Technical Writing Sucks the Creative out of Me (2007 Books Part I)

I've been doing a lot of writing at work the past month or so, consequently I rarely really write on here anymore. Oh well, I get paid to write policy and guidance...This blog doesn't pay too much. Anyway, here's part of a review of the books I read in 2007. The way I'm going, I'll finish this list in June, but here's a part of it. Notice how it's written in Department of Interior technical format.

For the past couple of years, I've kept track of the books I've read that year. I do this mostly so I remember what I read. My memory of keeping track of books I've read is bad enough that I really don't remember a couple of this books hardly. I know I’m missing books. Which ones, I couldn’t tell you.

Peace like a river by Leif Enger. Debut books by authors are sometimes iffy, this one is a gem. Two of the main characters echo the two children in To Kill a Mockingbird, but its just a distant echo. This coming of age book was one I’d recommend to anyone.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. Dan Brown used to be my most loathed living writer. Stephanie Meyer currently holds the title. Between her shabby writing, plot structure and plotting, character development, imagery etc. Dan Brown has been bested.
Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer. See above. I will give Ms. Meyer one thing. The character of Jacob. He’s alright.
New Moon by Stephanie Meyer. See above. This trilogy, oh how I loathe thee. Oh Bella how I loathe thee more.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. An example of a thriller that both Dan Brown and Stephanie Meyer can only dream of writing. An intelligent, fun, well-crafted vampire hunting story. This one I’d recommend to anyone who wants to read a well-written and extremely thoroughly researched book. The last 50 pages drag a little, but its still well worth the read.
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards. The first 50-75 pages were very well written. The problem is that there is about 250 pages to this book. Definitely popular fiction, but a little more than mediocre read. The premise is fascinating but I had the feeling the author painted herself into a corner and the way she got out of it wasn’t that believable.
Sophie’s Choice by William Styron. Mesmerizing. Stunning. A true American Masterpiece. The brutal, complex, story of Stingo and his telling of Nathan and Sophie. A dear, dear, read.
The Tie that Binds by Kent Haruf. Haruf is a treasure I found this year. He writes what he knows, which is small-town Eastern Colorado. All of his books I’ve read of his so far (and I believe I’ve read them all now) are set in the same little town. He writes sparingly in a style that vaguely echoes Cormac McCarthy (more or less without the brutal violence) but his true talent lies in character development. The Tie that Binds is ultimately about the price the family farm can exact on a family when the patriarch considers the farm the most important possession in the family. The story resonated with my mother especially.
Where You Once Belonged by Kent Haruf. Up until the last 50 pages of this book, I enjoyed this story about a former high school football star whose actions were tolerated but never really addressed by the townspeople. Before the ending, I considered this book the weakest of Haruf’s books (its his first, I believe) but now, I’m still haunted by this one. This was his first book, and although he’s since honed his writing voice, the strong character development is there, as is at moments the simple, profound moments.