Only 34 books read in 2005, which I blame in large part on the time commitment made to academia and 3 thesis-length papers written August-December.  Because there were some great reads in this list, however, I want to keep them out there for your review.

• American Gods by Neil Gaiman:  This book has been sitting on my shelf long enough, as I picked it up after reading Good Omens, a fantastic book coauthored with Terry Pratchett.  Loved it!

• The Anthology at the End of the Universe by Glenn Yeffeth :  An entertaining series of commentaries on The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Douglas Adams.

• The Art of Intrusion by Kevin Mitnick:  If you were ever a hacker, or wanted to be one after watching War Games, pick up this book and "The Art of Deception," his last book.  Although it can get somewhat technical, Mr. Mitnick goes through techniques of social engineering, hacking networks, and generally learning things that others think are perfectly safe.

• Binge:  What Your College Student Won't Tell You by Barrett Seaman:  I'm not the parent of a college student, but having been a college student for much longer than most people (about 15 years now), I was curious if Mr. Seaman saw the same trends I have.  Nope.  Although interesting, this came across as what most people would expect - more relaxed standards on alcohol, sex, and the awarding of grades.  Read it if you're worried about Billy and Suzie at college, otherwise rent Animal House and save a few hours.

• The Broker by John Grisham:  I was hesitant at first, as this novel is more espionage than it is legal fiction, and I am one of the many still searching for a lawyer in "A Painted House."  I quite enjoyed it, however, and felt that the characters and Italian venues were very well-developed.  Enjoy this one with a strong pot of Italian Roast!

• Company Man by Joseph Finder:  Not as good as Paranoia, but a still a pretty decent read.  A bit of corporate restructuring, a hippie chick, and a murder...

• Come Out Tonight by Richard Laymon:  Nothing super or supernatural about this one, just your typical homicidal maniac kills teenagers story.

• Dispatch by Bentley Little:  Well, it started off interestingly, but didn't keep the momentum.  It was a bit spooky at first given a lot of parallels to my own life, but those were quickly eclipsed by tedious dialogue and a rapid-fire-get-rid-of-the-monster ending.

• The Double Eagle by James Twining:  Ah, a master thief and one of the few 1933 Double Eagle $20 pieces that weren't melted down.  Not a fantastic book, but not terrible either.  I was 95% certain how it would turn out after the initial event happened, and it turned out I was right.  Still, an enjoyable read.

• The Economic Structure of Intellectual Property Law by William Landes and Richard Posner:  Okay, you probably don't want to read this, not because it isn't good, but because the subject matter probably has a pretty limited audience!  In the case, however, that you have an overwhelming ambition to learn about patents, trademarks, and copyrights, this is a good starting point.

• Eragon by Christopher Paolini:  I recall the reviews on this were pretty good, and I've seen Eldest, the second book, compared to Harry Potter.  Although not comparable to the latter, I do recommend Eragon to those on Potter withdrawal.

• Freedom of Expression by Kembrew McLeod:  With a subtitle of "Overzealous Copyright Bozos and Other Enemies of Creativity,"  I had to pick it up!  Although it addresses intellectual property issues, it is relatively easy reading that highlights how that area of the law has changed and may now stifle creative activity.  It is somewhat slanted in presentation, but factual as well, and would be a decent primer for someone interested in the dynamics of IP law.

• Grant Writing for Dummies by Bev Browning:  One of my 2005 resolutions is to get involved in procuring grants for Buckeye Boys State (please see page to left), and this book is getting me excited about the mechanics of the process.

• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling:  Okay, really, how many people didn't read this one within the first few days of its release.  As promised, it started off pretty darkly, and got darker as the story progressed.  They is a battle at the end of the book, and a major character does die (although, c'mon, they're all magic, so will we see this person in book seven?). 

• Head Games by Eileen Dreyer:  This is the first book that I've read by this author, and I will definitely be returning for her other two.  She spins words very well, and creates realistic dialogue unlike that in most novels.  Fantastic ending - I just ordered her entire backlist (not the romance stuff though).

• How I Paid For College by Marc Ocito:  This was on the Employees' Pick at Borders, and admittedly an entertaining story of a high school theater student trying to figure out how to pay for Julliard once dad's floozy new wife steps over his plans.  It'll take you a day or two to read, but still worth it!

• In the Shadow of the Law by Kermit Roosevelt:  TIME recommended this book a few weeks back, and the few pages I read while standing in the aisle at Borders hooked me.  This is a GREAT book!  People looking for the "lawyer-in-trouble" Grisham book may not like it, but anyone that has gone through law school will understand the pressures put on associates and sacrifices of that lifestyle.

