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The Capitol Book Newsletter

Thursday, February 14, 2008

 

 

A whole slew of SALE BOOKS arrived yesterday!

Better than candy or flowers for Valentine's Day!

Also a nice treat for your own self!

 

Here's what we got:

 

All Aunt Hagar's Children: Stories

By Edward P. Jones

In fourteen sweeping and sublime stories, five of which have been published in "The New Yorker," the bestselling and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Known World" shows that his grasp of the human condition is firmer than ever.  Hardcover, was $25.95, now $8.99.

 

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

By Susannah Clarke

The entrancing international bestseller and TIME #1 Book of the Year.  Sophisticated, witty, and ingeniously convincing, Clarke's magisterial novel--the story of the rise of two very different magicians--weaves magic into a flawlessly detailed vision of 19th-century England.  Cheryl loved this one.  Hardcover was $27.95, now $8.99.

 

Let Me Finish

By Roger Angell

Intimate, funny, and moving portraits form this book's centerpiece as Angell remembers his eccentric relatives, his childhood love of baseball in the time of Ruth and Gehrig and DiMaggio, and his vivid colleagues during his long career as a "New Yorker" writer and editor.  Angell is one of those people who can write about all the rich, famous, important people he has known and still sound like a regular guy.  Wonderful book.  Hardcover, was $25, now $7.99.

 

La Belle Saison: Living Off the Land in Rural France

By Patricia Atkinson

You may not want to move to France and start up a vineyard, but you will want to read about it  Hardcover, was $24.95, Now $7.99.

 

The Spellman Files

By Lisa Lutz

Critics loved this one, first of a series.  Meet Izzy Spellman, a 28-year-old private eye working for her family’s investigative business--a family that puts the fun in dysfunctional--in this irresistible, laugh-out-loud debut novel.  Hardcover, was $25, now $7.99.

 

 

The Splendid Table

By Lynne Rossetto Kasper

Just when you thought you knew the best Italy, along comes Lynne Rossetto Kasper to introduce you to Emilia-Romagna, a fertile wedge between Milan, Venice, and Florence, as gastronomically important as any land in the world. The lush homeland of balsamic vinegar, Prosciutto di Parma, tortellini, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, this is a region venerated by Italy's food cognoscenti. Have you listened to Lynne’s wonderful cooking show of the same name on NPR?  Hardcover, was $37.50, now $15.99.

 

 

The King of Lies

By John Hart

A literary thriller that is as suspenseful as it is poignant, a riveting murder mystery layered beneath the southern drawl of a humble North Carolina lawyer. When Work Pickens finds his father murdered, the investigation pushes a repressed family history to the surface and he sees his own carefully constructed facade begin to crack.  Hardcover, was $22.95, now $7.99.

 

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

By C.S.Lewis

What begins as a simple game of hide-and-seek quickly turns into the adventure of a lifetime when Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy walk through the wardrobe and into the land of Narnia. There they find a cold, snow-covered land frozen into eternal winter by the evil White Witch. All who challenge her rule are turned into stone. Narnia, once filled with all manner of talking Beasts, Dwarfs, Giants, and Fauns is now a dark, joyless wasteland. The children can only hope that Aslan, the Great Lion, will return to Narnia and restore beauty and peace to the land. But will the power of Aslan be enough to conquer the dark magic of the White Witch?  This one is our permanent “Best of” list,  Hardcover, was $16.99, now $6.99.

 

Abundance, a Novel of Marie Antoinette

By Sena Jeter Naslund

Once again, Alabama writer, Sena Naslund sheds new light on an important moment of historical change and made that time as real to us as the one we are living now. Exquisitely detailed, beautifully written, heartbreaking and powerful, "Abundance" is  impossible to put down.  Hardcover, was $26.95, now $8.99.

 

The Trojan War: A New History

By Barry Strauss

Based on the latest archeological research and written by a leading expert on ancient military history, the true story of the most famous battle in history is every bit as compelling as Homer's epic account, and confirms many of its details.  Hardcover, was $26, now $7.99.

 

Have Mercy on Us All

By Fred Vargas

This was the first of the best selling French writer’s Chief Inspector Adamsberg Mysteries to be translated into English, and now we are hooked.  More!  More!  Paper, was $14, now $6.99.

 

S'Mores: Gourmet Treats for Every Occasion

By Lisa Adams

Thinks there’s only one way to make the classic campfire treat?  Wrong!  How about with raspberries and figs?  Why not substitute chocolate chip cookies for the graham cracker?  Fruit for the chocolate?  Pound cake? Croissants?  All easy, yummy confections.  Hardcover, was $16.95, now $7.99.

 

Great Books: My Adventures with Homer, Rousseau, Woolf, and Other Indestructible Writers of the Western World by David Denby

At the age of forty-eight, writer and film critic David Denby returned to Columbia University and re-enrolled in two core courses in Western civilization to confront the literary and philosophical masterpieces -- the "great books" -- that are now at the heart of the culture wars. In "Great Books," he leads us on a glorious tour, a rediscovery and celebration of such authors as Homer and Boccaccio, Locke and Nietzsche. Conrad and Woolf. The resulting personal odyssey is an engaging blend of self-discovery, cultural commentary, reporting, criticism, and autobiography -- an inspiration for anyone in love with the written word.  Paper, was $16, now $5.99.

 

Still Life

By Louise Penny

Here’s what a few of her peers said about Louise Penny;’s first book:

"Louise Penny's "Still Life" is a gem of a debut novel---clever, charming, with perceptively realized characters, a setting to die for, and the enormously appealing Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. I can't wait for the next installment."---Deborah Crombie,
"An excellent, subtle plot full of understanding of the deeper places in human nature, and many wise observations that will enrich the reader long after the pages are closed."---Anne Perry
"A cast of fascinating and beautifully sketched characters, deep insight into human motives and relationships . . . Georges Simenon kept Maigret going for over a hundred books. It will be a delight for all of us who love detective fiction if Louise Penny can stay around long enough to do the same for Gamache."---Reginald Hill

""Still Life" is a masterpiece of a traditional drawing room mystery.... Louise Penny is a storytelling artist." ---Julia Spencer-Fleming

"What a joy it is to discover a detective like Armand Gamache, strong, calm and charismatic and at work on a good mystery in a believable setting."---Peter Lovesey,

…Oh, and we thought it was great!  Hardcover, was $22.95, now $7.99.

 

The City of Falling Angels

By John Berendt

Berendt captures Venice-a city of masks, a city of riddles, where the narrow, meandering passageways form a giant maze, confounding all who have not grown up wandering into its depths. Venice, a city steeped in a thousand years of history, art and architecture, teeters in precarious balance between endurance and decay.   Hardcover, was $25.95, now $8.99.

