A goal list for 2008

I've been a bad blogger, mostly because I haven't had much to say lately. Well, and the things I've had to say have been kept behind the filter on my other (more private) blog. But every time I have a book nerdy blog idea, I inevitably return here to share it.

I was just reading my LJ friends list and realized I wanted to keep track of the books that are on the top of my list to read. It seems, with all the books flying around in the publishing industry, that it is easy to get sidetracked, and I read a pitiful amount of books in 2007. So here's a goal list. I'll check back throughout the year to see how I've done and I'm positive I'll read books that aren't on this list. But here are the ones that are on the top of my head as "must reads" for 2008 (with commentary).

*Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko -- I'm in the middle of this one right now. We're doing a book club at work for all of the junior members of the kid's department, so we can make sure we are in-the-know about all the hot books on the market lately. This month is Newbery winners and honors. This is my choice and I'm loving it so far.

*Godless by Pete Hautman -- This one is going to be my pick when we do NBA winners and nominees. I've already read a few: Sherman Alexie and Sara Zarr, obviously, Luna by Julie Anne Peters, Inexcusable by Chris Lynch and Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson -- and I love them all. Godless looks REALLY good and I am sure I will enjoy it just as much as all the others.

*Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks -- This is just the type of boy-oriented middle-grade I know I'll love. I can't wait!

*Blind Fall by Christopher Rice -- I've loved all three of this author's previous (bestselling) works and his new one is coming out in March, so I'm really excited.

*Personal Demons by Kelley Armstrong -- one of my all-time favorite dark urban fantasy authors (though I think I hate the cover for this one). This is her latest Women of the Otherworld novel and it also comes out in March. YAY!

*Shadows Return by Lynn Flewelling -- one of my favorite high fantasy authors and she is coming out with the next book in her Nightrunner series, right around my birthday.

*Wheel of Darkness by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child -- Preston and Child are two more of my favorite adult authors and I STILL haven't read their latest release. I feel awful, especially since I am also friends with their editor, but most of all I just want to know what happens before the next one comes out.

*Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan -- oh you know it!

*The Spiderwick Chronicles #1: The Field Guide by Tony DeTerlizzi and Holly Black -- I adore Holly Black and there is no doubt in my mind that I will be seeing the Spiderwick movie when it comes out, so I have to read the book first.

*Moon Called by Patricia Briggs -- I've been meaning to read the first book in this series for a while and now that a third has come out, I really feel the pressure. This seems very different from what I've seen in the dark urban fantasy genre, and that entices me.

*Kitty and the Silver Bullet by Carrie Vaughn -- The fourth book in the Kitty series, which is definitely a different spin on the typical dark urban fantasy novel. I love that Kitty is not an alpha-werewolf and I really enjoy her voice. Also edited by the same friend who edits Preston and Child.

*Demonata #5: Blood Beast by Darren Shan -- Love this author, love this series. Need to read this one so I can be ready for #6 when it comes out.

*Eighth Grade Bites: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer -- Middle-grade boy fiction + vampire. SO up my alley!

*Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti -- This book got put on my radar when Deb gave a great quote for Sherman Alexie's book (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian). I've wanted to read HBS ever since. I think 2008 is the time to do so.

*Pendragon #1: The Merchant of Death by D.J. MacHale -- This was going to be one of my final reads for 2007 but I didn't quite make it before New Year's. Then I lost steam. So this is a must-read for 2008. It also fits into that middle-grade boy-oriented type of stuff I really love.

I'm sure there are more but I didn't think this through before posting. There's a whole pile of books on my shelf at work that will probably need to be added once I'm there to remember them. But for now, that's that.