Consumed So far , 2011 edition

1. The Sword and the Satchel - Elizabeth Boyer
2. The Sea of Trolls - Nancy Farmer
3. Treasures of Led Zeppelin - Chris Welch
4. How to Train your Dragon - Cressida Cowell
5. The Warded Man - Peter V. Brett
6. The Desert Spear - Peter V. Brett
7. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling
8. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling
9. Master and Commander - Patrick O'Brian
10. The Land of the Silver Apples - Nancy Farmer
11. Rifleman Dodd - C.S. Forester
12. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkhaban - J.K. Rowling
13. The Crisis of Islam - Bernard Lewis
14. King's Dragon - Kate Elliot
15. Post Captain - Patrick O'Brian
16. The Elves and the Otterskin - Elizabeth Boyer
17. The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss
18. Wise Man's Fear - Patrick Rothfuss
19. The Elfish Gene - Mark Barrowcliffe
20. Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks - Ethan Gilsdorf
21. Conan the Fearless - Steve Perry
22. H.M.S. Surprise - Patrick O'Brian
23. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling
24. The Iron Lords - Andrew J. Offutt
25. Shadows out of Hell - Andrew J. Offutt
26. Lady of the Snowmist - Andrew J. Offutt
27. Historiography - Ernst Breisach
28. The Thrall and the Dragon's Heart - Elizabeth Boyer
29. The Island's Of the Blessed - Nancy Farmer
30. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling
31. The Dying Earth - Jack Vance
32. The Wizard and the Warlord - Elizabeth Boyer
33. The Mauritius Command - Patrick O'Brian
34. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling
35. Conan the Warlord - Leonard Carpenter
36. Prince of Dogs - Kate Elliot
37. The Eyes of the Overworld - Jack Vance
38. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling
39. Cugel's Saga - Jack Vance
40. Shadowmarch - Tad Williams
41. Rhialto The Marvelous - Jack Vance
42. The Infinite Jest - David Foster Wallace *Abandoned just under 200 pages*
43. Kyrik: Warlock Warrior - Gardner F. Fox
44. Kyrik Fights the Demon World - Gardner F. Fox
45. Kyrik and the Wizard's Sword - Gardner F. Fox
46. Kyrik and the Lost Queen - Gardner F. Fox
47. Guys Write for Guys Read - Jon Scieszka
48. Hawkmoon: Jewel in the Skull - Micheal Moorcock
49. Hawkmoon: The Madgod's Amulet - Micheal Moorcock
50. Baudolino - Umberto Eco
51. Hawkmoon: The Sword of the Dawn - Micheal Moorcock
52. Hawkmoon: The Runestaff - Micheal Moorcock
53. Cry Havoc! - Beverly Nichols
54. Conan the Victorious - Robert Jordan
55. Kick Me: Adventures in Adolescence - Paul Feig
56. The War against Boys - Christina Sommers
57. The Talisman - Stephen King and Peter Straub
58. Desolation Island - Patrick O'Brian
59. The Burning Stone - Kate Elliot
60. Shadowplay - Tad Williams
61. I hope they Serve Beer in hell - Tucker Max
62. The Reader - Bernhard Schlink

