“What is the best book you have read, so far this year?

Answer 1

Pride and prejudice

Answer 2

'Titanic and Other Ships' by Charles Lightoller, the autobiography of the only senior officer of the Titanic to have survived the disaster. It was a rollicking good read, full of japes and jaunts and sea stories and unfortunately quite a few regrettable remarks about what Kipling called lesser breeds without the Law. Lightoller wrote it in the 1930s and apparently it was pulled from the shelves because of complaints from the Marconi company, so the copy I read must be quite rare. It did have one story worth retelling: during WW1 two destroyers called HMS Zulu and HMS Nubian were each damaged in service, one on the bow, the other in the stern. They both managed to make it back to the dockyard, where the Navy salvaged them with uncharacteristic wit: they cut them both in half, attached the undamaged forepart of one to the undamaged aft part of the other, and called the result HMS Zubian (I checked this story and it's totally true - see below).

Having said that, this was so far the only book I've read all year, but it's still only January, and I haven't yet started the new Thomas Pynchon, which being 1058 pages long should keep me going until 2010.

Answer 3

Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini.When his best friend, a young clergyman, is killed in a mockery of a duel by an arrogant noble, just to quiet his eloquent expressions of democratic ideals, Andre-Louis Moreau vows revenge. From that point, through meteoric careers as a consummate actor and scenario writer, then as a fencing master, and finally a politician, the brilliant Moreau keeps thwarting the aims of the aristocratic Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr. However, the nobleman causes pain to Moreau as well, and the time must come when the two will meet to settle their enmity once and for all. You are not likely to guess how their confrontation finally turns out. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, this swashbuckling novel is exciting throughout, and it presents one of the most dashing heroes in fiction, a man who can fight equally well with his mind, his mouth, his pen, and his sword, a man who stirs up events wherever he goes.

Savage and Ascension by Kelley Armstrong.Both are available free from the author's website.They tell the story of Clayton,how he was made a werewolf,how Jeremy rescued the feral child wolf and earned Clayton's undying gratitude,and how Clayton became someone to reckon with in his Pack.Told in 1st person from Clayton's view,it is poignant and touching at times and humorous.We understand how his childhood influenced his later life.

Summer Knight, a book in the Dresden files book series.It narrates the story of Harry Dresden,chicago's only professional wizard who works as a detective.In this book he deals with the Summer and Winter Courts of the fey.Apparently they are about to go to war.An event which was triggered by the death of the Summer Knight.Queen Mab of the Winter Court hires Harry to find out the true killer.

Answer 4

Well so far this year I have only read 20 Years After my Alexander Dumas. Its a superb follow up to The Three Musketeers. However, in the last 12 months I would also recommened from books I have read: American Psycho and Oryx and Crake

Answer 5

The best book since January 1st, well that would have to be the Legends series by Weiss and Hickman. I couldn't put those books down and the were all great. I am reading all the Dragonlance books I can get my hands on and so far have liked them all. Very good fantasy books.

Answer 6

From the beginning of January the best book I've read so far was Circus of the Darned by Katie Maxwell.

Answer 7

A Short History of Nearly Everything:
by Bill Bryson

A truly amazing book, chock full of fascination information.
Here are some reviews:

"“A modern classic of science writing. . . . The more I read of A Short History of Nearly Everything, the more I was convinced that Bryson had achieved exactly what he’d set out to do.” —New York Times Book Review

“A highly readable mix of historical anecdotes, gee-whiz facts, adept summarization, and gleeful recounts of the eccentricities of great scientists. It moves so fast that it’s science on a toboggan.”—Seattle Times

“[Bill Bryson] makes science interesting and funny. . . . You can bet that many questions you have about the universe and the world will be answered here.”—Boston Globe

“Here are answers to the stupid questions you were afraid to ask in school . . . [Bryson] peppers the book with wit and great details. . . . Bottom line: Science with a smile.”—People

“It is one of this book’s great achievements that Bryson is able to weave a satisfying universal narrative without sparing the reader one whit of scientific ignorance or doubt. . . . [A Short History of Nearly Everything] represents a wonderful education, and all schools would be better places if it were the core science reader on the curriculum.”—Tim Flannery, Times Literary Supplement

Answer 8

Sci-Fi:
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment/Maximum Ride: School's Out Forever - by James Patterson

Realistic Fiction:
The Year of Secret Assignments/The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie - by Jaclyn Moriarty

Fantasy:
East - by Edith Patou

Answer 9

"In the Heart of the Sea" by Nathaniel Philbrick, based upon the true story of the "Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex" - Philbrick deeply researched all the facts available about the phenomena that took place around the 1820s and wrote this book which inspired Hermann Melville in writing his masterpiece, "Moby Dick".

"Philbrick has taken one of the most horrifying stories in maritime history and turned it into a classic. Rich with details on topics ranging from celestial navigation and whale biology to the history of cannibalism, this is historical writing at its best--and at the same time, one of the most chilling books I have ever read." -- Sebastian Junger, author of "The Perfect Storm".

"The source of Melville's 'mighty book' is a tale told wonderfully well by Nathaniel Philbrick." -- Peter Benchley, author of "Jaws".

Highly recommended!... but not for the soft-hearted.

Answer 10

Angels and Demons - by Dan Brown.

This is Robert Langdon's first adventure before The Da Vinci Code.

In fact, if you read The Da Vinchi Code, there are a few references to Angels and Demons in there.

I read The Da Vinchi Code first, and I think Angels and Demons was much better and WAY more exciting!

Answer 11

Of the books I've read this year (2007) my favorite is probably The Rivers of Zadda from the Pendragon series.