Books and other stuff I feel like discussing
By education and experience - Accountant with a specialty in taxation. Formerly a CPA (license has lapsed). Masters degree in law of taxation from University of Denver. Now retired. Part time work during baseball season as receptionist & switchboard operator for the Colorado Rockies. This gig feeds my soul in ways I have trouble articulating. One daughter, and four grandchildren. I share the house with two cats; a big goof of a cat called Grinch (named as a joke for his easy going "whatever" disposition); and Lady, a shelter adoptee with a regal bearing and sweet little soprano voice. I would be very bereft if it ever becomes necessary to keep house without a cat.
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Best reads of 2009
Happy New Year, everyone!
I usually list 10 books from my reading log, and divide them into mystery and non mystery groups. I'm a little startled to see that I haven't marked any mystery titles at all in the cumulative log I keep, and also to note that there are fewer than ten titles all together. Not sure what this denotes - I did read several suspense titles that I really enjoyed, but none of them made it into the "best of" category.
With that in mind, here is 2009's list.
GHOST TRAIN TO THE EASTERN STAR by Paul Theroux
Some thirty years after his first account of a large loop through Asia by train, Theroux set out to retrace his steps. In addition to the "armchair travel" element (which I very much enjoy in all his books), this account contains quite a bit of personal musings on the strengths and weaknesses of his younger self and assessments of what he has learned in the intervening years. It seems to me this is the best kind of book. Where to shelve it? Armchair travel? yes, but - - Biography? yes, but - - -
Political non fiction? yes, but - - -
OLIVE KITTREDGE by Elizabeth Stout
Stout is an American treasure, and those of you who haven't read her books are missing something special. This is a collection of short stories, and the title character figures in them all. And times with the briefest of cameo walk-ons, in other stories one of the main characters.
CUTTING FOR STONE by Abraham Verghese
After publishing a couple of autobiographical non fiction books, physician Verghese tried his hand at a novel. The result is this marvel of a book - adventure tale, love story, historical fiction, and more all wrapped up into one volume.
A RELIABLE WIFE by Robert Goolrick
From the first few pages, you might think this is a "chick lit" sort of book, about a mail order bride on her way to cold northern Wisconsin. But neither the bride, nor the man who has sent for her, are truly the persons they each present to the rest of the world. The interlocking deceptions, betrayals, and intrigue make for an engrossing read.
THE ELEGANCE OF THE HEDGEHOG by Muriel Barbery
A lonely woman, the manager of a luxury apartment house in Paris; the precocious teenaged daughter of one of the tenant families; and the newest resident of the building unexpectedly find their lives entwined with each other. The small publisher Europa Editions works to bring translated versions of worthwhile titles from the European market. This book alone is enough to have me checking to see what the list of the rest of their current titles contains.
DOG YEARS by Mark Doty
Poet Doty adopted a yellow lab to be a companion for his dying lover. Probably no one who had adopted a pet with a specific purpose in mind will be surprised to read that the lab had his own agenda. Doty finds the smallest event contains a nugget of truth, and has written a poignant tribute to the place pets can hold in human lives.
SELECTED WORKS OF T S SPIVET by Reif Larsen
T S is a lonely kid, living on a remote Montana ranch. He has an almost obsessive devotion to "maps" - constantly drawing graphs, detailed sketches, and, yes, maps. One of his teachers submits his drawings of various insects to the Smithsonian, which then invites him to speak! Keeping quiet about his actual age, T S sets out across the country to keep the speaking engagement. Larsen includes several mystical elements, along with an extensive array of detailed drawings and graphs. The NY Times reviewer didn't care for the combination, but I thought it worked very well.
THE FINANCIAL LIVES OF THE POETS by Jess Walter
Walter is another American author deserving of a wider reputation. He doesn't stick to one genre, which makes me even more interested to read his latest title to see what he is up to now. A journalist is struggling with financial pressure and looming disaster from all sides. Walter has a very keen eye for contemporary culture.
