This is a list of all the books I've been reading over the twelve months of the year 2007.
I've listed the title in the language I've read the book, the author, the English title or a translation if necessary, my opinion as well as my rating of how much I liked the book (five stars are the best, one the worst).
Margit Bräuer (ed.): Russische Weihnachtsgeschichten (Russian Christmas Stories)
rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
thoughts: I mostly wonderful selection of Russian Christmas stories from authors of the 19th and 20th century, like the famous Fyodor Dostoyevsky but also less known authors.
Peter Høeg: Reise in ein dunkles Herz (Journey Into A Dark Heart)
rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
thoughts: Peter Høeg is, in my mind, known for his rather 'weird' books. This one, which contains two short stories, is no exception. Nevertheless, they are nice to read.
Jill Gregory & Karen Tintori: Das Buch der Namen (The Book of Names)
rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
thoughts: This was one book that kept its promises. It truly was one of those that you can't stop reading till you know how it's going to end. Just the thought that there could be a list of 36 pure souls that keep the world from ending is quite frightening. Thrilling indeed.
Thomas Thiemeyer: Medusa
rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
thoughts: Awul, simply awful. And it sounded so promising. How can you end up with a typical 'damsel in distress/bring on the hero' plot when you started with a strong and independent woman? Just no.
Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason: The Rule of Four
rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
thoughts: A book about a mysterious other book with a name like Hypnerotomachia Poliphili? Bring it along already. A fantastic book. You just can't put it down, it's just too thrilling and wow.Very very cool.
Italo Calvino: Wenn ein Reisender in einer Winternacht (If on a Winter's Night a Traveler)
rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
thoughts: I really had some trouble getting into this. the beginning was very hard to get through. It got easier but I never got to enjoy reading this as it was also confusing in parts.
Jed Rubenfeld: The Interpretation of Murder
rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
thoughts: I really like it. t was easy to read and a page-turner. While not a fan of Sigmund Freud at all, he didn't really have a big part in this, so it didn't matter. But i enjoyed the whole psychology aspect and the unexpected turns the story takes.
David Monagan: Irrwitziges Irland (Jaywalking with the Irish)
rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
thoughts: Fun to read. An experience of what's like to start all over again wth your whole life in a different country. Quirky people, weird happenings and much more. Very entertaining.
A. J. Jacobs: The Know-It-All
rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
thoughts: I can't say, I've never entertained the idea of reading parts of an encyclopedia. But actually going through with it? Nah. The author did, reading the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica that is. The snippets of weird info during the journey from A-Z are nice but the whole thing sounded more promising than it actually was.
Robert Louis Stevenson: Dr. Jekyll und Mr. Hyde (The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde)
rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
thoughts: Who doesn't know the story of the nice Dr. Jekyll and the fearsome Mr. Hyde. As you keep reading the truth of what's going on is nothing less than frightening and sad.
Twilight - Stephenie Meyer
rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
thoughts: It crept up on me slowly but then I simply couldn't put it away anymore. I was actually reluctant at first. Everyone seemed so into it, I wasn't sure this was really a book for me, not just because it's Young Adult. But then I just couldn't resist anymore. II have to say, it was totally worth it. This is a book that just holds you in its control and once you're done reading, you want to start all over again.
Lyn Hamilton: Das keltische Labyrinth (The Celtic Riddle)
rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
thoughts: Hm, i thought the whole Irish background would be really nice but it wasn't really more than an okay book. Nice to read and entertaining but nothing that really sticks with you for longer.