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Shari Smith, I Am a
Town. This book was one of my
favorites from an author who’s become a friend too. I’ve given several copies as gifts. Her
tribute to Claremont could translate to any small town that becomes home.
Alan Bradley, The
Chimney Sweeper Comes to Dust. Must to my surprise, I am captivated by this
series of books with an 11-year-old protagonist. I love Flavia.
Graeme Simsion, The
Rosie Effect. Sequel to The Rosie
Project, this is another of those titles that is WONDERFUL as an audiobook
N. T. Wright, Simply
Good News. Of all the Bible-related books I read, this was probably my
favorite. While Wright is a theologian, this book is ultimately readable.
Tony Earley, Mr. Tall. Would someone PLEASE read this so I can
talk about the last story, the Jack tale, with someone who has read it.
Maureen Corrigan, So
We Read On. My favorite “book about books” this year—a tribute to The Great Gatsby.
Kate Atkinson, A God
in Ruins. Not exactly a sequel so much as a parallel to her Life after Life, I loved Teddy, the
protagonist.
Rebecca McClanahan, Write
Your Heart Out. I loved working through this writing book with friends on
line this summer. Good stuff, leaving room to go one’s own direction.
Nick Hornby, Funny
Girl. As one would expect from Hornby—funny and clever
Kazuo Ishiguro, The
Buried Giant. This book read like a parable to me. I want to go back to
parts of it to understand the world today.
Rachel Joyce, The Love
Song of Queenie Hennessy. Like A God
in Ruins, this too is a companion read to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. It’s amazingly bright for a
book set primarily in hospice.
Colum McCann, Translantic. I started this one, stopped, and picked
it up a year later. I’m glad I did. It covers such a span of history—from
Frederic Douglas to Clinton.
Kent Haruf, Our Souls
at Night. I’m sad there will be no new books by Haruf. I still rate Plainsong and Eventide as all-time favorites. This one, set in the same place,
takes unlikely, ordinary protagonists and makes readers care.
Kate Clanchy, Meeting
the English. A good British farce
that no one I know has read!
James Michener, The
Source. I used to power-read Michener but had missed this one. Since it
explores the Middle East from the beginning of time through idol worship,
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, it’s so timely.
Ron Rash, Above the Waterfall. I never met a Ron Rash book (novel, short
stories, or poetry) I didn’t like. I’m glad to know he’s a disciplined writer
because I can expect more. His characters are complex, drawn in shades of grey.
Nellie Hermann, The
Season of Migration. This story of the life of Vincent van Gogh, when he
aspired to become a minister, like his father, was at times painful. It was
worth reading, in my opinion, for the sensory description of van Gogh’s
experience when he went down into the bowels of the mine to understand his
parishioners daily lives.
Meg Mitchell Moore, The
Admissions. After working with high school seniors for so many years on
college entrance essays and applications, this was funny, tragic, and true.
Joseph Bathanti, Half
of What I Say Is Meaningless. I’ve read lots of Joseph’s poetry and
consider him a friend. These essays are pitch-perfect.
Fredrik Bartak, A Man
Called Ove. I started this book when one of my favorite librarians
recommended it, but at first I was uncertain. I didn’t think I liked this old
curmudgeon. Wow! I’m glad I kept reading.
Louise Penny, Still
Life. This book got me started on the whole series. I’m hooked—and there
are several more to read!
Austin Kleon, Steal
Like an Artist. This little sleeper sat on my shelf for a long time. I
picked it up at just the right time. For anyone who wants to channel creativity,
this one is so motivational.
Gretchen Rubin, The
Happiness Project. I took my time reading this book they way it’s written:
one chapter a month. Now I wish I had
someone else to go through it with me the same way this year. I would love a
book club project with this at the center.
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