Notable Books of the Year
I usually write about this in my personal blog but this year I want to cover it here. The New York Times has published its 100 notable books of the year. Every year I like to recommend the books I have read from the list:
“Strange Piece of Paradise” (Terri Jentz)
I am biased here as I know Terri and re-connected with her after reading her spectacular book. Her riveting memoir of her attack in the 70s in Oregon widens into a look at violence and justice in America. I am hoping that this book will make the top ten list. It certainly deserves a place there this year.
“Arthur & George” (Julian Barnes)
I loved this historical novel about how Arthur Conan Doyle solves a crime and exonerates an English man of Indian descent.
“Eat the Document: A Novel” (Dana Spiotta)
This novel was also nominated for a National Book Award. Very interesting story of a woman who goes underground in the 60s.
“The Emperor's Children” (Claire Messud)
This is one of the books that I could not put down. It is set just prior to 9/11 in New York. A great character-driven novel. A great read.
“The Inheritance of Loss” (Kiran Desai)
Winner of the Booker Prize. Beautiful. Terribly sad.
Odd, post-modern, gothic novel. I liked it.
“Suite Française” (Irene Nemirovsky)
One of my favorite books this year. Found in an attic and only recently published in French and English. Beautiful. Tragic. You must read the appendices to get a full measure of the loss here.
“Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West” (Hampton Sides)
I am in the middle of this book. It is a fascinating history of the west told through the biography of Kit Carson.
“Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq” (Thomas E. Ricks)
Probably the best book on Iraq.
This is a great fun read about food. It inspired me to buy a pasta machine which now sits unused in my pantry.
“The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million” (Daniel Mendelsohn)
I am half way through this right now. it is a beautiful story of one man's discovery of the life stories of his family members lost in the Holocaust.
“Sweet and Low: A Family Story” (Rich Cohen)
I laughed all the way through this wonderful family history, which is also a text for how not to run a small business.
If there are books on the list you read and liked, please email me or post them as comments here. I like to keep a running list of books to recommend and read.
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