When I was a wee, little thing, wee(er) and little(er) than I am now, I was a member of my small town's summertime Library Reading Club. Every week during my summer vacation my mother would take me to the library's children's section so I could pick out my next few books.
At least I assume she did. I don't really remember her taking me at all but I'm pretty sure I didn't ride my Big Wheel there, although I could have hitchhiked.
I do remember the book club, and the hushed tone of the library with the only sound being the flipping of paper pages and the sliding of books in and out of the shelves. All the disturbing sounds, the clangs and bangs of file cabinets and such, absorbed by the low pile carpet.
I'd make my way downstairs, to the children's section to have my paper stamped, confirming that I had read my previous weeks books. Having officially established I was a reading fool, I wandered into the stacks, looking at book after book, their protective plastic covers crinkling along the spine as I opened them hoping to discover my next read.
I'm not sure what you could call the feeling I had wandering around in that library or the feeling I got knowing I was going to be able to go home and read the stories I'd chosen but it was probably a cross between utter joy, love, and batshit crazy.
I have always loved reading to the point of insanity. I get anxious if I don't have at least 5 books waiting to read. I need to read before I go to bed no matter how tired I am. I'll do everything short of propping my eyelids open with toothpicks Tom & Jerry style to get at least a few more pages in.
I read "literature", I read humour and I read crap. I read it all, depending on my mood. And the 5 Books I've Read plus 5 Books I'm Gonna Read posts pretty much reflect that.
The Illegal - The Illegal is Lawrence Hill's most engaging book since The Book of Negroes (sometimes titled Someone Knows My Name). Hill lives about 10 minutes from me. That means nothing, I just thought I'd throw it in there in case it makes you think I'm a bit more special because of it. The story revolves around a marathon runner from a small, corrupt African country. This is how Amazon describes it:
All Keita has ever wanted to do is to run. Running means respect and wealth at home. His native Zantoroland, a fictionalized country whose tyrants are eerily familiar, turns out the fastest marathoners on earth. But after his journalist father is killed for his outspoken political views, Keita must flee to the wealthy nation of Freedom State―a country engaged in a crackdown on all undocumented people.
There, Keita becomes a part of the new underground. He learns what it means to live as an illegal: surfacing to earn cash prizes by running local races and assessing whether the people he meets will be kind or turn him in. As the authorities seek to arrest Keita, he strives to elude capture and ransom his sister, who has been kidnapped.
Set in an imagined country bearing a striking resemblance to our own, this tension-filled novel casts its eye on race, human potential, and what it means to belong.
I loved this book and couldn't wait to go to bed to read it. That's the sign of a good book.
Tuesday Nights in 1980 - This novel by first time author Molly Prentiss takes place in New York City's art scene of the 1980s. It focuses mainly on 3 characters, Raul an artist who has escaped escalating violence in Argentina, small town Idaho Lucy and an art critic with the condition Synesthesia. I quite liked it. But I'm not sure I'll remember it. Does that make sense?
We Were Liars - THIS one I will remember. I really loved We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. It's the story of The Sinclairs; filthy rich, old money democrats who summer at their private island off of Martha's Vineyard. The back of the book jacket says it best:
We are Sinclairs.
No one is needy.
No one is wrong.
We live, at least in the summertime, on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts.
Perhaps that is all you need to know.
Except that some of us are liars.
Plainsong - Plainsong by Kent Haruf was recommended to me by my neighbour Jane as she drove past in her car. I believe she had read my latest post on books and screamed out of the car "READ PLAINSONG BY KENT HARUFFFFFFffffffff. " And then she was gone. Plainsong is a quiet, beautiful little book. "Tom Guthrie is a high school teacher whose wife can't--or won't--get out of bed; the McPherons are two bachelor brothers who know little about the world beyond their farm gate; Victoria Roubideaux is a pregnant 17-year-old with no place to turn. Their lives parallel each other in much the same way any small-town lives would--until Maggie Jones, another teacher, makes them intersect." (from Amazon) Kent Haruf has a follow up novel to Plainsong, called Eventide which will be getting added to the dwindling stack of books beside my bed soon.
Fifteen Dogs - I thought this book was stupid. There I said it. I know it probably means I just didn't get it, or didn't read into it far enough, or understand the metaphors or allegory or whatever else, but even if I did, I still wouldn't have liked it. The book's a great idea. It's a novel that humanizes 15 dogs and takes you on their journey through life as they break out of a dog shelter. Or was it a vet's office? Anyhow, for me it was sad and depressing and generally awful. It made me feel hateful and pessimistic towards both dogs and humans. Mind you I only managed to get halfway through it before flinging it across the room and curling up with my cat.
