More Reading Suggestions…

Hello there!  It has been a whole year since I last posted.  I am clearly not a huge internet person, but I have honestly had a hard time thinking of things to write, too.  So, I thought that I would swim in safe waters.  Once again, here is a selection of books that I personally find very agreeable on a lazy summer day.  Some are old, some are new, and one is very difficult to find (in fact, I’m not entirely sure where my copy is either!).  I hope that someone out there will find something here that agrees with them.

The Shadow of The Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Penguin Books,  9780143034902

This was my first exposure to Zafon, and it made a huge fan out of me.  There is nothing necessarily deep or life-changing in his writing, but if you are looking for a good old-fashioned mystery novel, complete with foggy alleys and trench coats, you cannot get any better than this!  This book is what mystery is supposed to be.  It takes place in mid-20th century Spain, so the atmosphere is absolutely perfect.  It is also a book about books, and all of us book people can’t seem to get enough of that kind of thing.

The Angel’s Game, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Anchor Books, 9780767931113

Zafon’s second book to be published in the U.S. so far.  I recommend reading Shadow first, as there are some cameos of characters and places, which will make you appreciate this one more.   This is a dark and twisted labyrinth of madness, power, and love, and it is incredible.  The link above is for the paperback, but if you are into aesthetics, I would highly suggest looking for the hardcover, because it is a beautiful book.

His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman
Yearling Books, 9780440419518

This is the young adult trilogy that got all of the fundamentalist Christians up in a huff (if any of you are reading this, then sorry, but that’s the truth).  I suppose I can see why, with all of the downing on organized religion and everything, but there is actually a deep spirituality to this story, and in the end, it is just fiction.  For those of you that saw the ill-fated film version of The Golden Compass, know that the books are much better (as usual).  Anyway, this is a good-sized collection, so it should last through many a long afternoon.  The link is for the paperback boxed set, but there are a million versions of these books.

Who Fears Death, by Nnedi Okorafor
Daw Books, 9780756406172

I got this book from the bookstore that Wildcat works at.  It was an advance, fresh from the box and waiting for reviews.  Who Fears… is a “supernatural fantasy” that takes place in future Africa and revolves around a young woman conceived by rape.  The hatred surrounding her creation is the spine of the story, and is the very thing that she is trying to destroy.  I was extremely impressed by this novel, the first adult title that the award-winning author Okorafor has ever written.

The Madonnas of Echo Park, by Brando Skyhorse
Free Press, 9781439170809

This is the debut work from Skyhorse, a native of Echo Park, which is a neighborhood in LA.  The story follows a small cast of Mexican-American characters as their lives intertwine and weave together.  I also got this one out of the advance box, and I’m glad that I did.  While this is fiction, it certainly reflects the realities of life for many people, as it shows the struggles of assimilation, immigration, and generation gaps.  This book is neither for or against immigration – it effectively covers both arguments and does so in a way that emphasizes the human beings involved.

Kino no Tabi, by Keiichi Sigsawa
TokyoPop, 9781598164558

I was given this one, again as an advance, by a friend who owns an online anime store.  Originally written in Japanese, this is the story of a girl and her motorcycle as they roam over a fictional land.  This is an understated and quiet book that has moral and philosophical thoughts to spare, and a few unnecessary illustrations.  There were supposed to be more in this series, I guess, but that didn’t seem to happen.   Finding one of these is now rather difficult (that is why there is no link), and new ones from third parties can be quite expensive, but if you are looking for something to do, then the hunt just might be fun!

The World Without Us, by Alan Weisman
Picador USA, 9780312427900

I know that a lot of people have already read this book, or watched the rip-off television program, but I still wanted to mention it.  If you have no idea what I am talking about, then let me tell you.  This non-fiction book is about exactly what you think it is about.  I personally found it to be rather meditative and uplifting.  I have read some reviews that said it was depressing, and “why would someone want to write a book about that?”  To be honest, the world presented here sounds like a lovely place without all of us loud, stinky people.  It is comforting to know that the harm we are doing will eventually heal itself once we are gone.

Alright, another list done.  Hopefully I will be able to write more posts before next summer, but I can’t be sure.  Have a great summer everyone, and as usual, please support your local bookseller.  The links above are to Wildcat’s store, where you can order the books and have them shipped anywhere in the world (all without getting Amazon involved. Grrrrrr).

