I read 50 books in 2011, and I'm not going to list them all. Here are the ones that stand out in my memory as thoroughly recommendable. They're all great, but the starred ones are super-excellent must-reads, in my opinion. Alphabetically by author:
Anthologies/Collections
In the Forest of Forgetting - Theodora Goss
Unpossible - Daryl Gregory
Novels
The Devil's Alphabet - Daryl Gregory
*The Magicians - Lev Grossman
How to Make Friends with Demons - Graham Joyce
The Silent Land - Graham Joyce
*Embassytown - China Miéville
The House of Discarded Dreams - Ekaterina Sedia
*Mechanique - Genevieve Valentine
Books about Writing
*Plot v. Character - Jeff Gerke
Starve Better - Nick Mamatas
Save the Cat! - Blake Snyder
Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies - Blake Snyder
*The Comic Toolbox - John Vorhaus
The Accidental Creative - Todd Henry (This one isn't strictly about writing, but I've found it to be helpful with my writing. Watch out for the business-speak in it! Still worthwhile, though.)
I'm reading The Accidental Creative and while the business references threw me a little,I could see some of the principles definitely applying to writing. I've read both Save the Cat books and had the pleasure of meeting Blake Snyder a few months before his death. He was a delight to chat with.
ReplyDeleteI was so sad when I learned that Blake Snyder had died. His books are both interesting and fun to read. I'm glad that you got to meet him!
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