The last day of 2011.
The last day to post about books that I read this year and loved.
In no particular order...
I'm not going to lie, I was attracted to this Amor Towles novel because of that cover. I knew exactly where I was going based on that photograph. I knew it was a period piece, I knew it would include lots of glamour and longing and I wasn't wrong. Loved this one. Just so well done.
Picked up Christopher Buehlman's novel because I was looking for something scary. Got what I was seeking and a well-told story. This scared the daylights out of me but in a good way. Southern. Gothic. Quick-witted. Strange. There's a love story at the center and a potent sense of dread. Looking forward to Buelman's second book. Great title, by the way.
I was attracted to the New Orleans setting and the great reviews. Read this in one sitting. Compact book that packs a punch because of Robison's sharp, self-assured and economical writing. The book is funky and mean and funny and hopeless and smart. I hadn't read anything by Robison previous to this but I ordered WHY DID I EVER for the new year.
This is another one that pulled me in because of that gorgeous cover. I saw it on the new books table and snatched it right up. I read the first chapter in the store and kept reading (even at work) because I enjoyed the characters, the setting and the story so much. Napolitano reawakened by curiosity about Flannery O'Conner (she's a major character in the novel) which lead me to order her complete stories. If I were listing these books in order this would definitely show up in the top three.
This one, by S.J. Watson was a white-knuckler of a psychological thriller. Just buy it. I'm not going to oversell it to you. Read the excerpt for yourself and then try to resist.
Cleopatra as an immortal searching the afterlife for Mark Antony. Started reading this one in the store. So much fun. Headley set this up to be a trilogy. I'll be there for the next two. This book put me in the same reading frame of mind as THE PASSAGE and THE HISTORIAN.
Tayari Jones is a favorite of mine (on the page and in person) and I just loved this novel. I know her, we shop together (which is a sign of true friendship), I admire her writing and the way she approaches her work BUT...I am not featuring this novel because we're friends. It's here because it's great. Go ahead, see for yourself and then report back.
Simonsen's novel caught my attention because I was coming down off a DOWNTON ABBEY marathon and jonesing for all things British. I got lucky with this one. A small, simple, sweet story about the friendship between a widow and a Pakistani shopkeeper. So much more than any synopsis could capture. Pick it up if you get the chance.
Siri Husvedt is one of my favorite novelists. This summer I re-read old favorites and the ones I'd missed. WHAT I LOVED draws heavily on her life with her husband, Paul Auster, an infamous New York murder that involved Auster's son from a previous marriage.
I HAVE TO GO BACK TO 1994 AND KILL
Full title (for some reason Typepad won't let me write it out on the link) is I HAVE TO GO BACK TO 1994 AND KILL A GIRL. That title is full of awesomeness and so are the poems. This is noir as strange as that may sound. Take a look. Give it a try.
My favorite. Hands down.
Happy New Year!
See you here in 2012.
As often as I can get here.
More than last year.
Probably not as much as 2009.
So.
Until next time...
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