Escapes & Pleasures
Escapes & Pleasures
1. Beth Noveck:
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough and Michael Braungar (read on Kindle)
The authors offer a compelling theory for a new kind of environmentalism, one that doesn't content itself with reusing and recycling products that are potentially even more dangerous the second time around. Instead, they explain what it means to design products right the first time to maximize what they term "eco-effectiveness." Not a new book but new to me. I found the explanation of how our common household products, even those we think of as eco-friendly or organic or healthy are off-gassing dangerous toxins to be fascinating. Even more interesting is that they have a recipe for what to do about it that focuses on actions the companies that make the products can take.
2.Cindy:
Sarah's Key, Tatiana de Rosnay - Nazi infiltration in Paris during WWII.
The Help: Kathryn Stockett - families in the deep south during slavery
Girl with Dragon Tatoo Trio: Stieg Larsson
Cutting for Stone: Abraham Verghese
3. Ellen Shapira
My two very most favorite books of the year were:
Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (F), Jamie Ford: A lovely story of a Chinese boy and a Japanese girl mostly set in Seatle during World War II.
Mudbound (F), Hilary Jordan: A powerful story of two families, one black and one white, set in the Mississippi Delta in the late 40's.
Others that I liked:
Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 (NF), Lawrence Wright: A detailed historical account of everything that led up to 9/11 and it reads like a suspense novel.
Little Bee (F), Chris Cleave: I am sure lots of people will have this on their list. It is a book to love and hate at the same time.
Art of Racing in the Rain (F), Garth Stein: A charming story about a race car driver and his wife who is dying of cancer told from the point of view of their dog.Sounds weird but is really a good read.
The Glass Room (F), Simon Mawer: A compelling story about a modern house built in eastern Europe by a wealthy Jewish man and his non Jewish wife between the two world wars. The book tells the story of all the different people who passed through the house until the present.
South of Broad (F), Pat Conroy: Not one of his very best books but still a good read.
The House at Riverton (F), Kate Morton: A good story about a woman who worked as a servant for a very wealthy British family during the first part of the 20th century. I also read The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton but liked this one better.
The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: A Jewish Family's Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World (NF), Lucette Matalon Lagnado:An interesting memoir that depicts life in Egypt in the late 40's and early 50's.
4. Kathleen Kroos
My summer reading consisted of the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer, you know the one about the vampires and werewolves. The movies were so popular I had to see what the books were all about.
Also,
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.
I forgot about these books until I saw one was to be released as a movie, I also recommend:
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (soon to be a movie)
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet by Jamie Ford
Moloka’I & Hawaii by Alan Brennert.
5. Nicko Margolies:
Here are two books I am quite looking forward to diving into:
Common as Air by Lewis Hyde - Written by one of my absolute favorite professors from college, this is the long awaited follow-up to his thoroughly thoughtful book from almost 30 years ago about the creative spirit called The Gift.
On Capitol Hill: The Struggle to Reform Congress and its Consequences, 1948-2000 by Julian E. Zelizer. This seems to be a must-read if I am to continue working and engaging in dialogue with my colleagues at Sunlight - it's been recommended to me by four people at work so far.
(ps - I came across this site recently and thought of you instantly: http://www.discovereads.com/)
6. Martha Curtin:
The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani is the best book I’ve read recently. It's set in 17th century Iran and focuses on the strengths, struggles, hardships and successes of a woman. Amazing.
7.KevinCurtin:
Blockade Billy by Stephen King. Seeing you're a baseball fan too, you may enjoy it as well. It isn't that creepy like most of his stuff, and its a quick read.
The Life and Work of Carl Rogers by Howard Kirschenbaum. He is a Counselor Educator at the Univ of Rochester and discusses Rogers from birth through his death. However, its about 600 pages.
The Tender Bar by JR Moehringer..
Iggy Pop: Open up and Bleed by Paul Trynka. This is a biography of the artist many would call the godfather of Punk rock.
