Quick Picks from CMCL

April 17, 2009

My Best Recent Reads

Filed under: Biography, Fiction — lauradebacle @ 3:21 pm

I keep thinking that I will work on my photo albums when I catch up on my reading.  Of course, I will never “catch up” on my reading.  I see something new that I want to read every day.  Here are some of my recent favorites:

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer – As London is emerging from the shadow of World War II, writer Juliet Ashton discovers her next subject in a book club on Guernsey–a club born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi after its members are discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island.

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates – The devastating effects of work, adultery, rebellion, and self-deception slowly destroy the once successful marriage of Frank and April Wheeler, a suburban American couple. This book was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1962, and was recently made into a film.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski – A tale reminiscent of “Hamlet” that also celebrates the alliance between humans and dogs follows speech-disabled Wisconsin youth Edgar, who bonds with three yearling canines and struggles to prove that his sinister uncle is responsible for his father’s death.

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger – This is the love story of Henry and Clare. What makes their story unique is that Henry travels through time. He cannot control when it happens or where in time he travels to. Since the narration alternates between the two main characters, we come to understand both the traveler and the one who is always left behind.

With Grit and By Grace: Breaking Trails in Politics and Law, A Memoir by Betty Roberts – This is the highly readable autobiography of Betty Roberts: mother, teacher, state legislator, and Oregon’s first female Supreme Court Justice.  It is a fascinating account of both her personal and professional life.

February 14, 2009

New Short Stories!

Filed under: Fiction, Short Stories — lauradebacle @ 1:17 pm

Dangerous Laughter: Thirteen Stories by Steven Millhauser -  This new collection will satisfy Millhauser fans and be a perfect introduction for those not familiar with his work.  The stories are fun to read (even though the themes include obsession, ambition and misdirected desire). 

Delicate Edible Birds: and Other Stories by Lauren Groff – This striking short story debut comes from the author of The Monsters of Templeton.

The Red Convertible: Selected and New Stories, 1978-2008 by Louise Erdrich – Erdrich is a master of this genre, and following her work over three decades is very rewarding.

December 11, 2008

Fiction to Film – December

Filed under: Fiction, movies — lauradebacle @ 5:14 pm

Check out these fictional titles that inspired films! 

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink – in theaters December 12th

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (children’s book) – in theaters December 19th

The Spirit by Will Eisner (graphic novels) – in theaters December 25th

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald – in theaters December 25th

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates – in theaters December 26th

December 5, 2008

My Best Recent Reads

Filed under: Essays, Fiction, Nonfiction, mystery — lauradebacle @ 1:25 pm

In the Woods by Tana French – A 12-year-old girl is found murdered, and the case has similarities to the disappearance of two children from the same neighborhood 20 years earlier.  Detectives Rob Ryan (a friend of the children who disappeared) and Cassie Maddox are wonderfully flawed characters, and French is a gifted writer who gives us a police procedural and psychological thriller in one.  I loved the Irishness of this book, but one loose end was not tied up.  I wonder if the author will resolve it later.  I’ll be reading the second book in this series: The Likeness

I Was Told There’d Be Cake: Essays by Sloane Crosley – I highly recommend this book of essays, especially to females born in the 1970’s.  “From despoiling an exhibit at the Natural History Museum to provoking the ire of her first boss to siccing the cops on her mysterious neighbor, Crosley can do no right despite the best of intentions–or perhaps because of them.”–from publisher description 

 

Reading the OED: One Man, One Year, 21,730 Pages by Ammon Shea – As the title suggests, the author spent a year reading the Oxford English Dictionary ”so you don’t have to.”  This is a humorous, easy read.  The author discusses the process of struggling through the OED and provides his favorite words and their meanings.

November 14, 2008

What’s in a Name?

Filed under: Fiction — lauradebacle @ 2:26 pm

I try not to judge a book by its cover, but what about by its title?  Here are some recent fiction titles that I love:

All We Ever Wanted Was Everything by Janelle Brown – Silicon Valley satire about a wealthy family falling apart (but trying desperately to keep up appearances). 

Attack of the Theater People by Marc Acito – In this zany sequel to How I Paid for College, Edward Zanni gets kicked out of Juilliard but manages to find plenty of adventure (and trouble) in 1986 New York City.

Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio by Amara Lakhous – Murder mystery meets social satire in a culturally mixed apartment complex in Rome. 

Fear and Yoga in New Jersey by Debra Galant – Comic novel about a suburban yoga instructor searching for peace.  Her husband is recently unemployed, her teenage son wants to have a Bar Mitzvah (for the money) and her parents are moving in to escape a Florida hurricane. 

Love in the Time of Fridges by Tim Scott – Absurdist sci-fi novel of the urban future, danger, conspiracy and talking refrigerators.      

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