I read my friend Melissa's blog and she has been busy listing... and I was inspired. I think that because I read so much (but sadly, with law school, no longer a book a day - Tragic!) I do not often recommend books to people. I love recommendations, but I am always reading, its not much of a time commitment... After reading her blog, I have decided to make a list of the last dozen or so books I read. Pretty much the ones I read most recently and did not hate... I read 261 books this year, but unfortunately there was a fair bit of mindless trash on that list... (but not so much on this one)
A Gathering of Memories – Charles Pinches which explores memory and argues that our forgetfulness contributes to the fragmentation of families, nation, and church, the three structures that preside over memory's territory.
Jesus Died For This? A Satirist’s Search for the Risen Christ – Becky Garrison. A funny book which is satirical of Christian’s, not Christ or Christianity (for the record). Each chapter entry attempts to ask that same question: Jesus died for this? He died for consumerism? For the crystal cathedrals Christmas program? For church smart alecks? For fundraisers? I really liked, but maybe did not love, this. It was different and written in a look at this, and I don’t care if I offend you kind of way…
Everybody Wants to Change the World: Practical Ideas for Social Justice - Tony Campolo and Gordon Aeschliman. It is a book of practical ideas for responding to the needs of others and is really insightful, well written and I found heaps of sensible, compassionate suggestions.
The Life You Can Save – Peter Singer, which is a compelling and convincing argument about how we have an immediate responsibility to act now to end world poverty. I sincerely believe that if everyone read this we would all be compelled to change the world for the better and would accomplish amazing triumphs.
The Surrendered - Chang-rae Lee. WOW. Just WOW. Grim, but lyric.
To Love Honour and Betray (Til Divorce Do Us Part) - Kathy Lette. The laugh out loud one-liners and quintessential Aussie-isms made this a fantastic read!
The Lonely Polygamist - Brady Udall. It's possible that this is a guilty pleasure book. Its a tragicomic about a man with four wives and twenty-eight children who flirts with infidelity. The characters are particularly well drawn.
Innocent - Scott Turrow. Twenty years later, Rusty and murder again. I loved loved loved Presumed Innocent. And I also loved this follow up.
No Time to Wave Goodbye - Jacquelyn Mitchard. The sequel to The Deep End of the Ocean is not as believable, compelling or special. But its like a nice visit with old friends to read the characters grown and changed... I DID love LOVE her Cage of Stars which I read at the beginning of the year (I am a library reader, it will not always or usually be brand new books on my list). Even though there were serious Mormon errors, the story and the conflict was profound. It dealt beautifully with mortal forgiveness and accountability and... actually, you HAVE to read it.
Room - Emma Donoghue. Glad I read it, wouldn't read it again. Would definitely recommend it. It is fierce motherly love in that book!
We Need to Talk About Kevin - Lionel Shriver. This is terrifying and brilliant and I loved it, as I also loved Testimony - Anita Shreve (I also read her Change in Altitude this year. YUCK)
House Rules - Jodi Picoult, another I loved, its not as powerful for me as The Pact but I admit I am a devotee. She has only struck two wrong notes for me, and I read those to the end anyway.
Shutter Island, Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone, The Given Day and Moonlight Mile - Dennis Lehane. I love Dennis Lehane. Combine the brilliance and the story telling with a whole lot of Boston (except Shutter Island) and its amazing! I even loved the movies of Shutter Island, Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone. That doesn't happen... Moonlight Mile follows up on Gone Baby Gone twelve years later and is even more devastating and powerful!
The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters - Elisabeth Robinson. Because it made me think of Tiff, but I did love it!
Australian Books I enjoyed-
Tomorrow When the War Began - John Marsden. Trying to get into more Australian books, I read the series.
The Spare Room - Helen Garner. Laughing during cancer therapy? SOLD!
Tirra Lirra by the River - Jessica Anderson.
The Tree of Man - Patrick White.
I read all of Peter Carey this year. Oscar and Lucinda is still my top pick!
Series I Keep Up With (this is my truly mindless entertainment)
Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Underworld
Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan (Dead Witch Walking, etc)
Shannon McKenna's McCloud Brothers
Iris Johansen's Eve Duncan
Lori Handeland's Phoenix Chronicles
Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar
Authors I read anything by:
Lisa Gardner (ok, The Perfect Husband sucks, but everything else has worked for me! particularly The Neighbour)
Barbara Kingsolver (whose Bean Trees remains my favourite book of all time, but lately? hit or miss for me...)
Anita Shreve (seems like I love or hate them)
Jodi Picoult
Elizabeth Berg (this women is lyric and beautiful)
Kelley Armstrong
Jacquelyn Mitchard
John Irving
Harlan Coben
Okay, so as a end of year (or beginning of the next) list its not all that comprehensive, but I made an attempt. Does anyone want to read a book with me? I would love a book club, not that I have any free time... Lets read something and catch up for a chat!