 

Creole Thrift: Premium Southern Living Without Spending a Mint

By Angele Parlange

Southern tradition blends with modern whimsy in this first offering from famed New Orleans designer Angele Parlange-and the result is this extraordinary home decor book. Known for her fresh designs and unexpected blends of the opulent and the offbeat, Parlange brings her particular brand of "Creole thrift"-the art of making beautiful, quality decorations out of heritage pieces without spending a mint-straight to the budget-conscious reader.  Hardcover, was $29.95, now $11.99.

 

Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind

By Ann B. Ross

This was the very first book in the now long-running series of books about a woman whose life is abruptly turned upside down.  Very Southern, very funny, very charming.  Paper, was $13.95, now $6.99.

 

Death Comes for the Fat Man

By Reginald Hill

This is number 22 in the best mystery series ever written, featuring his popular Yorkshire policemen Andy Dalziel and Peter Pascoe.  Hardcover, was $24.95, now $7.99.

 

Soup of the Day: 150 Sustaining Recipes for Soup and Accompaniments to Make a Meal by Lydie Marshall

Who doesn't love a fragrant, steaming bowl of soup when cold winds howl outside?

Now the beloved cooking teacher in France and America, serves up something for everyone: 140 mouthwatering recipes for soups and accompanying salads, breads, and desserts to make a meal. Lydie offers a wide range of her favorite soup recipes, from classics like New England Clam Chowder and Onion Soup to new favorites like Red Lentil Soup with Curry or Fava Bean Soup with Mint and Feta Cheese. Make a meal of Lydie's Tuscan Ribollita (the twice-cooked Tuscan bean soup), Chicory Salad with Bacon, Croutons, Poached Eggs, and a loaf of Poilane bread, finished with Vanilla Cream with Prunes Soaked in Brandy. All the recipes are here in Soup of the Day -- clear, accessible, delicious. Hardcover, was $25.95, now $9.99.

 

The Grave Tattoo

By Val McDermid

Suspense master McDermid spins a psychological thriller in which a present-day murder has its roots in the eighteenth century and the mutiny on the "H.M.S. Bounty". After torrential summer rains uncover a bizarrely tattooed body on a Lake District hillside, long discarded old wives' tales takes on a chilling new plausibility. For centuries, Lakelanders have whispered that Fletcher Christian returned home, told his story to old friend William Wordsworth, who turned it into a long narrative poem--a poem that remained hidden lest it expose Wordsworth to the gallows for harboring a fugitive. Wordsworth specialist Jane Gresham, feels compelled to discover once and for all whether the manuscript ever existed-- but as she pursues each new lead, death follows hard on her heels. Suddenly Jane is at the heart of a 200-year-old mystery that still has the power to put lives on the line. Against the dramatic backdrop of England's Lake District a drama of life and death plays out, its ultimate prize a bounty worth millions.  Literature, history, and a spellbinding mystery, all bound up together.  Hardcover, was $24.95, now $7.99.

 

Golden Treasures of Troy

By Herve Duchene

A German businessman-turned-archaeologist, Heinrich Schliemann (1822-1890) had a lifelong dream: to find the world of Homer--the mythical cities of Troy, Ithaca, and Mycenae--and search for its long-hidden riches. Now, this fascinating volume reveals the complete story of how this passionate amateur, guided only by the Homeric texts, unearthed legendary sites and artifacts.  Full color art throughout.  Paper, was $12.95, now $5.99.

 

The Modern Townhouse: The Latest in Urban and Suburban Designs

By James Grayson Trulove

A townhouse is a residence that many find combines the best amenities of a single-family home and a condominium. By definition, a townhouse is a home that is attached to adjacent houses, which sits upon land that you own.  THE MODERN TOWNHOUSE will look at three types of town house projects that are increasingly popular in urban areas and close-in suburbia: 1) Renovation of existing town houses. 2) Vacant lots, primarily in the inner cities, but also in close-in suburban neighborhoods. This activity is in response to the increasing demand for urban housing where high land prices mandate multifamily housing solutions.  3) New, one-off townhouses that are found primarily in wealthier neighborhoods where the high land cost can be recovered with a single, luxury town home.  Includes floor plans, exteriors and interiors.  Hardcover, was $35, now $11.99.

 

 

Fossils:  Evidence of vanished Worlds

By Yvette Gayrard-Valy

A historical look at how the discoveries of fossils throughout time have impacted the world. Complete with color photos and interesting details of various discoveries, fossils, and extinct species with original historical documents.  Paper, was $12.95, now $5.99.

 

A Fountain Filled With Blood

To Darkness and to Death

Out of the Deep I Cry

All Mortal Flesh

All four by Julia Spencer-Fleming

You could say that Julia Spencer Fleming is one of out favorite writers; you could say that she is one of our best-selling writers, you could say we can’t recommend her highly enough, and you could say we can’t wait until the next one comes out in June.  You would be correct in every case.  All in hardcover, were $23.95, $22.95, now $7.99.

 

The Tenderness of Wolves

By Stef Penney

The year is 1867. Winter has just tightened its grip on Dove River, a tiny isolated settlement in the Northern Territory, when a man is brutally murdered. A local woman, stumbles upon the crime scene and sees the tracks leading from the dead man's cabin north toward the forest and the tundra beyond. It is Mrs. Ross's knock on the door of the largest house in Caulfield that launches the investigation. Within hours she will regret that knock with a mother's love -- for soon she makes another discovery: her seventeen-year-old son has disappeared and is now considered a prime suspect.  In an astonishingly assured debut, Stef Penney deftly weaves adventure, suspense, revelation, and humor into an exhilarating thriller; a panoramic historical romance and a gripping murder mystery.  Hardcover, was $25, now $7.99.

 

Four Seasons in Rome

By Anthiny Doerr

Anthony Doerr won the Rome Prize, a prestigious awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and with it a stipend and a writing studio in Rome for a year. He learned of the award the day he and his wife returned from the hospital with newborn twins. This book describes Doerr's varied adventures in one of the most enchanting cities in the world. He reads Pliny, Dante, and Keats -- the chroniclers of Rome who came before him -- and visits the piazzas, temples, and ancient cisterns they describe. He attends the vigil of a dying Pope John Paul II and takes his twins to the Pantheon in December to wait for snow to fall through the oculus. He and his family are embraced by the butchers, grocers, and bakers of the neighborhood, whose clamor of stories and idiosyncratic child-rearing advice is as compelling as the city itself. This intimate and revelatory book is a celebration of Rome, a wondrous look at new parenthood, and a fascinating story of a writer's craft -- the process by which he transforms what he sees and experiences into sentences. Hardcover, was $24, now $7.99.

