I managed to read 81 books - averaging 1.56 books a week, 10 more books than last year's total. It is much harder to keep up with the new releases working at a used bookstore, but I still read Publisher's Weekly every week and have been able to stay abreast of some of the best that way. The upside of working at Half-Price is that I see some fascinating titles come across the counter in buys, and lots of books that I have not thought of for many years.
1. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. An amazing and beautifully written novel about two young people in Europe before and during WWII. One a blind French girl and the other a German electronics genius whose lives eventually intersect. The language in this book was just amazing, I could picture every scene in my head as I read it and there are some that are still clear in my memory several months later. And when I finished the book I had a feeling of joy at how wonderful a story it was, as well as being devastated by the ending. It was nominated for the National Book Award and I was glad to see it show up on several of the "Best Of" lists at the end of the year.
2. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. The author of "The Secret Life of Bees" has written an excellent historical novel told through the eyes of two Charleston, South Carolina women in the early 1800s - one white and one black. Loosely based on the life of Sarah Grimke, an abolitionist and proponent of women's rights. At the age of 11, she was presented with Hetty, a slave of about the same age and the book follows their lives together and separately over the next 30 years. One of the things that I really liked about it was that Sarah is not a likable character at the beginning of the book, but over the years becomes more sympathetic, even if not ever becoming totally likable. This is a moving, beautifully written book that takes us deep into the lives of these two women and their feelings about each other and the world that surrounds them.
3. Frog Music by Emma Donoghue. Emma Donoghue's "Room" was one of my favorite books of 2010. Surprisingly, this historical novel is even better. It is based on an actual murder of an eccentric woman in 1876 San Francisco. The book is at times brutal, but the story is fascinating and I cared deeply for the characters. Donoghue uses songs of the era to give the book an authentic feel and I found the information at the end of the book about these songs very interesting. This is an outstanding read.
4. In the Kingdom of the Ice by Hampton Sides. Easily my best non-fiction read of the year. An amazing true tale of adventure and survival in the Arctic in the late 1870s. It was believed at that time that the North Pole was surrounded by an unfrozen sea. George DeLong led a US Navy expedition to sail there. His ship became stuck in the ice for more than a year and then sank. His men had to set out in small boats and then on foot to reach safety in Siberia. The story of how the crew handled this and other obstacles is thrilling and moving.
5. Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. This is an absolutely bizarre book that was the most fun I had reading a book this year. Two teenage boys in Iowa set loose a biological agent that creates 6 foot tall praying mantises that only want to eat (preferably humans) and reproduce. Our hero, Austin, loves his girlfriend, but is worried that he may be in love with his best friend Robby too. Andy and Robby have to team up to find secrets that will bring down the mantises. The book is hard to describe but well worth reading. Sony Pictures has hired Edgar Wright to direct what could be a hell of a fun film.
6. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. An amazing literary look at the end of the world that is set both immediately before and 15 years after a disease has wiped out 90% of humanity. Most of the story is told though the eyes of the members of a traveling troupe that performs Shakespeare & classical music for survivors in small villages in the Midwest. The Symphony has a motto, taken from an episode of “Star Trek: Voyager,” “Survival is insufficient,”. Both lyrical and gut-wrenching, this novel was on the long list for the National Book Award.
7. Tigerman by Nick Harkaway. A fascinating look at how a costumed superhero might work in the real world. A semi-retired British sergeant is assigned as consul to an island nation that may be destroyed in a natural disaster at any moment. He becomes Tigerman in order to try and keep order on the island. Harkaway is an amazing writer, and while "The Gone-Away World" is still my favorite of his books, this one is a fantastic read.
8. Closed Doors by Lisa O'Donnell. An excellent new novel by Lisa O'Donnell, author of "The Death of Bees", which was my favorite book in 2013. Michael is an 11 year old boy living in a remote Scottish village. After an attack on a family member, he must keep a secret that no child should have to keep. Michael is a great character and has a wonderful voice. I didn't always believe in some of the actions that the adults took, but Michael always rang true.
9. I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes. An absolutely engrossing, fast moving thriller. It features a retired agent that is drawn into a case when a terrorist is found to have a terrible weapon. There are several different storylines going on at once, but all were fascinating. At 600 pages, it is a bit long, but for me, it never lagged. This is an author to watch out for.
