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.
Mood:
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Books Update - best of 2010
Probably as a consequence of the difficulties I encountered during the past 18 months or so when I sat down with a book to read in print, my list this year only has four titles. All of the books I've listed in my periodic updates are books I consider worth the time, with the possible exception of one or two choices of my book discussion groups, and I usually persevere to read the book if I am going to be attending the discussion evening. So my choices for this annual wrap up don't denigrate any of the other titles I read this year, but I try to select books which I think are worthy of your time to seek out and read for yourself.
AWAIT YOUR REPLY by Dan Chaon
The title comes from one of those "Nigerian Scam" emails, which promise the recipient wealth of unimagined proportions, if only a few small details, like bank account and routing numbers can be provided by return email. The author imagines what might be the outcome if someone responded, hoping for a reciprocal con game to be played out. The reader is confronted with three separate scenarios, with three separate sets of innocent victims, and it's not until the later chapters that the skillful connections between all the plot threads is clear. It's not like any other book I've ever read, and deserving of a much wider reputation.
PERSON OF INTERST by Susan Choi
Choi bases her story on the seach for the Unabomber of a few years ago, and imagines the consequences for an educator who occupied the office adjoining the site of the bomb. Through a series of missteps and misunderstandings, he becomes a target of the police investigation.
SEARCHING FOR TAMSEN DONNER by Gabrielle Burton
Burton has been fascinated by the plight of the Donner party, trapped in the snows of the high Sierras on their way to California. She studied the life of Tamsen Donner, the wife of the party's leader. This book is a remarkable combination of history, personal memoir, adventure, and travelogue. Like Chaon's book, it deserves a much wider reputation.
PACKING FOR MARS by Mary Roach
Roach investigates the program of space exploration of the last half of the 20th century, concentrating on all the various issues which arise when human beings go along as passengers. In addition to being very informative about the entire endeavor, her book is very, very funny. I laughed out loud on almost every page.
My previous "best of the best" list is 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
I can't bring myself to delete any of those titles, but I'm going to add SEARCHING FOR TAMSEN DONNER to that list.
Wishing all of you lots of pleasant hours with a book in your lap, or earbuds in your ears during 2011.
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