 

Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France

By Kristin Espinasse

This one is based on the popular blog (french-word-a-day.com) and newsletter with thousands of subscribers -- a heart-winning collection from an American woman raising two very French children with her French husband in Provence, carrying on a lifelong love affair with the language.   With an approach that is as charming as it is practical, Espinasse shares her story through the everyday French words and phrases that never make it to American classrooms.  Steeped in French culture but experienced through American eyes, it will delight armchair travelers and Francophiles everywhere. Hardcover, was $18, now $6.99.

 

The Rainaldi Quartet

By Paul Adam

"From the first stirring theme to the last fading chord, mystery fans and music lovers alike will be captivated by British author Adam' s excellent contemporary thriller. ... Adam has constructed this tale with all the care and craftsmanship that Stradivari put into his instruments, filling it to the brim with deliciously caustic commentary on Italian city life and fascinating historical detail." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)  Hardcover, was $23.95, now $7.99.

 

Southern Crossword

Complied by Al Dixon

52b challenging crossword puzzles, 1500 clues and answers.  “The North isn’t a place, it’s just a direction out of the South.”—Roy Blount, Jr.  Paper, was $12, now $4.99.

 

 

How Did I Get to Be 40 & Other Atrocities

Forever Fifty and Other Negotiations

I'm Too Young to Be Seventy and Other Delusions

All three by Judith Viorst

The beloved bestselling author has tackled the ins and outs of each decade of a woman’s life with her usual wry good humor.  Though Viorst acknowledges she is definitely not a good sport about the fact that she is mortal, her poems are full of the pleasures of life right now, helping us come to terms with the passage of time, encouraging us to keep trying to fix the world, and inviting us to consider "drinking wine, making love, laughing hard, caring hard, and learning a new trick or two as part of our job description."  Hardcover, were $16 and $17, now $4.99.

 

The Book of Air and Shadows

By Michael Gruber

“In this ingenious literary thriller , the lives of two men are changed forever by William Shakespeare and the letters of Richard Bracegirdle, a 16th-century English spy and soldier. Jake Mishkin, a Manhattan intellectual property attorney and a bit of a rake, goes on the run from Russian gangsters. Albert Crosetti, an aspiring filmmaker working for an antiquarian bookstore, finds that life is more exciting than movies perhaps too exciting. Together, they travel to England in search of a previously unknown Shakespeare manuscript. The suspense created around the double-crosses and triple-crosses works because of the close connection readers forge with Crosetti in particular. The mysterious murder of a Shakespearean scholar, shootouts in the streets of Queens and an unlikely romance all combine to make for a gripping, satisfying read.”-Publishers Weekly (starred review) Hardcover, was $24.95, now $7.99.

 

Baker Towers

By Jennifer Haigh

Baker Towers is a family saga and a love story, a hymn to a time and place long gone, to America's industrial past and the men and women we now call the Greatest Generation. This is a feat of imagination from an extraordinary new voice in American fiction, a writer of enormous power and skill.  Hardcover, was $24.95, now $7.99.

 

First Drop

By Zoe Sharp

Dubbed today’s best action heroine by Lee Child, British Army veteran Charlie Fox, now a bodyguard-for-hire, only has to baby-sit the gawky 15-year-old son of a rich computer programmer. The last thing she or anyone expects is that the kid’s father and entourage will disappear.  We took Lee Child’s advice, read it, and now we recommend you do the same.  Hardcover, was $23.95, now $6.99.

 

The Sins of the Brother

By Mike Stewart

It's been six months since Tom McInnes opted out of the billable-hours marathon at a tony Mobile, Alabama, law firm. His private practice isn't exactly flourishing, but his spirits are - at least compared with how they fared when he was under the thumb of Higgins & Thompson's senior partners. Then Tom's peaceful, if unprofitable, semi-retirement is shattered by a phone call summoning him home after his younger ne'er-do-well brother, Hall, has been murdered.  The was the first in the excellent Alabama-set mystery series.  Hardcover, was $23.95, now $7.99.

 

Art: A New History

By Paul Johnson

The suthor turns his great gifts as a world historian to a subject that has enthralled him all his life: the history of art. This narrative account, from the earliest cave paintings up to the present day, has new things to say about almost every period of art. He is a passionate lover of beauty who finds creativity in many places. With 300 colour illustrations, this book is vivid, evocative and immensely readable.  Hardcover, was $39.95, now $14.99.

 

 

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The Capitol Book Newsletter

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

 

Your Favorite Reads!

 

First of all - yes, a few of you received this huge report, or at least a link to it, in your inbox yesterday. That's because you have asked to receive an email copy of our bi-weekly newspaper column in addition to this regular newsletter. Sorry for the duplication. On the other hand, if you had no idea you could get the newspaper column by email, and wish to, now you know, and all you need do to subscribe to the newspaper column is CLICK HERE, and let us know.

 

And second of all, this is a huge report. If you print it out, it'll take about 30 pages. If you want to refer to it in the future, it will be on our website. Just CLICK HERE to find it.

 

And third of all, THANK YOU to everybody who took the time, and spent the effort, to report. This whole thing started out back in 2000 as a way for us to get out of writing one newspaper column a year. This year, for the first time, we received enough reports to fill every one of our 2008 columns! Amazing.

 

 

So, here it is...........

 

Do they have to be from this year? If not, here goes:
I read McCarthy’s “The Road” and enjoyed its nihilistic sparseness. Still, I believe “All the Pretty Horses” and “Blood Meridian” are both better.
David Mitchell’s “Cloud Atlas” has been out for a few years, but I finally got around to reading it. It is like nothing I’ve ever read, and though loose ends might not be tied up at the end, it’s an enthralling read, part sci-fi, part thriller, all weird in a good way.
I also enjoyed Logan Ward’s “See You in a Hundred Years.” Nice little tale about how living the simple life ain’t that simple.
-Monte Burke

New York City, NY

 

How entertaining could it be to read about someone's angst-ridden divorce? That's what I thought "Eat, Pray, Love" was going to be about, and I didn't believe my friend Melissa when she said she couldn't wait for every hour of sit-down with this book.

Melissa was right, though. "Eat, Pray, Love" is so much more than a chronicle of author Liz Gilbert's relationship woes. It's a rare glimpse into the emotional and spiritual growth of a brilliant, quirky, funny 30-something women. Following her messy divorce, Liz blocks out a year to learn how to really eat, pray and love. She eats her way through Italy, prays and meditates endlessly in an Indian ashram, and falls in love with the most unexpected of men in the most unexpected of places. Through it all, she ruminates on the history and culture of her surroundings, as well as the strange and wonderful people she meets. Her writing is deceptively easy to read, considering the breadth of information and wisdom it conveys.  

P.S. For those of us who love to write, Gilbert's website includes some interesting thoughts on writing. You can read these, and more about "Eat, Pray, Love" at

http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/writing.htm.

