A Year of Books

This list includes most of the books I read over the past 10 months.

	George R. R. Martin, A Clash of Kings Genre mix: Heroic fantasy, Political Thriller, Horror, Celtic Myth, Mystery Following the Game of Thrones, where forces were set in motion, the Clash of Kings sees these chains of consequences begin to spiral out of control. From a single king ruling over a long-stable configuration of rivals, five or six contending 'royals' have emerged. The Stark children must come of age and lose their innocence one step at a time. Already the story broadens its scope to include new elements and factions.
	George R. R. Martin, A Storm of Swords Genre mix: Heroic fantasy, Political Thriller, Horror, Celtic Myth, Military Fantasy Some of the initial cast of characters already arrive at a measure of stability, leaving room for a 'widening gyre.' The mystery element has receded replaced by an emphasis on a gritty military fantasy. Secondary factions and characters and their agents now become central to the story as the plot broadens and deepens. More background produces an increasing sense of doom and chaos.
	George R. R. Martin, A Gathering of Crows Genre mix: Heroic fantasy, Political Thriller, Horror, Celtic Myth, Tragedy This enormous tome concentrates mainly on the complete collapse of a major faction through a series of dreadful decisions. Many subplots move with reduced pace and dramatic density. Though remaining fascinating, the overall momentum of the series has become dense and gradual. The main sections of the tapestry hardly receive any thread, and those that make it into the loom show a repetitive pattern. One feels a great potential building on many fronts but less is resolved or advanced than in the previous books, each of which stood very well on their own.
	Jesse Winfield, My Name is Will Genre mix: Coming of age, Humor, Historical Fiction, Political Setting, trace 'Fantasy' elements Two stories of character and life development run in parallel. Willy Shakespeare Greenberg in Northern California of the 1980s and the Bard in the 16th century. Their stories play out episodically and lead both to similar challenges and opportunities to advance their strength of character. The author's humor and knowledge of the settings go a long way. The alignment of the two stories feels a bit too neat and the characterization distant enough that I at least did not identify or empathize very much with the protagonists. This was a fun book to read and I reread several of the short chapters before moving on, to savor them or figure out all that was going on.
	Kurban Said, Ali und Nino Genre mix: I generally enjoyed this tragic love story with its bigger than life protagonist, Ali. None of the characters had much depth though the situation presented a fascinating though sad sense of transition and loss. The author(s) overdid the 'mystic oriental' too much for my taste. The depiction of the 'oriental' felt superficial, neither convincing nor entertaining.
	Ursula K. Le Guin, The Lathe of Heaven Genre mix: Psychological thriller, Surrealism, 'High Concept' Science Fiction This fine short novel achieves more in a few pages than a whole series of paper bricks. The protagonist dares not sleep for his dreams sometimes come true; only he remembers the world as it was before his slumbering mind slipped reality into a new track. Enter a sinister psychologist and you have the perfect antagonism to explore the folly of technocracy, psychological research and the unflattering foundations of the human condition. Le Guin touches on a huge array of contemporary political and social issues. As quickly as she builds momentum, the plot twists and she takes the story in a new direction.
	Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin Genre mix: ... I didn't finish this book. I'm not sure where it will go, even after having read a half of it. I don't think one could make a screenplay out of this novel since its first 'plot point' is so long in coming!
	L. Frank Baum, The Lost Princess of Oz Genre mix: High Fantasy, Silly Kingdoms Ozma has disappeared and her court must seek and rescue her. The Oz franchise had accumulated an army of secondary characters (by this point, book 11 in the series.) One small silly kingdom after another, the rescuers advance. There's hardly an edge to the story and the outcome is never in doubt. Elijah (age 4) enjoyed this book immensely.
	Heinz Bude, Die Ausgeschlossenen Genre mix: Essay, Social Commentary, Investigative Journalism The author takes on the deepest and most troubling social problems of contemporary Germany. Though other countries would consider themselves lucky to have the problems described in this book (ennui in freefall with traces of opulence in subsidized housing...), other aspects can't be considered enviable at all. An entire generation and sector of working people in East Germany (and their families) became superfluous. Bude makes the case that the social order is not formed as a ladder of those above and below. Rather economic structures, opportunities and deeply held expectations separate those on the 'inside' from those who are 'excluded' from participation. As social protections decline and the likelihood of sustainable prosperity decreases, the observations in this book seem vital - at least to understand the logic of our current social problems.
	Yansuri Kawabata, The Master of Go Genre mix: Dramatic and Metaphorical Narrative, Historical Fiction A tale of a downfall reviealed from the first chapter then 'played out' as a kind of literary game. The central focus of the book - the master and his travails - only forms the surface of the book. The historical situation at the crux of a 'modern' Japan (in the 30s) and a feeling of an inevitable passing of traditional values pervades the book. Go provides an abstract schema for competition and life so in a way the author implies Japanese society and human life in a way goes through renewal through conflict. I felt a hint of postmodern writing (penned in the early 50s), as the author reflects on the story and the writing of it while events transpire.
	Niel Gaiman, The Graveyard Book Genre mix: Coming of age drama, Urban Fantasy, Horror My only regret in this fine adventure story was the beginning, reminiscent of Neverwhere. The spooky environment in which the protagonist grows up and his companions and adversaries resemble those in The Jungle Book. The story was consciously built around the same structures, substituting creepy Urban Fantasy for Jungle Fantasy and the 21st for the 19th century backdrop. The book builds up piece by piece, each one a little creepier and more exciting than the last.