Book
More Information Than You Require by John Hodgman
Synopsis
John Hodgman got famous from “The Daily Show” and those Apple ads and also he’s friends with Jonathan Coulton. (Actually: a continuation of his almanac of made-up facts, begun in The Areas of My Expertise).
Dismaying Fact Discovered
Hodgman is only 24 days older than I am.
Pros
Plenty of inspired bits [...]

Book
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Synopsis
The Jungle Book for goth kids.
No, the Real Synopsis
After his family is killed, a toddler wanders into the neighboring graveyard. He’s taken in by the residents, raised as one of their own, and taught the ways of the dead.
Pros
Genius concept, interesting and endearing characters, great pacing. Crammed full of clever [...]

There’s no way I’m going to finish my resolution to read 26 books by the end of 2008, but even out of desperation I can’t in good conscience include this book to pad out the list. But it’s still neat enough to be worth an exhibition round.
Book
Yokai Attack!: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide by Hiroko [...]

Book
Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
Synopsis
The history of “the only rock we eat,” and how finding, producing, and transporting it has shaped economies and governments from pre-history to the modern day.
Pros
Extremely well-organized, with short chapters presented in chronological order describing how a particular region and a particular group of people were affected by salt [...]

Book
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Synopsis
A collection of letters sent from the demon Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood, advising the younger demon on the best ways to tempt a human soul away from Christianity to become food for Hell.
Pros
Brilliant concept, with a ton of potential for satire. Has one moment where Lewis really takes advantage [...]

Book
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Synopsis
Originally presented as a series of lectures on BBC Radio during World War II, this book is Lewis’s attempt to describe and defend the fundamental beliefs of Christianity, regardless of any particular church or denomination. It’s presented from the perspective of a former atheist who converted to Christianity, speaking as a [...]

Book
Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire by Mike Mignola & Christopher Golden
Synopsis
On a battlefield late in World War I, allied soldier Lord Baltimore is attacked by a strange bat-like creature. Now, the war is over, but a mysterious plague has spread through all of Europe. Three of Baltimore’s friends are summoned to [...]

Book
Jingo by Terry Pratchett
In a series
21st in the series of Discworld books.
Synopsis
The lost island of Leshp suddenly rises in the middle of the ocean, sparking a war between the nations of Ankh-Morpork and Klatch over ownership of the new land. Sam Vimes and the rest of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch get pulled into the war [...]