Books read in 2010, the Compleat List, Part 2

81. Viktor Rydberg, Tuetonic Mythology Volume1, Part 3, Non Fiction, ****
82. Ken Follett, Pillars of the Earth, Fiction, ***
83. Stephen King, The Drawing of the Three, Dark Tower #2, Fiction **
84. Edward Hausbruck, The Practical Nomad, Non Fiction, **
85. Robert Brown, Semetic Influence in Hellenic Mythology, Non Fiction, **
86. Stephen King, The Wastelands, Dark Tower #3, Fiction, ***
87. Terry Goodkind, Blood of the Fold, Sword of Truth #3, Fiction **
88. Eberhard Jackel, Hitler's World View, Non Fiction, **
89. Bernard Cornwell, Enemies of God, Arthur #2, Fiction, **
90. Frank Herbert, Children of Dune, Dune #3, Fiction, **
91. Viktor Rydberg, Tuetonic Mythology Volume 2, Part 1, Non Fiction ***
92. Stephen King, Wizard and Glass, Dark Tower #4, Fiction, **
93. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Sword, Sharpe #14, Fiction, ****
94. Joe Abercrombie, The Blade Itself, The First Law #1, Fiction, Did Not Finish
95. Nick Hornby, High Fidelity, Fiction, ****
96. Margeret Weis, Dragon's of the Autumn Twilight, Chronicles #1, Fiction, ***
97. Terry Goodkind, Temple of the Winds, Sword of Truth #4, Fiction, ***
98. Phillip Roth, The Plot Against America, Fiction, ****
99. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Skirmish, Sharpe #15, Fiction, ***
100. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Enemy, Sharpe #16, Fiction, ****
101, Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Honour, Sharpe #17, Fiction, ****
102, Nick Hornby, About a Boy, Fiction, ***
103. Leonard Carpenter, Conan the Outcast, Conan #24, *
104. Terry Goodkind, Soul of the Fire, Sword of Truth #5, Fiction, **
105. Nick Hornby, How to be Good, Fiction **
106. Edmund Morris, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, TR #1, Non Fiction, *****
107. Albert Speer, Inside the Third Reich, Non Fiction, ***
108. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Regiment, Sharpe #18, Fiction, ****
109. Stephen King, The Wolves of Calla, Dark Tower #5, Fiction, ****
110, Thomas Evan, The War Lovers, Non Fiction, ***
111. Tre Tyckare, The Viking, Non Fiction, ****
112. Margeret Weis, Dragons of Winter Night, Chronicles #2, Fiction, ***
113. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Christmas, Sharpe #19, Fiction, ***
114. Nancy Marie Brown, The Far Traveler, Non Fiction, *****
115. Johnathan Strahan(ed.), Swords and Dark Magic, ***
116. Margeret Weis, Dragon's of Spring Dawning, Chronicles #3, Fiction, ***
117. Terry Goodkind, Faith of the Fallen, Sword of Truth #6, Fiction, *
118. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Seige, Sharpe #20, Fiction, ****
119. Stephen King, Song of Susannah, Dark Tower #6, Fiction, *
120. Viktor Rydberg, Tuetonic Mythology Volume 2, Part 2, Non Fiction, ****
121. Nicholas Basbanes, A Gentle Madness, Non Fiction, ****
122. Alfred P. Smythe, King Alfred the Great, Non Fiction, ***
123. Bernard Cornwell, Excaliber, Arthur #3, Fiction, **
124. Stephen King, The Dark Tower, Dark Tower #7, Fiction, **
125. Chris Wickham, The Inheritence of Rome, Penguin History of Europe #2, Non Fiction, ***
126. Mervyn Peake, Gormenghast, Gormenghast #2, Fiction, ***
127. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Revenge, Sharpe #21, Fiction, ****
128. Ben Croshaw, Mogworld, Fiction, **
129. Bernard Cornwell, Redcoat, Fiction, ****
130. C.W. Ceram, Gods, Graves and Scholars, Non Fiction, ***
131. Christini Rossetti, Goblin Market, Fiction, ***
132. Colin Thubron, Shadow of the Silk Road, Non Fiction, ****
133. Charle Penglase, Greek myths and Mesopotamia, Non Fiction, ***
134. John Marco, The Eyes of God, Inhumans #1, Fiction, ***
135. Terry Pratchett, Equal Rites, Discworld #3, Fiction, **
136. Robert Jordan, Conan the Magnificent, Conan #4, Fiction, ***
137. Bill Bryson, In a Sunburned Country, Non Fiction, ***
138. Leonard Cotrell, Life under the Pharohs, Non Fiction, ***
139. Edmund Morris, Theodore Rex, TR #2, Non Fiction, *****
140. John Marco, The Devil's Armor, Inhumans #2, Fiction, ***
141. Terry Goodkind, The Pillars of Creation, Sword of Truth #7, Fiction ***
142. Mervyn Peake, Titus Alone, Gormenghast # 3, Fiction, **
143. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Waterloo, Sharpe #22, Fiction, ***
144. Stephen King, Different Seasons, Fiction, ***
145. Terry Brooks, Scions of Shannara, Heritage #1, Fiction, ***
146. Robert Jordan, Conan the Invincible, Conan #1, Fiction, **
147. Terry Goodkind, Naked Empire, Sword of Truth #8, Fiction (See Notation)
148. John Marco, Sword of Angels, Inhumans #3, Fiction, ***
149. Terry Brooks, Druid of Shannara, Heritage #2, Fiction, ***
150. Terry Brooks, The Elf Queen of Shannara, Heritage #3, Fiction ***
151. Terry Brooks, The Talismans of Shannara, Heritage #4, Fiction ***
152. Edmund Morris, Colonel Roosevelt, TR #3, Non Fiction, ****
153. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Devil, Sharpe #23, Fiction, ****
154. Terry Goodkind, Chainfire, Sword of Truth #9, Fiction (See Notation)
155. Bernard Cornwell, The Fort, Fiction, ****
156. Terry Goodkind, Phantom, Sword of Truth #10, Fiction (See Notation)
157. Terry Goodkind, Confessor, Sword of Truth #11, Fiction (see Notation)
158. R.F. Dederfeild, To serve them all my days, Fiction ***
159. Robert E. Howard, El Borak, Fiction ( Still reading )