- Melanie LeMay

 

 

 

I am particularly interested in historical literature or novels whose settings incorporate exotic cultures.  For this reason my favorite reads of 2007 are The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khalid Hosseni, The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirezvani, Mozart’s Sister by Rita Charbonnier, The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory, and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.  Other favorites of this year include Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami, Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, Dreaming Water by Gail Tsukiyama, The Ha-Ha by Dave King, The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff, Sister Mine by Tawni O’Dell, A Garden of Earthly Delights by Joyce Carol Oates, The End of the Alphabet by C. S. Richardson, and Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo.   

The Inheritance of Loss describes a life away from modernity.  An orphaned girl lives with her retired grandfather and his cook in the Himalayas, and they experience conflict with the insurgents.  I like how instead of perceiving political upheavals only through viewing the news, readers get a first hand view of how an average person’s every day life is affected.  Another good book juxtaposing undeveloped areas with our technological society and revolutionaries with the uninvolved is Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan.  The kidnapping of a tour group in Myanmar is narrated by the tour guide who, strangely enough, died before the tour even began.  I read this in December of last year, or I would have included it in my list.   

A Thousand Splendid Suns gives readers a glimpse of two women’s lives, married to the same abusive man, in Afghanistan.  Again, the struggles take on a more personal meaning when perceived from an individual’s point of view instead of hearing about it through documentaries.   

In The Blood of Flowers, we get a beautiful portrait of the daily life of Ancient Persia.  A strong female narrator, although she remains nameless, personifies the unjust treatment of women in this time and place, and gives us background information on the making of Persian rugs. 

Mozart’s Sister tells the story of Nan, the equally talented sister of Mozart whose skill was used by her father to fund Mozart’s music tours.  Instead of being allowed to tour alongside Mozart, she was forbidden by her father to compose or play any instrument except the piano, and that only for teaching, which brought in the necessary funds for Mozart’s travel.  The Other Boleyn Girl brings us the point of view of Anne Boleyn’s sister, who was ordered by her family to seduce the king and who even bore the king children, until her sister Anne took over to persuade the king to marry her in order to further their family’s status.  It is so interesting to read about these remote time periods and historical characters.   

The Book Thief is about a girl who finds a way to bring books to her family and neighbors and manages to distract them by reading to them while they often gathered in basements during bomb raids during World War II.  The girl and her adopted parents illustrate their humanity when they attempt to hide a Jewish man to save him from the Nazis.  The point of view of poorer Germans during the Holocaust is unique because during this time of war they were victims, too, but that is rarely considered.  Another unique element is that the narrator is Death.  A strange concept, but very well done.   

I just realized that all the favorites I portrayed here have females as main characters who were persecuted in some way.  I guess that is because I am inspired by reading about the strength and goodness of women who are capable of overcoming any adversity.   

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to write about some of my favorite books.  When I read this report last year, I started a list of every book I’ve read this year.  It has been very helpful.  I’ve read 55 books so far this year!  If this is published and someone who knows me is reading this and wondering what to get me for Christmas, you can’t go wrong with a gift certificate to Capitol Book! 

-Stephanie Chance

 

 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak:  Such marvelous writing and different way of telling a sad, yet wondrous, tale.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen: It has depth and substance and is informative and entertaining.

Without Fail by Lee Child:  My favorite suspense author. So far, in my opinion, Lee Child has yet to deliver anything less than a riveting book.

War By Other Means by David Crouse:  I picked this book because the author is from Auburn and I could hardly put it down.  Fast-paced thriller.

My Cat Spit McGee by Willie Morris: Just a fast, enjoyable read for anyone who has known and loved a cat (and maybe even for those that haven’t).

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert: A smooth story about the early 1900’s in Hawaii and a child with leprosy and her triumph over adversity.

The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates: This book has a magnetic effect from page one.

Saints at the River by Ron Rash: Environment vs. emotion and, for me, as I read this story I kept asking myself whose side I would be on, and just when I thought my mind was made up, the other side made a very good point.

-Joyce Franz

 

 

I should have taken your warning to heart.  You know, the one about never reading a book with the picture of a dog on its cover.  Well, the photo of the golden retriever on the cover of the book was so appealing that I read Merle's Door by Ted Kerasote, anyway.  Of course, it does have a sad ending, but the journey there is joyous most of the way.  It's a lovely book.  To offset the sadness, I read Sonny Brewer's Cormac: The Tale of a Dog Gone Missing.  I heartily recommend both.

-June Zimmerman

 

 

Hi, Cheryl, Thomas or Eleanor....don’t know who does this

The hard part is always remembering what I read.
Clearly, the best read of the year for me for A Thousand Splendid Suns.  I really enjoyed The Tipping Point.  I’m glad I read American Prometheus and Animals in Translation.  

-Phyllis Kennedy

 

 

My favorite read n 2007 was Eat, Pray, Love.

You don’t have to have your life completely fall apart like the authors did to appreciate and greatly benefit from this book.   There are so many wise, sage and helpful nuggets in it which stick with the reader long after they’ve finished it. The world we live in today is difficult and chaotic in certain ways, and her wisdom cuts right through a lot of it and can truly   be beneficial to all who read it. Plus it’s highly entertaining and humorous at the same time.

And it is NOT a self-help book which I run from.

-Amy Nachman

San Francisco, CA

 

Fiction--  The Cunning Man, by Robertson Davies; Magic Time, by  Doug Marlette, Huntingdon College's Stallworth Lecturer for academic year 2006-2007;              Grievances, by Mark Ethridge, published by Montgomery's own New South Books
Non-fiction  --  The King's English:  Adventures of an Independent Bookseller, by Betsy Burton

-Cam West

 

The yearly challenge is to narrow down to my favorite book in the past
twelve months. There were so many good reads this year that it was hard to
choose, but I would have to say that the book with the most lasting impact
was The Yiddish Policemen’s
Union by Michael Chabon. It's murder mystery,
social commentary, and love story in one thought-provoking package. A
classic "what if" tale that turns history on its head, it nevertheless is
rooted in current political realities and is a damning look at all
religious fundamentalism. I can't stop thinking about it! Other favorites
this year include Eat, Pray, Love; Run by Ann Patchett; Bridge of Sighs by
Richard Russo; Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver; Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows; Ines of My Soul by Isabelle Allende
(wonderful); and The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
-Alice Hart Wertheim

Atlanta, GA

 

Whoops, I almost forgot ...
Mr. Sebastian and the Negro Magician by Daniel Wallace. Is the magic real or not? You'll never know until the breathtaking final page. Henry's giddy journey through a life lived on the confusing border of what is either delusion or illusion reads like a cross between James Thurber and Ray Bradbury--wicked fun.
The Night Country by Stewart O'Nan. The ghosts of three teenagers killed in a car wreck haunt their survivors on the one-year anniversary of their deaths (Halloween, naturally). O'Nan reveals the truth behind the accident with painstaking perfection; the final moments are stunning--one of the best endings I've read in years.
Happy holidays, guys!
-Jim Gilbert

