Book lists of the decade from the Telegraph (UK), Paste Magazine, and the website GoodReads.
Harry Potter, the character, was selected as "entertainer of the decade" by Entertainment Weekly magazine.
Let us know your favorite book(s) of the oughts...
...and open thread below.
'60 Minutes' exposes the 'sovereign citizens' as the nation's most serious domestic-terrorism threat
Breitbart: 'Crooks and Liars is a Radical Leftist Website'
Lawrence O'Donnell: The Single-Payer Solution
Rumsfeld: WMD issue was 'the big one' in deciding to invade Iraq |
Lawrence O'Donnell: The Single-Payer Solution |
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#StopColbert: Pelosi Says Stephen Doesn't Even Like Kittens |
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Stuart Varney Thinks Pro-Obama Ad Directors Tricked Clint Eastwood Into Chrysler Ad |
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Breitbart: 'Crooks and Liars is a Radical Leftist Website' |
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Rick Santorum's Bizarre Revisionist View of the French Revolution |
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Ellen Responds to Anti-LGBT Group: 'My Haters Are My Motivators' |
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#StopColbert: Pelosi Says Stephen Doesn't Even Like Kittens |
| Plays: 2724 Downloads: 112 | |
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YouTube Yanks Clint Eastwood Chrysler Ad After NFL Copyright Claim |
| Plays: 2324 Downloads: 145 | |
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Michael Steele Loves States' Rights Argument Against Gays, But Not Against Blacks |
| Plays: 1936 Downloads: 82 | |
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Emails Show Handel Behind Komen's Planned Parenthood Decision: Report |
| Plays: 1708 Downloads: 100 |
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SNL: GOP 2012 Undeclared Candidates Debate |
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UPDATED: Audience Boos Gay Soldier At GOP Debate |
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Bill O'Reilly: There's No Question That Mr. Stewart is Going to Hell for Criticisms on Fox's 'War on Christmas' |
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Chris Hayes on the Iraq War Architects: Where Are They Now? |
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#StopColbert: Pelosi Says Stephen Doesn't Even Like Kittens |
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Let me guess in 2020 Avatar will be "Entertainer of the Decade". And Idiocracy will be our National Religion.
Of course lets not forget our new National Currency.
http://richardsona.squarespace.com/storage/id...
And Movie of the Year
http://www.finlandforthought.net/wp-content/u...
If not, judge not.
Here's something interesting. J.K. Rowling’s Commencement Address at Harvard:
http://harvardmagazine.com/commencement/the-f...
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
Hesse, Huxley, Cervantes, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquezand and some other variety?
the Harry Potter series brought my then reluctant, adolescent son into the world of reading for pleasure. For that, I will be ever grateful.
I must say, I enjoyed the books, as well.
my parents had tons of books. By ten years old I was reading Catch 22.
So were some of my kids. But for the vast majority, a little juicy bait on the reading hook is needed, and then many will continue and find that books beat the movie every time... especially Catch-22.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
At 11 I was reading Helter Skelter and Jaws. Who knows what else.
I think I was reading Herman Hesse, Franz Kafka, Edgar Allen Poe and Mickey Spillane.
I always wished they had Mickey as a guest on I Love Lucy. Not only does his name rhyme with Ricky, it could lead to further confusion when Ricky yelled, "Lucy, you got some spillanin' to do!"
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
to be so superior to all others.
I love reading, love the HP series, know it's not "great" literature, but enjoy it none the less. I enjoy the classisc, and trash reading too. I'm so sorry us peasants can't be as classy and elitist as you are.
{ Really Lib. Must we go there? SiteMonitor}
I read because I was grounded to my room the majority of my childhood.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
Just a certain poster that seems to hate all popular culture. I read all the time....we'll not while driving.
Actually reading and watching trashy horror stories got me interested in mythology.
Bill Moyer's asked Jane Goodall if she had ever read the Tarzan books, and she spoke enthusiastically of reading as many as she could when she was a young girl, and even at that age spoke of one day going to Africa. Of course people of her parent's generation thought that amusing, a proper little English girl wanting to live in Africa. Goodall identified with Jane, but felt she was a wussy character.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
My God daughter insisted I try reading the first book and at one point I had nothing else to read so picked it up. For the next week I spent every spare hour reading Harry Potter from start to finish. Rowling has an amazing ability to bring together different plot elements in a way that is both believable and surprising.
