Books of 20 Years Ago: Back List Reads (2005)
I didn’t get an eReader until 2011, but once I had one, my reading quickly shifted to predominantly ebooks (by 2012 60% of my reading was ebooks; by 2016 I was at 91% ebooks (that percentage is currently back down to 65%, but only because 35% of my current reading is audio)).
Which is why I have fewer rereads of books from the mid 2000s, because they were paper books, so I need a second copy (ebook or audiobook) for a reread.
Stand-Alone
A History of the World in 6 Glasses (2005) Tom Standage
(2013 favorite) [Rating: 10] (Non-Fiction)
I like non-fiction, but it doesn’t pull me in the way fiction does, so I read it much slower, and thus a whole lot less of it. (And now I must force myself to NOT go back to old spreadsheets to compare how long it takes me to read fiction vs non-fiction.)
Child of a Rainless Year (2005) Jane Lindskold
(reread 4x) [Rating: 8.9] (Urban Fantasy)
This is a phenomenal book, and I love it just as much every time I go back to it.
(L)ike so many who look at themselves too often in mirrors, she thought that this reverse image, seen rigidly straight on as we are so rarely seen by others, was her truest self.
A Short History of Myth (2005) Karen Armstrong
[Rating: 8] (Non-Fiction)
I have always appreciated Karen Armstrong’s research and writing–I have many of her books in paper and electronic format. I just wish reading about religious history wasn’t so depressing.
The City of Falling Angels (2005) John Berendt
[Rating: 8] (Non-Fiction)
Although I had owned this book for several years, I didn’t read it until I found Donna Leon’s Brunetti series, in which Venice is as much a character as Brunetti and his family.
The Oxford Murders (2005) Guillermo Martinez, translated by Sonia Soto
[Rating: 7] (Mystery)
I remember nothing about this.
Spook (2005) Mary Roach
[Rating: 6] (Non-Fiction)
I want to reread this, to see if my feelings changed, knowing now what to expect.
Comics
Rising Stars: Born in Fire (2001), Power (2002), Fire and Ash (2005) J. Michael Straczynski
( /5 -complete ) (reread 5x) [Avg Rating: 9.75] (Superhero)
This is one of the first graphic novel series I picked up on my own (on the recommendation of someone), and it still astounds me every time I read it.
The Rabbi’s Cat (2005) Joann Sfar
(2012 favorite) [Rating: 9] (Historical Fantasy)
I should really do a better job rereading comics and graphic novels.
Digger, Vol. 1 (2005) Ursula Vernon
(1/6 -complete) [Rating: 8] (Fantasy)
I discovered this in 2021, and it is a delight.
Series
Snake Agent (2005) Liz Williams
(Detective Inspector Chen #1/5 -complete) (reread 3x) [Rating: 7.8] (Supernatural Mystery, Police)
This is a marvelous series, with a mixture of fantasy, supernatural, science fiction, and mystery.
The trouble with Hell, Zhu Irzh reflected bitterly, was not so much the palpable miasma of evil (with which he was, after all, ingrained) but the bureaucracy.
THUD (2005) Terry Pratchett
(Discworld #33/40 -complete) (reread 3x) [Rating: 8.75] (Fantasy)
The 7th book in the Watch subseries of Discworld.
Vetinari waved a languid hand. ‘But full carts congesting the street, Vimes, is a sign of progress.’ he declared.
‘Only in the figurative sense, sir,’ said Vimes.
The Paper Moon (2005) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli
(Inspector Montalbano #9/28 -complete) (reread) [Rating: 7.75] (Mystery, Police)
Although the book was written in 2005, the English translation wasn’t published until 2008, so this isn’t technically a back list read.
“(I)n our neck of the woods, and not only our neck of the woods, politics is the art of burying one’s adversary in shit.”
“What’s politics got to do with me?”
“A lot, even if you don’t realize it. In a case like this, do you know what your role is?”
“No. What’s my role.”
“You supply the shit.”
Tiger Eye (2005) Marjorie M. Liu
(Dirk & Steele #1/11 ) (reread) [Rating: 6] (Paranormal Mystery)
These books are nice distractions, with lots of action and adventure but you know things are going to turn out ok in the end.
Bangkok Tattoo (2005) John Burdett
(Sonchai Jitpleecheep #2/6) (reread+ audio 3x) [Rating: 7] (Mystery, Police)
In some ways, Sonchai’s Bangkok reminds me of Brunetti’s Venice–history, corruption, and religion mashed together into something that works for no one.
Blood from a Stone (2005) Donna Leon
(Commissario Guido Brunetti #14/33) (reread 3x) [Rating: 7.5] (Mystery, Police)
This was a particularly depressing story.
To Kingdom Come (2005) Will Thomas
(Barker and Llewelyn #2/16 -ongoing) (reread) [Rating: 7.75] (Historical Mystery, PI)
This is another series that I can’t read one book right after the other, but once I’ve read a book I forget to return to the series.
The Traveler (2005) John Twelve Hawks
(1/3 -complete) [Rating: 8] (Urban Fantasy)
This story stuck in my brain and I really do want to finish the series, yet somehow have failed to do so.
The Forgotten Man (2005) Robert Crais
(Elvis Cole #10/20 -ongoing) (reread) [Rating: 8] (Mystery, PI)
Starts out like Spenser, then becomes it’s own thing, and then, like Spenser, the characters stop aging.
Urban Shaman (2005) C. E. Murphy
(Walker Papers #1/9 -complete) (reread) [Rating: 6.75] (Supernatural Mystery, PI)
One day I will read the rest of this series, instead of getting distracted and forgetting about it.
And Only to Deceive (2005) Tasha Alexander
(Lady Emily #1/19 -ongoing) (reread 3x) [Rating: 6.75] (Historical Mystery)
First read I got mad because this was as much a romance as a mystery, and I wasn’t expecting any romance. Second time I was prepared and liked it better.
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (2005) Lauren Willig
(1/12 -complete) [Rating: 6] (Mystery)
The only thing I remember about this is that there was a modern timeline and she was researching an historical timeline
Still Life (2005) Louise Penny
(Chief Inspector Gamache #1/20 -ongoing) (reread audio) [Rating: 7.5] (Mystery, Police)
I recently listened to the first several books of this series, but ended up stopping when things took a darker turn than I was capable of dealing with.
Infernal (2005) F. Paul Wilson
(Repairman Jack #9/16 -complete) [Rating: 6] (Supernatural Mystery)
I love a supernatural mystery; it’s been a long time but IIRC the earlier books switched back and forth between mystery and supernatural. I of course got distracted and never finished the series.
Every Which Way But Dead (2005) Kim Harrison
(Rachel Morgan #3/18 -ongoing) [Rating: 7] (Supernatural Mystery)
As noted previously, Michael read more of this series than I did.
Cross Bones (2005) Kathy Reichs
(Temperance Brennan #8/24 -ongoing) [Rating: 7] (Mystery)
I initially loved this series, then every book ended with Tempe and Ryan working things out, and the following book began with the two of them on the outs.
Just… UGH.
Peach Cobbler Murder (2005) Joanne Fluke
(Hannah Swensen #7/30) [Rating: 6] (Mystery)
I recently picked this series up, and read several books but backed off when she couldn’t make up her mind about what guy she liked.