Heidegger and a Hippo Walk Through Those Pearly Gates by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein. It would be considered philosophical AND humor and tackles the subjects of death and the afterlife. Not laugh out loud funny, but interesting and amusing.
They wrote another book called Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar which I plan to read.
8. Lydia Hill Slaby:
All of the books I sent to you over the summer still apply. Click Here.
Pleasure reading until June was all of my guilty pleasures to take my mind off of depressing economic books and planning the wedding -- Twilight Series, Harry Potter series, Percy Jackson series, etc.
Over the summer,
Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain's new book, entertaining but not as good as Kitchen Confidential
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, which was fascinating.
I'm bringing Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods and Steinbeck's East of Eden to Hawaii tomorrow. Love Bryson. From a Sunburned Country and Notes from a Small Island are two of my favorite travel narratives.
9.Stan Kessler:
The Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle by Dan Senor and Saul Singer. It is the amazing analysis and story of how a small country surrounded by immense wealth and dangerous neighbors, survive and CONTRIBUTE to and for all of us. It is a story for all of us, why has Israel been so successful, and maybe we can incorporate some of their successes into our businesses and lives.
10. Ellen Kessler:
I love Lee Child’s books about his protagonist Jack Reacher
I loved the Steig Larsson books (can't recall if I read them this year or before)
11. Judy White:
The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. For Christians, a very challenging book about what Jesus really taught us to do; for non-Christians, this is how it's supposed to be. Very readable, lively & fun too.
Human Cargo: A Journey Among Refugees by Caroline Moorehead. Well-written, very readable stories about the refugee reality all over the world -- a reality we should all be more aware of.
River of Doubt by Candice Millard. Riveting account of a little-known chapter in Theodore Roosevelt's life, when, discouraged by losing re-election, he explores an extremely remote river in South America and barely makes it back alive. It left me with great admiration for the way he acted among people who had no idea who he was. I loved this book.
The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich. One of my few fiction reads. For some reason I've never been able to get into Louise Erdrich's highly acclaimed books about Native Americans, but this one really pulled me in. Maybe it's the German butcher genes I carry.
Outcasts United by Warren St. John. True story of a Jordanian immigrant woman who organizes refugee youth into a soccer team in a little town outside Atlanta. This description would never have attracted me to read it, but I loved many facets of it: the dynamics of a little WASPish Georgia town being inundated with refugees; the character of the woman herself; the refugees' stories. Well written and highly recommended.
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson -- Mike and I loved this fictionalized story of the way the Japanese internment during WWII affected an island in Puget Sound that had many Japanese residents. There's a murder trial that reminded me of Twelve Angry Men. We watched the movie too but it would have been very confusing if we hadn't read the book first.
The Council of Dads by Bruce Feiler. Feiler, author of Walking the Bible and other good books, is diagnosed with what could be a fatal disease. His account of how he uses this situation to ensure that his small twin daughters will have excellent fathering if he isn't around is very inspiring.
Writing to Change the World by Mary Pipher. I'm a big fan of Mary Pipher, a psychotherapist and activist in Lincoln, Nebraska, and this book especially resonated with me. It's about, well, writing as a way to change the world. Very well written and insightful as are all her books.
Contenders include Country Driving by Peter Hessler, Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, A Princess Found by Sarah Culberson & Tracy Trivas, The Minds Eye by Oliver Sacks, Stones Into Schools by Greg Mortenson, and several others.
12. Kathy Camicia:
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoeet by David Mitchell. This book starts slow but by the time it ends you don’t want it to. If you are not familiar with David Mitchell, whom the New York Times calls the successor to Ian McEwan as a great British writer, I suggest Cloud Atlas which is generally considered his best. Short-listed for the Booker prize.
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson. Won this year’s Booker. I had never read his work before, but he is a brilliant and witty writer.
Spies of the Balkans by Alan Furst. Not his best all his books are fascinating. If you are not familiar with him all his spy novels take place in Europe from 1935 to 1939. You know what is coming and see the buildup to it.
