Monday, January 05, 2009

My Best of 2008 List.....

The list author says:

"I scaled back on reading this year and still managed to read and review 94 books. I also watched 42 movies (six were so bad I couldn't write a positive review).

Several categories of books, two for films:

None-Fiction that Enriched My Life or Greatly Entertained Me.
Movies that Twisted my Brain.
Movies I Loved.
New Authors (to Me) I'm Going to Stalk.
New Authors I Recommend.
Books That Made Me Think.
Not Your Mama's Christian Fiction
Downright Fun
Tried and Still True Authors"

Hancock (Single-Disc Rated Edition)
1. Hancock (Single-Disc Rated Edition) DVD ~ Will Smith
The list author says:

"Charming story. Lots of fun. One of my top guilty, just-for-fun '08 movie favorites."





Iron Man (Single-Disc Edition)
2. Iron Man (Single-Disc Edition) DVD ~ Robert Downey Jr.
The list author says:

"Gotta love a sarcastic anti-hero. One of my top '08 movie picks."





Fireproof
3. Fireproof DVD ~ Kirk Cameron
The list author says:

"A touch of cheesy, but overall impressive. There are way worse movies to invest your time in. This one could really make you stop and think. A favorite 2008 brain-twist movie."




Lars and the Real Girl
4. Lars and the Real Girl DVD ~ Patricia Clarkson
The list author says:

"This may be the sweetest movie I've ever seen. Bizarre and touching. Loved it. Top movie of '08 pick."




Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
5. Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed DVD ~ Ben Stein
The list author says:

"Want your undies in a bunch? Look no further. Possibly the most controversial movie I've ever seen. One of my favorite Mind-Twister films of 2008."




Sicko (Special Edition)
6. Sicko (Special Edition) DVD ~ Michael Moore
The list author says:

"Not a new release, but it was a fascinating watch none-the-less. One of my favorite Mind-Twister films of 2008."





The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals
7. The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals by Missy Chase Lapine
The list author says:

"Great ideas when you want to make some positive changes. One of my best Non-Fiction that Enriched My Life picks."




Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight: Fifty-Two Amazing Ways to Master the Art of Personal Change
8. Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight: Fifty-Two Amazing Ways to Master the Art of Personal Change by Karen Scalf Linamen
The list author says:

"Funny advice that covers all sorts of life changes you might want to make. One of my best Non-Fiction that Enriched My Life picks."




The Complete Idiot's Guide to Handwriting Analysis, 2nd Edition
9. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Handwriting Analysis, 2nd Edition by Sheila Lowe
The list author says:

"Not a new release, but fascinating. One of my best Non-Fiction that Enriched My Life picks."





Eat This, Not That! Thousands of Simple Food Swaps that Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds--or More!
10. Eat This, Not That! Thousands of Simple Food Swaps that Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds--or More! by David Zinczenko
The list author says:

"This will mess with you. Really eye-opening. One of my best Non-Fiction that Enriched My Life picks."




Try Darkness (Ty Buchanan Series, Book 2)
11. Try Darkness (Ty Buchanan Series, Book 2) by James Scott Bell
The list author says:

"Bell just keeps getting better. Loved this. Better than book one. Fun, sweet, twisty.
Solidly in Tried and Still True Authors category."




Wind River
12. Wind River by Tom, Morrisey
The list author says:

"Nobody writes an outdoor adventure like Tom Morrisey. Tight and beautiful with tension that makes a story twang.
Tried and Still True Author of '08. Looking forward to any '09 release."




Par for the Course: A Novel (Faith Words)
13. Par for the Course: A Novel (Faith Words) by Ray Blackston
The list author says:

"Ray cracks me up. Quirky. I don't even like golf. But I loved Par. He's a Tried and Still True Author and Par lands in the Downright Fun category as well."




Havah: The Story of Eve
14. Havah: The Story of Eve by Tosca Lee
The list author says:

"Tried and True Author. It takes tremendous talent to write tales told by a demon and the mother of all humanity. Powerful books by a very gifted author. Havah also landed in the Books That Made Me Think long after I put it down and Not Your Mama's Christian Fiction categories."





