The best books I've read in 2008 are Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Jeffrey Ford's The Shadow Year. These are amazing, dedicate-your-weekend, up-until-2:00, screw-doing-the-laundry type reads.
Recommended by a woman who reads several novels per week and is, incidentally, starting a new column featuring book recommendations for the Colorado Springs Gazette (look for the column in two weeks):
Horace by George Sand, published in 1841. This book is perfection on pages.
My bookshelves tend to be male-heavy (Philip Roth, Michael Chabon, Ian McEwan, Kazuo Ishiguro, plus lots of early 20th century guy stuff). But I've recently fallen for two great contemporary women writers, both of them witty and darkly humorous: MEG WOLITZER ("The Wife" is her best; also "The Position") and LIONEL SHRIVER ("We Need to Talk About Kevin" was my favorite, also "Post-Birthday World.") None of these are flawless books that will appeal to every reader, but they're all the better for that. They're great books for discussion and contemplation.
I'm still waiting for you all to jump on THE GIFT OF RAIN BANDWAGON - not only literary, Asian, but also a foodie novel - all Moonie's favorite things.
Just started THIS SIDE OF BRIGHTNESS by Colum McCann - outstanding.
Ooh, I would ditto The Curious Tale of The Dog In The Nighttime...but I simply assume you've already read it. I also assume you've read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
Hey, let's hear it for Anita, who I assume is speaking about herself when she describes the person starting a new Colorado Springs book column. Boy, do we need local newspapers to run reviews more than ever! That's great news. She deserves some gourmet cheese just for that.
I just loved THE FEAST OF LOVE by Charles Baxter - many facets of love interwoven, lush prose, and lots of emotional highs and lows. THREE JUNES by Julia Glass was an amazing story as well. She really paints NYC (the area around Columbia) very well. Lots of food refs, too. I still think about Fenno, her MC, and wonder how his bookstore's going and if he finally found love... Peace, Linda
cindy--i bought BLOOD OF FLOWERS; it's one of the books on the pile next to my bed that's trying to kill me.
Anita--you still haven't explained how you finish several novels a week!!
ARL--I know what you mean. I love the boys because they tend to be what's available, prizewinning, and perfect. That means we have to break the girls out by supporting them (and reading them!).
JD--I've read THIS SIDE OF BRIGHTNESS. I don't know anyone else who's read it!! Let me know what you think.
oh my god. i'm not even commenting on anything else. there goes my credit card.
18 comments:
The best books I've read in 2008 are Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Jeffrey Ford's The Shadow Year. These are amazing, dedicate-your-weekend, up-until-2:00, screw-doing-the-laundry type reads.
it's mutual, though! i don't know how many books i've bought because you people went on and on about them.
precie, i'm currently reading WHEN ELEPHANTS DANCE, because you damaged my book budget with your glowing review. it's really, really hard to put down.
moonie, i'd still suggest the blood of flowers by anita amerrezivani. it was one of my top 5 reads last year!
Recommended by a woman who reads several novels per week and is, incidentally, starting a new column featuring book recommendations for the Colorado Springs Gazette (look for the column in two weeks):
Horace by George Sand, published in 1841.
This book is perfection on pages.
My bookshelves tend to be male-heavy (Philip Roth, Michael Chabon, Ian McEwan, Kazuo Ishiguro, plus lots of early 20th century guy stuff). But I've recently fallen for two great contemporary women writers, both of them witty and darkly humorous: MEG WOLITZER ("The Wife" is her best; also "The Position") and LIONEL SHRIVER ("We Need to Talk About Kevin" was my favorite, also "Post-Birthday World.") None of these are flawless books that will appeal to every reader, but they're all the better for that. They're great books for discussion and contemplation.
I'm still waiting for you all to jump on THE GIFT OF RAIN BANDWAGON - not only literary, Asian, but also a foodie novel - all Moonie's favorite things.
Just started THIS SIDE OF BRIGHTNESS by Colum McCann - outstanding.
Happy blogiversary, Moonie!
I'll ditto Andromeda on THE WIFE.
The Curious Tale of The Dog In The Nightime
Anything by Terry Pratchett
Dune
To Say Nothing of the Dog
i second american gods. i <3 NG!
Ooh, I would ditto The Curious Tale of The Dog In The Nighttime...but I simply assume you've already read it. I also assume you've read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
If you haven't, you should.
Hey, let's hear it for Anita, who I assume is speaking about herself when she describes the person starting a new Colorado Springs book column. Boy, do we need local newspapers to run reviews more than ever! That's great news. She deserves some gourmet cheese just for that.
I just loved THE FEAST OF LOVE by Charles Baxter - many facets of love interwoven, lush prose, and lots of emotional highs and lows. THREE JUNES by Julia Glass was an amazing story as well. She really paints NYC (the area around Columbia) very well. Lots of food refs, too. I still think about Fenno, her MC, and wonder how his bookstore's going and if he finally found love... Peace, Linda
um...mine?
I love Patricia Wood's The Lottery!
Yes - I am sucking up to Orion.
:o)
But I do! I loved that book!
Oh I loved When Elephants Dance! I absolutely adored that book! I think I reviewed it too!
And Silk = too beautiful for words. You must read it if you haven't yet.
DIVISADERO, Michael Ondaatje. You can't put it down AND it's a literary masterpiece.
cindy--i bought BLOOD OF FLOWERS; it's one of the books on the pile next to my bed that's trying to kill me.
Anita--you still haven't explained how you finish several novels a week!!
ARL--I know what you mean. I love the boys because they tend to be what's available, prizewinning, and perfect. That means we have to break the girls out by supporting them (and reading them!).
JD--I've read THIS SIDE OF BRIGHTNESS. I don't know anyone else who's read it!! Let me know what you think.
oh my god. i'm not even commenting on anything else. there goes my credit card.
GOULD'S BOOK OF FISH By Richard Flanagan
The best book I have EVER read! Magic brilliance.
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