My 3 favorite books from 2010

     Happy New Year everybody! Sorry I haven't been keeping up with the posts on a regular basis. The last couple weeks of grad school kicked my butt, and then the last couple weeks have been crazy with work and other stuff. I hope everyone had a great holiday season. Even though 2010 is over, I thought I would share my 3 favorite books that I read in 2010.

3. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
This book follows a modern American family. It is told by different members of that family: the father, mother, daughter, son, in addition to a friend of the family. I must admit, I loved the voices of some characters more than others. I think Patty, the mom, is my favorite, while the family friend, a musician, is my least favorite. There is lots packed into this novel, from trauma, to cheating, good and bad parenting, and conservationism. It's a whopper, coming in at nearly 600 pages.  This book isn't for everyone. I read somewhere that Franzen is an author that writes about "upper middle class white people and their problems". While I can't necessarily disagree with this comment, I must admit I really love his writing style. I also love stories about dysfunctional families, and if you do as well this one is for you.

2. Room by Emma Donoghue
This story is about mother and her son. The son, who is named Jack, is turning 5 at the start of the novel. He is like many other 5 year old boys. He loves to play games, read books, and watch Dora the Explorer. Jack, is different though, in that he has never been in the outside world. Jack and his mother are being held captive by a man, locked away in a large backyard shed. Jack was born in this shed, a place he calls Room. He tells the story, and right from the start it becomes clear he isn't aware that he and his mom are captives. The novel is dark, but it isn't all sad. Jack is a funny, interesting character, with a truly unique perspective. Room is unlike anything else I've read, both in story and stylistically. It was a touching story, and a book I won't soon forget.

1. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Although this book came out in 2009, I didn't read it until this year. It is out in paperback now, and hands down, this was my favorite book of the year. The story follows two twin brothers, orphaned at birth. The brothers are adopted by a midwife at the hospital, and all of the hospital staff helps raise them. The story is set in Ethiopia, starting in the late 50's-early 60's. The story follows them the twins Marion and Shiva through childhood, up to adulthood. I loved the characters, and Verghese also makes the setting (both Ethiopia and the hospital) main characters as well.Verghese is a doctor by profession, and that comes out in his writing right from the beginning. He is a master writer as well. The following quote comes from page 6, and I read this line over and over, before moving on.

 " We come unbidden into this life, and if we are lucky, we find a purpose beyond starvation, misery, and early death which, lest we forgot, is the common lot."

This a must read, especially for those that enjoyed The Kite Runner. Verghese does a fantastic job of taking us to Ethiopia, and I feel like I learned a lot about the country from reading this book. I can't say enough good things about Cutting for Stone, and I urge everyone to pick up a copy. This one had me crying long after I had finished the book, so keep those tissues handy.

I hope you all have a great year filled with lots of good books, and good friends too. Happy reading!

My favorite mystery writer!

     Hello everyone! This week, I thought I would share with you my favorite mystery author. He has a new book, so I thought it would be appropriate to introduce to Dennis Lehane. I was first introduced to Mr. Lehane by a fellow associate of the bookstore I worked at years and years ago. Since then, Lehane has written many novels, but personally I've always enjoyed beginning with the first book of the series. In this case, that book is A Drink Before the War. This series follows two private investigators, Angie and Patrick. The setting of most of Lehane's novels is Boston. The city itself is often just as important piece of the plot as the characters. Lehane does a great job of painting the darker sides of the city.
     Did I say darker sides? I meant it. Rhese are mysteries, but Lehane incorporates social issues, and the darker side of people. He does a great job of characterization, and I feel like I have come to know Angie and Patrick extremely well. What I love most about Lehane is his writing is smart with a moral complexity to it. Lehane has written 6 novels with these characters, and the newest and final book in the series Moonlight Mile was just released. I haven't read this one yet, but it's next on my reading list. Lehane hasn't written about these characters in over ten years, so I'm really excited.
     During his break from Angie and Patrick, Lehane has written some stand alone novels. You may of heard of some of these, which include Mystic River (which was made into a film with Sean Penn) and Shutter Island (the so-so film directed by Martin Scorsese starring Leonardo Dicaprio). So if you don't feel like starting a new series, but still wanna check out this fantastic mystery writer, read one of these novels. They are wonderful! If you want to get the full Lehane experience, start with A Drink Before the War. My dad has read all of these novels as well, and really loves them too! Enjoy and happy reading!