 

Thanks for asking about my favorite (and least favorite) books this year.  Since mid-May I've read 61 books I've read and listened to 19 audiobooks.  Of those 80, here's my response:

Favorite books of 2007 (in no particular order):  

Speak (Laurie Halse Anderson) - young adult

Talk Talk (T.C. Boyle) - fiction

Everyman (Philip Roth) - fiction

Then We Came to the End (Joshua Ferris) - fiction

Five Roundabouts to Heaven (John Bingham) - fiction

Imperial Life in the Emerald City (Rajiv Chandrasekaran) - non-fiction

The Worst Hard Time (Timothy Egan) - non-fiction

Favorite audiobooks of 2007:

Beowulf (Seamus Heaney) - he read his translation magnificently

Restless (William Boyd) - interesting story, well read

His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass (Philip Pullman) - he was exactly the right reader for his work

Least Favorite (I didn't even finish them): 

The Piano Turner (Daniel Mason)

The Sunday Philosophy Club (Alexander McCall Smith)

An Innocent Man (John Grisham)

The Testament (John Grisham)(audio book)

-Jean Tucker

 

My favorite book of '07 was Wrapped in Rain. Everyone I recommended it to loved it!!!  -Julie Shashy

 

I sent you about a billion for last year’s book roundup and certainly read some good books in 2007.  I read A Thousand Splendid Suns last week- good, but not the surprise that The Kite Runner was.  However, the one I JUST finished has to go on the list.  Run, by Ann Patchett, takes place over the course of two days and tells the story of families broken and remade.  Quite wonderful. 

BTW – the Beatles book I bought from you for my daughter was a huge hit!  Apparently she’d been wanting that exact book (I had no idea) and this particular one had Ringo (her favorite) on the cover.  Thanks for helping me (unwittingly) give a nearly perfect gift. 

-Diane L. Christy

 

 

Dear Tom, Cheryl and Eleanor,
My favorite read in 2007 was The Poet of Tolstoy Park by Sonny 
Brewer. This novel is based on the life of Henry Stuart, a retired, 
rather eccentric professor,  who in the 1920s was diagnosed with 
tuberculosis. He was told by his doctor that his condition was 
terminal, but that his quality of life during what remained of his 
life would be enhanced if he moved to warmer climates.
As a result, Stuart decided -- sight unseen -- to move to Fairhope. 
Through the mail, he contracted with a business agent in Fairhope to 
purchase 10-acres of land in Montrose. And, then, he begins his journey.
I hate to reveal much more than this because the book is so rich and 
full of surprises. It is a beautifully written account about a man's 
journey, his philosophy of death, his love of literature -- 
especially anything written by Tolstoy -- and what he thinks will 
become his final project before he dies.
This book is well worth the read, and if will most likely inspire 
readers to dust off one of their old Tolstoy novels, or -- better yet 
-- purchase the new translation of War and Peace.

-Cathy Gassenheimer

 

 

My favorite was ATONEMENT by Ian McEwan.  I've also read SATURDAY and ON CHESIL BEACH by McEwan and enjoyed both of them, but ATONEMENT, in my opinion, is really a masterpiece--gorgeous writing, captivating characters, and an intriguing plot. 

-Betty Burgess

Auburn, Alabama

 

 

My favorite book was WOLF OF THE DEEP by Stephen Fox.  The personal story of Raphael Semmes, a transplanted Mobile resident, and his exciting, dramatic years as captain of the ship Alabama during the Civil War was a story of a time and place that I previously had little interest. 

It was a stay-awake all night book! 

-Dot Moore

 

 

These were my favorite reads for 2007:
Illuminated by Matt Bronleewe.  This book is a cross between "The DaVinci Code" and "National Treasure."  In it, the hero is an archeobibliologist who is forced to help a criminal discover clues to an ancient secret hidden in illuminations in the Gutenberg bible (hence the name).  The secret the hero of the story finds threatens the very foundation of Christianity.  This book is both thrilling (I couldn't put it down!) and interesting.  The secret societies and other historical events in the book actually happened.  This book was published by Nelson and is Christian fiction but I do warn that it is a thriller and not for the timid.
The Oath by Frank Peretti.  I had been intending to read this book for a long time and just recently got around to it during the Christmas holidays.  This story is another Christian thriller like Illuminated.  However, unlike Illuminated, Peretti's experience as a story-teller shines through.  I felt Peretti did a better job of character development than Bronleewe.  As the story developed, I felt like I knew the characters and I was anxious to see how they faired.  In The Oath, a town is ruled with an iron fist by the descendant of one of its founding fathers.  Anyone who crosses him or breaks "the oath" mysteriously disappears.  The title refers to an oath taken by the founding fathers not to reveal a shocking secret having to do with the founding of the town.  It also refers to an oath not to reveal the reason by the mysterious disappearances.  This was another book I couldn't put down.  In my opinion, Peretti is just as good a storyteller as Stephen King. 
I read another novel by Peretti in 2007, Monster.  Peretti's novels typically deal with good vs. evil in more of a spiritual sense.  Monster was more of a cross between "King Kong" and "Frankenstein" in the sense that the monster was a result of man's tinkering around where he shouldn't be.  Another book that was hard to put down and, like the other two, I highly recommend it.

-Susan Tudor
Montgomery,
AL

 

 

Cheryl and Thomas -
Here is my list:
The Places in Between by Rory Stewart - Just a
tremendous book, combining travel, adventure, and
sociology.  Very informative.  I have given copies to
all my friends who are deploying to
Afghanistan.


Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in
Iraq by
Thomas Ricks - Good book that captured the initial
stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom, both the
failures (not enough ground forces) and the great
heroism of our soldiers.  I went back and read it
again this year after the surge and it was interesting
to compare
Iraq in 2003-2004 to now.

The Foreigner's Gift:  The Americans, the Arabs, and
the Iraqis in
Iraq by Fouad Ajami - Best book I read
all year!  Great story and insight from a leading Arab
scholar.
  For anyone who wants to understand the
religious (and therefore political) landscape in
Iraq,
this is an absolute must.

The Creek War of 1813 and 1814 by H. S. Halbert, T. H.
Ball, and Frank L. Owsley - I actually took this book
on our trip to
Mexico intending to browse it, but
ended up reading it completely.  Halbert and Ball
actually wrote this book in 1895, but Owsley has done
a tremendous job in adding later notes.  I was
astounded by Halbert and Ball's insight into the
origins of this war, especially considering it was
written in 1895.

