Here's a look back on my 2007 reading list. It totals to 34, just like the number of years I've been alive. Hehe. Titles in bold are books that I especially loved; titles in bold red are books i especially especially loved.

1 The Book of Dead Days Marcus Sedgwick
2 The Dark Flight Down Marcus Sedgwick
3 The Marvellous Land of Snergs E.A. Wyke-Smith
4 The Dragon's Eye Dugald A. Steer
5 The Obsidian Dagger Catherine Webb
6 Peter Pan J.M. Barrie --- I finally got around to reading this classic. I loved it. It's bittersweet; there's a hint of melancholia in there. It made my heart ache.
7 The Amulet of Samarkand Jonathan Stroud*
8 The Golem's Eye Jonathan Stroud*
9 Daughter of the Forest Juliet Marillier
10 The Faery Reel Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling, editors
11 Ptolemy's Gate Jonathan Stroud* (*part of the Bartimaeus Trilogy) - Bartimaeus the djinni is witty and sarcastic as hell! Loved the characters. All three books took me through the development of the lead character (a young magician) and his relationship with his summoned djinn. No, it's nothing like Harry Potter. It's different and good on its own. For me, it gave me the whole adventure (and a huge wallop of heart) in just three books.
12 Son of Shadows Juliet Marillier
13 His Majesty's Dragon Naomi Novik
14 We All Fall Down Robert Cormier
15 The Neverending Story Michael Ende
16 The Children of Hurin J.R.R. Tolkien - Tragic and a half. One of my favorite tales from The Silmarillion, now in its own book!
17 The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear Walter Moers**
18 The Dark is Rising Susan Cooper
19 Child of the Prophecy Juliet Marillier
20 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J.K. Rowling
21 Rumo Walter Moers**
22 The Fall of Fergal Philip Ardagh

23 The City of Dreaming Books Walter Moers** (Zamonia books) - Set in the crazy world of Zamonia, these books are stand-alone stories; they don't have anything to do with each other, except for same characters popping up here and there occasionally. The characters and the details of the world are so absurd, it takes a bit of will to swallow them. But, after a while, you get used to it and you get swept along the story. And things fit nicely in the end. Lots of quirky illustrations, too. (The writer is a comic book writer/artist)

24 Beauty Robin McKinley
25 LOTR (reread) JRR Tolkien - hehehe
26 Night of the Soul Stealer Joseph Delaney
27 The Golden Compass (reread) Philip Pullman
28 Wildwood Dancing Juliet Marillier
29 The Book Thief Markus Zusak - A must-read, in my opinion. It's beautifully written, with dry humor befitting the narrator of the story: Death. The setting: Nazi Germany.
30 I Am The Messenger Markus Zusak
31 The Lies of Locke Lamora Scott Lynch - Loved the characters; there's humor, action, and tragedy; the world where the story is set is new to me and very refreshing in terms of fantastic worlds. I want to read it again. I miss the Sanzas.
32 Comet in Moominland Tove Jansson
33 Lirael Garth Nix
34 Abhorsen Garth Nix

My 2008 book pile so far is composed of books I bought before I brought down the book buying ban on myself again (yesterday) and books given by friends for Christmas 2007 and (even 2006 haha!)

Finally, copies of The Search for the Red Dragon by James Owen (Sequel to Here There Be Dragons) are available in Fully Booked. Got me one, as well as the 2nd book in Scott Lynch's Gentleman Bastard sequence "Red Seas Under Red Skies."

Karen Kristie and Ava got me a copy of The Thirteenth Tale, a story I've been wanting to read but am a little scared to. Perhaps I'll start on that another time, when the sun is out :-P

I have more Dragon stories waiting on my pile, books 2 and 3 of the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik from Grace and Carol! :-D

Then The Stone Light by Kai Meyer (sequel to The Water Mirror) is on the pile too, thanks to Data and Benc!

Hindi ako mahilig sa series ano? There are more titles in the book pile, but these will most likely be my reads for January. Happy happy.

Here's to more of the things we love in 2008! And new discoveries as well. Happy new year everyone!

Labels: books