{"id":1686,"date":"2007-12-31T13:52:00","date_gmt":"2007-12-31T17:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=1686"},"modified":"2007-12-31T13:52:00","modified_gmt":"2007-12-31T17:52:00","slug":"books-best-of-2007","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/?p=1686","title":{"rendered":"Books &#8211; Best of 2007"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;\"  ><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><a style=\"color: rgb(204, 0, 0);\" href=\"http:\/\/zablozone.blogspot.com\/2007\/01\/books-best-of-2006.html\">My Best of Books 2006 edition<\/a> <\/span>was [surprisingly] comprised entirely of author&#8217;s who I&#8217;d never read previously. Interestingly enough <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">three<\/span> of them have made it to <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">this year&#8217;s list<\/span>! So without further adu&#8230; my <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Best of Books 2007 edition<\/span>:<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_aatuWUTj6ic\/R3kt4GUMylI\/AAAAAAAAA6w\/fbpOPGGGHJw\/s1600-h\/z123107terror.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_aatuWUTj6ic\/R3kt4GUMylI\/AAAAAAAAA6w\/fbpOPGGGHJw\/s400\/z123107terror.jpg\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150198090666134098\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><span style=\"font-family:arial;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">5]<\/span> (Tie) <a style=\"color: rgb(204, 0, 0);\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0316017450?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=craizabls&amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creativeASIN=0316017450\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">The Terror by Dan Simmons<\/span><\/a> is a novelization of the true doomed <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">1840s Franklin expedition<\/span> to find a Northwest passage.  History tells us there were no survivors and the men died from exposure, starvation and worse.  <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Simmons&#8217;<\/span> story combines all of the interesting historical details and adds a new menace, a creature which feeds on men.  <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">The Terror<\/span> was a national best seller.  <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Stephen King<\/span> listed it as one of his favorite books of the year.  Who am I to argue with <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Stephen King<\/span>?<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp0.blogger.com\/_aatuWUTj6ic\/R3kt4WUMymI\/AAAAAAAAA64\/thEdVY9YUyU\/s1600-h\/z123107no_country.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp0.blogger.com\/_aatuWUTj6ic\/R3kt4WUMymI\/AAAAAAAAA64\/thEdVY9YUyU\/s400\/z123107no_country.jpg\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150198094961101410\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><span style=\"font-family:arial;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">5]<\/span> (tie) <a style=\"color: rgb(204, 0, 0);\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0307387135?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=craizabls&amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creativeASIN=0307387135\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy<\/span><\/a>.  You know how much I loved the book and movie.  If you haven&#8217;t read it [or seen it], you should.<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_aatuWUTj6ic\/R3kt4mUMynI\/AAAAAAAAA7A\/N4lgzVCnNVM\/s1600-h\/z123107blonde.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_aatuWUTj6ic\/R3kt4mUMynI\/AAAAAAAAA7A\/N4lgzVCnNVM\/s400\/z123107blonde.jpg\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150198099256068722\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><span style=\"font-family:arial;\">4] <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Duane Swiercznski<\/span> jumped to my <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">&#8220;must read&#8221;<\/span> list with his very hip, very cool novel <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">The Wheelman<\/span>.  Since then I&#8217;ve also read his <a style=\"color: rgb(204, 0, 0);\" href=\"http:\/\/zablozone.blogspot.com\/2007\/08\/secret-dead-men.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Secret Dead Men<\/span><\/a> and <a style=\"color: rgb(204, 0, 0);\" href=\"http:\/\/zablozone.blogspot.com\/2007\/08\/blonde.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">The Blonde<\/span><\/a>.  All of which get a thumbs up and <a style=\"color: rgb(204, 0, 0);\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0312374593?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=craizabls&amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creativeASIN=0312374593\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">The Blonde<\/span><\/a> comes in at <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\"> #4 <\/span>on this year&#8217;s best of list.<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_aatuWUTj6ic\/R3kt5GUMyoI\/AAAAAAAAA7I\/m_fZDsbrH2w\/s1600-h\/z123107no_dominion.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_aatuWUTj6ic\/R3kt5GUMyoI\/AAAAAAAAA7I\/m_fZDsbrH2w\/s400\/z123107no_dominion.jpg\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150198107846003330\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><span style=\"font-family:arial;\">3] <a style=\"color: rgb(204, 0, 0);\" href=\"http:\/\/zablozone.blogspot.com\/2007\/04\/huston-continues-his-streak.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">No Dominion by Charlie Huston<\/span><\/a>.  C&#8217;mon, it&#8217;s <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Joe Pitt<\/span> &#8212; and <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Charlie Huston<\/span>.  Enough said.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_aatuWUTj6ic\/R3kt5GUMypI\/AAAAAAAAA7Q\/UHFm9lFNzfM\/s1600-h\/z123107_47th_sam.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp3.blogger.com\/_aatuWUTj6ic\/R3kt5GUMypI\/AAAAAAAAA7Q\/UHFm9lFNzfM\/s400\/z123107_47th_sam.jpg\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150198107846003346\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;\" >2]  <a style=\"color: rgb(204, 0, 0);\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0743238095?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=craizabls&amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creativeASIN=0743238095\">The 47th Samurai by Stephen Hunter<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-family:arial;\">.  I have to admit I was skeptical.  Don&#8217;t get me wrong, I&#8217;m a big fan of <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Stephen Hunter<\/span> [especially his <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Earl Swagger<\/span> novels], but this one takes place in <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Japan<\/span> and had a different feel.  I shouldn&#8217;t have worried though.  Hunter comes through with one of the best <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Swagger<\/span> novels in years. <\/span><\/div>\n<p><a onblur=\"try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}\" href=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_aatuWUTj6ic\/R3kt-mUMyqI\/AAAAAAAAA7Y\/j2EX_Wjq5F4\/s1600-h\/z123107la_rex.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;\" src=\"http:\/\/bp1.blogger.com\/_aatuWUTj6ic\/R3kt-mUMyqI\/AAAAAAAAA7Y\/j2EX_Wjq5F4\/s400\/z123107la_rex.jpg\" alt=\"\" id=\"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150198202335283874\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;\" >1]  <a style=\"color: rgb(204, 0, 0);\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B000S9HW68?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=craizabls&amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creativeASIN=B000S9HW68\">L.A. Rex by Will Beall<\/a>.  <\/span><span style=\"font-family:arial;\">Beall is a real LA cop and LA Rex is his first novel.  I hope that there are more to come because this tale of cops, gangbangers, drug dealers and the gritty life of those in South Central pulled me in and wouldn&#8217;t let go. <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">LA Rex<\/span> is currently a <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">bargain book purchase<\/span> if you click <a style=\"color: rgb(204, 0, 0);\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B000S9HW68?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=craizabls&amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creativeASIN=B000S9HW68\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">HERE<\/span><\/a>.  You can get the hard cover for less than the price of a paperback&#8230; but supplies are limited.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My Best of Books 2006 edition was [surprisingly] comprised entirely of author&#8217;s who I&#8217;d never read previously. Interestingly enough three<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":912,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","comments-off"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1686","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/912"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1686"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1686\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craigzablo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}