10. The Painter by Terry Hayes. Another beautifully written novel from the author of "The Dog Stars", my favorite book of 2012. "The Painter" isn't quite that good, but I still was sucked in from the very beginning. Jim Stegner is a successful artist living in Colorado with a past - years ago he shot and almost killed a man who threatened his daughter. Now he has a violent run in with another rancher and his personal life starts to come apart. The ending of the book wasn't quite what I expected, but I am not sure where the author could have gone with it.
Other books that I loved this year were "Shovel Ready" by Adam Sternbergh (a thriller set in a partially abandoned NYC after it is hit by a dirty bomb), "The Dark Road To Mercy" by Wiley Cash (he turns out amazing Southern stories), "The Serpent of Venice" by Christopher Moore (a wonderful mash-up of Othello, The Merchant of Venice, and several other bits & pieces), "The Silkworm" by Robert Galbraith (second in a series of mysteries by J.K. Rowling), and "Eleanor & Park" and "Fangirl" both by Rainbow Rowell (a top notch young adult author).
And finally, the book that I most disliked this year - "Missing You" by Harlan Coben. I have read and enjoyed several stand alone Coben titles (but have never tried the Myron Bolitar series), but this title just struck me as stupid. The book has an interesting premise, but the characters are so stupid and there are so many outlandish plot twists that by the end I just didn't care. I talked to others that enjoyed it, so it may not have been a bad book, but I felt like throwing it across the room by the time I finished it.
Monday, December 29, 2014
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Some Favorites So Far
Here are a few of the books that I have really enjoyed the first 4 months of the year. Several of them were on my most anticipated books of the year, always a good thing, but there were a few surprises too.
1. The Invention Of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. This is an excellent historical novel told through the eyes of two Charleston, South Carolina women in the early 1800s - one white and one black. Loosely based on the life of Sarah Grimke, an abolitionist and proponent of women's rights. At the age of 11, she was presented with Hetty, a slave of about the same age and this book follows their life together and separately over the next several decades. One of the things that I really liked about it was that Sarah is not a likable character at the beginning of the book, but over the years becomes more sympathetic, even if not ever becoming totally likable. A moving, beautifully written book.
2. The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore. An excellent sequel to "The Fool", one of Moore's very best books. Here the author brings the Fool from "King Lear" into a mash-up of "The Merchant of Venice", "Othello", and "The Cask of Amontillado" to an absolutely hilarious end. It shouldn't work, but it does. It is bawdy, laugh out loud funny, and a great adventure story.
3. Frog Music by Emma Donoghue. Emma Donoghue's "Room" was on of my favorite books of 2010. Surprisingly, this historical novel is even better! It is based on an actual murder of an eccentric woman in 1876 San Francisco, The book is at times brutal, but the story is fascinating and I cared deeply for the characters. Donoghue uses songs of the era to give the book an authentic feel and I found the information at the end of the book about these songs very interesting. This is an outstanding book, my favorite so far in 2014.
4. Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. This is an absolutely bizarre young adult book that I loved reading. Two teenage boys in Iowa set loose a biological agent that creates 6 foot tall praying mantises that only want to eat (preferably humans) and reproduce. Austin knows he is in love with his girlfriend, but is worried that he may be in love with his best friend Robby too. The interaction between Austin and Robby is great and rings true. The book is hard to describe but well worth reading.
5. Closed Doors by Lisa O'Donnell. An excellent new novel by Lisa O'Donnell, author of "The Death of Bees", which was my favorite book in 2013. Michael is an 11 year old boy living in a remote Scottish village. After an attack on a family member, he must keep a secret that no child should have to. Michael is a great character and has a wonderful voice. I didn't always believe in what some of the actions that the adults took, but Michael always rang true.
6. Tigerman by Nick Harkaway. Fascinating look at how a costumed superhero might work in the real world. A semi-retired British sergeant is assigned as consul to an island nation that may be destroyed in a natural disaster at any moment. He becomes Tigerman in order to try and keep order on the island. Harkaway is an amazing writer, and while "The Gone-Away World" is still my favorite of his books, this one is a fantastic read!
1. The Invention Of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. This is an excellent historical novel told through the eyes of two Charleston, South Carolina women in the early 1800s - one white and one black. Loosely based on the life of Sarah Grimke, an abolitionist and proponent of women's rights. At the age of 11, she was presented with Hetty, a slave of about the same age and this book follows their life together and separately over the next several decades. One of the things that I really liked about it was that Sarah is not a likable character at the beginning of the book, but over the years becomes more sympathetic, even if not ever becoming totally likable. A moving, beautifully written book.
