Goon Reads discussion

So, as we are now officially in 2015, I think now is a good chance to start a discussion. The topic is two-fold! First topic: "What was your favorite book read in 2014?" Second: "Which book are you bound and determined to read in 2015, come hell or high water?"

For me, my favorite book was "Bulfinch's Mythology." I read some great fiction, don't get me wrong, and this wasn't an easy choice, and there was some really thought-provoking nonfiction as well, but... I don't know, there's just something about connecting to the root of all the other stories that really did something for me. "The Arabian Nights" was a close second, for much the same reason.

As for the book I absolutely need to read in 2015? Criminy, there are a lot to choose from, and I get the feeling I'll be adding a lot more to it as time goes on, but for right now, I have my sights set on "Fool Moon." I read the first Dresden book, but never have gotten around to more. Since I love urban fantasy a great deal, that means I need to grab a copy at some point, mm? We'll see what happens.

But yes, how about all of you? And before I forget... happy 2015, and may your year be a fantastic one!

Happy 2015!

My favorite from 2014 was probably "The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov. I had to read it twice to fully get all the references. In a close second I would say "No Country for Old Men" by Cormac McCarthy.

For 2015 I really want to read "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. I had it postponed because of its length but it's time. Also, "The Hydrogen Sonata" by Iain Banks :(

My favorite would have to be The Science of Consequences. It was just so damn well-written and sourced, fascinating, and broad.

For next year I really want to read at least one 'classic' so I can pretend to be well read instead of just reading urban fantasy.

My favourite was probably A school boy's diaries and other stories by Robert Walser. After reading that book I read all his other works semi-readily available in English.

I want to read more poetry and develop a deeper appreciation of it. I began with the Duino elegies but still not enough!

The book that really swept me off my feet last year was Masters of Doom. I had gotten back into Doom in a big way and it was just a really fun, well paced story.

Not a specific book to read for 2015, but I'm planning on delving into more non-fiction. I also think I'll finally revisit Gravity's Rainbow... Maybe...

My favorite would be Justine, by Lawrence Durrell. The language and feeling is languid, erotic, and it told a great story. Also taught me a lot of new words; Durrell had one hell of a good vocabulary.

My 2015 guaranteed read is Clea, of the same author and series. I want to read it now, but Jules in his review suggested waiting a year to get the best impact and enjoyment out of it. So that'll be my Christmas present.

Best book of 2014 was definitely the second in Knausgård's "Min Kamp" series. Absolutely amazing read. The first three books are available in English with the title "My Struggle". Halfway through the third now and intend to finish the rest in 2015.

As for a particular book I intend to read my pick is the first in Proust's "In search of lost time" beast. Read part of it earlier this year just to check it out and it keeps haunting me in a good way!

There will also be a lot if fun, trashy stuff of course. Plebe Child, Greig Beck, Jeremy Robinson etc. Fun page turners.

Might also try to continue the struggle of getting through "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" by Gibbon...

Wishing everyone a great reading year!

My favorite from last year was probably "The Bone Clocks" by David Mitchell, or Jeff Vandermeer's "Annihilation". I can't choose between the two -- and being a little let down by the ending of the Southern Reach trilogy shouldn't count against the first.

For 2015, I really want to read all my Christmas-gift books first -- I always try and then always get interrupted -- so there's "Ghostwritten" by David Mitchell, "11/22/63" by Stephen King and Catherinne M. Valente's "In the Night Garden".

After that, we'll see. I want to get back to my Iain Banks re-read, and finally read "A Little History of the World", and catch up on the newer King books I haven't read, and my stalled Dragarean cycle read-through, and and and...

'In Praise of Older Women' by Stephen Vizinczey. It's a book I should probably have read when I was about 14 or 15, however the timeless truths it contains are those I eventually found the way to on my own.
As for a book I'm determined to read in 2015, I believe it's going to be 'Balcony in the Forest' by Julien Gracq.

And dear goons, I hope you and yours have a happy and healthy 2015.

The 'book' I loved the most in 2014 was a trilogy, "The Fionavar Tapestry." I expected fantasy, albeit of a fair quality since my brother first recommended I read the books and I trust his judgement. I didn't expect them to be the exact kind of fantasy I like, distilled to its essence and refined to be both a quick and fulfilling read. There are weak points here and there but they're more than made up for with the rest.

For 2015's must-read book... I don't really have one. It would be nice to get through some of the heftier non-fiction on my list, like "On the Origin of Species" or "The Hero with a Thousand Faces," but right now I'll settle for actually hitting a reading goal.

Well, my favorite read from 2014 had to be 'The Martian' by Andy Weir. It was as "un-put-down-able" as a book could get for me.

For this year, I'm a huge Murakami fan, but I've yet to climb 'IQ84' mountain. This year I plan to hire a sherpa and get to scaling.

William wrote: "My favorite would be Justine, by Lawrence Durrell. The language and feeling is languid, erotic, and it told a great story. Also taught me a lot of new words; Durrell had one hell of a good vocabula..."

I really wanted to thank you for recommending me that series as it turned out to be my surprise favorite of the year. It was ambitious, wonderful, frustrating, and populated with many memorable characters I won't be forgetting anytime soon.

My to-read would have to be Clive Barker's Scarlet Gospels. I've only been waiting for it to come out for 15 years or so.

Happy new year!

I think my favorite book was The Proud Tower by Barbara Tuchman. Just fascinating all around. Tuchman became one of my favorite writers last year.

This year I really want to read Crime and Punishment. I feel bad that I haven't read more Dostoevsky so hopefully I can remedy that this year!

Man, looking back I read some good stuff this year. I'd have to give the nod to "In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette". If it was a work of fiction I'd have dismissed it in the first few pages as being utterly unrealistic.

I've got a couple of things lined up in my audible queue but nothing I'm super fired up about. I guess "Thinking Fast and Slow" although I've already started it so maybe that's cheating. :smith:

I just finished one of the books I was determined to read this year. As I posted over at the Book Barn on SA:
'Balcony in the Forest' by Julien Gracq. In 1939 a soldier is assigned to a post in the forest, where while waiting for the war he slips into a dreamy existence. Lovely.