Pickett's History of Alabama: And Incidentally of
Georgia and Mississippi from the Earliest Period by
Albert J. Pickett - I have read this book once a year
since college graduation in 1991.  Written in 1852, it
is a great companion book to
Alabama: The History of a
Deep South State by William Warren Rogers.  Together,
they are an informative and entertaining compendium of
Alabama history. 

Manhunt:  The 12 Day Search for
Lincoln's Killer by
James L. Swanson - For those who are interested in
history, conspiracies, or just want to get an idea
what our country was like in the immediate post-mortem
period of the Confederacy.  Also, if you're familiar
with
Washington, DC, it will give you some perspective
on how much the Capitol Region has changed in the 143
years since the assassination.

America Alone by Mark Steyn - Steyn writes about how
population and immigration patterns in the
Third World
will change
Europe and America into the next century.

Hope this helps.  I tried to keep it a 'best' list.
-David

 

Dear Tom and Cheryl,

This is such a great thing that you do. I only wish there was the time to read all of the books that are on the list you put together. 

Some of these are first reads and some are re-visits during 2007:

GILEAD by Marilynne Robinson. This amazing meditation stopped me in my tracks. It will be re-read many times.

DISGRACE by J.M Coetzee. A disturbing book in the best sense. Stark and lyrical at the same time.

ON BEAUTY by Zadie Smith. Terrific and smart. She writes of a literate and honest family.

DISTRICT AND CIRLCE by Seamus Heaney. The great Irish poet continues to startle and enhance my life.

INTO THE WILD by Jonathan Krakauer. A re-visit of a harrowingly true story.

MOY SAND AND GRAVEL by another great poet, Paul Muldoon.

THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY by Jean-Dominique Bauby. A memoir by the editor of Elle who had a massive stroke and suffered a "locked-in syndrome." The fight to keep communicating.

THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN by Simon Winchester. How the OED came to be. A great read.

SHAKESPEARE'S ENGLISH KINGS by Peter Saccio. I have read this a few times but was pleased to re-visit it while we did THE WARS OF THE ROSES at ASF this past season. 

Thanks and my very best to you in this New Year.

-Greg Thornton

 

 

Cheryl, Tom, a short list of a few of my favorites for '07:

Masters of the Air by Donald Miller - A superb WWII account of Eighth Air Force .... extremely well written and researched ... a real page turner.

Soldier's Heart by Elizabeth Samet - Very interesting view of teaching literature at West Point and the relationship to war and other military issues.

SOG by John Plaster - Excellent book that details special operations in Vietnam

Einstein by Walter Issacson - Terrific bio. Interesting life! Tough to get the mind around some of the physics but fun trying.

Lone Survivor by Marcus Lattrell - Great read about a true American Hero!

The Doolittle Raid by Carroll Glines - Very enlightening account of the infamous raid on Tokyo.

The Rescue of BAT 21 by Darrel Whitcomb - First class account of one of the more heroic search and rescue efforts in Vietnam.

The Rescue of Streetcar 304 by Kenny Fields - Very well told story of the shootdown, escape and evasion, and rescue of a Navy Fighter Pilot. 

Happy New Year - Keep smiling.

-Joe Panza

 

 

I recently picked up a couple of copies of “Things I Want My Daughters to Know:  A Small Book About the Big Issues in Life” by Alexandra Stoddard for Christmas gifts for my girls.  It’s a very good read that really makes you stop and think about what’s really important.

I also re-read “The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories” by William Bennett.  As the grandmother of 10, I need all the examples and help I can get in working with them.

“Manhunt: The 12-day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer” by James Swanson was interesting and reminded me of facts long forgotten in the hunt for John Wilkes Booth.

“Playing for Pizza” by John Grisham started off a little slow but by the time it was over, I was involved with the players and cheering for them to win.

-Sandra Porter

 

 

Children (including those of the 60s) have a real treat in Puff the Magic Dragon, which includes a terrific CD with a beautifully illustrated book. My 4 yr. old granddaughter was transfixed by the book & the CD, & older members of the family joined her in singing along but also talking above her enthusiasm about the songs, the 60s, & the “settings” for many Peter, Paul & Mary creations that characterized our generation and entrance us still.

-Mary Morgan

 

 

I spent an afternoon visiting with old friends of Capitol Book and News in August.  We were all celebrating George Browning’s birthday.  George has lived a very interesting life and it is one of his contemporaries that introduce to you here.  Patrick Leigh Fermor is a little older than George and like George he is still around to grace us with wonderful stories.  Fermor was knighted by the Queen a couple of years ago at the age of 92. At the age of 18 in 1933 Fermor began a hike across Europe.  Expelled from school and not finding his dream as a writer as easy to come by in London he struck out.  Catching a steamer from London to Rotterdam he sets off down the Rhine, through Germany to the Danube and own to Constantinople.  He is on the journey of a lifetime and the reader is privileged to share this adventure shortly before the world he writes about comes crumbling down. Hamburg, Munich, Vienna and Prague are as vivid, and real to your senses as they were to Fermor.  If I had a life to live over, I would want to live his life and so would you.  His story is A Time for Gifts.  This book is best read on a boat lost on the DanubePart history, part travel memoir and all an absolute thrill.  I followed A Time of Gifts with its sequel, Between the Woods and the Water, both books should be read with a map of Europe at your side. Oh, and dust off your passport.

 

The Everyman’s Library edition of History of My Life by Giacomo Casanova was exceptional.  The eleven volumes have been abridged and serve the modern reader well.  What you may think of Casanova should be placed in a brown bag and put out on the edge of the street with the trash.  Here is a sensational history of the workings of European society.  Casanova was indeed a lover but he was also much more.  Diplomat, priest, flim flam man, politician, gambler, investor, prisoner, escape artist, tutor, father, and lover, Giacomo was not more scandalous than most young and talented men in Italy.  The difference is he dared to write about his loves.  That was the scandal and fame came in the form of the most miraculous escape from the Leads next to the Doge’s Palace in Venice.  Do yourself a favor and read this memoir.  It’s no more scandalous than any Republican or Democrat’s behavior in Washington these days and the politics are just as exciting in 18th century Europe if not more. And remember, Giacomo was a contemporary of Ben Franklin’s. Best read on Eurostar Italia train #9490 between Venice and Milan.

 

Lieut. Henry Timberlake’s Memoirs 1756-1765 by Henry Timberlake is a detailed account of one American-British officer’s time spent among the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina and Tennessee.  Timberlake’s account of offering himself up as a hostage/diplomat and inspector of the Over the Hill Cherokee tribes v during a time when the tribes were suing for peace with the British colonials during the French and Indian War.  Much better reading than the UN inspectors accounts of Iraq and their search for Weapons of Mass Destruction.  This book is out of print so Capitol Book want have it on their shelves.