Maeve's Times - Maeve Binchy is one of the great storytellers of our time. Her characters and settings are funny, warm, ordinary, and extraordinary. If I could use only one word to describe Maeve Binchy stories it would be "comfortable". Maeve Binchy died in 2012. This is a collection of her short stories as they appeared in The Irish Times from the 1960's to the time of her death. Before and during her time as a novelist, Binchy was a reporter, correspondent and columnist for the paper.
Flight Behavior - I'm a very love it or hate it kind of reader with Barbara Kingsolver. I loved The Poisonwood Bible. I did not love The Lacuna. I loved Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. I did not love The Bean Trees. I have a hunch Flight Behavior is going to be a love it for me. Here's the excerpt from Amazon:
Set in the present day in the rural community of Feathertown, Tennessee, Flight Behavior tells the story of Dellarobia Turnbow, a petite, razor-sharp 29-year-old who nurtured worldly ambitions before becoming pregnant and marrying at seventeen. Now, after more than a decade of tending to small children on a failing farm, oppressed by poverty, isolation and her husband's antagonistic family, she has mitigated her boredom by surrendering to an obsessive flirtation with a handsome younger man.
In the opening scene, Dellarobia is headed for a secluded mountain cabin to meet this man and initiate what she expects will be a self-destructive affair. But the tryst never happens. Instead, she walks into something on the mountainside she cannot explain or understand: a forested valley filled with silent red fire that appears to her a miracle.
After years lived entirely in the confines of one small house, Dellarobia finds her path suddenly opening out, chapter by chapter, into blunt and confrontational engagement with her family, her church, her town, her continent, and finally the world at large.
I'm guessing that field of fire is butterflies, but I guess I'll have to read it to find out. Which I will. Probably some time this summer.
The High Mountains of Portugal - I bought this latest book by Life of Pi author Yann Martel before I knew anything about it. I loved Life of Pi and so did over 6,000 Amazon reviewers. 60% of them gave it the highest rating, 5 stars. Now that I own The High Mountains of Portugal, I looked up a few reviews on Amazon where the word "slog" is used a disturbing amount of times to describe what it's like to get through.
The Rosie Effect - The Rosie Effect is the follow up novel to the wildly, out-of-the-blue popular novel The Rosie Project; a hilarious and charming novel about a man with Aspergers figuring out how to work love into his regimented life. I'm really looking forward to reading the light and entertaining Rosie Effect after reading the book I'm reading right now ...
Barkskins - I've included Barkskins in my "gonna read" books because even though I've started it, I haven't finished it. I'm on page 41 of the over 700 page novel from Pulitzer Prize winning author Annie Proulx who wrote The Shipping News and Brokeback Mountain. This is not what you would call an easy read but it's what you'd call a great read. It's already reminding me of Lonesome Dove. Not the story, but the way, even only 40 pages in, I feel for these characters. I know them. I know where they live and how they work. I'm a part of their world, I'm not just reading about it. I'm immersed.
Barkskins tells the stories of 2 very different men and generations of their descendants from the day they land in "New France" (Canada) in the late 1600's. Both are taken on as wood cutters (Barkskins) to clear the wild forests of a landowner.
So that's 5 more books down and 5 more to go in my lifelong journey of reading. Gold stars for me. And since you're still here reading this, I imagine gold stars for you too.
Happy reading.
Kelly
I am a reader too, but just cannot deal with fiction. Any great non-fiction recommendations?
Bobbi
Have you tried Bill Bryson ?
Becky
Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods was very good.
TucsonPatty
Read the "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Kingsolver...it is nonfiction. She also has some great essays and a book on mining towns here in the Southwest.
Leslie
I am trusting you Karen :-) I just ordered We Were Liars and Plainsong. I don't have time to read like I used to so I am counting on these to be wonderful.
Your description of going to the library as a child, walking through the books and working on a reading list matches my childhood memories.
When I was a child, more years ago than I like to admit, my mother would leave me in the bookstore to look at books while she shopped. I knew to stay put because when she returned she would buy me a book or two (sometimes three). She would be arrested today :-0
As an elementary student, two or three times a year, we could order books through the school. The prices were .75 to $2.00. My order was usually about $20.00. Looking back I have no idea how my parents afforded it. I suspect we ate hard boiled eggs in cream sauce on toast a lot that month.