Proust was a Neuroscientist (NF) by Jonah Lehrer. He describes in intelligible language the links between the arts and neuroscience by describing several artists and their discoveries.
13. Carrie Trauth:
I, Alex Cross, Jack and Jill, London Bridges, and Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas, all four by James Patterson
The Girl who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson
Going Rogue by Sarah Palin
The Secret Supper by Javier Sierra
The Street Lawyer by John Grisham
T is for Trespass and P is for Peril, by Sue Grafton
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
14. Larry Makinson:
It's a short list this year. Partly because I didn't read as much as the year before. Partly because everything was a letdown after The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy. And partly because this year, I didn't write down all the titles.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. Not just fiction, but serious - and memorable - literature. Absorbing, deep, works on many levels. Best book I read all year.
The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe. Saw an article about Tom Wolfe's latest project, so I looked this one up and read it for the first time, 23 years after it came out. Great fun, and I'm glad I didn't see the (awful) movie.
Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell. Another interesting exploration of things you never noticed before by this New Yorker's writer.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson. Sorry to see the trilogy end.
15. Mike White:
Mike was going to send you his favorite two books from the year, but he's never near the computer -- right now he's trying to start the tractor to plow the drive, and if not that he's on squad calls and fires, many of them in this cold weather. He might have included others, but I know he really liked two Andrew Bracevich books, Limits of Power and Washington Rules. He finds Bracevich a really good, clear thinker.
16. Ellen Miller:
Longest Book Read. Shantaram: A Novel by Gregory David Roberts. Endless but enjoyable novel about India. (Best when traveling there.)
Best Overall Writing and Story: Freedom: A Novel by Jonathan Franzen
Best Story: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Best Page Turner: 61 Hours, Lee Child (and others)
Most Different Book: Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos
The Imperfectionists: A Novel
Let the Great World Spin: A Novel, Colum NcCann
17. Kate Latts:
OK, here are a few of my top reads of the year. I read a few good ones, but nothing came close to matching The Help from 2009.
Molokai by Alan Brenert: A saga story following the lives of people who are exiled to Molokai with leprosy in the late 1800s/early 1900s. Excellent!
The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford: It is about the relationship between a young Japanese girl and Chinese boy living in Seattle during WWII. It reads fast and is a lovely story.
The Glass Room by Simon Mawer: About a house built in Czechoslovakia pre WWII and the various families that live in it over the years.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese: This is an excellent saga of a book. It is a great story but about 150 pages too long.
Mudbound by Hilary Jordan: This is a quick read and The Help like.
18. Micah Sifry:
I loved David Grossman's To the End of the Land. Absolutely the most powerful and moving book I've read all year. Not an easy read either, at least for the first 50 pages or so, but it will take you deep into the heart of modern Israeli life, how the country can break you and also make you.
I plowed through the Steig Larsson trilogy, but after a while my headson was hurtson so muchvik from all the svenvikhorviksonlassen that...well, actually the books were pretty fun.
In terms of nonfiction...
Both Bernard Avishai's The Hebrew Republic and Avram Burg's The Holocaust is Over; We Must Rise From Its Ashes were seminal reads for me, in terms of unearthing with clarity both how Israel has gone astray and how it might yet find a viable path forward to real peace and democracy.
Allison Fine and Beth Kanter's The Networked Nonprofit is a must-read for everyone who runs a nonprofit organization and wants to understand how to adapt to and thrive in our hypernetworked age.
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder left me dazzled at Paul Farmer's mission and passion.
Michael Lewis's The Big Short was disappointing. He knows where the bodies are buried and whose to blame, but he'll be damned if he really wants to make it that easy for the rest of us.
19. Bill Plitt:
Cutting for Stone by Verghese was the most fascinating book I've read in a long time because of its cross cultural nature, and because of the use of technical language, in this case, from the medical field, that lent to a more authentic tale.
