What I Read (2017)

BOOK LOG 2017

Jan. 1, 2017: Freezer Burn by Joe R. Lansdale.  "Fast-paced bizarre comic horror tale of a robber on the run who joins up with a freak show.  Great fun, and more than it seems."

Jan. 2, 2017:  The Game of Sunken Places by M.T. Anderson.  "YA novel about two boys who find themselves trapped in a mysterious game.  Has a nice, scary feel to it."

Jan. 4, 2017: Chronicle of the Righteous by Amber E. Scott.  "Pathfinder book about good demigods. A lot of cool, interesting ideas to work with."

Jan. 12, 2017: The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling). "Mystery novel involving a murdered supermodel.  Really like the two protagonists and will read sequel.  Not sure about psychology of murderer."

Jan. 15, 2017:  Irrisen, Land of Eternal Winter by Mike Shel.  "Pathfinder book about a land cursed by Baba Yaga to suffer eternal cold.  Good presence of adventure hooks."

Jan. 21, 2017:  Justice League vs. Bizarro League.  "Chapter book adaptation of the animated movie. Both my son and I thought it was fun."

Jan. 26, 2017: Inner Sea Magic by Jason Nelson, et al.  "Pathfinder book covering magic academies, alternate spellcasting disciplines, and more.  Well done."

Jan. 29, 2017: Winter Witch by Elaine Cunningham.  "Pathfinder novel featuring a wizard from Korvosa travelling to the frozen lands of Irrisen.  Really enjoyable, with an interesting ending."

Jan. 31, 2017: The Battle for God: Fundamentalism in Judaism, Christianity and Islam by Karen Armstrong.  "Although published in 2000, as timely as ever in understanding the causes and mindset of fundamentalists."

Feb. 3, 2017:  The Ultimate Encyclopaedia of Fortune Telling by Michael Johnstone.  "Hmmmm..."

Feb. 8, 2017: Spiritual, But Not Religious: Understanding Unchurched America by Robert Fuller. "Well-researched but quite readable.  Especially good on showing how this is not a new phenomenon in American history, just different in magnitude."

Feb. 10, 2017: City of Strangers by James L. Sutter.  "Flat-out the best Pathfinder campaign setting book I've read yet.  Kaer Maga is the place to be!"

Feb. 14, 2017: The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman.  "End of the trilogy.  Satisfying, but not spectacular.  Still, I really admire what Pullman has achieved."

Feb. 17, 2017: Belief Without Borders: Inside the Minds of the Spiritual But Not Religious by Linda A. Mercadante.  "Really useful book based on over 100 interviews with SBNRs."

Feb. 28, 2017: Trouble and Her Friends by Melissa Scott.  "Hackers in the near future.  On the right track, but needs better plotting and a harder edge."

March 2, 2017: Pathfinder Core Rulebook by Various.  "A huge book with everything needed for hundreds of hours of adventure."

March 2, 2017: Undead Revisited by Todd Stewart, et al.  "Surprisingly bland.  I finished it with little additional insight."

March 8, 2017:  Beyond the Gods & Back: Religion's Demise and Rise and Why It Matters by Reginald W. Bibby.  "Readable, interesting look at demographic trends."

March 11, 2017:  Plague of Shadows by Howard Andrew Jones.  "Pathfinder book about elven woman on quest for an ancient artifact to save an old friend.  Much better than expected."

March 21, 2017: The Worldwound by James Jacobs, et al.  "Pathfinder sourcebook on demon-infested area.  Really well-done!"

March 22, 2017: Miss Peregrine et les Enfants Particuliers by Ransom Riggs.  "Original story about a unique collection of children."

March 28, 2017: Silver Age Sentinels by Stephen Kenson, et al.  "Really high-quality core rulebook of super hero RPG with well thought-out setting and theme."

April 5, 2017: Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George.  "Man, that ending!  Can't wait to read the next one!"

April 18, 2017: Monster Codex by Various.  "Additional options to make 20 classic types of monsters more diverse and surprising.  Really well done, and made me interested in some that I had always thought boring."

April 18, 2017: Exodus Code by John and Carole Barrowman. "Dumb Torchwood book, with a blank page after each of 73(!) chapters."

April 20, 2017: The Worldwound Gambit by Robin D. Laws.  "Really good story of con artists on a heist in a demon infested land.  Interesting and unpredictable."

April 25, 2017: Classic Horrors Revisited by James Jacobs, et al.  "Ten classic horror monsters are elaborated upon for Pathfinder.  A well-written book."

May 12, 2017: Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris.  "Sookie's continuing adventures.  Decent, but unremarkable."

May 15, 2017: Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve.  "Second time I've read this, and it's still as fantastic."

May 24, 2017: Master of Devils by Dave Gross.  "Jeggare and Radovan novel set in the Asian-themed land of Tian Xia.  New setting makes for a really different story, but it's good."

May 30, 2017: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.  "Ignatius J. Reilly is one-of-a-kind in fiction. Hilarious and unforgettable book.  I first read this book about fifteen years ago, and shouldn't wait so long between readings."