I had not thought about those times in a long time, great memories. Thanks.
Tracy Martinez
I too loved going to the library as a child. I've been an avid reader my whole life. A few I would highly recommend are The Women's Room (it's pretty old but good) The Dogs of Babel, and Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk who wrote Fight Club It is different and amazing(Don't read if you are offended by foul language and homosexual sex though)
Gonna have to check out We Were Liars
Jody
I read Flight Behavior. I wanted to suggest that you would enjoy it because of the monarch aspect of the story but I am not good at remembering titles of books. It's kind of like when you meet a lot of people, I will see a book and remember if I liked it or not but not remember details. It wasn't my favorite Kingsolver but I enjoyed it. Prodigal Summer was a favorite. Enjoy!
Elaine
Thank you, Karen, for the most perfect timing!! I'm having another knee replaced very soon and like you, I panic when I have nothing to read! I had already read many of your recommended books (before finding your blog) and thoroughly enjoyed them so I know I'll like your new list. I'm also jotting down the many suggestions of your readers. My problem is I can't put a (good) book down so I go through a book in two evenings. I also use toothpicks and read 'til 2:00 a.m. or so. There's nothing like a good book (and a warm purring cat)!
Lynne
Way back during the lazy days of summer the highlight of my week was going to the library, I spent hours choosing the stack to bring home and then immersed myself in other worlds. I averaged a book a day, the most pressing thing on my agenda was brushing brocolli out of my braces, and it wasn't uncommon for me to have a flashlight under the covers in order to read into the wee hours.
I swore then that I would become a librarian because I couldn't imagine anything better to do with my life (I worked with special needs kids instead but still dream of what might have been) the scents and sounds of the library were and still are the best part of my week.
Happy reading Karen, I will be sure to check out your list to add to my growing pile beside the bed :)
Anne
The Goldfinch by Donna Tarrt, won the 2014 Pulitzer. It is one of my favourite reads EVER. I am an avid reader but have a bad habit of devouring fiction like jellybeans and forgetting what I've read fairly quickly especially when it comes to my secret mystery-genre junk-read fixes. For a laugh out loud read try Jonas Jonasson's The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. I couldn't resist an unsolicited recommendation from a fellow Library Reading Club veteran. I was also a contributing member of my local newspaper's Junior Press Club which published contests and contributions from kids in the Saturday paper right next to the weekly funnies. Anybody else remember these literacy encouraging vehicles?
Lauren from Winnipeg
I agree about 15 Dogs. I could barely get through the sample I downloaded.
I didn't like the Poisonwood Bible when I first read it but loved it the second time. Same goes for The Shipping News. That's why I always reread books (unless I absolutely hated it). Sometimes you are just not in the mood or right frame of mind for a certain book and it will really influence your opinion.
One of my favourites is The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler. No idea how often I've read that one. Also a rare occurrence where the movie version was good.
Am I missing something about Maeve Binchy? I've only read one (no idea which one) and Danielle Steele came to me mind (read Ick!) Maybe I just got one of her less successful books?I didn't reread that one because it was too close to the "hated it".
Karen
No!!!! LOL. Maeve Binchy is nothing, nothing like Danielle Steele. Not one iota. Maeve Binchy is very homey and village-like and endearing and funny. So. Basically the opposite of Danielle Steele. ~ karen!
Lauren from Winnipeg
I'll give her another go then!
Amy in KC
I must be in the minority because I thought We Were Liars was pretty bad. It was well-written in the sense that there is this unknown thing that happened, so I flew threw it because of that suspense. But overall, I thought the story was weak and relied on a lot of gimmicks.
Not to take away anything from anyone who enjoyed it, though. I say as long as people are reading books still, that's a good thing. :)
Plainsong sounds good; I'm adding it to my list!
Barb
I really, REALLY loved We Were Liars. That was a book that stuck with me long after I was done with it. I loved that they had a map of the island and the houses to keep it all straight. I just finished The Rosie Project last week and loved that one too. Will have to read The Rosie Effect next. Both Liars and Rosie Project are being made into films and I fear that they will not translate into film very well. For very different reason but I don't want to spoil anything for anyone that hasn't read those two books. What do you think?
Ei Con
Note that, in my library at least, We Are Liars is shelved in the YA section. Not that that's a bad thing.
