hard life of the people on an North Atlantic island sometime in the twentieth century where the man-eating capaill uisce, mythical water horses, are ridden every November in a shoreline race. The story is well-balanced with all the elements of a superior novel. Did I mention how gorgeous the writing is? The Scorpio Races is thoroughly enjoyable and garners my highest recommendation. I'm saving it, along with Maggie's other books, for my daughter to read in a few years.
Redshirts by John Scalzi
Since I enjoy the Star Trek shows and movies (Captains Picard, Janeway, and Archer are my favorites), I thought I'd read this Trek-esque book favorably reviewed by calico_reaction, who mostly has similar tastes in books that I do. I stopped reading this book near the end when the paradigm shifted again. To me, it read like a decent au fan fiction. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for the joke. (calico_reaction reviews tons of books every year. I've come to rely on her insights (without spoilers) when contemplating book purchases. Last year, I participated in her book club, but this year, alas, I neglected to follow through. There's always next year.)
Mathematicians in Love by Rudy Rucker
I saw this at the library and thought, Why not? It had its moments, but for the most part, I thought the main plot line was...er...silly. The book had decent characterization and was highly imaginative, but it just didn't resonate with me.
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
I'd seen this and the companion books at Borders for years and wondered if I'd like them. Since I'm working on a YA novel (in conjunction with Emergence), I thought I'd give them a try. Plus, I was already a fan of Westerfeld from his Leviathan series (see above). I thought this book would have less depth than his later series, but I was pleasantly surprised. There were some thought provoking moments, even for this jaded Gen-Xer, and there was plenty of great action in this teen adventure. I'm saving this for my daughter too, and I may purchase the next installment, Pretties.
Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
This was a lot deeper than the title and subject matter seem to be. A solid YA read.
Specials by Scott Westerfeld
Same.
Extras by Scott Westerfeld
The protagonist in this book changes to a young 'Ugly', known as an 'Extra'. A good end to the series. Saved for my daughter.
A Song of Ice and Fire: A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin
The various endings were very surprising! Ha, ha, Cersei! I didn't think it was actually going to happen. Martin is a fearless writer and no one is safe! On to the next book!
Unison Spark by Andy Marino
I saw this on Common Sense media as a good YA thriller, so I borrowed it from the library. It was okay on the good end of that scale.
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
This was my daughter's first official YA book, so I had to read it first. It was very appropriate for an advanced reader. Sure, the girls sneak out of their all girls boarding school (for spies) and at one point, she thinks her friends have been kidnapped and tortured (no, they haven't), but overall, it's very tame and fun. Written is a sassy, girl-friendly way.
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
I continued with this fun series because my daughter wanted to read it, and I didn't want her to get any inappropriate surprises. (There weren't any.)
Don't Judge a Girl By Her Cover by Ally Carter
Same.
Only The Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
Same.
Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson
I read Max Brook's World War Z last year, so I couldn't help but compare the two as I read. It was slow getting started, but it picked up, and I did start to care about the characters more than I originally thought I might. It was solid, and it would make a great movie.
H.I.V.E. (The Higher Institute of Villainous Education) by Mark Walden
Fun YA/MG series opener.
Idlewild by Nick Sagan
Book one. Interesting series. Great characters too.
Edenborn by Nick Sagan
Book two.
Everfree by Nick Sagan
Book three. I'd recommend this series.
Divergent by Veronica Roth
This book was pretty good for a YA dystopian novel. I had some issues with the logic of the world in which society is broken into five segments based on basic instinct, I suppose. I'll probably read the next one to see what happens, since I'm interested in writing a YA series myself.
WWW.Wake by Robert J. Sawyer
I loved the protagonist. She's blind. I loved this book.
WWW.Watch by Robert J. Sawyer
Webmind. We need you! Loved it.
WWW.Wonder by Robert J. Sawyer
If you want to read a well written, well researched science fiction series, don't miss this one. One of my all time favorites now.
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
I truly enjoyed this book! I need to write more about it--soon. Rossi is a BONI graduate too.
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
I rolled my eyes at the cliched premise--and it's not fantasy or sci fi--but it was highly rated, so I gave it a try. It was SUPER cute with great characters. A nicely written 'first love mess' in Paris. *grins* My daughter will definitely read this one when she's old enough (16).
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
At the beginning of this book, Lola (16 or 17) is dating a 21 or 22 year-old rock musician covered in tattoos. This is who she loses her virginity to, however, it is only mentioned as a past deed. (The reader gets the impression that it isn't enjoyable for her and there's one other mention of sex later in the novel.) She lives in San Francisco, and her guardians are her uncle and his male lover. Her mother is a drug addict who appears only when she's down on her luck. Lola dresses in wild costume-like outfits to avoid the real her. So, the themes are more mature than Anna and the French Kiss, and I'd say this was better for an older teen. The protagonist and her boyfriend from Anna and the French Kiss are Lola's coworkers at a movie theater in this book. The boy next door moves back, and Lola has to figure out a few past issues and a few current ones.