2. The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore. An excellent sequel to "The Fool", one of Moore's very best books. Here the author brings the Fool from "King Lear" into a mash-up of "The Merchant of Venice", "Othello", and "The Cask of Amontillado" to an absolutely hilarious end. It shouldn't work, but it does. It is bawdy, laugh out loud funny, and a great adventure story.
3. Frog Music by Emma Donoghue. Emma Donoghue's "Room" was on of my favorite books of 2010. Surprisingly, this historical novel is even better! It is based on an actual murder of an eccentric woman in 1876 San Francisco, The book is at times brutal, but the story is fascinating and I cared deeply for the characters. Donoghue uses songs of the era to give the book an authentic feel and I found the information at the end of the book about these songs very interesting. This is an outstanding book, my favorite so far in 2014.
4. Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. This is an absolutely bizarre young adult book that I loved reading. Two teenage boys in Iowa set loose a biological agent that creates 6 foot tall praying mantises that only want to eat (preferably humans) and reproduce. Austin knows he is in love with his girlfriend, but is worried that he may be in love with his best friend Robby too. The interaction between Austin and Robby is great and rings true. The book is hard to describe but well worth reading.
5. Closed Doors by Lisa O'Donnell. An excellent new novel by Lisa O'Donnell, author of "The Death of Bees", which was my favorite book in 2013. Michael is an 11 year old boy living in a remote Scottish village. After an attack on a family member, he must keep a secret that no child should have to. Michael is a great character and has a wonderful voice. I didn't always believe in what some of the actions that the adults took, but Michael always rang true.
6. Tigerman by Nick Harkaway. Fascinating look at how a costumed superhero might work in the real world. A semi-retired British sergeant is assigned as consul to an island nation that may be destroyed in a natural disaster at any moment. He becomes Tigerman in order to try and keep order on the island. Harkaway is an amazing writer, and while "The Gone-Away World" is still my favorite of his books, this one is a fantastic read!
Saturday, January 25, 2014
10 Most Anticipated Books of 2014
Here are a few of the books that I am most looking forward to in 2014. These all come out in the first 6-7 months of the year, so there are probably some exciting titles coming out later in the year that I just haven't seen any info on yet. In chronological order (but dates can change):
1. This Dark Road To Mercy by Wiley Cash (January). Cash's A Land More Kind Than Home was on of my 10 favorite books of 2012. This is his newest book, about 2 young sisters in North Carolina. They are in a foster home after their mother dies, when their wayward father come looking for them.
2. Roosevelt's Beast by Louis Bayard (March). A fictionalized account of one of Teddy Roosevelt's expeditions into the Amazon jungle in 1914. Teddy's son Kermit is sent along to keep any eye on his boisterous and sometimes reckless father. Bayard wrote Mr. Timothy and The Pale Blue Eye, both of which I enjoyed very much.
3. Sleep Donation by Karen Russell (March). This is just a novella, but with a fascinating premise. Sleep Donation explores a world suffering an insomnia epidemic where the healthy donate sleep to those that are suffering. Russell wrote the Pulitzer Prize nominated Swamplandia, a riveting read.
4. Frog Music by Emma Donoghue (April). From the author of the amazing Room, comes this historical thriller set in 1876 San Francisco. Based on a real life murder in the gold rush boomtown, Frog Music is described as a "lyrical tale of love and bloodshed among lowlifes captures the pulse of a boom town like no other."
5. The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore (April). One of the books I am most excited about! Moore's novel Fool, was a look at King Lear from the viewpoint of the court jester. It borrowed characters and lines from other Shakespeare plays and is hilariously bawdy. In this sequel, the Fool is dropped into a mash up of Othello, The Merchant of Venice, and The Cask of Amontillado.
6. Closed Doors by Lisa O'Donnell (May). The Death of Bees by O'Donnell was my favorite book last year. In this new thriller by her, a boy on a Scottish island where everyone knows everything about everyone else, will discover that a secret is a dangerous thing. It has already been released in Britain to mixed reviews, but I am looking forward to it.
7. The Painter by Peter Heller (May). The second novel by Peter Heller, author of the fantastic "The Dog Stars". The plot of this one, an artist trying to outrun his troubled past, doesn't thrill me, but Heller's first novel was my favorite book of 2012 so I will give the benefit of the doubt.