Have you read HP?
Wed, 12/30/2009 - 13:09 — MaryK
___________________________________________________________
Lovecraft?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2A6YPowfwk
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
IMO, anyone who disses on Harry Potter has clearly not read the books. I found them nothing less than joyful, clever, hilarious, dark, heartbreaking, and just pure fun. Who cares if it qualifies as "great literature?" Who cares if it's classified as "children's literature."
I actually did not read them...I listened to the unabridged audiobooks and can't say enough good things about them. If you can't feel a flicker of a tear at at a certain wizard's funeral, your heart is made of ice and stone. I sobbed like a baby. Aaaahhh...good stuff....
I cannot remember any other book of the last decade that kept me so entertained.
http://images.scholastic.co.uk/assets/product...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Feel like a little Canadiana this winter? Try Fishing For Bacon by Michael Davie.
Support independent liberal writers worldwide.
.
Books I'd like to see.
Dick Cheney - Patriotism Deferred
GW Bush - A Profile In Mediocrity
WTF! - The Candidacy of Sarah Palin
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
War and Pieces.
I'm female so no one expects me to read books. I can clean, cook and iron so I am fulfilling my purpose on this earth.
Did I get that right for the republican side of the track?
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
You're certainly supposed to stand in line for a signed copy of Sarah Palin's book. You don't have to read it, though.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
My husband doesn't allow me any money of my own to buy books and such with, I'll just pray to Jesus that someone gives me a copy of Sister Sarah's new book.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
be able to get a copy without a corner page turned down and probably never opened.
If the good lord's willing and I get to the garage sale book give away early enough.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
it's so popular that copies are being bought up by the thousands and discounted so many more people will be able to own one and be more informed.
I saw an ad for some republican publication that said if you subscribe to their group they will send you a copy of her book for $4.95 but you have to pay shipping and handling of about six bucks. So you are paying about eleven bucks for it. I have a feeling you'll soon be able to get it on the bargain shelf for less than the that.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
...which just happened to be "her number one source for news and information ..." when asked (again)
I'm Boycotting NewsCorp! Heres what not to buy: http://www.cjr.org/resources/index.php?c=news...
..of Margaret Atwoods' "The Handmaiden's Tale." It will change your life. Your reading it may shorten your husband's life substantially too.
(reply to PoP @13:39)
"In theory theory and practice are alike. In practice they are very different."
We did, and I bookmarked it. My "must read" list only grows and grows over the years no matter how much I read.
I love that.
Naomi Klein, The Shock Doctrine
Corruption favors the wealthy.
Dan Brown wrote:
25 Nov. 2009 | 9:15 AM CST
Where's the Da Vinci Code?
That book defined a generation! It was the most important book of the last 100 years, let alone the last decade! You people are philistines!
-------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 89 replied:
25 Nov. 2009 | 9:31 AM CST
Renowned brilliant author Dan Brown sits at the mahogony oak antique table. He cracks his well-manicured fingers and puts finger to keyboard.
The tap-tap-tapping of his fingers on the keyboard break the epic silence of the cavernous room he sits in. He shifts his chiseled body within the classic chair given to him by the wealthy world-famous archaeologist Stewart McRedherring.
After a few minutes his comment on the AV Club message board is complete.
"Oh my God" he exhales through his mouth.
"This is perfect."
The greatest comment in internet history was complete.
I'm Boycotting NewsCorp! Heres what not to buy: http://www.cjr.org/resources/index.php?c=news...
900+ pages that I could not put down.
The Good Brother
War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning
'The Blind Assassin'...an amazing novel, with stories within a story.
Another favourite...'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time'...so 'real' & so very touching.
'Life of Pi' is on my 'to read list'...along with a gazillion others. Ah, I need to retire so I have time for all the wonderful books out there!!!
Should you retire to read, keep a spare pair of glasses, just in case.
Loved it!
I'm looking forward to Morgan Llywelyn's next book, Brendan. It's due out in February, so it really doesn't make a "first decade" list. However, 1999, the culminating fifth book of her "Irish Century" series, does. I recommended those recently to a Sociology professor who wants her students to understand conflict from an other-than-mainstream-media point-of-view.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
A Critical History of Early Rome: From Prehistory to the First Punic War - Gary Forsythe, 2005
An extraordinarily important work plumbing the very origins of Western Civilization.