Fall Reading Suggestions

My lovely wife Grace had some summer reading suggestions, and I thought why not do some for fall?  Here’s six books that I highly recommend plunging into as we slip into autumn.

Fiction

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley (H/C, 9780385342308, $23.00) – As I mention in my Impressions of the book, I was really tickled by how readable this book was.  Flavia de Luce is a marvelous character who quickly becomes likable to follow, and the overall plot of the book is excellently done.  I don’t care for mystery novels all that much, but this one is definitely worth your time.

Watership Down, by Richard Adams (P/B, 9780743277709, $15.00) – Adams happens to be one of Grace’s favorite authors, and after finishing Watership Down, I can understand why.  Adams gets into the psyche of a group of rabbits, endears them with quaint British dialogue and manners, and prods them through several hardships until the end.  I found the book to be quite engaging, and loved the characters of Hazel and Bigwig.  The later arc of the book really picks up, and the final scene is very touching.  A well-written classic that deserves such a title.

Poetry

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman (various copies are available, but I prefer the Deathbed edition, 9780679783428, $13.95) – Whitman broke, rewrote and birthed a new kind of poetry that took a long time to be accepted.  Sadly, Whitman never had a chance to see much of his impact during his lifetime, but Whitman’s lyrics are refreshing to read.  His love of life, America and nature leap off of the pages, and I was floored with his poems.  The Deathbed Edition collects vast amounts of poetry beyond the original publication that is more frequently printed today (which features 12 poems), and many of these later works, like the set “Drum-Taps” that were inspired by the Civil War, are just amazing.

Plays

Cyrano de Bergerac, by Edmond Rostand (multiple editions exist, with varying translations.  I prefer the Limited Edition Club’s exquisite Louis Untermeyer translation, but that is not currently in print in a mass-market form.  Heritage Press copies can be found somewhat regularly in used book shops for fairly cheap, or you can always check used book sites like ABEBooks) – Having been in a production of this marvelous play (I was De Guiche), this majestic play remains a vital memory of my theater days.  Untermeyer makes the play come to life with his translation, taking Rostand’s original French and managing to recapture that magic in English.  Emotions are clear, the dialogue snappy and joyous, and the pacing perfect.  I wish we could have been able to use this translation as our acting script!

Non-Fiction

The Fallen Sky: An Intimate History of Shooting Stars by Christopher Cokinos (H/C, 9781585427208, $27.95) – I loved the ARC of this so much that I wrote up a piece for IndieBound.  I really don’t know if I can express my enjoyment any more than I did there, so I’m going to quote myself…which is a little strange…

“In this incredibly personal book, Cokinos has successfully blended natural science, biographical memoir, and bits of humor into an immensely engaging read. Deftly splitting his focus between the dedicated people who have hunted meteors over the years (including himself) and the mythical space rocks themselves, Cokinos has written one of those rare books where every page was a pleasure to take in.”
– Jerry Fieldsted, Windows on the World-Books & Art, Mariposa, CA

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong (revised) by James W. Loewen (H/C 9781595583260, $26.95, or P/B, 9780743296281, $16.00) – Just in time for school!  Loewen’s rollicking argument is a fantastic book that uncovers many of the deceits, half-truths and outright omissions from your high school U.S. history textbooks, and proceeds to set the record straight in the process.  What’s truly frightening about this book is how many different textbooks do this kind of trickery.  The revised edition covers 11 texts, and compares his earlier evaluations to today’s popular choices.  And things have gotten worse in some cases!  If you want an eye-opening book that will likely get you psyched about the real history of this country, and to also get you a touch angry about your old/current history courses (and if you’re enrolled in one now, you’ll have evidence to throw back at some of these fallacies!), this is the book to buy.

I hope that you’ll purchase these (if any catch your fancy) at your local independent bookseller. If you’re fortunate to have one in your area, that is.  IndieBound has a handy search feature that can help you find the nearest Indie to you. Give back to your community! Amazon’s got enough money (and they don’t share thanks to their lack of sales tax, and they don’t make a profit anyway), so please track down an Indie and help them out with a purchase. It may cost a little more, but you’re supporting a local business, helping locals to have fun jobs, and the money will more than likely be spent right back into the community’s other businesses. If you’re one of the unfortunate who don’t have an Indie nearby, you can always order books from my store. Helps me stay employed, and I can guarantee that my boss puts his profits right back into our community here. *end shameless promotion*

Summer Reading Suggestions…

Okay, here goes my first post… ever.  With finals behind me and a vast summer approaching, I have been eagerly perusing my bookshelves. And while I have some specific reads in mind, there may be some individuals out there who are floundering in the uncertainty of book selection.  So I thought I would list some suggestions.  These are titles that I have read and can confidently recommend as satisfying summer literature. 

