this sounds like a powerful read, so much richness to it. hard to imagine being in that position. one of my favs of the year was 'the dutch house' by ann patchett. I've loved her work for a long time.
Your blog sparks my Saturday, Betsy - so that I'm not the slacker I might like to be, but re-invigorated and ready for what's next!
I read lots and lots, like most writers, I think. I felt sorry for the books I read in the first half of the year as I put together my list. More recent reads predominate: The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles, Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby, Racing the Light by Robert Crais, The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev, and I'm relishing Michelle Obama's current book: The Light We Carry...
First I chose my top 12. Here are the top five, in no particular order: Murder on the Red River by Marcie R. Rendon (mystery by a Native American woman), Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby (mystery by a black man), Everything You Have is Mine by Sandra Scoppettone (mystery by a lesbian), The Old Woman with a Knife by Gu Byeong-Mo (mystery by an older Chinese woman), and The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel (graphic novel by genius grant winner cartoonist and lesbian). All these book are by and about. I have books on my best 12 list not mysteries, but these books were the most tightly written and interesting of all the books I read, an eclectic mix of fiction and nonfiction.
me too, exactly!
this sounds like a powerful read, so much richness to it. hard to imagine being in that position. one of my favs of the year was 'the dutch house' by ann patchett. I've loved her work for a long time.
My favorite books this year skew toward nonfiction.
1. All four volumes of Caro’s LBJ books.
2. Nixonland by Rick Pearlstein
3. The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman
4. Gangsters of Capitalism by Jonathan M. Katz
5. Thank You for Your Servitude by Mark Leibovich
On the fiction side, my favs were
1. City on Fire by Don Winslow
2. Heat 2 by Michael Mann & Meg Gardiner
3. Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson
Your blog sparks my Saturday, Betsy - so that I'm not the slacker I might like to be, but re-invigorated and ready for what's next!
I read lots and lots, like most writers, I think. I felt sorry for the books I read in the first half of the year as I put together my list. More recent reads predominate: The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles, Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby, Racing the Light by Robert Crais, The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev, and I'm relishing Michelle Obama's current book: The Light We Carry...
First I chose my top 12. Here are the top five, in no particular order: Murder on the Red River by Marcie R. Rendon (mystery by a Native American woman), Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby (mystery by a black man), Everything You Have is Mine by Sandra Scoppettone (mystery by a lesbian), The Old Woman with a Knife by Gu Byeong-Mo (mystery by an older Chinese woman), and The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel (graphic novel by genius grant winner cartoonist and lesbian). All these book are by and about. I have books on my best 12 list not mysteries, but these books were the most tightly written and interesting of all the books I read, an eclectic mix of fiction and nonfiction.
Top 3-5 books of the year, always a tough question! So many good books ...
1. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (a perfect little gem)
2. The Hours by Michael Cunningham (finally, worth the wait, a brilliant novel)
3. The Fell by Sarah Moss (a haunting pandemic novella)
4. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (an honest and powerful memoir)
*Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason (just started reading this, so not sure I'd include it here, but so far VERY GOOD)
I could keep going, but that would probably be obnoxious. Love the book conversations!
I liked Cradles of the Reich so much I made it my book pick of the year on my blog, jennyredbug.com
Write the novel you want to read. Great takeaway.
Oh, William! by Elizabeth Strout
Finding Me by Viola Davis
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
This is great! I didn't know Jennifer had a new book out. Looking forward to checking it out!