Books I read in 2010

The Song is You by Megan Abbott
Unshelved, Vol. 2: What Would Dewey Do? by Gene Ambaum & Bill Barnes**
Wishing Well by Trevor Baxendale
The Wishing Chair Again by Enid Blyton*
The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton*
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Fool Moon by Jim Butcher
Dog Eat Dog by Jerry Jay Carroll
The Dwarves of Death by Jonathan Coe
Girl from Mars by Julie Cohen
Happy Endings by Paul Cornell
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell*
How To Be A Pirate by Cressida Cowell*
I, Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampire by P.N. Elrod
The Boys Vol. 1: The Name of the Game by Garth Ennis**
The Boys Vol. 2: Get Some by Garth Ennis**
The Boys Vol. 3: Good for the Soul by Garth Ennis**
Recess Pieces by Bob Fingerman**
The Fry Chronicles by Stephen Fry
Troublesome Minds by Dave Galanter
Dinner for Two by Mike Gayle
Foop! by Chris Genoa
Paul is Undead by Alan Goldsher
The Pirate Loop by Simon Guerrier
Help! A Bear is Eating Me! by Mykle Hansen
Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
The Conqueror Worms by Brian Keene
Urban Gothic by Brian Keene
The Walking Dead Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye by Robert Kirkman**
The Walking Dead Vol. 2: Miles Behind Us by Robert Kirkman**
Meet the Muppets by Roger Langridge**
Dexter by Design by Jeff Lindsay
Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link
Night of the Humans by David Llewellyn
The Diary of a "Dr Who" Addict by Paul Magrs
Darkness be My Friend by John Marsden
Hellboy Vol. 4: The Right Hand of Doom by Mike Mignola**
Kick-Ass by Mark Millar**
The Forgotten Army by Brian Minchin
After Dark by Haruki Murakami
One Day by David Nicholls
Scott's Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley**
Scott Pilgrim vs the World by Bryan Lee O'Malley**
Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness by Bryan Lee O'Malley**
Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together by Bryan Lee O'Malley**
Scott Pilgrim vs the Universe by Bryan Lee O'Malley**
Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour by Bryan Lee O'Malley**
Meat Is Murder by Joe Pernice
The Song is You by Arthur Phillips
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman
Apollo 23 by Justin Richards
The Men Who Stare at Goats by Jon Ronson
Meanwhile by Jason Shiga**
Bowie: A Biography by Marc Spitz
Empowered Vol. 4 by Adam Warren**
Dr. Horrible by Zack Whedon**
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Neil Diamond by David Wild
Fables Vol. 5: The Mean Seasons by Bill Willingham**
Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones*
Zombocalypse Now by Matt Youngmark
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon by Crystal Zevon

*read aloud to my youngest
**graphic novel/comic trade paperback

Books Read In December 2010

01. The Forgotten Army by Brian Minchin
02. Happy Endings by Paul Cornell
03. The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman
04. Paul is Undead by Alan Goldsher

my favourite family boardgames of 2010

just in time for last-minute gift shoppers: here are my top ten family-friendly boardgames for 2010 (listed in order of number-of-plays, not preference. they're all good!)

Infinite City

Players: 2-6

Ages: 8+ (reading required)

Playing Time: ~45mins

Available from: Milsims (backorder)

Gosu

Players: 2-4

Ages: 10+ (reading required)

Playing Time: ~45mins

Available from: Milsims and Games Paradise

Alien Frontiers

Players: 2-4

Ages: 10+ (reading required)

Playing Time: ~60-90mins

Available from: Milsims (backorder - probably not available until April 2011)

Eketorp

Players: 3-6

Ages: 8+ (no reading required)

Playing Time: 45-75mins

Available from: Milsims and Games Paradise

Railways Of The World: The Card Game

Players: 2-4

Ages: 8+ (no reading required)

Playing Time: ~45mins

Available from: Milsims and Games Paradise

Leaping Lemmings

Players: 2-6

Ages: 8+ (reading required)

Playing Time: ~60minutes

Available from: Milsims

Bohnanza

Players: 3-7 (box says 2 but I think it needs at least three, preferably more)

Ages: 8+ (no reading required)

Playing Time: ~45mins

Available from: Unhalfbricking, Games Paradise and Milsims (backorder)

Idol Hands and the Crystal Monkey Skulls

Players: 3-5 (box says 4 but I've played with 5)

Ages: 7+ (no reading required)

Playing Time: ~20mins

Available from: Small Box Games

Samarkand: Routes to Riches

Players: 2-5

Ages: 8+ (no reading required)

Playing Time: ~45-60mins

Available from: Milsims and Games Paradise

Buccaneer

Players: 3-5

Ages: 8+ (no reading required)

Playing Time: ~30mins

Available from: Games Paradise and Milsims (backorder)

Dweebies

Players: 2-6

Ages: 5+ (no reading required)

Playing Time: ~20mins

Available from: Milsims and Games Paradise (backorder)

and if you're looking for something deep and involved, the game to get this year (in my opinion) is:

Dominant Species

Players: 2-6 (not recommended for 2)

Ages: 12+ (my seven-year-old has played with assistance, but he's an experienced boardgamer)

Playing Time: 3-5hrs

Available from: Milsims (backorder)