Fiction:

The Greek Passion, by Nikos Kazantzakis
Not currently in print, try used.

This is the first Kazantzakis book that I read, and is still my favorite.  Kazantzakis was Greek and all of his novels are set in Greece, with incredibly rich, lusty, and intense characters and emotions.  These people are real, often damaged, and never idealized.  This gritty story follows an entire village through a passion play (a reenactment of Christ’s last days).  I know that the subject matter may turn some people off, but this is not the usual treatment.  Though Kazantzakis was a religious man, he did not pull his punches when it came to critiquing his own faith.

American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
Harper, 978-0060558123

Neil Gaiman is one of the best fiction authors I have ever read, and American Gods is his best book.  It is fairly long (588 pages), which is perfect for those long, hot, summer days. It reads like an epic, with a huge cast of characters and lots of mystery and intrigue.  As its title suggests, this book pertains to gods (American ones, to be specific). Not a terribly philosophical novel, just good, thick, entertainment.

The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle
Roc Trade, 978-0451450524

One of the modern classics of fantasy writing.  Beautiful, often poetic, and occasionally hilarious.  I read this first when I was very young and I loved it. Re-reading it as an adult, I was able to grasp the subtlety and emotion of it.  I am sure that most people have already read this book,  but if you haven’t, then you should.

Foucault’s Pendulum, by Umberto Eco
Mariner Books, 978-0156032971

Another long one (533 pages), and wow, this book is hard on one’s brain. Not necessarily a casual read, this book requires a couple of foreign language dictionaries and a few encyclopedias.  The premise is hard to explain, but it involves the Knights Templar, ancient codes, religion, mythology, Jesuits, physics, mathematics, the occult, and well… just about everything.  Anyway, this an very dense read and it has a tendency to cause headaches.  I also recommend Eco’s novel The Name Of The Rose, which also creates some cranial pain. But, either way, you will definitely learn something.

Flatland, by Edwin A. Abbott
There are so many editions of this book… just pick one

Flatland is a wonderful read that I think of as a sort of mental exercise.  It’s a trip to get your mind around.  The amazing part is that it was written way back in 1884. Yep, that’s right, this book is ancient. This is a really fun book, and it has some social significance to boot. Just remember, before anyone gets offended, it was written in 1884.

Einstein’s Dreams, by Alan Lightman
Random House, 9781400077809

A slim book, with short chapters that are actually more like individual stories.  It is very philosophical and it invites much reflection. Beautiful thoughts on the nature and varieties of time. 

Non-Fiction:

The Lucifer Effect, by Philip Zimbardo
Random House, 9780812974447

This book had a real impact on me.  It deals with some really tough topics, and can be emotionally difficult at times, but it offers a completely unique perspective on human behavior.  Dr. Zimbardo led the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment in 1971, which is discussed (among other things) in this book. Eye-opening and fascinating.

Bonk, by Mary Roach
Norton, W.W., and Co., Inc.,9780393334791

Sex, sex, sex… Yeah, this is a good book. One of humanity’s favorite topics is dealt with in a funny yet informative way. this book will make you laugh until your sides hurt, give you some useful ideas, and probably make you scrunch your nose in disgust a few times.  I don’t recommend reading it in public places…especially you guys out there.

What We Believe But Can Not Prove, by John Brockman
HarperCollins, 9780060841812

I really like this book. It is full of illuminating ideas and thought-provoking suggestions from more than one hundred prominent scientists.  Yes, even scientists can put value in faith, feeling, and belief sometimes.

Cosmos, by Carl Sagan
Random House, 9780345331359

This book changed my life, literally. It is a rare gem indeed.  Although it is a bit dated now, it still shines with the most optimism and wonder that I have ever encountered in a book.  It will leave you awestruck with the wonders of the universe and all that is in it. I know that sounds awfully mushy, but it’s true.  The old hardcover is much better, as it has lots of pictures, and we all like those. Oh, by the way… I have four copies of this book.

So, there it is. I hope someone, somewhere, found my little list useful. And please, support your local independent bookseller, because, honestly, Amazon only wants your soul. Oh, and if anybody has books that they would add to this list, then by all means, let me know.