Books of 2010

Every year I like to keep a list of all the books I've read, and try to beat my all time high of 30. Alas this year I fell short, only 22, but I blame the college for that.

My favorite book of the year by far was The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry. I picked it up after reading a staff review at Book People. Set in a city where it is always raining, the main character works as a clerk for a "private eye" corporation. When a detective goes missing, he begins to ask questions about how his company actually does business, and enters world of mystery controlled by alarm clocks and explored in dreams. Part noir, part magical realism, this book is a more poetic, less bombastic cousin to the movie Inception. As I'm writing this, I want to read the book again! Seriously, it's that good.



Another one of my favorites of the year is an older one that I just got around to reading. I first heard of author Mary Roach on the Daily Show, where she was promoting her newest book Packing for Mars. When in Barnes and Noble's, I saw another one of her books out in the Halloween display. Stiff is a science non fiction book about the unknown lives of cadavers. And you wouldn't believe it, but it is HILARIOUS! Roach has such a conversational tone, you feel like are on this adventure with her to ask all the questions no one else will: What actually happens when you donate your body to science? Has anyone tried to make a real-life Frankenstein? Has it worked? You learn so many new things and she's just so funny! She's written 3 or 4 other books (I already have two others) and I can't wait to read them all.

Some other favorites were A Million Little Pieces, Let the Right One In, and The Girl Who Played With Fire.