Comments on: Top Ten Best Books of 2008 http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/01/09/top-ten-best-books-of-2008/ Book reviews, author interviews, industry news and more from the online bookstore with a soul. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:57:03 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Roger http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/01/09/top-ten-best-books-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-2909 Roger Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:32:02 +0000 http://blog.betterworld.com/?p=3288#comment-2909 The most powerful book I ever read was McCarthy's "Blood Meridian," and I loved "All the Pretty Horses." I also liked "No Country for Old Men." BUT! I think McCarthy, like some other great writers has gotten too dark, too gloomy about humanity, and too depressing. Why do you read a novel? A big part is for escape, and I like a satisfying ending, if not a happy ending. The ending of "No Country for Old Men" was too dark and gloomy. McCarthy should have let the good guy get away. The most powerful book I ever read was McCarthy’s “Blood Meridian,” and I loved “All the Pretty Horses.” I also liked “No Country for Old Men.”

BUT! I think McCarthy, like some other great writers has gotten too dark, too gloomy about humanity, and too depressing. Why do you read a novel? A big part is for escape, and I like a satisfying ending, if not a happy ending. The ending of “No Country for Old Men” was too dark and gloomy. McCarthy should have let the good guy get away.

]]> By: Nicole http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/01/09/top-ten-best-books-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-1413 Nicole Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:25:40 +0000 http://blog.betterworld.com/?p=3288#comment-1413 I read and enjoyed Twilight, but it is definitely not on the same level as Atonement by Ian McEwan or World Without End by Ken Follett. The Book of Laughter and Forgetting by Milan Kundera is also thought-provoking and beautiful in it's own right. I read and enjoyed Twilight, but it is definitely not on the same level as Atonement by Ian McEwan or World Without End by Ken Follett. The Book of Laughter and Forgetting by Milan Kundera is also thought-provoking and beautiful in it’s own right.

]]> By: Jill http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/01/09/top-ten-best-books-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-1412 Jill Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:24:29 +0000 http://blog.betterworld.com/?p=3288#comment-1412 I've got to add my recommendation for Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Definitely the most lovely use of language of any book I read last year. When I started reading it, I never thought I would use the word "lovely" to describe it, with its incredibly depressing subject matter, but there you go. That's the power of an accomplished author, in a nutshell. I’ve got to add my recommendation for Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Definitely the most lovely use of language of any book I read last year. When I started reading it, I never thought I would use the word “lovely” to describe it, with its incredibly depressing subject matter, but there you go. That’s the power of an accomplished author, in a nutshell.

]]> By: Jack http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/01/09/top-ten-best-books-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-1377 Jack Sun, 18 Jan 2009 03:00:50 +0000 http://blog.betterworld.com/?p=3288#comment-1377 Marie, thank you so much for coming and checking us out! I tallied the votes and Gods Behaving Badly was certainly well loved! I also thoroughly enjoyed The Road--what a hard-hitter. Marie, thank you so much for coming and checking us out! I tallied the votes and Gods Behaving Badly was certainly well loved! I also thoroughly enjoyed The Road–what a hard-hitter.

]]> By: Marie Phillips http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/01/09/top-ten-best-books-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-1356 Marie Phillips Sat, 17 Jan 2009 11:17:20 +0000 http://blog.betterworld.com/?p=3288#comment-1356 Someone just directed me to this and I feel very flattered. Thank you so much. But, readers: The Road is a *much* better book than Gods Behaving Badly. (Though slightly more depressing, I'll grant you...) Someone just directed me to this and I feel very flattered. Thank you so much. But, readers: The Road is a *much* better book than Gods Behaving Badly. (Though slightly more depressing, I’ll grant you…)

]]> By: Val http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/01/09/top-ten-best-books-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-1346 Val Sat, 17 Jan 2009 02:44:35 +0000 http://blog.betterworld.com/?p=3288#comment-1346 I read Eat, Pray, Love, and liked it, but would definitely NOT nominate it as the best book of the year. I read The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers, by Harry Berstein, which was a fantastic memoir about growing up as a Jew on a religiously segregated street in England. I also loved and was inspired by Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder. Turning to fiiction, I loved A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell, a novel about occupied Italy during WWII. Another terrific book set in WWII, a YA novel, is The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. All of these books are better than Eat, Pray, Love. I read Eat, Pray, Love, and liked it, but would definitely NOT nominate it as the best book of the year. I read The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers, by Harry Berstein, which was a fantastic memoir about growing up as a Jew on a religiously segregated street in England. I also loved and was inspired by Mountains Beyond Mountains: The
Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder. Turning to fiiction, I loved A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell, a novel about occupied Italy during WWII. Another terrific book set in WWII, a YA novel, is The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. All of these books are better than Eat, Pray, Love.