A great Gothic tale of love, redemption, and gargoyles!

       Hello everyone! I wanted to tell you about the book I just finished reading. It's called The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. The book starts out with the narrator, a man in his 30's, who isn't the best guy. He produces porn films, and does a lot of drugs. The book begins with the narrator being in a horrific car accident. He is  very badly burned, and wakes up in the hospital. Here starts his recovery, and any "friends" from his old life have abandoned him. He has no family, no one, really, until Marianne walks through the door.
      Marianne is a psych patient in the hospital. She tells the narrator that they know each other, although he says they have never me. The narrator thinks Marianne is just crazy, but finds her intriguing. Marianne and the narrator become friends. To pass the endless hours the narrator spends in bed, Marianne tells him stories from the past. The stories are love stories, and one of the stories is somehow connected to our characters. The stories are very moving, and I found myself wiping away a tear or two as I read.
     I loved this book. It was very descriptive, so if you are faint of heart, this isn't the book for you. The descriptions of the accident, and other violent acts are quite colorful, and I thought it was, although a little gross, really interesting. The author had obviously done his research, and the details about burn victims and their recovery was fascinating. The book was really moving. It felt like a horror story, love story, and Gothic mystery, along with some Dante's Inferno, all rolled into one. I loved all of the characters, and I loved all of the historical tales told throughout. This is one of the best things I've read in awhile. The author is from Canada, and there was a lot of buzz internationally when this book was published in 2008. So grab a copy of The Gargoyle, and let this story move you, while at the same time, horrify you. Happy reading!
  

Scaring up some Halloween reads!

      It's that time of year again, when the ghosts and goblins haunt the streets. I thought I would help to get you in the mood for Halloween by sharing some books that go bump in the middle of the night. My first Halloween pick, is a couple of years older, but it was one of my favorite reads that year. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield is a gothic ghost story. The tale involves two women, one a writer named Vida whose story unfolds throughout the book. When Vida has been interviewed about her life by journalists, the facts are never the same. No one knows the truth about Vida. Our other character, Margaret is a bookseller in her father's shop. Margaret hopes to get the truth of the story of Vida's life, and we learn of Vida's haunting childhood. This book is well written, and has lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. If you haven't yet read The Thirteenth Tale, this one is a must read!
     A second Halloween read is The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Gaiman is well known for his Sandman comics, and his stories are a bit fantasy/horror. The Graveyard Book is Gaiman's adventure into children's literature, but don't let this fool you. This book gave me the creeps. This dark tale begins with the murder of a family. The only survivor is "Nobody" an 18 month old who escapes to a nearby graveyard. Here, he is protected from the murderer, a man named Jack, and "Nobody" is raised by the ghosts of the graveyard. The ghosts try and teach him how to live, and he has some adventures along the way.The Graveyard Book is for kids of all ages, but is intended for those ten or older. I've read a few things by Gaiman, and I have enjoyed them all.
     If neither of these sound like treats, I would recommend The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl. This is a historical mystery, that focuses on the death on Edgar Allen Poe. This is a fictional account of Poe's last days, and the main character Quentin Clark is obsessed with Poe's writings. When Poe dies, the media begins to foul Poe's name, and Clark does everything to try and clear it. This is a great read, celebrating one of the all time  best suspense and horror writers. Read some Poe, then read this book!
     So what do you recommend reading for Halloween? I would love to hear some of your picks. Please share, happy Halloween, and happy reading!!

