E-ville remediation out our window, and our local gardner remediating the fringe of Sherwin Place
Note: E-book unless otherwise noted
Top picks: (the obvious) THB liked these books a lot and will add a short note to each
The Tiger’s Wife, Tea Obreht – A post-Balkan war story (novel) mixed with a young doctor’s retelling of her grandfather’s life and his fables passed along to her
Play Their Hearts Out, George Dohrmann – (non-fiction) everything you feared about how sports is corrupting our youth, particularly the talented young ones. The kids have now reached college age, so you can find them and find out where they’ve ended up (for most part)
A Rope and a Prayer, Rohde and Mulvihill – Audio, as read by the authors, about Rohde’s capture in Afghanistan and Mulvihill’s (Rohde’s new bride) efforts to ransom him
Next, James Hynes – A very fast paced novel in the post-9/11 world come back to life. You’ll want to avoid being high up in high rises after this one.
A Life, Keith Richards – Audio, oddly (and longly…25 hours worth!) read by Johnny Depp and Keith. And, all it lacked was the Stones songs mixed in at the appropriate time.
The Unnamed, Joshua Ferris – A novel relating a mysterious mental illness that forces the main character to get up and start walking. For all those that wished they could walk out of their own lives, this will convince you to stay put.
Ransom, David Malouf and Lost Books of the Odyssey, Zachary Mason – THB normally detests joining books for a review, so this must be an exception. If you want two fast reads that illuminate the Iliad and the Odyssey (a THB fave), THB recommends them back-to-back.
The Seasons on Henry’s Farm, Terry Brockman – Why small farming, however much it means to saving the planet (and it would mean a lot if practiced the way Henry does), will never happen. It takes way too much effort and a lot of free labor. Depressing…unless you enjoy mega-agriculture
The Privileges, Jonathan Dee – A novel of how a “charmed” couple are ruined (by their odd and spoiled children? Or did they do it to themselves)
Recommended: Enjoyed, and THB adds a short note if pertinent (to THB!)
Skippy Dies, Paul Murray – one of several books on the list where the main character dies shortly into the book (and, I think they were mostly by British authors…). This one is a satire about 14 year old boys in boarding school, complete with a Penn State pre-creation.
A Strange Room, Damon Galgut
Open, Andre Agassi – Does he really hate tennis? He says so over and over and over again…
Social Animal, David Brooks – Find someone you trust, and read a chapter and discuss. Repeat (just “the read a chapter and discuss”, none of us have enough people we trust to switch THAT after each chapter)
By Nightfall, Michael Cunningham – Novel
Half a Life, Davin Strauss – Author struck and killed a bike rider when he was 18, relates his thoughts 20 years later
Man In the Woods, Scott Spencer - Novel
Bound, Antonya Nelson - Novel
Three Stations, Martin Cruz Smith – More Renko
To a Mountain in Tibet, Colin Thubron – Audio, non-fiction
Long for this World, Jonathan Weiner – By the author of Beak of the Finch, a THB top twenty all-time book, looking at what science is (and is not doing) about extending life.
Everything, Kevin Canty - Novel
IOU, John Lanchester – A reasonably short read about the underpinnings of the financial disaster of the last few years
The Imperfectionists, Tom Rachmann - Novel
Matterhorn, Karl Marlantes – Novel, another Viet Nam book (THB has read a lot of these), takes place on fire bases in the early days of the expansion of the war
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot - Non-fiction tracking of genes and scientific research
Sultan’s Shadow, Christine Bird - Novel
Running the Books, Avi Steinberg, Audio, a young prison librarian relates episodes from his first few years on the job
The Lotus Eaters, Tatjana Soli - Novel
The Bucolic Plague, Josh Kilmer-Purcell, non-fiction story of two gay guys who decide to have a second place in the country and the impact on their relationship and those around them. Since one of them works for Martha Stewart, there is at least one celebrity sighting
The Devil’s Highway, Luis Alberto Urrea – Hardback, and the telling of one specific tragedy of illegal immigrants crossing from Mexico into the US
Nine Lives, William Dalrymple: non-fiction stories of India
The Bullpen Gospels, Dirk Hayhurst, Non-fiction baseball book from minors to majors
Beneath the Lion’s Gate, Maaza Mengiste, Novel
The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books, Elif Batuman, Non-fiction
Neutral: Something of value, not enough to encourage reading (or listening)
A Sense of an Ending, Julian Barnes
1861, Adam Goodheart
My Korean Deli, Ben Ryder Howe – Audio
Savages, Dan Winslow
Compass Ross, John Casey
At Home in Japan, Rebecca Otowa – Hardback
Learning to Die in Miami, Carlos Eire
William Golding, John Carey
Then Came Evening, Brian Hart
Union Atlantic, Adam Haslett
Finding Chandra, Higham and Horwitz
Not Recommended: All but the first book on this list were not finished
The Longevity Project, Friedman and Martin. THB will condense if for you: if you want to live a long life, be conscientious, or even better, have a very conscientious partner that outlives you
Faithful Place, Tana French
The Pages, Murray Bail
Ilustrado, Miguel Syjuco
Mr Peanut, Adam Ross
The Hard Way Around, Geoffrey Wolff
Something Red, Jennifer Gilmore
Eight White Nights, Andre Aciman
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