Teddee Grace
When I was in first grade we were all sitting in our little wooden chairs in a semi-circle around our teacher who sat in a wooden armchair. Dick and Jane were off on a road trip. We had been learning to read phonetically and when we came to a very long word our teacher asked if anyone knew what it was. I set about pronouncing it to myself according to the rules we'd been taught and suddenly realized I was saying "automobile." Talk about a light bulb moment. I was so excited I shouted it out. I have to say, when people ask, and for whatever it's worth, that was the highlight of my entire life...and I'm 72. Nothing can compare to the realization that you've been given the key to knowledge. I read an average of three books a week. I've noted your recommendations and thanks for contributing to my continuing adventure.
Pam'a
I love that story. :)
Deborah
Friends in my first book group called me "the inhaler." Thanks for these great leads. Do you know Jacqueline Winspeare's Maise Dobbs series? Like Binchey, she's created a great character and interesting stories, but also rooted in historical events. Eerie parallels to world politics today. All are good, but the 3rd book is where I got completely hooked. If you liked Plainsong, you might like Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. I would never have chosen it, but it was our town's common read. Amazing writing, weird characters, bizzare story that somehow rang absolutely true. I'm so glad I read it.
Helen Whaley
Thank you so much for adding links for each book. It's a wonderful thing to be able to add them to my Amazon list without having to track them down. Much appreciated.
Harking back to a much earlier thread, you and many readers recommended Carl Hiaason's books. Which would be best to begin with? I'm currently reading Native Girl and enjoying it quite well. I was expecting more humour perhaps. It's definitely worth finishing - just to discover the outcome.
Sylvia Estey
I've read most of his, some great, some good. All have some very humorous and twisted characters!
Ev Wilcox
Even though I enjoy your posts about books, I didn't know I was in touch with another true lover of reading! I too read a lot as a child (taught myself how to read before I started school), and even today I usually have two books going at the same time. What dishes? What laundry? On your recommend, I read "All The Light You Cannot See". Grim, sweet, sad, very well written. Anyway, I too read before bed every night-one of my better habits. Thanks for sharing books with us Karen!
Theresa G. Chickering
Ev - Recently I've gone through my countless shelves of books and come up with twenty-five or thirty "best, ever, reads". "All the Light You cannot See" made the cut!
Theresa
Middlefield Connecticut USA
danni
Small town girl here, allowed to walk to the library as a child and lived there, would just go read everything straight across the shelf and on to the next row... I still remember how magic it felt when all of a sudden it clicked and I could read....
I now have the urge to walk out of work and go to the library!
Kelly Sidoryk
Can't believe no one has mentioned Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer! One of my all time favourites. But also glad to hear the love it or hate it opinion. Great motivation to add to the reading list. Might be hard now that the growing season is here.
Safetydog
I loved Prodigal Summer! Have read it several times. That book introduced me to Kingsolver.
Amy in KC
I'm a big Kingsolver fan and I also liked Prodigal Summer a lot. Flight Behavior was only OK and I...*ducks*...hated the Poisonwood Bible. I know.
But I LOVE the Bean Trees and Animal Dreams. Those are my top two favorites of hers (for now!).
Sylvia Estey
Me too! The Bean Trees and Animal Dreams were definitely favourites.
LisaS
Hey Karen! My mother is an new upcoming author! She started by writing (in exaggeration) about life and circumstances with the horses and interesting folks at the racetrack. She's since started a series of children's book based on my daughters and their first pony, George. Now she's on her second murder mystery series and also has a series for tweens. You should check out her books. They're super fun! And my mama certainly has a flair for drama. <3 Check out her websites!
http://www.cindymcwriter.com/home.html and http://www.georgethepony.com/home.html
Tris
Maeve! I love her and miss her so much. Her books are my go to staple when life is crazy and I just need some quiet time. I even named a cat after her.
Sylvia Estey
A favourite of mine too. Love how all the characters flow in and out of each story.
Meredith
Two books I've loved recently and plan to re-read after a time are about Sarah and Gerald Murphy, a very wealthy married couple that were friends with and patrons of Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Picasso, Cole Porter and other members of the Lost Generation. So engaging for non-fiction....painting a detailed picture of a way of life that is gone now.
Everybody Was So Young by Amanda Vaill
Villa America: A Novel by Liza Klaussman
Back in print (and I haven't read yet but want to) Living Well is the Best Revenge by Calvin Tomkins....a portait of the Murphys published in the 1970s.