Potential Reads: America America

These posts will be books I am thinking about reading, but most likely won't ever get to all of them. It will also prove to be a great wish list for those of you who want to give me more reading material.

Best Books of 2008

Quite a few of the books I have read this year are on this list, a few others are on my wish list. I think it is defiantly worth taking a look at and reading anything that catches your eye.

Best Books of 2008--according to Barnes & Noble

Child 44

Easily one of the best books of 2008. I am anxiously anticipating the movie. A true thriller full of twists and turns. Hopefully you can remain on step ahead of the main character. While this book can be a little gruesome at times those parts are easy to skim over and you will want to in order to race ahead to the next exciting twist.

Set in Stalinist Russia where crime doesn't exist there seems to be a serial killer. Of course there is crime and the blame always falls nicely on those not considered "true" Russians (Jews, gays, mentally ill, and so on). This novel is about one man's fight for the truth against a regime that could easily have him silenced.

What the critics are saying:

"Suspense collections in large libraries will likely need several copies to fill waiting lists." --Library Journal

"Nerve-wracking pace and atmosphere camouflage wild coincidences. Smashing."--Kirkus Review

Welcome

This blog has many different purposes so I am still working on the best formatting and such.  I am hoping to create a list of books I have read for myself that I can easily reference.  Part of that referencing is necessary for when I recommend books.    The other part is for me so I can find new books.

Then the list idea morphed in to a page of actual recommendations and maybe even a place for others to make recommendations.  If someone has read a book I suggest and know of a few like it I would hope they would let me know in the comment section.

I will try to give some opinions and some summary for each book.  The ones I reading currently will most likely get more attention since they are still fresh in my memory.  Yes, my memory is getting a little foggy in my advancing age.  I will also try to include some comments from critics I rely on in my own searches.

I have found some pretty reliable critics or least those that most frequently align with my own taste.  I always check with Kirkus Review, Library Journal, and Publisher's Weekly.  These three don't  agree, but two out of three is normally good enough for me, especially if I already like the book.  Sometimes I don't listen to reviews...I can be stubborn.

As you can tell, the goal and the audience of this blog is not clear yet.  I guess that is what happens when you typically write blogs for yourself.  Any ideas?  Comment away!