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Love is a disease and people get the 'cure' after high school: lobotomies and a loveless match. I felt the level of technology wasn't consistent with the alternate reality. There were computers and ipods, but the book takes place 46 years after a major social upheaval. So, is it 46 years in the future with old technology (but it's not 'old' in the book), or now but with technology that couldn't have evolved given the state of affairs in the country? Either way, it doesn't make much sense along side the medical advancement to preform lobotomies on the public. There were a few other inconsistencies that annoyed me, but I read this book in one night. I had to know what happened to Lena! (And Alex.) So, yeah, it's good.
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
And so, I read the sequel to Delirium. It's told in alternating time lines. Without that trick, it might have been boring, but it really worked here making me wonder how and when the two story lines came together. Again I read it in a day, and I know I'll read the next one because of the massive cliff hanger at the end. (The book's goals were met, however, so I don't feel let down at all.)
Matched by Ally Condie
Another YA Dystopian society book. I enjoyed it for the most part, and I'll probably read the next two in the series just to see how it all turns out. Pretty cover.
What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
Well written YA book about the aftermath of divorce and reinventing yourself for your new circumstances. A very solid read with moments of brilliance. This should be good for a middle teen.
Neuromancer by William Gibson
I just wasn't interested in the first few pages. Maybe I'll try it again later.
Wither by Lauren Destefano
Stolen brides live in the lap of luxury ruled by a puppet master in future society where women die at 20 and men at 25. (No explanation about that particular age.) One wants to return to a slum where her twin lives. It plodded on and I never got the sense anything was happening. To be fair, the book is called 'Wither', and yes, they are withering away. They just aren't living, though. Maybe that was the point. The love interest of the brides is most certainly a clone of his 'first generation father', but it isn't mentioned.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
A masterfully written book. A (short) must read. Goes on my 'save' list.
Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
This book is translated from German, but the story seems whole. The characters are compelling, and I really like the way the protagonist's love interest is introduced. It could have been cliche, but it resonated with me instead. (Unlike the last translated book I read, where something had to be lost in translation: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Yuck.) I read this in a day, and I truly enjoyed it. There are two more books in this series, and the second was published in the US this year. I'll save this one for my daughter.
Pirate Cinema by Cory Doctorow
Runaway teen film remixer (male) in very near future London and his tramp friends tackle copyright laws in the British legal system. Chockful of interesting characters and cool situations. Not for young teens, but only because there is running away from home (!), profanity, drinking, and drugs (mostly smoking pot, but something bad called 'sugar' is done once). One kid is bisexual and another is homosexual, but so what. There is the ongoing 'joke' that the runaway's parents might think he's become a prostitute, but that is not the case at all. The protagonist's virginity is lost to a strong, smart female whom he loves, but only very sweet hugging and kissing are shown if this solid, sane partnership. There are great friendships that were quite inspiring, and the protagonist and his friends are self-sufficient. Very interesting and well written.
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Better than book one, Divergent, this installment shows growth in the main characters. Reading between the lines, the first book's disappointments are legitimized. The author does an excellent job of depicting the protagonist's, the love interest's, and the other key character's emotional chaos, which parallels the turmoil in their fractured existences--all without over doing it. I'll read the third book when it comes out.
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Stiefvater is one of my favorite YA authors, and at this point, I'll read anything available. I was a little skeptical about this novel, however, because it deals with much cliched subjects: ghosts, magic, psychics, etc. It started a little slow, and there was a bit of 'head jumping' in the narrative. The author overcame these what turned out to be non-issues, telling the story brilliantly with fresh, deep characterization and unique plotting with lots of tension and conflict. The friendships in this story are solid too. The main conflict was resolved, but there are mysteries that need to be unravelled. I can't wait to read the next installment. (Another one saved for my daughter when she's older.)
Don't Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon
I read this YA sci-fi or AU thriller in a day, and I enjoyed it. I think I saw a good review for it on Commonsense Media. The protagonist is strong and likeable while facing scary situations involving medical experimentation to cure a disease. There is a discovery of dismemberment and slight mentions of drugs and rape (but not any of the main characters), so not for young teens.
Penelope by Rebecca Harrington
Immobility by Brian Evenson
Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
Crossed by Ally Condie
Blah.
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
Recommendations wanted!
Past book lists, including my writing book list, can be found here.