50 Book Challenge

Early in the day yesterday, while I was waiting for the patients to be roomed in my office, I finished reading another ebook. This was Osprey New Vanguard #74: British Motor Torpedo Boat 1939 - 45. There's a certain romance to these boats; small crews, fast runs, raiding. There's also the history of that force in the US Navy, and the relationship that PT boats had to JFK that adds something to this. This book, of course, doesn't include the US actions, but it does discuss to a degree the US PT boats that were sent to Britain as part of Lend-Lease. I found it an interesting read.

Living Alone, by Stella Benson (nook, public domain)
A wonderfully odd novel about witchery in London during WW1. Hangs together despite its disjointedness. I rather loved it, although I think that about half my affection stems from the setting.
(22, O7)

The Unwritten, vol. 5: On to Genesis, by Mike Carey, Peter Gross, et al
More, please.
(23)

Inheritance, by Christopher Paolini
I was happily surprised by this book. I thought I was just reading it to find out what happened, after having spent so much time reading and being disappointed by the last couple of novels... but this was the thoroughly competent, derivative, but more than the sum of its parts fantasy novel I'd been hoping to get ever since I read Eragon and thought the author had potential. So I am delighted, and curious to see what Paolini does next.
(24)

Lighthead, by Terrance Hayes
Bits and pieces of this were amazing, but overall I found myself confused by it - as is often the case with award-winning contemporary poetry.
(25)

Ultimate Fantastic Four, vol. 2: Doom, vol. 3: N-Zone, vol. 4: Inhuman, vol. 5: Crossover, vol. 6: Frightful, vol. 7: God War, vol. 8: Devils, vol. 9: Silver Surfer, vol. 10: Ghosts, and vol. 11: Salem's Seven, by Warren Ellis, Mike Carey, et al
I was so sick a couple weeks back that this was the only story that made any sense. So I read it. A lot. A lot a lot. Fun.
(26, O8; 27, O9; 30, O10; 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)

The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern
This was a lovely lovely book. Restorative and fresh and timeless, all at once.
(28)

Among Thieves, by Douglas Hulick
Anti-heroes and warring factions and intrigues galore. (And not a smidge of romance despite the smoldering rake on the cover.) I dug.
(29)

1. Bloodrose last in the Wolfsbane trilogy
2. The Maze Runner
3. The Scorch Trials
4. The Death Cure
Next: Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain

Irish Born, by Nora Roberts
Comforting reading for sick me. Predictable and charming.
(38; O11)

36 Arguments for the Existence of God: A Work of Fiction, by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
Chewy thinky academic fiction. A bit Robertson Davies, a bit Blackwell Companion, and I liked it very much.
(39)

Beasts of Burden, vol. 1: Animal Rites, by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson
Oooh, this was great. Dogs and cats battling the forces of supernatural evil.
(40)

Buffy Omnibus, vol. 5, by Joss Whedon, Scott Allie, et al.
Fairly nifty, as these things go.
(41)

Scary Godmother, by Jill Thompson
Delightful! I love how Thompson blends the truly macabre and the sincerely adorable. Deft and full of love.
(42)

Mothers-in-Law and Daughters-in-Law, by Deborah M. Merrill
Hm. I wanted to read this for the stories of the titular women, and I liked those. But I could've done without the repetitive and unscientific social-science quantification that made up most of the book.
(43)

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword, by Barry Deutsch
The main character is a young orthodox Jewish girl who wants to slay dragons. And there's a vengeful pig. <3.
(44)

Amulet, vol. 1: The Stonekeeper, and vol. 2: The Stonekeeper's Curse, by Kazu Kibuishi
Kibuishi is one of my favorites. Glad there are 2 more of these to find and devour.
(45, 46)

The Heir: A Love Story, by Vita Sackville-West (nook, public domain)
Mannered but with spiky edges. I've been reading about Sackville-West for years, so it was satisfying to read some stories by her for a change.
(47, O12)

Angel: After the Fall, vol. 6: Last Angel in Hell, by Brian Lynch et al
A mixed bag. I like the main artists on this series a lot but the plot is kind of dubious. The Drusilla one-shot written with Juliet Landau was particularly good.
(48)

Angel: The End, by Bill Willingham et al
Oh man oh man. One of my favorite comic book writers took over the series. Much squeeing was had, and the story regained the compulsive qualities that made the show so good.
(49)

No and Me, by Delphine de Vigan
This book is a bit clumsy in places (esp. the ending) but overall I loved it. Sad and sweet, and the main character, a precocious 13-year-old, was of the believably impulsive and emotionally immature variety, rather than being "wise beyond her years." I was affected by how the author portrayed the narrator's severely depressed mother, as well.
(50)

Pantone: The Twentieth Century in Color, by Leatrice Eiseman and Keith Recker
Some glaring errors, but I didn't really care because it was so so so very pretty. Find a copy, and flip through it; you'll be glad you did.
(51)