June 16, 2017:  The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  "Interesting theme but ultimately unsuccessful and trite ending."

June 22, 2017: Predator's Gold by Philip Reeve.  Second book about mobile cities.  Good."

June 27, 2017: Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance.  "Memoir and commentary on the white working class of Appalachia.  Resonates."

July 3, 2017: Death's Heretic by James L. Sutter.  "Fantastic Pathfinder book featuring different planes, a unique protagonist, great action scenes, and rich setting lore."

July 5, 2017: Artie and the Grime Wave by Richard Roxburgh.  "Kids book that 11 year olds would find hilarious."

July 15, 2017: The Bone Sparrow by  Zana Fraillon. "Story about young boy whose entire life has been spent in Aussie refugee detention center.  Moving."

July 18, 2017: Advanced Player's Guide by Jason Buhlman.  "Major expansion to character options: classes, spells, feats, etc.  Has stood the test of time well."

July 27, 2017:  Distant Worlds by James L. Sutter.  "Sourcebook for taking PCs from Golarion on adventures to other planets.  Good!"

July 27, 2017: Space 1889.  "RPG designed for Victorian-style exploration of the solar system.  Am going to give it a try..."

August 1, 2017: Moby-Dick by Herman Melville.  "Definitely an experience!"

August 8, 2017: Song of the Serpent by Hugh Matthews.  "Worst of the Pathfinder novels I've read so far.  Generic fantasy."

August 14, 2017: Squishy Taylor and the Bonus Sisters by Ailsa Wild.  "Kids book with really well done blended family dynamic."

August 16, 2017: Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris.  "Final book in the series, as Sookie survives a convoluted revenge plan."

August 21, 2017: Les Mechants by Aaron Blabey.  "Kids book about bad guy animals who decide to become good guys.  Reasonably fun."

September 4, 2017: Osirion, Legacy of Pharaohs by Various.  "Excellent sourcebook for Pathfinder's version of Egypt."

Sep. 5, 2017: Shield of Lies by Michael P. Kube-McDowell.  "Second in the Black Fleet Crisis trilogy.  Fantastic."

Sep. 2017 Do You Know About Animals? by Derek Harvey. "Encyclopaedia that I read to my son over a period of months from front to back.  Really good."

Sep. 21, 2017:  City of the Fallen Sky by Tim Pratt.  "Best Pathfinder novel.  So good!"

Oct. 9, 2017: Princes of Darkness by Wes Schneider.  "Pathfinder book on Hell and devilkind. Extraordinary quality."

Oct. 17, 2017: Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong.  "Mystery novel set in 1990 China.  Great insight into a fascinating world."

Oct. 19, 2017: Pathfinder RPG Bestiary by Jason Buhlman.  "Well designed and impeccably written monster book."

Oct. 30, 2017: Nausea/The Wall and Other Stories by Jean-Paul Sartre.  "Literary explorations of existentialism.  Effective, but not a natural novelist like Camus."

Nov. 12, 2017: Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George.  "Long Lynley/Havers novel set in Italy and England.  Bit too happy an ending considering everything."

Nov. 2017: Into the Darklands by James Jacobs and Greg Vaughn.  "Great sourcebook."

Nov. 20, 2017: The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage by Clifford Stoll.  "Good counter-hacker, poor writer."

Nov. 23, 2017: Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft by Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum.  "Interesting context on Salem that sheds light on how such a strange and tragic event could happen."

Nov. 25, 2017: The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card.  "Magical mash-up of varying tones."

Nov. 29, 2017: Across the Face of the World by Russell Kirkpatrick.  "Epic fantasy novel that's just not as good as its length would require."

Nov. 30, 2017: Dance of the Damned by Alan Bligh.  "Pitch-perfect Arkham Horror novel--need to get sequels!"

December 2, 2017: The Great Derangement by Matt Taibbi.  "Written in 2007, but surprisingly prescient about the sickness in American politics."

December 3, 2017: My So-Called Life Goes On by Catherine Clark.  "Continues the series and gets it right!"

December 9, 2017: Paradise Lost by John Milton.  "Norton edition.  Beauty in verse, even if subject is largely bland."

December 9, 2017: The Moth by various.  "Collection of 50 true stories.  Really good."

December 10, 2017: Remainder by Tom McCarthy.  "Really weird, really good."

December 21, 2017: Hard Times by Charles Dickens.  "Lesser novel.  Some really good essays in the Norton edition."

December 23, 2017: One Would Think the Deep by Claire Zorn.  "Award-winning YA novel about bereavement and surfing.  Good."

December 24, 2017: Nightglass by Liane Merciel.  "Pathfinder book set in shadow-devoted land of Nidal.  Imaginative, original novel in a cool setting."

December 26, 2017: Infernal Devices by Philip Reeve.  "Third in the Mortal Engines series.  Full of cinematic action set-pieces and surprising twists."

December 28, 2017: The Gnostics: The First Christian Heretics by Sean Martin.  "Readable and interesting introduction to a fascinating aspect of religious history."

December 29, 2017: The Marvel Encyclopaedia.  "Capsule entries but pretty thorough."