River of Doubt by Millard provided insights to a portion of Teddy Roosevelt's life thatI had only heard about. I found the struggle between his life and his son's life gripping. I paddled every inch of the river with them.
Broken for You by Kallos was a beautiful story that ran across generations and did so through a brilliantly woven mosaic of many peoples' intimate lives.
Stones for Schools by Greg Mortenson gave me encouragement for the difficult journey ahead, and restored my hope in the future. Since the book was required reading for much of the senior staffs of the military, I wondered why the war is now not over? I guess the soldiers need to read it too.
Fatal Embrace: Christians, Jews, and the Search for Peace in the Holy Land by Mark Braverman, with forewords by Theologian Walter Brueggemann and Marcus Borg, is a must read for those who are seeking reconciliation in the Middle East. Mark, a friend and colleague, shares his own personal journey as an American Jew with deep roots in Israel and a new interpretation of Judaism in the modern world.
The Prisoners by Jeff Goldberg is a non-fiction account of the American Journalist who serves in the Israeli Defense Force of his experience as a guard in a Palestinian prison in the Negev desert and an encounter with the "the other".
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder also restored my hope in humanity and showed how one person can make a difference in the world. Having read the book before the earth quake in Haiti, the story gave me some insights into the complexity of that society and the depth of human misery that already existed
before the disaster. It was difficult to ask what impact Farmer and others might have achievedif the change they had initiated had a chance to run its course.
Why is Bobby Not Like Me, Mom? is written by wife, Kay Plitt, for children of ages 8+. It's a story about the relationship of two brothers, one of who's health is failing. It is illustrated beautifully by Shirley Schwartz. It should be soon available on Amazon.
20. Jackie Reed:
I have read a ton of mysteries and other stuff that isn’t particularly memorable. Sue Grafton and Tony Hillerman are my favorite mystery authors. However, Hillerman hasn’t written much lately. Is he even still living? Grafton, of course, is still writing her way through the alphabet. Her books are fun.
21. Leslie Kleinberg:
Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche by Ethan Watters I found it really interesting and important. It's about the globalization of Western psychiatry/psychology, with a lot about the influence of big Pharma, but also from a cultural anthropology
perspective.
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld -- I couldn't put it
down, much more sensitive and thought provoking than I thought it
would be when I judged it by its vaguely "chick-lit" cover!
22. Tiffany Lopez:
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann- great book, short stories intertwined by the man who walked the wire between the world trade towers in 1974. beautifully written, would recommend to anyone.
Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro - collection of short stories, pretty somber, but still good; not all stories end with happy endings. i would recommend to anyone who wants to read something a little different.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett - best book I've read in years. Total page turner, and I could have continued reading for years. Loved it, highly recommended!
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larsson - great book. These books got progressively better. Page turner, and it was nice to have closure.
23. Anita Rechler:
Two nonfiction books that are at opposite ends of human spirit illustrate the choices people make, some for good and others for evil. Recommend reading both.
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder is the story of how Paul Farmer chose to make a difference in the world. He could have been a prosperous, elite physician speaking at important meetings and attending to the rich and famous. Instead he has dedicated his life to not just healing the most destitute among us but preventing people from become sick by changing the very circumstances of their lives and the systems that conspire against them.
Too Big to Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin is the story of avarice, greed, and immorality that led to the fall of the world’s financial systems. Well educated professionals made choices very different from Paul Farmers! The fancy cars, expensive brownstones, conspicuous fund raising, extravagant wines, private planes, are symptoms of economic system that has lost all sense of what is descent, right, and fair, to say nothing of what makes solid business sense. And, despite being rescued by all of us, the derivatives that derive nothing other than wealth are still be traded and huge bonuses are still being paid.
24. Leslie Lieman-Sifry:
A banner year for hard covers, soft covers, iPad books, audio tapes/CDs... new, old and classics!