8. Amanda by Ernest Cline (July). More science fiction from the author of "Ready, Player One", sign me up. The book description reads "Zack Lightman is daydreaming through another dull math class when the high-tech dropship lands in his school's courtyard-and when the men in the dark suits and sunglasses leap out of the ship and start calling his name, he's sure he's still dreaming."
9. Tigerman by Nick Harkaway (July). Both of Harkaway's novels defy being lumped into any genre, they remind me more of Douglas Adams' books than anything else. "Tigerman" concerns a burnt out British Army sergeant sent to serve out his time on a shady former British colony.
10. Lock In by John Scalzi (August). John Scalzi won the Hugo last year for "Redshirts", a funny sci-fi thriller, but not one of my favorite books. He is an author that likes to experiment with different styles of writing and types of publishing. His new book is set in the near future when a virus spreads across the Earth, afflicting 5% of the population adversely.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Top 10 Books of 2013
I had a good year of reading, but the holidays were rough with the closing of another bookstore. I read 71 books - averaging 1.36 books a week, one book more than last year. I read three excellent books this year, it was difficult to choose just number one.
1. The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell. I read this book in January, but it has stayed at the forefront of my mind all year long. It is an absolutely fantastic book about two girls living in Scotland. When their no account parents die, they bury them in the backyard to avoid being taken away and possibly split up by the authorities. They end up forming a quasi-family with a ostracized old man who lives in the neighborhood. Neither of the girls is very likable, but you can't help but root for them. Very dark at times, but I really cared about these people. Sadly, while this book was well reviewed when it came out, I did not see it on any "Best Of" lists at the end of the year.
2. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. This is a book that I like more now then when I finished it. Long after putting it down, I kept thinking about it and it kept growing on me. It tells the story of a British woman who's life keeps rebooting when she dies. She remembers little bits of her previous lives, but vaguely realizes that she is moving towards an unknown goal. Because of the repetitive nature of the rebooting, the book is a little hard to get into, but it is a beautifully told tale and well worth the trip it talks you on. This was one of the best reviewed books of the year, finishing at the top of several best of lists.
3. The Son by Philipp Meyer. An exceptional story of several generations of a Texas family. Eli, the first white child born in the new Republic of Texas, is captured by the Comanche at the age of 13. The book follows his adventures with them and then his later life as a Texas Ranger and a cattleman. We also follow the story of his son, Peter, and Jeannie, Eli's great-granddaughter, a woman trying to prove herself in the oil business. The scenes with the Comanche and then the Texas Rangers are the most exciting, but the story never lets up, keeping you involved throughout. Peter & Jeannie's stories are not as exciting as Eli's, but they tell a fascinating story of how Texans dealt with hardships, both natural and man made. Reminiscent of James Michener in scope, but Meyer is a better storyteller.
4. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. Wonderfully comic love story about a scientist with high functioning Asperger's that sets out to find a wife using compatibility questionnaires. Rosie Jarman comes into his life to assist with the project, she is “the world’s most incompatible woman . . . late, vegetarian, disorganized, irrational”. The story manages to be touching and laugh out loud funny at the same time. The main character reminded me of Sheldon from "The Big Bang Theory", but I kept picturing Benedict Cumberbatch in the role. Highly recommended.
5. The Martian by Andy Weir. Excellent story of an astronaut scientist marooned on Mars. Mark Watney is left behind by the rest of his crew in an emergency when they believe him dead. He has to figure out ways to stay alive as long as he can, first minute by minute and eventually day by day. The story is mostly told in his log entries. First a great survival story, what make it really special is the resourcefulness and the engineering Watney uses to make it through each day. I loved the characters and the story. This was an advance copy that I received from Crown Publishing and will be released February 11, 2014.
6. The Ocean At the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. I am oh so late to the Neil Gaiman bandwagon. I have never tried him before this year, and I am kicking myself for it. I still have a ways to go, but have read three of his works this year. This was by far the best of them. It is a beautiful, moving tale of a boy who makes a very special friend in rural England. This is a short fantasy tale, but it really packs an emotional punch. More than anything it is about the things we experienced as children and what happens to those memories as we grow older. I have fond memories of several books that I read this year, but scenes from this one pop into my head at random times and make me very happy or melancholy.
7. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. This young adult novel started a little slow, but just kept getting better and better. It is the story of two girls in WWII England, one a transport pilot and one who works in intelligence. One of the girls is captured and interrogated by the Germans. Much like with "The Book Thief", I was surprised that this title was marketed for young adults. This adventure kept me on the edge of my seat and had me laughing out loud and in tears at times. It is an amazing story of friendship, highly recommend it and I think it would make an excellent film.
8. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. A wonderful, magical book and one that I should have read years ago. Two very good, literary friends have recommended it over the years, but I always passed until now. This is a book for book lovers, it tells the story of a beloved, but mysterious author finally telling her life story to a bookseller. The story has a fine Gothic feeling to it, it is a wonderful book to get lost in.
9. The Thicket by Joe Lansdale. Very entertaining thriller set in East Texas in the early 1900s. In a vicious attack, 16 year old Jack sees his grandfather killed and his younger sister abducted. He enlists the help of a gravedigger and a bounty hunting dwarf to try to track down the men who did it. The story moves quickly with equal parts laugh out loud humor and hard core violence, in other words, typical Joe Lansdale. One of the most fun reads of the year.
10. NOS4A2 - Joe Hill. This was a very good year for the King family. Had I picked the 20 best books, Stephen King ("Dr. Sleep") and his sons, Joe Hill ("NOS4A2") & Owen King ("Double Feature") would have all had books on the list. But this an epic horror novel about a woman trying to hunt down a mysterious man who takes children. Charlie Manx is a villain that could take on Pennywise the Clown or any of Stephen King's great bad guys. This is a book that will change the way you look at cheap Christmas decorations forever.
Other book that I loved this year were "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck (read it for the first time this year), "A Higher Call" by Adam Makos (my favorite non-fiction of the year), "The Cuckoo's Calling" by J.K. Rowling (proof for me that she can easily move beyond Harry Potter), and "The Supremes at Earl's All You Can Eat Diner" by Edward Kelsey Moore (good Southern fiction in the vein of Fannie Flagg or Joshilyn Jackson).
And finally, the book that I just despised this year - "The Dinner" by Herman Koch. This book was well reviewed and a moderate bestseller, but I just felt dirty reading it. It is a Dutch book about two couples having dinner in a fancy restaurant. They are there to discuss something dark that has happened in their life. I saw a review comparing it to "Gone Girl', but it was nothing like that. Very slow moving and very little excitement. Almost gave up a couple of time, but made it through the whole thing.
I am looking forward to reading more wonderful books in 2014, but not sure what kind of year it will be. For the first time in 24 years, I may not be selling books...
1. The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell. I read this book in January, but it has stayed at the forefront of my mind all year long. It is an absolutely fantastic book about two girls living in Scotland. When their no account parents die, they bury them in the backyard to avoid being taken away and possibly split up by the authorities. They end up forming a quasi-family with a ostracized old man who lives in the neighborhood. Neither of the girls is very likable, but you can't help but root for them. Very dark at times, but I really cared about these people. Sadly, while this book was well reviewed when it came out, I did not see it on any "Best Of" lists at the end of the year.
2. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. This is a book that I like more now then when I finished it. Long after putting it down, I kept thinking about it and it kept growing on me. It tells the story of a British woman who's life keeps rebooting when she dies. She remembers little bits of her previous lives, but vaguely realizes that she is moving towards an unknown goal. Because of the repetitive nature of the rebooting, the book is a little hard to get into, but it is a beautifully told tale and well worth the trip it talks you on. This was one of the best reviewed books of the year, finishing at the top of several best of lists.
3. The Son by Philipp Meyer. An exceptional story of several generations of a Texas family. Eli, the first white child born in the new Republic of Texas, is captured by the Comanche at the age of 13. The book follows his adventures with them and then his later life as a Texas Ranger and a cattleman. We also follow the story of his son, Peter, and Jeannie, Eli's great-granddaughter, a woman trying to prove herself in the oil business. The scenes with the Comanche and then the Texas Rangers are the most exciting, but the story never lets up, keeping you involved throughout. Peter & Jeannie's stories are not as exciting as Eli's, but they tell a fascinating story of how Texans dealt with hardships, both natural and man made. Reminiscent of James Michener in scope, but Meyer is a better storyteller.
4. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. Wonderfully comic love story about a scientist with high functioning Asperger's that sets out to find a wife using compatibility questionnaires. Rosie Jarman comes into his life to assist with the project, she is “the world’s most incompatible woman . . . late, vegetarian, disorganized, irrational”. The story manages to be touching and laugh out loud funny at the same time. The main character reminded me of Sheldon from "The Big Bang Theory", but I kept picturing Benedict Cumberbatch in the role. Highly recommended.
5. The Martian by Andy Weir. Excellent story of an astronaut scientist marooned on Mars. Mark Watney is left behind by the rest of his crew in an emergency when they believe him dead. He has to figure out ways to stay alive as long as he can, first minute by minute and eventually day by day. The story is mostly told in his log entries. First a great survival story, what make it really special is the resourcefulness and the engineering Watney uses to make it through each day. I loved the characters and the story. This was an advance copy that I received from Crown Publishing and will be released February 11, 2014.
6. The Ocean At the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. I am oh so late to the Neil Gaiman bandwagon. I have never tried him before this year, and I am kicking myself for it. I still have a ways to go, but have read three of his works this year. This was by far the best of them. It is a beautiful, moving tale of a boy who makes a very special friend in rural England. This is a short fantasy tale, but it really packs an emotional punch. More than anything it is about the things we experienced as children and what happens to those memories as we grow older. I have fond memories of several books that I read this year, but scenes from this one pop into my head at random times and make me very happy or melancholy.
7. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. This young adult novel started a little slow, but just kept getting better and better. It is the story of two girls in WWII England, one a transport pilot and one who works in intelligence. One of the girls is captured and interrogated by the Germans. Much like with "The Book Thief", I was surprised that this title was marketed for young adults. This adventure kept me on the edge of my seat and had me laughing out loud and in tears at times. It is an amazing story of friendship, highly recommend it and I think it would make an excellent film.
8. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. A wonderful, magical book and one that I should have read years ago. Two very good, literary friends have recommended it over the years, but I always passed until now. This is a book for book lovers, it tells the story of a beloved, but mysterious author finally telling her life story to a bookseller. The story has a fine Gothic feeling to it, it is a wonderful book to get lost in.
9. The Thicket by Joe Lansdale. Very entertaining thriller set in East Texas in the early 1900s. In a vicious attack, 16 year old Jack sees his grandfather killed and his younger sister abducted. He enlists the help of a gravedigger and a bounty hunting dwarf to try to track down the men who did it. The story moves quickly with equal parts laugh out loud humor and hard core violence, in other words, typical Joe Lansdale. One of the most fun reads of the year.
10. NOS4A2 - Joe Hill. This was a very good year for the King family. Had I picked the 20 best books, Stephen King ("Dr. Sleep") and his sons, Joe Hill ("NOS4A2") & Owen King ("Double Feature") would have all had books on the list. But this an epic horror novel about a woman trying to hunt down a mysterious man who takes children. Charlie Manx is a villain that could take on Pennywise the Clown or any of Stephen King's great bad guys. This is a book that will change the way you look at cheap Christmas decorations forever.
Other book that I loved this year were "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck (read it for the first time this year), "A Higher Call" by Adam Makos (my favorite non-fiction of the year), "The Cuckoo's Calling" by J.K. Rowling (proof for me that she can easily move beyond Harry Potter), and "The Supremes at Earl's All You Can Eat Diner" by Edward Kelsey Moore (good Southern fiction in the vein of Fannie Flagg or Joshilyn Jackson).
And finally, the book that I just despised this year - "The Dinner" by Herman Koch. This book was well reviewed and a moderate bestseller, but I just felt dirty reading it. It is a Dutch book about two couples having dinner in a fancy restaurant. They are there to discuss something dark that has happened in their life. I saw a review comparing it to "Gone Girl', but it was nothing like that. Very slow moving and very little excitement. Almost gave up a couple of time, but made it through the whole thing.
I am looking forward to reading more wonderful books in 2014, but not sure what kind of year it will be. For the first time in 24 years, I may not be selling books...
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Short Reviews
2. The Dinner by Herman Koch (1/5). I can't recommend this one at all. It is a Dutch book about two couples having dinner in a fancy restaurant. They are there to discuss something dark that has happened in their life involving their children. I saw a review comparing it to "Gone Girl', but it was nothing like that. Very slow moving and very little excitement with absolutely loathsome characters. Almost gave up a couple of time, but made it through the whole thing.
