Best Books of 2010
Jan. 2nd, 2011 06:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snugglekittyI am a bit behind in posting reviews - there are four more books I finished in 2010. I hope to post them all within the next few days.
My total number of books read for the year is 64. This goes to show that 2010 sucked a very great deal - what is normal for me is to read at least a hundred new books every year. (I don't count rereads in my total.) Of these, seven displayed excellence sufficient to earn the grade of A. All of these were fiction; I didn't read much nonfiction this year. Here they are, with the overly specific award categories you've come to love.
Best Children's Book I Should Have Read Decades Ago: Peter Pan by JM Barrie. I had seen and heard many variations on this story and the classic original leaves them all in the dust. If you haven't read it, you should.
Best Platonic Character Pairing: With the Lightnings by David Drake. Adele is a librarian with a past. Daniel is a lieutenant in a space navy. These two could save the galaxy - if they don't kill each other first!
Best Coming of Age Fantasy: Lord of the Changing Winds by Rachel Neumeier. Surprising plot twists and complicated interpersonal dynamics will keep you guessing in this riveting tale of griffins.
Best Fantasy Set in a Sightless Society: Darkborn by Alison Sinclair. Lady Telmaine Hearne has a secret. She has the gift of magic - something that could ruin her reputation in the society of the Darkborn. But this gift may be the only thing that can save her family when the city of Minhorne falls into chaos.
Best Fantasy Series Conclusion: Treason's Shore by Sherwood Smith. Inda is back at the side of his friend Evred, now the Marlovan king. The fleet he raised to stop the pirates is the only chance the Marlovans have against the Venn invaders. But will Evred know when to end the war?
Best Black, White, and Red Illustrated YA Fantasy Collection: Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor Three different fairy tale retellings center around kisses. This book would be worth it for the illustrations alone.
Best Serious Science Fiction: Fool's War by Sarah Zettel. Artificial intelligence, what makes us human, forgiveness, and prejudice are some of the themes of this thoughtful book.
In addition to these seven titles, four also earned a grade of B+: The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall, Lt. Leary Commanding by David Drake, Storm Witch by Violette Malan, and Crossover by Joel Shepherd.
ETA: See the best books of 2009 here.
My total number of books read for the year is 64. This goes to show that 2010 sucked a very great deal - what is normal for me is to read at least a hundred new books every year. (I don't count rereads in my total.) Of these, seven displayed excellence sufficient to earn the grade of A. All of these were fiction; I didn't read much nonfiction this year. Here they are, with the overly specific award categories you've come to love.
Best Children's Book I Should Have Read Decades Ago: Peter Pan by JM Barrie. I had seen and heard many variations on this story and the classic original leaves them all in the dust. If you haven't read it, you should.
Best Platonic Character Pairing: With the Lightnings by David Drake. Adele is a librarian with a past. Daniel is a lieutenant in a space navy. These two could save the galaxy - if they don't kill each other first!
Best Coming of Age Fantasy: Lord of the Changing Winds by Rachel Neumeier. Surprising plot twists and complicated interpersonal dynamics will keep you guessing in this riveting tale of griffins.
Best Fantasy Set in a Sightless Society: Darkborn by Alison Sinclair. Lady Telmaine Hearne has a secret. She has the gift of magic - something that could ruin her reputation in the society of the Darkborn. But this gift may be the only thing that can save her family when the city of Minhorne falls into chaos.
Best Fantasy Series Conclusion: Treason's Shore by Sherwood Smith. Inda is back at the side of his friend Evred, now the Marlovan king. The fleet he raised to stop the pirates is the only chance the Marlovans have against the Venn invaders. But will Evred know when to end the war?
Best Black, White, and Red Illustrated YA Fantasy Collection: Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor Three different fairy tale retellings center around kisses. This book would be worth it for the illustrations alone.
Best Serious Science Fiction: Fool's War by Sarah Zettel. Artificial intelligence, what makes us human, forgiveness, and prejudice are some of the themes of this thoughtful book.
In addition to these seven titles, four also earned a grade of B+: The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall, Lt. Leary Commanding by David Drake, Storm Witch by Violette Malan, and Crossover by Joel Shepherd.
ETA: See the best books of 2009 here.
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