mrph | The 2007 booklist

Books read this year - excluding graphic novels, comics etc.

Heston Blumenthal - In Search of Perfection
Interesting. I'm not sure about his sense of humour, but for a food book containing a total of eight very carefully planned recipes, it's certainly an entertaining read.
Iain Banks - The Steep Approach to Garbadale
Probably the best non-SF book he's done in a while. It's still not nearly as good as Whit or The Crow Road - and I saw most of the ending some way in advance - but it's an enjoyable read and holds together pretty well.
James Shapiro - 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare
My favourite kind of history, with the background details used to illuminate the central theme. For the most part it's a picture of Shakespeare's environment, not of his own actions. It tries to supply the context for his work and deeds - and it generally does so very well, moving through the year season by season. The one section that didn't work for me was Autumn, which was actually the one that had the most detail on Shakespeare. Perhaps I just didn't want to know that much about the various different texts of Hamlet? Generally excellent, though.
Fiona Watson - Scotland: From Prehistory to the Present
I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy this one, but it also annoyed me a lot. It's quite readable, not heavy going - and as someone who really didn't know much about Scottish history, in many ways it's just what I needed. However... it doesn't always flow, and some things seem to be overlooked. The Black Douglases get mentioned, but never introduced to the reader - and while the context and consequences of Culloden are mentioned, the event itself is pretty much skipped. The Darien scheme, mentioned several times, doesn't appear in the index. And, er, at the risk of sounding petty, I prefer my non-fiction without exclamation marks for emphasis - it shouldn't need 'em.
Terry Pratchett - Making Money. On first read, I think I liked this one more than Going Postal... but there's still something about it that seemed a little bit underwhelming near the end. Perhaps it's that the final twist is a little too close to shark-jumping? Moist is always fun, though, as is the Patrician. Enjoyable.
Warren Ellis - Crooked Little Vein. Readable, enjoyable... but somehow it felt as if it was pulling its punches. It's pure Ellis, but there are too many aspects that touch on things he's written (or posted) elsewhere, from eels to cattle mutilation... but it's definitely worth a look, regardless.

(More to come - I'm at least five books behind on this!)