As you can see, only 26 of these books were Non Fiction. It generally takes me longer to work my way through a Non Fiction book, for every question they answer they make me ask a dozen more and I wind up spending an inordinante amount of time on the Internet researching further information. I'll have to do better next year. I also padded out my count by reading stuff like the Brak books which only amount to about 100 pages.. but I like to think I made up for this with tomes like Rise and Fall which measured nearly 1200 pages. On a semi-relevant note, the Forgotten Realms books were read during the time period when I had some Dental work done and simply didn't feel like reading anything particularly challenging and wasting the effect of my (dentist prescribed) painkillers.

The only book of the year that I didn't finish was Joe Abercrombie's The Blade Itself, At the time I attempted to read it I think I just wasn't in the mood for the sort of book that it is. I thought the writing was good, I just couldn't get into the story which was taking far far to long to get going. Sometime over the next year I will attempt to re-read this book, and hopefully read the series fully. I try never to abandon a book without seeing it through, it is disrespectful to the author not even to see where he wants to take you. If nothing else, I'll skip to the end and have a look, and if it looks inviting go back and read the rest.

As for the notation on the Goodkinds, I'll be having a full post on those coming up in the next couple of days.

Books read in 2010, the Compleat List, Part 1

Since I don't feel like following the crowd and writing a "top ten of O'Ten" list, and since I'd posted a partial list back in May or June, with the first 70 or so that I'd read for the year. I will instead be providing my full list and associated ratings and whether they were Fiction or Non-Fiction. What follows is part 1 of the list, including how I'd rank them on a scale of 1 to 5 and the series they belong too if applicable.

1. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Tiger, Sharpe #1, Fiction, ****
2. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Triumph, Sharpe #2, Fiction, ****
3. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Fortress, Sharpe #3, Fiction, ****
4. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Trafalgar, Sharpe #4, Fiction, ****
5. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Prey, Sharpe #5, Fiction, ****
6. Bernard Cornwell, Winter King, The Arthur Books #1, Fiction, ***
7. Frank Herbert, Dune, Dune #1, Fiction, ****
8. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Rifles, Sharpe #6, Fiction, ****
9. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Havoc, Sharpe #7, Fiction, ****
10. Frank Herbert, Dune Messiah, Dune #2, Fiction, ***
11. Margot Adler, Drawing down the moon, Non-Fiction, ***
12. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Eagle, Sharpe #8, Fiction, ****
13. Glen Cook, The Black Company, Black Company #1, Fiction, ****
14. Glen Cook, Shadow's Linger, Black Company #2, Fiction, ****
15. Glen Cook, The White Rose, Black Company #3, Fiction, ****
16. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Gold, Sharpe #9, Fiction, ****
17. K.J. Parker, Devices and Desires, Engineer #1, Fiction, ***
18. Harry Harrison, Hammer and the Cross, Hammer and Cross #1, Fiction, ****
19. Harry Harrison, One King's Way, Hammer and Cross #2, Fiction, ***
20. Harry Harrison, King and Emperor, Hammer and Cross #3, Fiction, **
21. Steve Perry, Conan the Defiant, Conan # 13, Fiction, *
22. Terry Goodkind, Debt of Bones, Sword of Truth #0, Fiction, **
23. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Escape, Sharpe #10, Fiction, ***
24. Mervyn Peake, Titus Groan, Gormanghast #1, Fiction, ****
25. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Fury, Sharpe #11, Fiction, **
26. Sean A. Moore, Conan the Hunter, Conan #31, Fiction ***
27. R.A. Salvatore, Homelands, Drizzt #1, Fiction, ***
28. R.A. Salvatore, Exile, Drizzt #2, Fiction, ***
29. R.A. Salvatore, Sojourn, Drizzt #3, Fiction, ***
30. R.A. Salvatore, The Crystal Shard, Drizzt #4, Fiction, ***
31. R.A. Salvatore, Streams of SIlver, Drizzt #5, Fiction, ***
32. R.A. Salvatore, The Halfling's Gem, Drizzt #6, Fiction, ***
33. L. Sprague DeCamp, The Falliable Fiend, Novaria #5, Fiction, ***
34. Glen Cook, The Silver Spike, Black Company #4, Fiction, ***
35. Glen Cook, Shadow Games, Black Company #5, Fiction, ***
36. Glen Cook, Dreams of Steel, Black Company #6, Fiction, ***
37. John Jakes, Brak the Barbarian, Brak #1, Fiction, ***
38. John Jakes, Brak Vs. The Sorceress, Brak #2, Fiction, ***
39. John Jakes, Brak: Mark of Demons, Brak #3, Fiction, ***
40. John Jakes, Brak: When Idols Walked, Brak #4, Fiction, ***
41. John Jakes, The Fortunes of Brak, Brak #5, Fiction, ***
42. Jack Mckinny, Genesis, Robotech #1, Fiction, ***
42. Jack Mckinny, Battlecry, Robotech #2, Fiction, ***
43, Jack Mckinny, Homecoming, Robotech #3, Fiction, ***
