Reading List
Here’s where I keep track of all the books I have been reading lately. This is mostly for my own personal benefit so that I don’t forget what I have read. You can also view this list arranged alphabetically and by rating.
2012
The Colour of Magic
I’m continuously on the lookout for a new fantasy series to fill my Kingkiller Chronicles/Song of Fire and Ice void. I’ve... more
We the Living
Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m one of those nuts who actually likes The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. It has been years since... more
2011
Pictures of the Socialistic Future
An incredibly prescient book from the 19th century that basically lays out everything that is wrong with the practical... more
Last Argument of Kings
The final book of the First Law trilogy was a sort of step backwards from the previous book. In... more
The Declaration of Independents
This was a nice manifesto of sorts that hits all the right marks in terms of what it means... more
Before They Are Hanged
Although I was disappointed by The Blade Itself, I decided to continue on with the series to see if all... more
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
Sometime during my late teens I started reading a bunch of H. P. Lovecraft books. His style never fully... more
The Red Badge of Courage
Catching up on a classic I missed in high school. I thought it was okay, but not the sort... more
The Price of Everything: A Parable of Possibility and Prosperity
This book is really an economics lesson presented in layman’s terms. The plot and characters are merely a device... more
The Bible of Unspeakable Truths
I think I would have liked this book better if I had listened to the audiobook version instead. As... more
A Dance with Dragons
I was late to the whole A Game of Thrones thang (but, for the record, I was like totally in to... more
The Future and its Enemies
Postrel makes the case for decentralized, dynamic systems. The obvious application of this is in free-market versus command-style economies,... more
Empire of Lies
I like Andrew Klaven. His Klaven on the Culture videos are good natured and entertaining little bits of political satire that... more
The Cult of the Presidency: America’s Dangerous Devotion to Executive Power
This book analyzes America’s proclivity towards an ever expansive and powerful executive branch—admittedly not the most exciting read. As... more
Wise Man’s Fear
Book two in this excellent series is just about as good as the first. The story picks up right... more
Where Keynes Went Wrong: And Why World Governments Keep Creating Inflation, Bubbles, and Busts
That title is quite a mouthful, ain’t it? I am continuing my recent excursion into econ-type books that are... more
Old Man’s War
This is a science fiction tale based on the premise that, sometime in the distant future, our planetary defense... more
The Hero of Ages
The Hero of Ages picks up a year or so after the events of The Well of Ascension. This final volume... more
2010
The Well of Ascension
Book two in the Mistborn series continues this the storyline directly after the climactic events of the first novel. This... more
Racing the Beam
Racing the Beam is a fairly accessible look at the technology behind the Atari 2600 video game console. Apparently the... more
In Fifty Years We’ll All Be Chicks
I decided to try this one out on a whim. I like Adam Carolla and his humor translated pretty... more
Devil Born Without Horns
Michael Lucas is best known as the schtick-loving bassist of The Phantom Surfers. This book was self-published under his... more
The Blade Itself
Once again, I am off in search of fantasy books to match the greatness of the A Song of Fire... more
Financial Fiasco
This book presents a history of the current financial crisis thingy in a way that tries to be as... more
Mistborn: The Final Empire
My post-Game of Thrones decent into pure phantasy nerdom continues with the Mistborn trilogy. This first book in the series... more
Rock Stardom for Dumbshits
Leave it to The Phantom Surfers to release an instrumental surf record without any music, singing, talking or audio... more
When You Were a Tadpole and I Was a Fish
Martin Gardner died around the time this book was released. Like many of his books, it compiles articles and... more
Orphans of the Sky
Another old sci-fi novel by Heinlein that cares more about the concept than the story. Even at 120 some... more
A Feast for Crows
After the first three rousing volumes of the Song of Fire and Ice series, this book is a huge disappointment. I... more
A Storm of Swords
I had thought that this was the conclusion of the entire Song of Fire and Ice series, but aparently this is... more
A Clash of Kings
Not quite as gripping as the first book in the series, but Martin maintains much of the same level... more
A Game of Thrones
After finishing The Name of the Wind, I wanted to continue my fantasy novel kick. A Game of Thrones is a similar... more
The Name of the Wind
An extremely well written fantasy novel that steers clear of most of your standard fantasy fiction clichés. Sure, there... more
Lovers and Madmen
Above average 50’s pulp trash. See my Bent Pages recap.
