This is the same list as I emailed to the DWJ list so members may wish to ignore this entry!

I feel like I’ve spent a lot of the year starting books then impatiently throwing them down and returning to old favourites. But as I went through my blog I realised I’ve actually come across lots of great new books in 2006, many of them YA novels. New to me that is – this is a best books I’ve read in 2006 list, not a best published in 2006. My only worry is that seeing as I didn’t keep a reading list I only have the books I reviewed to prompt my memory. Also as I’ve already written about the books these are short summaries - tags to the right of the page can be followed for more comprehensive reviews (more comprehensive meaning an extra sentence in some cases!). I hope I haven’t missed any crucial books!

( Books in strange categories )

Amended to add Most satisfying end to a series: The gate of the Gods by Martha Wells. I've really enjoyed this fantasy series and this finale kept me interested and involved right to the end.

What a great year! Thanks to people on my flist and blogroll for contributing to the recs for these books.

Tags: books, brust, mckay, moriarty, novik, perkins, rosoff, wells, westerfeld, whalen turner, zusak

I just finished reading Dzur, Steven Brust's new Vlad Taltos novel, about an hour ago so I haven't exactly sat down and thought much about it yet. But it was great. It reminded how much I love Brust's writing and how much I'd missed a new book in this series (it's been five years! Not that I didn't love the Viscount of Adrilankha books. I just like Vlad too). It was classic Brust. A different and clever set-up. Lots of laugh out loud moments. Sly allusions to his previous books. So much talk of yummy food that it makes you sure you'd like to have dinner with Brust. Well paced. Adventure, magic, assassinations and other excitement. And only some mention of Vlad's personal situation, but enough to make you feel anxious and impatient for the next book. Plus I want to know more about Lady Teldra!

I'm not sure if many (or indeed any) of my flist reads Brust, but you'll be doing yourself a favour if you do. He's an acquired taste I think. I only loved the Taltos books on my second, more patient read through. Although they can be read independently of each other, they're more fun read in publication order.

In other book news, I read and loved Shannon Hale's Goose girl. I liked it a lot more than Enna burning, perhaps because of the fairytale set up and the reasons lady_schrapnell suggested recently, such as the more sympathetic characters (and definitely the less saintly Isi). After also enjoying Princess academy I'll definitely keep my eye out for more Hale (her blog, linked to on the left, is also very good).

And I've been meaning to mention that I've been reading and loving Hilary McKay's Exile books. They're fantastic! I think I might like them even more thant the Casson books. The latter might be better written and funnier, but I think the Exiles are more believable. What a great author.

Tags: adventure, books, brust, children's, fantasy, hale, humour, mckay

As usual my lack of recording makes remembering what I've been reading difficult. I do remember that I've been doing quite a lot of re-reading recently. For example, Lynn Flewelling's The bone doll's twin and Hidden warrior were a pleasurable re-read in preparation for the trilogy's third book, which is being released in July this year. Lynn Flewelling is a great fantasy writer who incorporates a great sense of fun with questions of gender and sexuality into her novels. The bone doll's twin is more serious than her other books, and a bit spooky at times, but I think it's probably her best book. Go chase Flewelling's books up if you're a fantasy reader that hasn't discovered her yet!

My next re-read, Kage Baker's The anvil of the world was prompted by generalblossom. Although I had read and enjoyed this book I couldn't remember loving it. But it was fantastic on the second read. Like generalblossom I couldn't really see the Pratchett resemblances but could sometimes see a Diana Wynne Jones touch. (eg:"Poisoned?" inquired Smith. "Aren't all darts that mysteriously appear out of nowhere smeared with deadly poison?" said Lord Ermenwyr.) But the author that this book most evoked was Steven Brust. It wasn't just the assassin character, but also the setting, style and challenges for the characters. I even had the same pattern of thinking Brust OK the first time around and adoring his books the second time. However, all these comparisons shouldn't distract me from saying that this is a clever, funny fantasy that should be bought by all right-thinking fantasy readers. And that if you didn't like it or Brust the first time around have another go.

Finally, I've spotted a new book lying in my "to be returned to the library" pile that some of you might like. It's a YA book by Australian author Jaclyn Moriarty called Feeling sorry for Celia. It's main character is a 15 year girl, Elizabeth, who faces teenage tribulations such as a best friend who keeps running away, not having a boyfriend and a distant father. But these fairly standard events are told in a very funny manner through notes between Elizabeth and her mother, letters between Elizabeth and a new friend and imaginary letters to Elizabeth from different societies, such as the "Society of People who are Definitely Going to Fail High School (and Most Probably Life as Well!)" and the "Association of Teenagers". The latter group are disgusted with her lack of teenage behaviour (never been kissed, never even seen marijuana) and keep recommending she lock herself in the fridge until her teen years are over. A humorous and moving book that's got me hunting down her other novels.

Tags: baker, books, brust, fantasy, flewelling, moriarty, young adult