44. Jack Mckinny, Battlehymn, Robotech #4, Fiction, ***
45. Jack Mckinny, Force of Arms, Robotech #5, Fiction, ***
46. Jack Mckinny, Doomsday, Robotech #6, Fiction, ***
47. Glen Cook, Bleak Seasons, Black Company #7, Fiction, ***
48. Jack Mckinny, The Zentradi Rebellion, Robotech #19, Fiction, ***
49. Jack Mckinny, Devil's Hand, Robotech #13, Fiction, ***
50. Jack Mckinny, Dark Powers, Robotech #14, Fiction, ***
41. Jack Mckinny, Death Dance, Robotech #15, Fiction, ***
42. Jack Mckinny, World Killers, Robotech #16, Fiction, **
43. Jack Mckinny, Rubicon, Robotech #17, Fiction ***
44. Terry Pratchett, The Colour of Magic, Discworld #1, Fiction, ****
45. Jack Mckinny, The Master's Gambit, Robotech #20, Fiction, **
46. Glen Cook, She Is Darkness, Black Company #8, Fiction, **
47. Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic, Discworld #2, Fiction, ****
48. Jack Mckinny, Southern Cross, Robotech #7, Fiction, **
49, Jack Mckinny, Metal Fire, Robotech #8, Fiction, **
50, Jack Mckinny, Final Nightmare, Robotech #9, Fiction **
51. K.J. Parker, Evil for Evil, Engineer #2, Fiction, **
52. Jack Mckinny, Before the Invid Storm, Robotech #21, Fiction, ***
53. Glen Cook, Water Sleeps, Black Company #9, Fiction **
54. Glen Cook, Soldiers Live, Black Company #10, Fiction *
55. Jack Mckinny, Invid Invasion, Robotech #10, Fiction ***
56, Jack Mckinny, Metamorphosis, Robotech #11, Fiction, ***
57, Jack Mckinny, Symphony of Light, Robotech #12, Fiction, ***
58. Steve Perry, Conan the Indomitable, Conan #20, Fiction, *
59. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Battle, Sharpe #12, Fiction, **
60. Jack Mckinny, End of the Circle, Robotech #18, Fiction, **
61. Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Company, Sharpe #13, Fiction, ****
62. Steve Perry, Conan the Freelance, Conan #21, Fiction, *
63. K.J. Parker, The Escapement, Engineer #3, Fiction **
64. Terry Goodkind, Wizard's First Rule, Sword of Truth #1, Fiction, ***
65. Tanith Lee, The Birthgrave, Birthgrave #1, Fiction, ***
66. Tanith Lee, Vazkor, Son of Vazkor, Birthgrave #2, Fiction, ***
67. Tanith Lee, Quest for the White Witch, Birthgrave #3, Fiction, ***
68. Patricia Mckillip, Riddle Master of Hed, Riddlemaster #1, Fiction, ***
69. Patricia Mckillip, Heir of Sea and Fire, Riddlemaster #2, Fiction, ***
70. Patricia Mckillip, Harpist in the Wind, Riddlemaster #3, Fiction, ***
71. Terry Goodkind, Stone of Tears, Sword of Truth #2, Fiction, **
72. Steve Perry, Conan the Formiddable, Conan #22, Fiction, *
73. Stephen King, The Eyes of the Dragon, Fiction, ****
74. Viktor Rydberg, Teutonic Mythology Volume 1, Part 1, Non Fiction, ****
75. Louis Pauwls, The Morning of the Magicians, Non Fiction, **
76. William Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Non Fiction, ****
77. Viktor Rydberg, Teutonic Mythology Volume 1, Part 2, Non Fiction, ****
78. Louis, L'Amour, The Walking Drum, Fiction, ****
79. Nick Hornby, Slam, Fiction, ***
80. Stephen King, The Gunslinger, Dark Tower #1, Fiction, ***