I've studied my overall "best of" list to see if I could make any revisions. Barbery's book about the lonely Parisians is probably in the top ten of the years since I began my log, but I don't think it will dislodge any of the top six, which remain as follows:
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME - Mark Haddon
A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS - Amos Oz
PLAINSONG - Kent Haruf
BREAKING CLEAN - Judy Blunt
THE NAMESAKE - Jhumpa Lahiri
THE LOST, A SEARCH FOR SIX OF SIX MILLION - Daniel Mendelsohn.
Happy Reading in 2010!
I usually list 10 books from my reading log, and divide them into mystery and non mystery groups. I'm a little startled to see that I haven't marked any mystery titles at all in the cumulative log I keep, and also to note that there are fewer than ten titles all together. Not sure what this denotes - I did read several suspense titles that I really enjoyed, but none of them made it into the "best of" category.
With that in mind, here is 2009's list.
GHOST TRAIN TO THE EASTERN STAR by Paul Theroux
Some thirty years after his first account of a large loop through Asia by train, Theroux set out to retrace his steps. In addition to the "armchair travel" element (which I very much enjoy in all his books), this account contains quite a bit of personal musings on the strengths and weaknesses of his younger self and assessments of what he has learned in the intervening years. It seems to me this is the best kind of book. Where to shelve it? Armchair travel? yes, but - - Biography? yes, but - - -
Political non fiction? yes, but - - -
OLIVE KITTREDGE by Elizabeth Stout
Stout is an American treasure, and those of you who haven't read her books are missing something special. This is a collection of short stories, and the title character figures in them all. And times with the briefest of cameo walk-ons, in other stories one of the main characters.
CUTTING FOR STONE by Abraham Verghese
After publishing a couple of autobiographical non fiction books, physician Verghese tried his hand at a novel. The result is this marvel of a book - adventure tale, love story, historical fiction, and more all wrapped up into one volume.
A RELIABLE WIFE by Robert Goolrick
From the first few pages, you might think this is a "chick lit" sort of book, about a mail order bride on her way to cold northern Wisconsin. But neither the bride, nor the man who has sent for her, are truly the persons they each present to the rest of the world. The interlocking deceptions, betrayals, and intrigue make for an engrossing read.
THE ELEGANCE OF THE HEDGEHOG by Muriel Barbery
A lonely woman, the manager of a luxury apartment house in Paris; the precocious teenaged daughter of one of the tenant families; and the newest resident of the building unexpectedly find their lives entwined with each other. The small publisher Europa Editions works to bring translated versions of worthwhile titles from the European market. This book alone is enough to have me checking to see what the list of the rest of their current titles contains.
DOG YEARS by Mark Doty
Poet Doty adopted a yellow lab to be a companion for his dying lover. Probably no one who had adopted a pet with a specific purpose in mind will be surprised to read that the lab had his own agenda. Doty finds the smallest event contains a nugget of truth, and has written a poignant tribute to the place pets can hold in human lives.
SELECTED WORKS OF T S SPIVET by Reif Larsen
T S is a lonely kid, living on a remote Montana ranch. He has an almost obsessive devotion to "maps" - constantly drawing graphs, detailed sketches, and, yes, maps. One of his teachers submits his drawings of various insects to the Smithsonian, which then invites him to speak! Keeping quiet about his actual age, T S sets out across the country to keep the speaking engagement. Larsen includes several mystical elements, along with an extensive array of detailed drawings and graphs. The NY Times reviewer didn't care for the combination, but I thought it worked very well.
THE FINANCIAL LIVES OF THE POETS by Jess Walter
Walter is another American author deserving of a wider reputation. He doesn't stick to one genre, which makes me even more interested to read his latest title to see what he is up to now. A journalist is struggling with financial pressure and looming disaster from all sides. Walter has a very keen eye for contemporary culture.
I've studied my overall "best of" list to see if I could make any revisions. Barbery's book about the lonely Parisians is probably in the top ten of the years since I began my log, but I don't think it will dislodge any of the top six, which remain as follows:
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME - Mark Haddon
A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS - Amos Oz
PLAINSONG - Kent Haruf
BREAKING CLEAN - Judy Blunt
THE NAMESAKE - Jhumpa Lahiri
THE LOST, A SEARCH FOR SIX OF SIX MILLION - Daniel Mendelsohn.
Happy Reading in 2010!
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