The Help, Kathryn Stockett *****
The Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth Stein *****
Mountains Beyond Mountains, Tracy Kidder *****
Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time, Greg Mortenson *****
32 Candles, Ernessa T. Carter ****
Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen****
Little Bee, Chris Cleave ****
The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck *****
The 19th Wife, David Ebershoff ***
The Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger ****
I Feel Bad About My Neck, Nora Ephron ***
That Old Cape Magic, Richard Russo**
Books on Tape/CD:
The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kid***** (Amazing reader!)
The Girls of Riyadh, Rajaa Al Sanea***
Brooklyn, Colm Toibin ****
The Reader, Bernhard Schlink ****
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession, Allison Hoover Bartlett ***
Beachcomers, Nancy Thayer **
Books on Tape/CD (returned to a High School reading list and enjoyed them more this time!):
The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne *****
Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck *****
The Adventures of Hukleberry Finn, Mark Twain *****
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald ***
Books on Tape/CD (listened to) my mother’s childhood favorites for her birthday:
Little Women, Louisa May Alcott ****
Gone With the Wind, Margaret Mitchell **** (42 CDs -- yikes!)
25. Sam Black:
Wolf Hall, Hilliary Mantel, 2009, historical fiction, a feat of the imagination as the author convincingly presents to you the outward life and inner dialogue of a senior minister to Henry VIII
Shining City, by Conor McPherson, 2009, wicked laugh-out-loud contemporary fiction, an ordinary salaryman in LA inherits his black-sheep brother's laundry business, which turns out to be a call girl service
Madame de Maintenon, by Veronica Buckley, 2009, biography of Louis XIV's second wife
Green Metropolis, 2009, essays by New Yorker writer David Owen, a journalist who thinks outside the box on environmental issues
The Captain, 1966, fiction by Jan de Hartog, a novel about what can happen in war at sea, and what happens to men in war. De Hartog is as good in his way as James Salter.
Johannes Brahms, by Jan Swafford, masterful biography, a window into the world of music in late-19th century Europe - a world very different from our contemporary cultural scene
Hotel du Lac, Anita Brookner. This short novel won the Booker Prize in 1984, a story about women in various stages of life and in various kinds of social relationships with each other
You Can Change the World, rev. 2007, a sappy title but a well-written history of the Ashoka Foundation, and a presentation (via examples) of the concept of social entrepreneurship -- creates insight in every chapter
26. Randy Candea:
A great year for mystery fans. In addition to Lee Child's "Reacher" series with the hero as vigilante and David Rosenfelt's series of books centered on Andy Carpenter (the rich, lazy, wisecracking lawyer) my two favorite mystery authors were Louise Penny and P.J. Tracy. Louise Penny writes from French Canada. Her series of books (8 that I know of) are centered in the town of Three Pines (a magical place where everyone would love to live). The main character is Chief Inspector Gamache, but all of her characters are enormously appealing. These books need to be read in order (starting with "Still Life") as the author's characters continue to develop from book to book. These are delightful books with little or no violence and full of understanding of human emotions and relationships. The P.J. Tracy series (five that I've found) is written by a mother and daughter team. Each is centered on a group of brilliant but seriously flawed computer misfits known as the Monkey Wrench crew. Fun reading with interesting plots. Also is best read in the order written (the first is called Monkey Wrench).
27. Richard Miller:
All of the Lee Child’s books (Well, 15 of the 16. I’m saving the newest for a time when I need a total escape. Main character is a bit similar to Steig Larsson’s Lisbth Sanders. Books are perhaps the male equivalent of ‘chick lit.’)
The Tender Bar by JR Moehringer. Honest. (I wrote of this book in more detail Here.)
Washington, A Life by Ron Chernow. My one presidential biography for this year (an annual rite). A very readable, personal, and almost psychological look at GW.
To The End of the Land by David Grossman. Don’t get hung up on the first 20+ pages.
The Mind’s Eye by Oliver Sacks. His latest descriptions of how the brain does and doesn’t work, including his own.