 

Lost Son by M. Allen Cunningham is this novelist second book and one of my favorite novels for 2007.  A fictional memoir of Rainer Maria Rilke, this novel could certainly pass as a memoir save for the first person narrative.  The conversations between Cunningham’s Rilke and Auguste Rodin is worth the price of this one, but please don’t try to read this on the Delta flight 58 from Seattle to Atlanta.  There is not enough room to get comfortable in coach.

 

Boone A Biography by  Robert Morgan breathes new life into the dusty relic of myth we call Daniel Boone.  Here is a satisfying biography that gives us the real man.  Boone preferred words to bullets and his gift for gab saves his and many others scalps.  Morgan’s bio is just the perfect follow up to Richard Rhodes biography of John James Audubon, John James Audubon The Making of an American.  Two great adventures in a wilderness lost to us.  Read Boone with a Fess Parker Pinot Noir and forget the coon skinned cap, Boone never wore one.

 

And the best novel I have read in years, Any Human Heart by William Boyd is lush and timeless this novel smacks of a young Somerset Maugham.  You can drink this one now or let it age and it will still be full bodied.  This is the story of Logan Mountstuart beginning in Montevideo, Uruguay, then to Oxford in the 1920’s and on into the world.  Mountstuart is everywhere you would want to be with the charm and accent every woman would want in a man, but not everyone becomes wise and reserved in their later years.  This novel is as good as Of Human Bondage and will leave you wanting more.  The first 5 chapters will read well with a Guinness while the rest of book is best capped off with scotch. Here’s to 2008.

-Steven Wallace

Lawrenceville, GA

 

 

Here are a few from my list in no particular order.

Sufficient Grace by Darnell Arnoult--A good Southern story of the lives of two families and the effect Gracie's illness has on their lives.

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie

On Agate Hill by Lee Smith--Lee Smith is at her best when she uses the diary of her main character to reveal herself. 

The Innocent Man by John Grisham--Shocking nonfiction--reminded me of In Cold Blood

Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee --I have loved any tidbit of information about Miss Lee for about 40 years since I read To Kill a Mockingbird.

Home to Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani--Enjoyed the series and catching up with Ave Maria.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter--Heartbreaking about the choices we make and their consequences.  My daughter recommended this after her book club read it.

Alabama Moon by Watt Key--Loved this little book and Moon Blake.  What a character he is.

The Bean Trees and Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver--Good books and I learned a lot about nature.  Interesting connections between the characters and their particular love of nature.

Death in Equality by Lucinda Ebersole

Letter from Point Clear by Dennis McFarland

Since I have my first grandchild, Stella and I have also enjoyed selections from

Read to Me Grandma

Collected Nursery Rhymes

So Big

Merry Christmas, Mouse

Stella and I have found many seasonal books to enjoy except for Thanksgiving.  Someone needs to write some Thanksgiving books for all ages.

Thanks,

-Lou Fuller

South Pittsburg, Tennessee

 

My favorite reads of 2007 included both the Alex Cross and Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson. All of them were outstanding reads. One of my favorite authors is Homer Hickam and I loved The Coalwood Way , a continuation of his brilliant The Rocket Boys. Covering the same period as Rocket Boys, it covers other humorous and moving stories of Homer's high school days in the West Virginia coal mining town of Coalwood. Highly recommended. His newest book, The Far Reaches, continues the story of Josh Thurlow and his crew and how they join the invasion of Tarawa during World War II. Another very well written and enjoyable book was Jeff Shaara's The Glorious Cause, the story of George Washington and the American Revolution. A truly enjoyable look at history. I also enjoyed David Baldacci's Hour Game and Split Second, which introduce us to the wonderful detective duo of former secret service agents Sean King and Michelle Maxwell. They featured suspenseful plots and wisecracking humor. Of course any mention of wisecracking detectives leads me to another of my favorite authors, Robert B. Parker and his Spenser series. In 2007 I read his Walking Shadow and Hundred Dollar Baby, as well as his outstanding western novel Appaloosa. Another of my favorite authors, Clive Cussler, returned to his winning Dirk Pitt character with the exciting Treasure of Khan. The Missing Ring by Keith Dunnavant was the very well told story of how Bear Bryant's 1966 Alabama team was unfairly denied the national championship due mostly to matters more political than sporting. A very interesting read about Kenny Stabler and his fellow team mates, as well as the great coach. And last but not least, Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows by J. K. Rowling. A marvelous ending to a truly outstanding series. 

-John Brown

 

Because they are the most recent reads, and I remember them and can put
my hands on them on the bookshelf...
in no particular order:

The Seasons of Rome, by Paul Hofmann
Read this one on the plane to Rome; great way to enjoy the rhythms and
nuances of the Eternal City in preparation for landing.

The Genius in the Design: Bernini, Borromini and the Rivalry That
Transformed Rome, by Jake Morrissey
A terrific way to get a dose of architectural history in context with
the power and politics that have shaped Rome since the beginning, so its
fun even if you're not interested in architecture. A true life
thriller.

A Valley in Italy, The Many Seasons of a Villa in Umbria, by Lisa St
Aubin de Teran
I had read and enjoyed Palladian Days by Sally Gable and this one
really ups the ante on the crazy, wacky lovable characters, and they're
not only the Italians !  This family adventure is a delight, and I would
be jealous if I weren't so spoiled by the comforts of indoor plumbing.

The City of
Falling Angels, by John Berendt
Another page turner, and a delightful look behind the crumbling, shored
up facades of that fabled city,
Venice. Not only full of richly drawn
characters who are actually real people, it has wonderful descriptions
of life outside the tourist routes that cross the many and venerable
bridges of this city in a lagoon. Go figure.

Are you detecting a theme here?

The Lost Painting, by Jonathan Harr
What can I say? Yet another fantastic book that brings real people and
places to vivid light and life. What passion and intrigue! Let's head
off to track down all the Caravaggio's we can find.

Satyr Square, A Year, A Life in Rome, by Leonard Barkan
A little more complex to follow, but an interesting and honest
exploration of finding oneself in finding a new place. I did seek out the
Square in order to see the stair, and discovered some other gems in the
city that I had heard about before but not yet found.

Michael Graves: Images of a Grand Tour, by Brian M. Ambroziak
A picture book, full of glorious drawings and paintings and sketches by
a noted architect,
American Academy in Rome Fellow, and a former
Professor of mine in college.  This has been a very inspirational tome.

Roman Builders: A Study in Architectural Process, by Rabun Taylor
Fascinating and detailed account, well illustrated, showing the
development of Roman building form and process. OK, OK, so it’s another
book about architecture, and Roman at that.  But one cannot discuss the
buildings a culture creates without discussing something about the
culture.

