Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the Booklog

Happy 2009, everybody! I am celebrating with the final installment of Booklog—2008!

( 281. Real World — Natsuo Kirino )

I picked this up because I’ve been wanting to read Kirino’s Out, but my copy hasn’t arrived yet. Having read this, I’m still very much looking forward to it.

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( 282. Blindness — José Saramago )

any sort of transcendence…I just don’t see it.

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( 283. Charlotte Sometimes — Penelope Farmer )

Maybe I’ll try again in another ten years, but I’m still not sure if I’ll know what to make of this book.

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( 284. The City of Ember — Jeanne DuPrau )

I will also be looking for the sequel.

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( 285. Off Main Street — Michael Perry )

the effect is utterly unlike the amazing power of Population: 485. Read that instead.

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( 286. Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World — Haruki Murakami )

Perhaps it is best to bid the year farewell with brevity.

Total Books 2008: 286!

...Which is actually one less book than last year. Haha. But last year I didn't finish my booklog—I crapped out at book 230 of 287! So I win! Take that, 2007 me!

A review of the best and worst of 2008 is forthcoming! here!

The Best and Worst Books of 2008: A Pictorial History

Of the 286 books I read in 2008, these are the 35 that struck the strongest chords with me (at least as of mid-afternoon on December 31st). Click on the images to read the reviews. Whenever possible, I chose the cover that belonged to the actual edition I read.

( Top Five Fiction )

( Top Five Fantasy )

( Top Five Sci-Fi )

( Top Five Graphic Novels )

( Top Five Young Adult )

( Top Five Nonfiction )

( Five Worst Books )

So...what should I read in 2009? Rec me, Amadeus!