I Am America (and so can you) by Stephen Colbert. Simply hilarious! Long time reader, first time comments. Great blog!!
Welcome aboard Molson Canadian. Pull up a chair, pop a cold one and join in the fun. I liked Colbert's book as well.
[Sorry, POP. ConcernedCanuck was only here on an unauthorized limited engagement-Sitemonitor]
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
I would ask why you are "P.0.'d" but after the Bush years, I fully understand. Must be frustrating to say the least.
[Wow. Concerned Canuck-Sitemonitor]
I chose the name the morning after my dear friend told me he was being sent to Iraq at the beginning of the invasion. I was so upset that it turned to anger. Thankfully he came home safe but died a couple years later from a tumor.
You are most welcome. We love new people and new ideas or just new friends.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Sitemonitor, have you ever considered consulting with the TSA on how they manage their lists? They could use your help.
Corruption favors the wealthy.
Why did C.C. get the boot in the first place?
If a drone kills a child in Kandahar, do the crying parents make a sound?
I got punked by concerned canuck? Oh well, I was just trying to be nice. I didn't even know he or she was on the no comment list. I am so out of touch these days. Sorry site monitor.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
People's History of American Empire
Video
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
were of recent U.S history since 2000. I didn't see any listed.
I read this book last year but still think it was the most mesmerizing book I believe I have ever read. "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. He also wrote "The Kite Runner".
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
I burned right through that in a day and a half.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
Same here. I so enjoyed that book. I took "A Thousand Slendid Suns" with me on vatcation. I just about missed all the vacation fun because I couldn't put the book down. It made such an impression on me that I don't believe will ever go away.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
... I am just digging into his website, all of the info about his Foundation is very informative.
I'm Boycotting NewsCorp! Heres what not to buy: http://www.cjr.org/resources/index.php?c=news...
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlay...
I'm Boycotting NewsCorp! Heres what not to buy: http://www.cjr.org/resources/index.php?c=news...
:)
Corruption favors the wealthy.
eye-opener there.
End of America
Flags of Our Fathers
..blows the over-hyped "Harold Potter" books out of the water..
- the wrong decade I know, but Pullman also blows HP out of the water. The first was called "Northern Lights" but is better known by its US title, "The Golden Compass." "The Subtle Knife" and "The Amber Spyglass" round out the trilogy. A really good read.
"In theory theory and practice are alike. In practice they are very different."
I also really loved Pullman's His Dark Materials and loved his Sally Lockhart series as well. He's a writer who's really not afraid to punch you in the gut. I felt like everything had been taken out of me by the end of The Amber Spyglass. I'm not sure I would say I liked it better than Harry Potter...Rowling keeps things a lot lighter in her books. Pullman doesn't let up much...heavy stuff.
I wouldn't say his trilogy was better than HP. I wonder if you people that like Pulman have actually read the HP books or are just comparing to the movie. But yes the Pulman trilogy was excellent, although the last book of the three was kind of a let down for me.
-the shock doctrine (klein) [as others have mentioned]
-confessions of an economic hitman (perkins)
-see no evil and sleeping with the devil (both by baer)
-the chalmers johnson trilogy (nemesis, blowback, sorrows)
-one market under god (frank)
-the family (sharlett)
-bad money (philips)
-the new imperialism (harvey)
If you are dog lover and just want some fun light reading try, "Dog On It", by Spencer Quinn. The dog belongs to a detective and it tells the story from its point of view.
Here's something from the back of the dust cover. "Spencer Quinn speaks two languages-suspense and dog-fluently. Sometimes funny, sometimes touching, and in a few places terrifying."
There's more of this review by Stephen King.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Gregory Maguire's
Wicked - The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995)
Son of a Witch (2005)
A Lion Among Men (2008)
Enjoyable reads, especially for mature OZ fans.
Dec. 30 (Bloomberg) -- News Corp. said it isn’t likely to reach an agreement with Time Warner Cable Inc. and expects to pull its Fox broadcast network from the cable system when the current deal expires tomorrow.