I'll put up part two tomorrow, and then follow that up with a few thoughts and introspection on this challenge.

Reading List So far - Five Month Update

Here we are nearly at the end of May, and I thought I'd update you all (as if you care, right?) on my progress towards my goal of 150+ books in 2010.

1. Sharpe's Tiger by Bernard Cornwell
2. Sharpe's Triumph by Bernard Cornwell
3. Dune by Frank Herbert
4. Sharpe's Fortress by Bernard Cornwell
5. Sharpe's Trafalgar by Bernard Cornwell
6. Sharpe's Prey by Bernard Cornwell
7. The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell
8. Sharpe's Rifles by Bernard Cornwell
9. Sharpe's Havoc by Bernard Cornwell
10. Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert
11. Drawing down the Moon by Margot Adler
12. The Black Company by Glen Cook
13. Shadows linger by Glen Cook
14. The White Rose by Glen Cook
15. Sharpe's Gold by by Bernard Cornwell
16. Devices and Desires by K.J. Parker
17. The Hammer and the Cross by Harry Harrison
18. One King's Way by Harry Harrison
19. The King and the Emperor by Harry Harrison
20. Conan the Defiant by Steve Perry
21. Debt of Bones by Terry Goodkind
22. El Borak and Other Desert Adventures by Robert. E. Howard
23. Sharpe's Escape by Bernard Cornwell
24. Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake
25. Sharpe's Fury by Bernard Cornwell
26. Conan the Hunter by Sean A. Moore
27. Homeland by R.A. Salvatore
28. Exile by R.A. Salvatore
29. Sojourn by R.A. Salvatore
30. The Crystal Shard by R.A. Salvatore
31. Streams of Silver by R.A. Salvatore
32. The Halfling's Gem by R.A. Salvatore
33. The Faliable Fiend by L. Sprague DeCamp
34. The Silver Spike by Glen Cook
35. Shadow Games by Glen Cook
36. Dreams of Steel by Glen Cook
37. Brak The Barbarian by John Jakes
38. Brak Vs. The Sorceress by John Jakes
39. Brak Vs. The Mark of Demons by John Jakes
40. Brak: When Idols Walk by John Jakes
41. The Fortunes of Brak by John Jakes
42. Robotech: Genesis by Jack Mckinny
43. Robotech: Battlcry by Jack Mckinny
44. Robotech: Homecoming by Jack Mckinny
45. Robotech: Battlhymn by Jack Mckinny
46. Robotech: Force of Arms by Jack Mckinny
47. Robotech: Doomsday by Jack Mckinny
48. Bleak Seasons by Glen Cook
49. Robotech: Zentradi Rebellion by Jack Mckinny
50. Robotech: Devils Hand by Jack Mckinny
51. Robotech: Dark Powers by Jack Mckinny
52. Robotech: Deathdance by Jack Mckinny
53. Robotech: World Killers by Jack Mckinny
54. Robotech: Rubicon by Jack Mckinny
55. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
56. Robotech: The Master's Gambit by Jack Mckinny
57. She Is the Darkness by Glen Cook
58. The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett
59. Robotech: Southern Cross by Jack Mckinny
60. Robotech: Metal Fire by Jack Mckinny
61. Robotech: Final Nightmare by Jack Mckinny
62. Evil for Evil by K.J. Parker
63. Robotech: Before the Invid Storm by Jack Mckinny
64. Water Sleeps by Glen Cook
65. Soldiers Live by Glen Cook
66. Robotech: Invid Invasion by Jack Mckinny
67. Robotech: Metamorphosis by Jack Mckinny
68. Robotech: Symphony of Light by Jack Mckinny
69. Conan the Indomitable by Steve Perry
70. Sharpe's Battle by Bernard Cornwell
71. Robotech: End of the Circle by Jack Mckinny
72. Sharpe's Company by Bernard Cornwell
73. Conan the Free-Lance by Steve Perry
74. The Escapement by K.J. Parker
75. Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind
76. The Birthgrave by Tanith Lee

NPR's the 50 most important recordings of the Decade - AKA, Who the hell Are these people?!

I happened across NPR's top 50 albums of the decade.. A few of the artists I've heard of, if not actually heard, with no desire to hear them.. A few I have heard, and don't want to hear again.. because well.. they suck.. but the vast majority I've never even heard of.. So I dunno if this is because its NPR and they purposefully picked obscure acts or if I'm just epically out of touch with the " Mainstream ", No bad thing if you ask me.. which of course you obviously are if you're reading this..

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120400577&ps=rs

I Echo the comment from one Eric Wenner, " If these are the 50 most "game changing" albums no wonder the music industry is struggling." I'd like to add to that if this is the future of music, then I want no part of it.

I do actually own one of the albums listed.. the Soundtrack to "O' brother Where art thou?" So its the only one I can say I've listened to all the way through.. On the other hand.. Having Robert Plant's solo album on here.. I take as a personal insult.. he can churn out crap like that but can't be arsed to do a Led Zeppelin Reunion tour.. They should just get David Coverdale back or something..