4. Suspect by Robert Crais (4/5). This is a thriller about a Marine bomb sniffing dog that is wounded in Afghanistan and suffers from PTSD upon his return to the states. He is paired with an equally damaged LA cop and trained to become part of the K9 unit. Both of them have lost partners and are struggling to find their way back. Story is sometimes told through the cop's eyes and sometimes through the dog's eyes.
6. Wise Men by Stuart Nadler (4/5). "Wise Men" is a very good read following a father and son through different stages of their lives. Broken into 3 parts, the first and final sections are much better then the middle. Somewhat reminiscent of John Irving, it starts as a coming of age story but ends up looking at the young man's whole life. And while I know it is being nitpicky, there was a historical error in the first paragraph that really bothered me throughout the book. But otherwise the book featured good writing and quite interesting characters.
7. The Third Gate by Lincoln Child (2/5). Silly thriller about the excavation of a pharaoh's secret tomb in Africa. The expedition suffers numerous setbacks and deaths. Is it the curse of the pharaoh or just sabotage? Just good enough to keep my reading, but even with total suspension of disbelief, it did not pay off.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
The Death of Bees
by Lisa O'Donnell
2012 Harper
Rating 5/5
"Today is Christmas Eve. Today is my birthday. Today I am fifteen. Today I buried my parents in the backyard. Neither of them were beloved."
This is the way "The Death of Bees" starts, and Lisa O'Donnell manages to carry on that intensity to the very last page. Marnie and her 11 year old sister Nelly are on their own after hiding their parent's bodies after their mysterious deaths. Set in a dark, dirty, and almost always wet part of Glasgow, this story is told in the alternating voices of Marnie, Nelly, and Lennie, the lonely old gay man who lives next door. The sisters hide the bodies to avoid being taken away and separated by the welfare system. Their parents were drug addicts that did not provide for them and often left them alone for days at a time. Both girls are very bright - Marnie gets straight As and Nelly is a prodigy on the violin, but both are damaged. Marnie drinks vodka, sells drug, and has sex with an older man. Nelly wakes up screaming and has no friends at school. But they work hard to protect each other.
Lennie notices that the parents aren't around anymore and thinks that the sisters have been abandoned. He tries to offer them help and they form a very strange family unit. This book is very dark and sometimes hard to read, but I cared so much for these characters. "The Death of Bees" is definitely my first Best of 2013 book and I can't wait to see what Lisa O'Donnell does next.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Top Ten Books of 2012
Made it through another retail Christmas (my 22nd!). So it must be time for another year end roundup. 2012 was another wonderful year of
reading for me, I read 70 books - averaging 1.35 books a week, just a touch behind last year's average. You can click on the title of some of the books to see
my original review.
1. The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. I knew this was something special almost as soon as I started it. What propelled it to my number one spot is the fact that even now, 4 months after I finished it, parts of the book are still with me. I find myself wanting to be fishing, walking through the woods with a great companion, or flying in a small plane. The Dog Stars tells the story of a man struggling to survive in a world where 99% of the population was wiped out a decade earlier. The writing in this book is beautiful and took me away to another place - the biggest thing I ask for in a book.
2. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield. A wonderful piece of Southern literature by an excellent new writer. Highly recommended to me by one coworker and one former coworker, I am so glad that I listened to them. The girl in this book, Swan Lake, is a worthy successor to Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird.
3. The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson. The first really good book this year and my favorite for a good chunk of the year. A fascinating look at the life of a young man in North Korea. This is a culture we know so little about and Johnson really brings it to life in this sometimes horrifying and sometimes hilarious tale.
4. Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo. Easily the best nonfiction I read this year, this is devastating look at life in a Mumbai slum won the National Book Award this year. The author spent 3 years researching this book, conducting numerous interviews with the subjects. They really come alive and are people you deeply care for.
5. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. Quite possibly the funniest book I have ever read, this is the memoir of The Bloggess, a woman who grew up in a small Texas town. The only book on this list I have read twice - once to myself and the second time aloud to my wife over a period of time. Please read this book!
6. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. A beautifully lyrical story of a retired British man that sets off to walk across the country to visit an old acquaintance dying of cancer. Has some of the feel of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society".
7. Wonder by R.J. Palacio. This wonderful children's book about a physically deformed boy entering the 5th grade made me laugh and cry.
8. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I love mysteries and thrillers, probably my favorite genre. I read a lot of them and all too many of the new authors I try are formulaic. That is why it was exciting to come across this book which felt fresh and original, albeit very dark.
9. The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker. Excellent story of a young girl coming of age during a time when the earth's rotation is slowing down. Days are becoming much longer, throwing off, people, animals, and crops. The book keeps a steady hand moving between her concerns with life as a 12 year old girl and dealing with the possible end of the world.
10. A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash. Very good Southern fiction about a group of people in a small community in the Carolinas. After a boy dies during a church service, the investigation into it reveals many secrets, some long buried. Great characters kept me glued to this story.
A few honorable mentions: "Where's You Go Bernadette?" by Maria Semple, "The Twelve" by Justin Cronin, "The Gods of Gotham" by Lynsday Faye, "Heft" by Liz Moore, "Telegraph Avenue" by Michael Chabon, "Among Others" by Jo Walton. And a nod to the most disappointing book of the year for me - "The Red House" by Mark Haddon. It may not have been the worst book I read this year, but it was close and I had it on my list of my most anticipated books of 2012.
And to wrap it up, a little pat on the back for myself. I know I am not much a of a writer, but I do enjoy sharing my thoughts on books. The publishing site Edelweiss chose my review for Telegraph Avenue as one of their featured reviews on the book. Almost like being published! :)
1. The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. I knew this was something special almost as soon as I started it. What propelled it to my number one spot is the fact that even now, 4 months after I finished it, parts of the book are still with me. I find myself wanting to be fishing, walking through the woods with a great companion, or flying in a small plane. The Dog Stars tells the story of a man struggling to survive in a world where 99% of the population was wiped out a decade earlier. The writing in this book is beautiful and took me away to another place - the biggest thing I ask for in a book.
2. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield. A wonderful piece of Southern literature by an excellent new writer. Highly recommended to me by one coworker and one former coworker, I am so glad that I listened to them. The girl in this book, Swan Lake, is a worthy successor to Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird.
3. The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson. The first really good book this year and my favorite for a good chunk of the year. A fascinating look at the life of a young man in North Korea. This is a culture we know so little about and Johnson really brings it to life in this sometimes horrifying and sometimes hilarious tale.
4. Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo. Easily the best nonfiction I read this year, this is devastating look at life in a Mumbai slum won the National Book Award this year. The author spent 3 years researching this book, conducting numerous interviews with the subjects. They really come alive and are people you deeply care for.
5. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. Quite possibly the funniest book I have ever read, this is the memoir of The Bloggess, a woman who grew up in a small Texas town. The only book on this list I have read twice - once to myself and the second time aloud to my wife over a period of time. Please read this book!
6. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. A beautifully lyrical story of a retired British man that sets off to walk across the country to visit an old acquaintance dying of cancer. Has some of the feel of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society".
7. Wonder by R.J. Palacio. This wonderful children's book about a physically deformed boy entering the 5th grade made me laugh and cry.
8. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I love mysteries and thrillers, probably my favorite genre. I read a lot of them and all too many of the new authors I try are formulaic. That is why it was exciting to come across this book which felt fresh and original, albeit very dark.
9. The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker. Excellent story of a young girl coming of age during a time when the earth's rotation is slowing down. Days are becoming much longer, throwing off, people, animals, and crops. The book keeps a steady hand moving between her concerns with life as a 12 year old girl and dealing with the possible end of the world.
10. A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash. Very good Southern fiction about a group of people in a small community in the Carolinas. After a boy dies during a church service, the investigation into it reveals many secrets, some long buried. Great characters kept me glued to this story.
A few honorable mentions: "Where's You Go Bernadette?" by Maria Semple, "The Twelve" by Justin Cronin, "The Gods of Gotham" by Lynsday Faye, "Heft" by Liz Moore, "Telegraph Avenue" by Michael Chabon, "Among Others" by Jo Walton. And a nod to the most disappointing book of the year for me - "The Red House" by Mark Haddon. It may not have been the worst book I read this year, but it was close and I had it on my list of my most anticipated books of 2012.
And to wrap it up, a little pat on the back for myself. I know I am not much a of a writer, but I do enjoy sharing my thoughts on books. The publishing site Edelweiss chose my review for Telegraph Avenue as one of their featured reviews on the book. Almost like being published! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)