“We deeply regret that millions of Fox customers will be deprived of our programming,” News Corp. Chief Operating Officer Chase Carey said today in a memo to employees. “We need to receive fair compensation from Time Warner Cable to go forward with them.”
From Time Warner Cable Inc's mouth to Comcast's ears. Please let it happen.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
when I heard the end of free TV was near. How will we survive without it.......Quite well I imagine. Probably be the best thing that's happened to television since television. Unfortunately right now I live with Comcast, I never thought I'd envy Time Warner customers.
Oh man I don't know that's a tough one.
an endless spring after a long hard cold winter.
nt
I'm Boycotting NewsCorp! Heres what not to buy: http://www.cjr.org/resources/index.php?c=news...
Terrorism works on Republicans.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Hands down my book of the Decade.
I don't read fiction (except for the newspaper).
Cheney will say anything to prevent personal embarrassment.
even if it makes us less safe!
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
I can't believe American Gods didn't make any of those lists.
Particularly considering some of the books that did.
"Charlie Wilson's War" George Crille
"Ghost Wars" Steve Coll
"The Glass Castle" Jeanette Walls
If a drone kills a child in Kandahar, do the crying parents make a sound?
Coulter, Ann Godless: The Church of Liberalism.
O'Reilly, Bill Culture Warrior.
Savage, Michael The Savage Nation: Saving America from the Liberal Assault on Our Borders
http://sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=8280
http://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=9419
"The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss, still has an ageless lesson, especially now.
Okay, I admit it. I love to read Dr. Seuss' books out loud even as an adult they are fun. And yes, I do have a collection of them.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
is the only Dr. Seuss book that made me cry.
New development builds ripped muscles legally
(ARA) - Researchers in New Jersey have developed an effective, healthy and legal alternative to steroids. The weekly parade of amateur and professional athletes being exposed for using steroids may be a thing of the past.
muscles for a change.
The One Percent Doctrine - Suskind
Plan of Attack - Woodward
Armed Madhouse - Palast
Shock Doctrine - Klein
The Chalmers Johnson trilogy
People's History of the US - Zinn
Hegonomy or Survival - Chomsky
The End of America - Wolf
The Fall of Baghdad - Anderson (who also wrote the bio of Che that Soderberg used)
Iraq Confidential - Ritter
The people of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage." J.K. Galbraith
Stuff I liked:
Fiction: The Night Watch - Sarah Waters
Politics: The Shock Doctrine - of course
Crime: The Shape of Water - Andrea Camilleri
History: A People's History of American Empire - Howard Zinn
Sci-fi: Look to Windward - Iain M Banks
Comics: Fullmetal Alchemist - Hiromu Arakawa
Kids: Mortal Engines - Phillip Reeve
Art/Photography: Impounded: Dorothea Lange and the Censored Images of Japanese American Internment
Bio: Mao: The Unknown Story - Jung Chang and Jon Halliday
David Wroblewski's "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" - brilliant.
Edgar Sawtelle was my favorite book of 2009...Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime also a great audiobook. For a lighter read, Dog on It by Spencer Quinn.
Best I've read in 3 decades at least. A older father, who will not live to see his son grow up, writes a "letter" to his son telling his own story and imparting his wisdom. Beautifully written.
Life of Pi a decent second.
Stephen King's Dark Towers series.
The story of Roland of Gilead made many a day at sea pass by quicker.
"Better." It's what we should ask of ourselves and of our leaders.
I've never been a king fan.
Ghost in an Invisible Bikini was scarier.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Where exactly did Brand Loyalty end up on the list?
Besides being a good read, it makes a lot of good points such as:
Torture doesn't work.
Endless war is endless combat training for your enemies.
A Damsel in distress is a damsel that had better find a way to stay alive.
Dog fighting is a scumbag activity. People who do it deserve what they get.
If you visit San Francisco's Palace of the Legion of Honor, be nice to the docents. Some of them are dangerous.
rushed to the hospital with chest pains. Won't say much else because I admit I had some not so nice thoughts...
I've never seen change without a fire
If you are a regular reader of C&L you will love this book. He traces the history of American crack pots from the guy who invented Atlantis up through the Tea Baggers and describes how things that used to be part of the fringe now get treated with legitimacy. Its one of the best books I've ever read that describe how we got to the point that people like Palin can be taken seriously as public figures.
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