• Infernal by F. Paul Wilson:  This won't be available from Amazon for several months, but check at the publisher (Gauntlet Press) if you're looking for a copy.  This is, I believe, the 9th Repairman Jack novel, and was as good as the prior eight.

• The Know-It-All by A.J.Jacobs:  Fantastic!  In alphabetical order, this is a great tale of one man reading the entire encyclopedia.  Of the books I've read recently, this is an absolute favorite!

• Last Witness by Jilliane Hoffman:  I thoroughly enjoyed her premier novel, Retribution, and would recommend reading it first, as this book builds upon that plot and the characters introduced therein.  A good summer read.

• Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz:  Definitely worth your time and money!  It is a simple read, and you'll want to go straight through.  The main character is writing the story as it transpires, and there are enough twists, including some humorous, to keep you reading.

• Many Unhappy Returns by Charles O. Rossotti:  This is the guy that brought us the kinder, gentler IRS, and tells his story on how leadership was able to change this huge federal agency into a modern business-like entity

• Map of Bones by James Rollins:  This is a great book in the genre of the DaVinci Code, following the search for the Magi's bones.  I don't know how much of the history or science utilized within is real or accurate, but frankly, the story was good enough that I don't care!  I would recommend highly!

• Perfect Nightmare by John Saul:  I've always enjoyed this author's ability to spin a story simply but in a way that you have to keep reading.  Not a bad read at all, though it was a bit cliche when revealing the "bad guy."

• The Problems of Jurisprudence by Richard A. Posner:  Ah, a crossing of philosophy and law into an area that bears no precise definition but which addresses the delicate questions of who makes, interprets, and enforces the rules that society has created.  A good read, but not an easy one for someone not into the subject.

• The Riddles of Epsilon by Christine Morton-Shaw:  Although this was on the front table at Borders, I suspect that it was a customer transplant from the young adults section.  It's a pretty basic ghost / time travel story when you have two hours for a book.

• The Seduction of Water by Carol Goodman:  I am intrigued enough with this author to pick up her other books.  It wasn't the easiest read, but at least kept me guessing the "who-done-it" aspect until the end (and, it turns out, I was wrong).

• The Shroud of the Thwacker by Chris Elliot:  This is a ridiculous book poking fun at the DaVinci Code genre of books that have erupted, involving the secret sect of Mummers and a fair bit of intentional and unintentional time travel.  You'll spot the references to other books as you read - quite funny.

• Sinners and Saints by Eileen Dreyer:  General plot - forensic nurse from St. Louis searches from alienated but missing sister in New Orleans.  Like "Head Games," this does have strong character development and dialogue, and the ending isn't terrible, even if somewhat expected.

• Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison:  Rereading for the umpteenth time.  This is one of those "over-the-cereal" books that you can finish in a week of breakfasts.

• The Third Secret by Steve Berry:  I think I liked this book, but might be swayed either way.  In some respects, it feels like it was rushed to publication to capitalize on the success of The Da Vinci Code and to coincide with the conclusion of the ceremonies after Pope John Paul II's passing.  On the other hand, it is a decent story dealing with secrets suppressed by politically-corrupt officials in the Catholic church during the selection of a new pope.  Worth your time.

• Velocity by Dean Koontz:  Initially, it appeared that this book would be a retelling of Katzenbach's The Analyst in that it contained a victim who was being forced to make choices over which strangers should live or die.  It did sway from this a bit, but I don't know that I'd recommend the book simply because the story isn't that great, and the ultimate resolution was somewhat wanting.

• Wish You Were Here: The Official Biography of Douglas Adams by Nick Webb:  There are several biographies of the creator of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," and with the movie in theatres (save your money and buy the BBC version), you should be able to find them easily.  The man was certainly a comic genius and an artist with the language, and I'd highly recommend this book.

Sometimes you just can't get into a book, not necessarily because it's a bad plot etc., but simply because the timing isn't quite right.  These are those stories...

• The Eight by Katherine Neville:  The shelf talker at Borders listed this as the "DaVinci Code" of a decade ago.  Admittedly, I've put it back on the shelf with a bookmarker in place, as I just couldn't get into it.

• Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke:  Time Magazine reviewed this as the Harry Potter for adults, and indeed it is a fantastic book thus far.  The writing style is unlike any that I have previously enjoyed, and the characters are well-developed.  Even if I don't know how it will end, I can say that it is well-worth your time to give it a read.  In my case, I may need to start over, as I have a bad habit of jumping between books, and this one has gotten trumped by others for three months now!

• The Second Chair by John Lescroat:  Ah yes, another dead body, another questionable suspect...

• The Power of Babel by John McWhorter:  Ah, a history of languages.  Check back when I've gotten a few more pages under my belt...