(This is the first of a two-part series rating the books and movies I read and watched in 2014.)
My favorite of the books I read in 2014.
As usual, my reading goal for 2014 was to read 52 books (one per week). Last year, I started out really well, having read 10 books by the end of January. However, my reading slowed as the end of my MFA program approached. By June when I had my degree in hand, I was reading more often and was able to get back on track to reach my goal. By December 31, I had finished 63 books (novels, nonfiction and graphic novels/tradepaperbacks).
As was the case in previous years, not everything I read was released in 2014. My “To Read” stacks are so big that in order to read books I already have, I couldn’t just devote my time to those books that came out in 2014.
Below are the books I read in 2014 (not including writing craft books). They are grouped based on a 5-star rating system. My rating of each book does not indicate how well written and structured I think the book is. My rating is simply a reflection of how much I enjoyed the book.
The scale:
* I liked absolutely nothing about the book
** I really did not like much about the book
*** I enjoyed the book
**** I enjoyed the book a great deal
***** I loved the book
That said, here is the list for 2013:
* Books
- none
** Books
- Life Sucks by Jessica Abel (comics)
*** Books
- The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn
- Batgirl Vol. 1 The Darkest Reflection (comics)
- Batgirl Vol. 2 Knightfall Descends (comics)
- Betrayers by Bill Pronzini
- The Big Nowhere by James Ellroy
- The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy
- The Colorado Kid by Stephen King
- Die a Little by Megan Abbott
- Dutch Uncle by Peter Pavia
- Dying For a Living by Kory Shrum
- Franny K. Stein Mad Scientist: Lunch Walks Among Us by Jim Benton
- Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling
- The Gutter and the Grave by Ed McBain
- Home is the Sailor by Day Keene
- Jingle Belle: Naughty and Nice by Paul Dini
- A Kidnapped Santa Claus by Frank L. Baum and adapted by Alex Robinson (comics)
- Matthew Looney’s Voyage to the Earth by Jerome Beatty, Jr.
- Neptune Noir: Unauthorized Investigations Into Veronica Mars edited by Rob Thomas
- Night Walker by Donald Hamilton
- Plunder of the Sun by David Dodge
- Point Blank by Ed Brubaker (comics)
- Pronto by Elmore Leonard
- Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore
- Seven Kinds of Hell by Dana Cameron
- Skating Around the Law by Joelle Charbonneau
- Slayer Slang: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Lexicon by Michael Adams
- Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk
- Tough Sh*t by Kevin Smith
- Turn Me Loose: The Unghosting of Medgar Evers by Frank X Walker
- The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
- You Better Not Cry: Stories for Christmas by Augusten Burroughs
- Zombies Christmas Carol by Jim McCann (comics)
**** Books
- 361 by Donald E. Westlake
- Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig
- Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells
- Feed by Mira Grant
- The Girl with the Long Green Heart by Lawrence Block
- The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly
- Kiss Her Goodbye by Allan Guthrie
- Live by Night by Dennis Lehane
- Locke & Key Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez (comics)
- Locke & Key Vol. 2: Head Games by Joe Hill and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez (comics)
- Locke & Key Vol. 3: Crown of Shadows by Joe Hill and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez (comics)
- Locke & Key Vol. 4: Keys to the Kingdom by Joe Hill and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez (comics)
- Locke & Key Vol. 5: Clockworks by Joe Hill and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez (comics)
- Locke & Key Vol. 6: Alpha & Omega by Joe Hill and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez (comics)
- Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
- A Peanuts Christmas by Charles M. Schultz
- Runaways: Pride & Joy (comics)
- Southern Gods by John Hornor Jacobs
- Sycamore Row by John Grisham
- The Taken by Vicki Pettersson
- A Touch of Death by Charles Williams
- Two for the Money by Max Allan Collins
- Vengeance is Mine by Mickey Spillane
- Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham
***** Books
- The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
- Local by Brian Wood and drawn by Ryan Kelly (comics)
- Queenpin by Megan Abbott
I also read a few writing craft books:
- Act Two Secrets by William C. Martell
- Conflict & Suspense by James Scott Bell
- Dialogue Secrets by William C. Martell
Lastly, I also read some short fiction magazines: Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine – September/October, November and December 2013 and January 2014 issues (560 pages).
Overall I read 12,831 pages of fiction and nonfiction, 640 pages of craft books, and 2,500 pages of comics. Not a bad year…
What books did you really enjoy reading this past year?
