So, in 2009, according to my bookkeeping over at LibraryThing, I have read 60 books (let's face it, I'm not going to finish Black Man, Best Served Cold or Bolo before the New Year party tonight). Of those, 43 were fiction books, 5 were short story collections, 1 non-fiction, 1 play, 5 RPG Books (+one of the short story collections was technically an RPG source book), 2 graphic novel volumes, 1 Firefly reference book and 2 cookbooks. In 2008, I read 109 books, but many more graphic novel/manga volumes were included in that total. The books I've been most happy with have probably been Anathem, The Good Fairies of New York, Let The Right One In, River of Gods, The Sparrow and Stand on Zanzibar (I had wanted to keep it to three, then five, you ended up with six - and I had to reluctantly leave out Dhalgren).
Gigwise, Warrington Music Festival was much fun again even if I was alone for the most part. Seasick Steve, Cornershop and Patrick Wolf were all truly excellent! (I'm sure had I managed to see Florence and the Machine, La Roux or Los Campesinos they'd have been up there too). Blur must however dominate absolutely everything else. Hotpots were decent, but Placebo disappointed (although that could have been partly due to the fact I didn't revise properly and The Horrors were not very good as a support act).
Theatrewise, a little sparse this year. We had The Laramie Project Ten Years Later: An Epilogue (All the hope after the original... gone), Rocky Horror Show (bloody hell it's gotten even dirtier than last time I saw it! 8-). Comedywise, Mark Thomas disappointed, Comedy Club was not bad and Simon Amstell ruled them all! Oh yeah, I saw Eddie Izzard too - good, but not up there with his early stuff.
I'm sure I've missed some stuff at the start of the year - my diary is mysteriously empty and I think I may have been unable to find it for the first few months. The diary for next year is looking good already. James, Les Mis, Hairspray, Ocean Colour Scene, EasterCon and Mika that I can remember so far. Oh and Grimm Tales if we get tickets before its run ends.
Hope your 2009s have been as good and your 2010s will be even better! Now, if you'll excuse me I've got some Jacket Potatoes nearly ready and more to put on for tonight...
Alex
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