The Shape of Mercy: A Novel
15. The Shape of Mercy: A Novel by Susan Meissner
The list author says:

"Susan Meissner writes tales that transport. I recommend everything she's written. A Tried and Still True Author."





Symphony of Secrets: A Novel
16. Symphony of Secrets: A Novel by Sharon, Hinck
The list author says:

"Sharon Hinck has a very distinctive and pleasant voice. She is solidly Tried and Still True."






Gallimore
17. Gallimore by Michelle Griep
The list author says:

"A solid, engaging and fabulous debut novel. Minnesota has given us some great writers, Griep is not an exception. I can't wait to see where she goes from here. A New Author I Recommend."




Fallen: A Novel
18. Fallen: A Novel by Matthew Raley
The list author says:

"Not only is Raley a New Author I Recommend, he's written a Book That Made Me Think...long after I finished. A very twisted story about church politics and humanity within the sacred realm."





Road to Nowhere
19. Road to Nowhere by Paul, Robertson
The list author says:

"I can't believe I love a book about a road. But I do. The story still hovers months after I finished it. A Twelve Angry Men kind of story that is haunted with prejudice, selfishness and greed."





My Visit to Hell
20. My Visit to Hell by Paul Thigpen
The list author says:

"Not amazing writing but the story is spooky and haunting. A Book That Made Me Think -- and still does."





My Name Is Russell Fink


21. My Name Is Russell Fink
by Michael Snyder
The list author says:

"A book that charmed me from page one. And one that not only is Downright Fun...it also Made Me Think."






He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not: A Memoir of Finding Faith, Hope, and Happily Ever After
22. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not: A Memoir of Finding Faith, Hope, and Happily Ever After by Trish Ryan
The list author says:

"A Memoir that entertained and challenged me. A Book That Made Me Think and was Downright Fun in the process."




Wounded: A Love Story
23. Wounded: A Love Story by Claudia Mair Burney
The list author says:

"Claudia Mair Burney is an author who is Tried and Still True, writes books That Make Me Think and writes Not Your Mama's Christian Fiction.
If you haven't read Christian Fiction in awhile and you always thought it was pablum. Pick up a Ms. Burney title. Dare ya."




Zora and Nicky: A Novel in Black and White
24. Zora and Nicky: A Novel in Black and White by Claudia Mair Burney
The list author says:

"Another Claudia Mair Burney turn you upside-down and shake-you novel. Everything I said about Wounded...ditto."





Embrace Me
25. Embrace Me by Lisa Samson
The list author says:

"Lisa Samson has proven once again to be Tried and True. She's authored a Book That Made Me Think, and she writes Not Your Mama's Christian Fiction. Powerful book. Not pretty, but beautiful."




An August Adams Adventure: House of Wolves
26. An August Adams Adventure: House of Wolves by Matt Bronleewe
The list author says:

"Crazy story. So much fun. Downright Fun."





Less than Dead (Bug Man Series #4)
27. Less than Dead (Bug Man Series #4) by Tim Downs
The list author says:

"I am going to Stalk Tim Downs. Not in a creepy way, but as in "How have I missed this guy?" I loved the Bug Man. Downright Fun in a creepy, fascinating forensic snark-fest. Sarcasm, humor, yuck. My kind of book."


It's Not About Me (Second Glances Series #1)
28. It's Not About Me (Second Glances Series #1) by Michelle Sutton
The list author says:

"Michelle Sutton has written a gritty, real, "oh my" book that is full of hope and honesty."

The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips: A Novel (Faithwords)


29. The Death and Life of Gabriel Phillips: A Novel (Faithwords)
by Stephen Baldwin
The list author says:

"Not Your Mama's Christian Fiction for sure."



The Rook (The Patrick Bowers Files, Book 2)
30. The Rook (The Patrick Bowers Files, Book 2) by Steven, James
The list author says:

"Another New to Me Author I'm Going to Stalk. Great suspense, great story, great characters. Glad I stumbled across him."




Crazy Fool Kills Five: A Fifi Cutter Mystery
31. Crazy Fool Kills Five: A Fifi Cutter Mystery by Gwen Freeman
The list author says:

"New Author (to Me) I'm Going to Stalk. Or at least watch for new reads by Gwen Freeman. Chick-lit with a baseball bat upside the head."