]]> By: ThommieAnne http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/01/09/top-ten-best-books-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-1313 ThommieAnne Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:27:20 +0000 http://blog.betterworld.com/?p=3288#comment-1313 Twilight is by far the best of those books. yes, i know what your thinking. "She has to be a girl." the only reason anybody would have to not like that book would be, one: they dont have a love, so they pick on the book because of how perfect Edward is. or two: they are a guy and just say its gay because they want girls to be like, "OMG SHUT UP", and they will get attention. P.S I LOVE TWILIGHT!!! Twilight is by far the best of those books. yes, i know what your thinking. “She has to be a girl.” the only reason anybody would have to not like that book would be, one: they dont have a love, so they pick on the book because of how perfect Edward is. or two: they are a guy and just say its gay because they want girls to be like, “OMG SHUT UP”, and they will get attention.

P.S I LOVE TWILIGHT!!!

]]> By: Week in Review: January 5-9 | Better World Books Blog http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/01/09/top-ten-best-books-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-1223 Week in Review: January 5-9 | Better World Books Blog Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:16:14 +0000 http://blog.betterworld.com/?p=3288#comment-1223 [...] us some love -After months of suggesting it, Xavier finally broke and is on Twitter -We spilled our Top 10 Favorite Books of 2008 -I rolled my eyes at the term [...] [...] us some love -After months of suggesting it, Xavier finally broke and is on Twitter -We spilled our Top 10 Favorite Books of 2008 -I rolled my eyes at the term [...]

]]> By: Jack http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/01/09/top-ten-best-books-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-1218 Jack Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:58:05 +0000 http://blog.betterworld.com/?p=3288#comment-1218 Paco I can't release that information, sadly. I don't want to see you attack any of your less-erudite coworkers :P Rudy, did you watch the adaptation of BR? I heard mixed things but that the book was quite good. Nicole, two people in this office loved watchmen too, but alas, apparently all the readers were too busy to send me their Top 10's :P Paco I can’t release that information, sadly. I don’t want to see you attack any of your less-erudite coworkers :P

Rudy, did you watch the adaptation of BR? I heard mixed things but that the book was quite good.

Nicole, two people in this office loved watchmen too, but alas, apparently all the readers were too busy to send me their Top 10’s :P

]]> By: Nicole http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/01/09/top-ten-best-books-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-1211 Nicole Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:59:23 +0000 http://blog.betterworld.com/?p=3288#comment-1211 I'm surprised Watchmen wasn't on this list, seems like a lot of us at BWB were reading it! Maybe none of us responded to your e-mail (like me...) Ah, High Fidelity and Slaughterhouse Five - modern classics as far as I'm concerned. :) I’m surprised Watchmen wasn’t on this list, seems like a lot of us at BWB were reading it! Maybe none of us responded to your e-mail (like me…)

Ah, High Fidelity and Slaughterhouse Five – modern classics as far as I’m concerned. :)

]]> By: Rudy Reyes Jr. http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/01/09/top-ten-best-books-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-1169 Rudy Reyes Jr. Sun, 11 Jan 2009 03:10:11 +0000 http://blog.betterworld.com/?p=3288#comment-1169 I forgot to submit my two... they are actually re-reads that I got around to this past year and are two of my favorite books of all time: Waugh's _Brideshead Revisited_ and Rushdie's _Haroun & the Sea of Stories_. I forgot to submit my two… they are actually re-reads that I got around to this past year and are two of my favorite books of all time: Waugh’s _Brideshead Revisited_ and Rushdie’s _Haroun & the Sea of Stories_.

]]> By: Paco http://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2009/01/09/top-ten-best-books-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-1138 Paco Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:05:40 +0000 http://blog.betterworld.com/?p=3288#comment-1138 I'm disappointed...my book should have made the list. Muhammad Yunus is more deserving of this list than Stephanie Meyer...we're a social enterprise! Who voted for the top 10? I’m disappointed…my book should have made the list. Muhammad Yunus is more deserving of this list than Stephanie Meyer…we’re a social enterprise! Who voted for the top 10?

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