2007 Bookshelf in Review

Now that 2008 is here, I'm clearing my 2007 bookshelf. Here's a recap of what I read over the past year, and my brief thoughts on each:

• An Assembly Such as This and Duty and Desire by Pamela Aidan: This is a trilogy (I'm currently in the middle of the third, These Three Remain). It's an account of the life and character of Mr. Darcy (of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice). They are super good, and I recommend them - although you do need to read them all in order.
  

• Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire (on audio book): For as much as I say I don't care for Maguire's work, this is now the third book of his I've read. This story started out with promise, but then took a turn that made me not like it in the end. I'm not reading any more of his!
  

• Treasures of the North by Tracie Peterson: I've already commented on this one here.

• Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery: I've commented on this one here.

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling: Umm...I think I like the Harry Potter books. Yeah, they're good.
  

• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini: Awesome second book by the author of The Kite Runner. It's a hard story to read, but well-written.
  

• Justice Matters by Randy Brown: This book is about ministry and justice in the city. It's written by the pastor of a church in Southwest Detroit. It's good, and I liked the "local" feel to it.

• Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport by Richard Mouw: I didn't quite finish this one (sorry Dad). The parts I did read though helped me to again get a better grasp on what I believe, and why it's still relevant today.

• Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: A classic. I loved it, and think it's better than the movie. If you're looking for a great, meaty story you can sink your teeth into, I recommend this one.
  

• Amazing Grace by Eric Metaxas: Biography of William Wilberforce. A great read. The story of Wilberforce's life is such an inspiration, in how he worked tirelessly and in the face of great obstacles in order to see the end of the slave trade in England.

• A Series of Unfortunate Events (Book 1) by Lemony Snickets: A light, funny read. I didn't really get into these books, but they're good enough.
  

• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger: I've commented on this one here. Don't waste your time with this one.

• Safely Home by Randy Alcorn: I didn't really care for this one. I've commented on this one already too, here.

• The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan: This is a book that is often on bestseller lists. It was okay. The story is a little confusing because it bounces back and forth between about 6 different characters. I kept forgetting which character's story was being told.
  

I feel like I may have missed one or two in there, but this is the majority of them.