Fall Reading

     When people equate a season with reading, usually that season is summer. Everyone's always talking about the best beach reads. Personally, I find it harder to find time to read in the summer. The nice weather drives me outside, where I like to enjoy my friends, city festivals, and just the great outdoors. I think there is so much  to do in the summer, which leaves me less time for reading. I think winter reading is great. Imagine the snow coming down, and you don't feel like driving anywhere. What a great time to curl up with a  book, and travel somewhere else, where the climate isn't quite as cold or snowy. Books can be a vacation from the real world outside, and I have a book for you that would be perfect for some fall reading.
     One of the genres, or subject, of books I've always enjoyed are books about books. I'm enthralled in stories involving missing manuscripts and dusty old bookshops. Today my recommendation is The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. The first line starts "I still remember the day my father took me to the cemetary of the Forgotten Books for the first time. It was the early summer of 1945, and we walked through the streets of Barcelona trapped beneath ashen skies as dawn poured over Rambla de Santa Monica in a wreath of liquid copper."  Doesn't that suck you right in? Zafon transports us to Barcelona, shortly after WWII. The story is told by Daniel, a young boy who discovers a novel called The Shadow of the Wind. The author of the novel (within the novel) is Julian Carax, and supposedly some mysterious figure is going about and destroying the few remaining copies of  Carax's work. This historical novel has some mystery, magic, and a bit of fun. Shadow was originally published in Spanish, but this is something you wouldn't know just by reading the text. It flows, and quite beautifully at times. This book is a big international bestseller, and it definitely lives up to all the praise.
     I originally read this for a book club, and  everyone in the group really enjoyed it. If you do read Shadow, there is a sort of prequel out, The Angel's Game, which I myself haven't gotten to just yet. I hope to get to it soon, and will keep you updated. So not planning any trips in the near future? Take a trip back to '50's in Spain, and enjoy the ride. Happy reading.

 

Welcome! (And Patrick Ness)!

     Hello fellow bibliophiles! I am excited to have the opportunity to have a space to write and discuss my babies, BOOKS! I have enjoyed reading since I was a child, and I spent many a summer in the corner of the library reading Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Babysitter's Club (yes, I admit I loved these), Christopher Pike, and R.L. Stine (pre-Goosebumps fame). My love of reading has been an important part of my life ever since I can remember. My love of books and reading inspired me to get my first job at a library.
     Throughout high school, I worked for Waldenbooks, where I found and loved many new authors. My reading tastes have changed throughout the years, but my passion for the written word has always been a constant in my life. Today, I am pursuing a Master's in Library and Information Science, and again I work for a bookstore. Even with all this craziness in my life, I still find time to read, and I am here to share my thoughts with you.
     I want this to be a place to talk and discuss any and everything about books. I hope to give you some great recommendations (while getting some great ones in return from you). I welcome your comments, I hope to update with at least one post a week, so check back often! For my first book post, I am really excited to share with you a series I just finished up entitled Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness. The series is a trio of books, and the first book is The Knife of Never Letting Go, book two is The Ask and the Answer, and book three is Monsters of Men!
   Patrick Ness is an ex-pat who lives in London, and he writes for The Guardian. The books are Young Adult literature, but don't let this stop you, there is something here for everyone. The books take place on a distant planet, where people from Earth have settled to start a new life. Of course, things haven't gone as planned, and shortly after landing, all of the thoughts that the men think are broadcast to everyone around them. Women for some reason don't ever broadcast what they call "noise", but you can imagine what walking through town is like, hearing all of your neighbors thoughts.
    The series is dystopic (which has been all the rage since The Hunger Games) and follows a boy, Todd Hewitt, as he approaches 13, the age at which the boys of Prentisstown become men. The style in which this is written takes a little getting used, but once you get past that, hold on. The story is imaginative, emotional, and a real page turner. The last book is out, so you have no excuse not go out this minute and get these books. They have been really under appreciated. I just finished book three, and let me tell you, Monsters of Men was everything Mockingjay should have been, but wasn't. The conclusion does not disappoint. So what are you waiting for? Go start  The Knife of Never Letting Go, but make sure you have time, because once you get sucked into Todd Hewitt's head, you won't want to stop until the thrilling and exciting conclusion! Happy reading.