BOOKS 2007

With only four days left to go in 2007, I am officially done with reading books for the year. On Dec. 2 I finished my 40th book of the year, meeting my goal for the year. Since then I've read an additional 4 books for a grand total of 44 (I also abandoned 2 books during the year). As usual I read a wide variety of books, from short story collections to literary fiction to SF to fantasy to horror to non-fiction; I read many books that came out this year, many from past years, and even reread books for the first time since I started with a goal for the year. Here's a list of the ten books that I enjoyed the most in 2007...

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
2. The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon
3. Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman
4. Here, There & Everywhere by Chris Roberson
5. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
6. Halting State by Charles Stross
7. I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle
8. Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield
9. Brasyl by Ian McDonald
10. You Don't Love Me Yet by Jonathan Lethem

THE DEATHLY HALLOWS

I don't think I could have been any more satisfied with the way J.K. Rowling finished the series with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It took me only four days to read the book and that time would have been shorter if I didn't have to split time with my wife (or do pesky things like go to work). I enjoyed every moment I spent flipping its pages, which were full of tension, action, humor, heart, sadness, and answers. I admired the way things from previous books were brought back, not only the people but the ideas as well. I had absolutely no problem with the ending or the epilogue. In short, I loved it. I also can't wait to see what Rowling does next...but she can have a few years to sort it out.