Open by Andre Agassi. One of the few ‘star’ autobiographies that isn’t just an attempt to make the star look good.
Garlic and Sapphire: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl. Quick and fun.
In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer by Irene Opdyke. A different take on the story of the century.
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell. He tells you why he thinks some folks are more successful than the rest of us.
The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zalon
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
28. Mary Lincer:
Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend. It's chock full of really engrossing information about segregated baseball in Alabama, where Mays started. Of course, since it was written, the Giants won their first California Series. The Say Hey Kid threw out a ball at some point in post-season, but then Bonds started showing up, and he was nowhere to be seen.
Those readers who only know Antoine de St. Exupery from Le Petit Prince should consider looking into Wind, Sand, and Stars and Night Flight. More deserts and planes--no homilies. The planet takes air cargo for granted in 2010. It hasn't yet been a century since St. Ex. pioneered Air Mail, yet we know little of the risks taken by those who flew it in the 1930s. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. . . .
More yesteryear in the 2 books of James Agee which were published in the 1960s, long after his death. Finally reading in their entirety his Letters to Father Flye and his Collected Short Prose saddens while it enlightens. The shadow of alcoholism extends over Agee's short life and career; the addictions that wrecked his cardiovascular system robbed us all of his heart (not just him) and his great mind, spirit, talent.
I re-read Melville's 1853 short story, Bartleby the Scrivener in order to teach it; and it's as good a depiction of ASD as Dickens' Barnaby Rudge was a few years earlier. Again, this difficult disability--un-identified for 90 more years after the story was written--is presented with compassion and accuracy. Long regarded as an allegory, the story now qualifies as realism if the reader knows facts about Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Right before he died in 1984, the great filmmaker Francois Truffaut updated his book length interview with Hitchcock. This book makes sense only for those readers who've seen Hitchcock's films; it's terrific hearing him comment on them. Fun fact: Hitch started his career writing inter-titles for silent films in London. The days of learning the craft of film on the job are as gone as planes with propellers and ball players who can practice loyalty to their teams.
29. Donna Pollet:
The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
Hunger Games Trilogy - Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay by Susan Collins
One Day by David Nicholls
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Bloodroot by Any Grenne (debut novel)--southern gothic in Tennessee mountains
Never Let Me Go by Ishigura Kazuo
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson (debut novel)--even in the English countryside the social order and demographic is changing/witty and bittersweet social commentary
Sweeping Up Glass by Carolyn Wall (debut novel)--Hard scrabble depression era Kentucky-a bit of a mystery but more sothern gothic, strongly drawn odd and curious characters
Genre Fiction--page-turners, thrillers, intrigue and mysteries
Faithful Place by Tana French
A Matter of Justice by Charles odd (WWI era, shell-shocked and battle scarred English detective quite the best title in series)
Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane (final title in Patrick Kenzie/Angela Gennaro series)
The Information Officer by Mark Mills-- WWII on the isle of Malta--thrilling spy intrigue, unspeakable serial murders, and a sensual love story.
The Arms Maker of Berlin by Dan Fesperman -- a World War II history featuring long hidden documents and secrets newly uncovered, and duplicitous spies.,
30. Seymour & Elaine Samet:
The History of Love: A Novel by Nicole Kraus. beautifully written, creative formal, moving story.
Churchill and the Jews by Martin Gilbert non-fiction, lots of info we never knew about Churchill and his relationship with Israel.
31. Julie Noskow:
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Loved it!
And some books for my work:
Helping Your Anxious Child by Ronald M. Rapee
Lost at School by Ross Greene
Take control of OCD & Anxiety-Free Kids by Bonnie Zucke
When Perfect Isn't Good Enough by Martin M. Antony
32. Jane Bradley:
Unfortunately, we’re about a year behind everyone else, still reading books that were on your list last year! I too really liked the Milennium Trilogy; Richard has only read the first one so far. I just finished Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence which was interesting, but a bit hard to stick with. It’s the kind of book to keep coming back to when you’re in between other books – but Pamuk’s writing is superb as always. I would put it in the “disappointing but readable category.”
