Note: This list is in need of updating. In 2009, I was experimenting with tracking my reading via a Facebook plugin from LivingSocial, but have not transferred my list from there to here yet.
The following books were read (or are being read) by Doug in 2009. Only Doug is weird enough to keep a list of the books he has read in a given year online.
- Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 1
(Hiromu Arakawa) - Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse
(John Joseph Adams, editor) - Time 1968: War Abroad, Riots at Home, Fallen Leaders and Lunar Dreams – The Year that Changed the World (with CD)
- Anathem (Neal Stephenson)
Absolutely masterful. The best description I can find comes from the NYT Book Review: “[Stephenson] cares as much about telling good stories as he does about farming out cool idea…. [He] wants to blow your mind while keeping you fed and happy.”
Anathem is a work of hard science fiction, taking place on an planet somewhat similar to Earth. In describing this planet (called Arbre), Stephenson has completely envisioned the culture, history, and even language, the use of which throughout the book makes reading it a wonderfully immersive experience. Alternate histories abound in science fiction—enough to be considered cliché—but this should not be confused at all with that particular subgenre.
Just like in Cryptonomicon, Stephenson applies his brilliance in explaining scientific concepts within the narrative. (His was the best explanation of public-key/private-key encryption that I’ve ever read.) The subject matter in this case deals with polycosms and quantum mechanics, wrapped up with intrigue, adventure, danger, and an absolutely fascinating world.
I highly recommend this one.
- Moonwalker
(Charlie and Dotty Duke) - Journey from Texts to Translations, The: The Origin and Development of the Bible (Paul D. Wegner)
- Abandoned: Civil War Medicine: Care & Comfort of the Wounded (Robert Denney)
Aside from a few amusing anecdotes, the presentation style of this book was so boring I realized I’d never get to the end of it. I returned it to its owner.
- Read aloud to the kids: Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (C. S. Lewis)
- The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun (Brother Yun, with Paul Hattaway)
- Twilight (Twilight, Book 1) (Stephenie Meyer)
- The Hope (Herman Wouk)
- Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God (Francis Chan)
- Heirs of Empire (Dahak series) (David Weber). (Read as part of the single-bound volume, Empire From the Ashes.)
- The Armageddon Inheritance (David Weber). (Read as part of the single-bound volume, Empire From the Ashes.)
- Mutineer’s Moon (Dahak Series) (David Weber). (Read as part of the single-bound volume, Empire From the Ashes.)
- Byzantium (Stephen R. Lawhead)
- Currently reading: The Physics of Christianity (Frank J. Tipler)