Tuesday, December 11th, 2012
I love December. Sure, the presents, cookies and family time are great. But what gets me really excited? The Best Books of 2012 lists. I don’t usually agree with the (snobbish) book world’s top picks, but I relish in reading their carefully selected and politically correct choices. You know in high school when the coach would post who made the cheerleading squad? Book picks are like that for me because I’m a geek.
Below, I’ve compiled Best of Lists from The New York Times, Amazon and Publisher’s Weekly. I saw several repeats such as Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel, Building Stories by Chris Ware and Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo.
Have you read any of those three? I haven’t. How many of the books below interest you? I’ve read four of them, and three others are in my to-read pile. Is it PC to write that several of these seem kind of boring? I only speak the truth.
I’ll write about my own picks next week, and I promise they’re more fun. Also, stay tuned for a post about the books Parents staffers loved this year.
Most importantly, what’s your favorite book of 2012? Bare your soul to me in the comments.
The New York Times 10 Best Books of 2012
Fiction
Bring Up the Bodies
by Hilary Mantel
Building Stories
by Chris Ware
A Hologram for a King
by Dave Eggars
NW
by Zadie Smith
The Yellow Birds
by Kevin Powers
(more…)
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Amazon, Andrew Solomon, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, best books of 2012, Bring Up the Bodies, Cheryl Strayed, Far From the Tree, Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl, Hilary Mantel, John Green, Katherine Boo, New York Times, Publisher's Weekly, The Fault in Our Stars, Wild | Categories:
Best Of Lists, Best Sellers, Fiction, Memoirs, Mom Must Read, Must Read, Popular Books
Thursday, October 11th, 2012
Oh happy day for book lovers. Yesterday, the National Book Award finalists for 2012 were named. I can’t wait to hear who wins. One of the finalists is a dear old friend. So I’m rooting for Patricia McCormick to win for her brilliant young adult novel called Never Fall Down.
If you’re looking for something to read–and you’re into well-drawn characters and achingly beautiful prose–check out the book finalists below. These picks are great for literary lovers*
*And if you’re more into stuff by Emily Giffin and Jenny Lawson, you totally rock, too.
National Book Awards 2012
Fiction
This is How You Lose Her
by Junot Diaz
A Hologram for a King
by David Eggers
The Round House
by Louise Erdrich*
*love seeing women in this male-dominated category
The Yellow Birds
byKevin Powers
Nonfiction
Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe 1945-1956
by Anne Applebaum
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
by Katherine Boo*
*love
The Boy Kings of Texas
by Domingo Martinez
House of Stone: A Memoir of Home, Family and a Lost Middle East
by Anthony Shadid
Young People’s Literature
Goblin Secrets
by William Alexander
Out of Reach
by Carrie Arcos
Never Fall Down
by Patricia McCormick
Endangered
by Elliot Schrefer
Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–the Worlds Most Dangerous Weapon
by Steve Sheinkin
Poetry
Bewilderment: New Poems and Translations
by David Ferry
Heavenly Bodies
by Cynthia Huntington
Fast Animal
by Tim Seibles
Night of the Republic
by Alan Shapiro
Meme
by Susan Wheeler
Have you read any of these books? Which one are you most likely to pick up?
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Juno Diaz, Katherine Boo, literary books, National Book Awards, Never Fall Down, Patricia McCormick, poetry | Categories:
Best Of Lists, Fiction, Memoirs, Mom Must Read, Must Read
Monday, July 2nd, 2012
Looking for the perfect book can be like trying to find the right dress for your high school reunion. You want something that fits your taste and mood–one that doesn’t poke or jam you up. You need a read that’s ravishing and deeply personal. A good book–like a fab frock–should make you say, “Gazonga. Me likey.”
The social networking site Goodreads can swoop in and become your own personal book shopper. You input your literary likes and dislikes, and it generates on-point recommendations for you based on real people’s ratings and opinions. It’s also an addictive way to share your picks and pans–especially with your friends on Facebook. In fact, Goodreads has teamed up with Facebook to create an app that’s much more exciting and way less stressful than clothes shopping.
To show their mutual love, Facebook is helping Goodreads promote up-to-the-minute book recommendations. Below is a list of reads that real people love (including me because I’m a long-time user). All of them were rated four stars (out of five) or above. Some–like Jenny Lawson’s Let’s Pretend This Never Happened–I totally loved. This is a great summer reading list. But you’re on your own when it comes to that dress.
1. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
4.27 Average Rating
This psychological thriller is the highest rated adult novel getting shared on the Goodreads app right now. When Amy disappears on the morning of her anniversary, suspicion is cast on her elusive husband, Nick. Readers must choose sides as they read the couple’s conflicting accounts. (more…)
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Bared to You, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Cheryl Strayed, Facebook, Gone Girl, Goodreads, Home Front, Jenny Lawson, John Green, Katherine Boo, Let's Pretend this Never Happened, Rachel Maddow, Steal Like an Artist, The Fault in Our Stars, The Shoemaker's Wife, The Snow Child, Wild | Categories:
Best Of Lists, Best Sellers, Fiction, Memoirs, Mom Must Read, Mommy Bloggers, Must Read, Popular Books
