LITERAL REMAINS

Yes, I know, everybody and their granny makes out a list of the best and worst movies and books and such and such of the year.  It’s a bandwagon, jump on.  Here are my picks of my favorites, and most loathed, from 2009.  Are they the best?  Maybe, maybe not.  Are they the worst?  See the answer to the previous question.  They are the highs (and lows) of what I’ve seen and read, though.  Groovy, baby.  Note:  Clicking on the name leads to my original review.

Books
When it comes to literature, it has not been a banner year for me.  My list of favorite books is rather short, especially when compared to the movie list.  I read approximately forty books this past year, and their were not a lot that stood out from the pack.  Now, I have not read every new book that hit the shelves, and a lot of what I read is from previous years.  I try to keep up, but I am a one man work crew.

The Highs:
Drood by Dan Simmons
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Audrey’s Door by Sarah Langan
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

Honorable Mention:  The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan, Perfect Circle by Carlos J. Cortes, Afraid by Jack Kilborn, Elsewhere by William Peter Blatty, Speaks the Nightbird by Robert McCammon

The Lows:  The Loch by Steve Alten, The Golem by Edward Lee

Movies
I have seen some really killer movies this year.  Making the short list was very difficult; it was hard narrowing the list.  Note:  I have no review for Watchmen: Director’s Cut, just the theatrical review.  I like the Director’s Cut better.

The Highs:
The Midnight Meat Train
Let the Right One In
Quarantine
The Hangover
Splinter

Honorable Mention:  Watchmen: Director’s Cut, Taken, Midnight Movie, The Burrowers, Trick ‘r Treat

The Lows:  Blindness, Shudder, Laid To Rest, Scarce, 12 Rounds, Dead Wood

Biggest Disappointment:  Halloween II

Biggest Surprise:  Twilight: New Moon (I thought it was not too bad)

the_novacula