Ditto for

The Pantheon: Design, Meaning and Progeny, by William L. McDonald
Great story of a great building.


The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, by Giorgio Bassani
I had always wanted to read this book (and see the film), and a trip to
the Gardens at Ninfa, which inspired the author, finally caused me to
achieve that goal; the movie is next on my list, or somewhere on my
list.

I've started a couple of cheezy prep school-private school novels,
Prep, Academy X, The Upper Class, but they didn't hold my interest long
enough to finish, and summer was coming to a close.
I also started The World Is Flat, by Thomas Friedman, but I haven't yet
gotten into the rhythms of his writing; I will probably start again
sometime soon.

The Big House, by George Howe Colt, allowed me to luxuriate in the
fantasy of a rambling shingled summer house, as I sat in the living room
of my mother's charming wee cottage on
Nantucket, and read by the pale
green light of a too brief summer stay.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Rosenbaum House, by Barbara K. Broach, Donald
Lambert and Milton Bagby
Thoughtful and articulate and loving account of the restoration of a
Wright treasure in Florence (there's the connection to the theme, see
!?)
Alabama.  Well researched and thorough, it is a compact and engaging
discussion, as well as another really interesting glimpse into the life
and times of the PEOPLE who built the house, nit just the structure.
You can never have the architecture without the story of those who
built it, what the times were like, and what legacy they hoped to leave.
Rome. Florence. Venice. Cape Cod. Montgomery.

I am pleased to say that almost all (but not quite) of these books were
purchased (at some point in time) at CAPITOL BOOK & NEWS COMPANY.
Enough. There were some other texts, too.  Stop, Scott.  Leave these
poor people alone.
Grazie mille
-Scott Finn

 

 

 

DISTRICT AND CIRCLE by Seamus Heaney. The great Irish poet continues to startle and enhance my life.

-Greg Thornton

 

 

My book club reads a lot of different kinds of books and sometimes I can't remember when exactly that I read them but here goes my closest guess as to my favorites for 2007: first I believe One Thousand White Women: the journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus was probably the most favorite. It is an historical fiction but we all kept questioning whether it really happened or not Fergus had just enough facts mixed in to keep you believing this was actual history plus the story was wonderful you laughed, you cried, and you were angry all the emotional roller coaster.
Second not a book club selection but A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hoseini another one that was a ride on the roller coaster. It is set in the present in
Afghanistan the story involves the life of a young girl growing up being the product of an unwed mother and father from different classes and the struggles that it took to survive.
The rest are The Saddlemaker's Wife by Earlene Fowler a love story mystery.
The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar another foreign class system story.
Between
Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson hilarious!
The Chili Queen by Sandra Dallas a western mystery quite a surprise ending.
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult just sad but you didn't want to see either side win.
Downtown : the journal of James Aloysius Holcombe Jr. by Ferrol Sams interesting history of a
Georgia town’s people.
And finally three Clare Ferguson mysteries by Julia Spencer-Fleming All Mortal Flesh, Out of the Deep I Cry, and In the Bleak Midwinter I just love the characters of Clare and Russ the priest and the local police chief.
-Lois Keel

 

 

Hi, I sure spent a lot of time with my nose in the books last year. But I have to say that my favorites were Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, Memoirs of a Geisha which is old and everybody's read but I just read it and loved it. 

Also, read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan which is somewhat reminiscent of Memoirs but reads quite quickly (because you cannot put it down once you get started). 

I did discover a new author Allison Winn Scotch who wrote The Department of Lost and Found. A very promising novel about a young girl diagnosed with breast cancer and the effects of chemo in regards to her life, both personal and professional. 

Also, I read The Historian .....which folks either love or hate.  I loved it. A friend suggested it to me.  Along with Good in Bed which has some personal meaning to me. 

I recently finished Skipper's Revenge, The Five Love Languages, The Handmaid and The Carpenter, and The Devil Wears Prada, and The Eyre Affair.   

I was really disappointed with Shopaholic and Baby but then I never really cared for any of these but read them because they are so quick.

Hope you all had a great year reading!!!! 

My book pile is getting taller and taller already. And this year I will brave the Lord of the Rings trilogy which I have never read.

Take care....

Sit down with a good book....

-Rachel Nanzer

 

 

I forgot to mention that The Garden of the Finzi-Continis was
thoroughly engaging, beautiful and sad.  It is one that haunted me for
quite a while, and I seemed to see the world in sepia tones for a day or
two, and felt anxious about the state of the world and the fragile
beauty of the things we have created in the world around us.
Also read The Secret Life of Bees.
Delightful, cathartic, funny and happy sad.  It was one of those books
that just came at the right time into my hands, and I cried a good long
cleansing cry for the loss of my own mother.

-Scott Finn

 

Here is my list and thanks for publishing your list. Each one was my favorite while I was reading it.

Servants of the Map-Andrea Barrett

The Whole World Over-Julia Glass

The Road- Cormac McCarthy

The Creation- E. O. Wilson

Naturalist- E. O. Wilson

The Children of Men- P. D. James

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time-Mark Haddon

The Ruins-Scott Smith

Everyman-Philip Roth

The Emperor’s Children-Claire Messud

Suite Francaise-Irene Nemirovsky

The Kite Runner-Khaled Hosseini

March-Geraldine Brooks

The Girls-Lori Lansens

Hannable Rising-Thomas Harris

Middlesex-Jeffrey Eugenides

Big Bad Love-Larry Brown

Good Scent from a Strange Mountain-Robert Olen Butler

The Bear Bryant Funeral Train-Brad Vice

Gus Openshaw’s Whale-Killing Journal-Keith Thomson

Brunelleschi’s Dome-Ross King

Coming of Age at the Y- William Cobb

The Sportswriter-Richard Ford

Underworld-Dan Delillo

-Randy Shoults

 

I recently finished Mary Morris' THE RIVER QUEEN that proves once again she is one of the finest memoirists writing these days. Like her NOTHING TO DECLARE of a few years ago, QUEEN is a fantastic story, telling about her journey with couple of interesting midwestern good old boys on a small boat down the Mississippi River.

I am currently reading an outstanding history and autobiography, REVOLUTION OF HOPE, by Vicente Fox, the former president of Mexico. For a part-time Mexican resident it is a worthwhile story. For anyone else, it should be an eyeopener about the recent history, the culture and history of this country. A man whose grandfather migrated to Mexico where he farmed land and raised cattle, Fox is opposed to a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. He writes openly and with great feeling about his election, the first exercise of a democracy in the country where a single party had ruled for nearly a century.

Sena Jeter Naslund's ABUNDANCE tells the colorful, dramatic, and explosive tragedy of Marie Antoinette. It's a wonderful historical novel filled vibrant characters

-Wayne Greenhaw

San Miguel de Allende,