Motherless Brooklyn
It has been a while since I’ve read a contemporary novel that I liked this much. Motherless Brooklyn is a pretty... more
Barbarella
The French comic upon which the movie was based. Stunning 60’s stylized artwork, but the story is just a... more
Aliens Omnibus
This is a collection of the Aliens comics that were released by Dark Horse in the late eighties. These came out... more
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
A bit of speculative fiction showing how the world would deal with a zombie apocalypse. The book is written... more
2009
Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies
I was disappointed when I came to the realization that this was more of a collection of short stories... more
Lord Hornblower
Starts out nicely with Hornblower sent off to deal with a mutinous crew and keeps up the pace for... more
Commodore Hornblower
A disappointing follow-up to the last Hornblower novel. This one has Hornblower in Russia helping out during the siege... more
Time for the Stars
A fairly good sci-fi novel about a pair of telepathic twins separated when one goes off to survey new... more
Flying Colours
Another great Hornblower tale. The action picks up right at the end of the previous book and keeps going... more
Ship of the Line
Another exciting Hornblower sea tale. This one was a much better read than the last, although, outside of the... more
Tunnel in the Sky
A well-paced survival story about a bunch of teenagers abandoned on a desolate planet. There is some delving into... more
Twisty Little Passages – An Approach to Interactive Fiction
A very good read that is a critical analysis and brief history of text adventures. The first half gets... more
Groucho And Me
This autobiography was pretty uninformative. Reads more like a compilation of unrelated essays about with a little bit of... more
The Happy Return (aka Beat to Quarters)
Thought I’d give this series a try after finishing the Aubry/Maturn series. Hornblower is definately a simpler read, and... more
The Gunslinger
Starts out pretty good, but decends into the idiotic by the end.
Blue at the Mizzen
Not the strongest book in the series. It doesn’t help that many of the regular characters are gone in... more
Gods’ Man: A Novel in Woodcuts
Beautiful wood engravings are the reason to “read” this.
King Jesus: A Novel
I loved I, Claudius but was utterly bored by this. Maybe I would have appreciated more if I had... more
2008
The Bottoms
To Kill a Mockingbird with a serial killer.
The Odessa File
I vaguely recall reading this.
Peril at End House
I couldn’t be bothered to write a review.
The Hundred Days
I’d recommend any book in this series. They have their highs and lows, but all-in-all I think this is... more
Economics in One Lesson
A straightforward and methodical look at the economic principal of accounting for both the seen, and unseen effects of... more
Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy
Not bad, but I was expecting a more basic econ textbook rather than, what more often than not, feels... more
The Yellow Admiral
No review written.
Cat Among the Pigeons
I never wrote a review for this one.
The A.B.C. Murders
Nothing to see here.
The Commodore
Ending is pretty anti-climactic, but the meat of the story is very interesting.
The Wine-Dark Sea
Apparently, I liked this one.
The Truelove
Sorry, no review.
The Nutmeg of Consolation
The Nutmeg of Consolation
Ringworld
Rather boring and pointless.
2007
Remainder
Mildly amusing tale of a guy who choses to recreate memories down to exacting detail. Reminded me of how... more
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
A satisfying ending to a wonderful series of books. The rating reflects my opinion of the series more than... more
The Thirteen Gun Salute
A hu-hum offering in the series. I accidently skipped a book… didn’t seem to matter.
The Reverse of the Medal
A very well done Aubry/Maturin story. More Maturin centric than usual, which is refreshing.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
The ending was spoiled for me, but a clever twist indeed.
On the Far Side of the World
Another nice entry in the Aubry Maturin series.
Prisoner’s Base
Decent mystery. A nice change of pace from A. Christie.
The Man Who Folded Himself
Interesting with a nice ending, but lacks any real plot complications to hook me in.
2006
Treason’s Harbor
This book in the Aubry/Maturin series benefits from a clear plot line of espionage.
Passenger to Frankfurt
The first third is intriguing then it just jumps ship.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
Pretty good mystery.
The Ionian Mission
Listened to it as a book on tape. Good but lacked an over arching plot.
And Then There Were None
Great page turner.
Catcher in the Rye
More of a character study of a completely unappealing character than a plot-driven novel. Not my thing.
The Shroud of the Twacker
Loses steam about 150 pages into the book.
The Surgeon’s Mate
I gave it a 6 and I don’t remember why.
The Fortune of War
Another Aubry/Maturin book. This one has both sea and espionage elements.
I Am Jackie Chan
Mildly amusing but poorly written memoir.
Desolation Island
The books keep getting better.
The Mauritius Command
Much better than the last book in the series.
Black Hole
Decent and weird graphic novel. Lots on indy comic cliche.
H.M.S. Surprise
Weakest of the first 3 Aubry Maturin books.
2005
Mysterious Stranger
Some interesting magic history, a few neat tricks and lots of David Blaine’s self-hating magic style-endurance artist crap.
Haunted
Starts out with some amusing short stories but never amounts to much. The main plot line is barely existent... more
Zardoz
Yeah that’s right, a novelization of Zardoz. It’s just as inexplicable as the movie.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
It was a good read even though it’s about wizards and other nerdy things.