Year of the Flood by Magaret Atwood.
Lit, A Memoir (P.S.) by Mary Carr.
I read two books about ghosts (which was probably two too many!), but they were quick, light reads: Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger; and The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe.
33. Jolie Kessler, age 4 (almost):
Pinkalicious by Victoria Kahn & Elizabeth Kann
Angelina Ballerina by Katherine Holabird
I Wish I had Duck Feet by Theo Le Sieg & B. Toby
Princess Series - Ariel Belle, Snow White, Jasmine, and Tangled
34. Eli Orgad, age 2 (almost):
Knuffle Bunny
Pout Pout Fish
Little Engine That Could
Dora the Explora
Elmer’s Special Day
Harry the Dirty Dog
Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb
35. Alex Begleiter, age 5:
The Gingerbread Boy
Fancy Nancy
Pinkalicious
36. Meghan Groob:
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
Rocket Men by Craig Nelson
The Glass Room by Simon Mawer
37. Anonymous:
A couple of books that we have read and enjoyed recently and that come quickly to mind are The First Tycoon (a biography of Cornelius Vanderbilt) by T.J. Stiles and Shanghai Girls by Lisa See.
38. Dave Stang:
Zen Heart by Ezra Bayda. - my favorite book of the year.
And three from earlier this year:
What is God by Jacob Needleman: reflections on his lifelong professorial quest for the Divine
The Divine Life of Animals by Ptolemy Tompkins: the authors quest for understanding the animal soul
Consciousness Explained Better by Allan Combs: the best book ever written on the topic.
39.Josh Goldstein:
Actually about three quarters done but highly recommend Helene Cooper's House on South Beach is wonderful. Though two years old I haven't done a huge amount of reading since kids came along. A good trade off but sure is nice to read a good one now and again.
I just finished and highly recommend Under Heaven by Guy Kay, was a wonderful read. A historical novel set in Tang dynasty China.
40. Stephanie Limb:
Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery and Alison Anderson. Not a new read but new to me. Perfect in every way.
Solar by Ian McKewan. Not emotionally charged like some of his other works but intellectually challenging and well-crafted.
41.Valerie Cassius Kessler:
Q & A by Vikas Swarup. This is the book that Slumdog Millionaire was based on. I read the book before seeing the movie and loved it.
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Haven’t seen the movie for that yet.
42.Elliott Trommald:
Predictably Irrational: the Hidden Forces that Shape our Decisions (Revised and Expanded Edition), 2009, by Dan Ariely. I just got around to it this year, but it’s a read we should all gather together and discuss. I never really thought they were hidden forces, but that's because so many friends recommended I read it. Well, no one has to read it, but it beats reading the fulminations of some of our elected officials and lets you contemplate how their decisions are shaped.
43.Robert Thurston:
Silk Parachute by John McPhee. I've always enjoyed his writing, and I think in recent years he's allowed himself much more freedom to riff on and around his subjects. It's like listening to good jazz or maybe watching a good athlete at the top of his game (ok I've reached the limits of those analogies). )You're always learning something you never expected to learn (lacrosse, chalk, proofreading). I'm still ticked off at myself for missing McPhee's appearance at P&P, but I keep looking for new stories in the New Yorker.
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. This a short, very different kind of novel, about a retired math professor whose brain now has just 80 minutes of short term memory, and a woman who is assigned to be his housekeeper, and her son. They all come to share an enthusiasm for mathematics and baseball. I found it delightful. Don't worry, the math is not too far out there to follow!
An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison. Jamison definitely takes you through the highs and lows associated with manic-depressive illness, and her book (as well as her life's work) testify to the creative side as well as the dangerous side of this condition. She wrote this 15 years ago, and my impression is that there's been a lot of progress in the discovery/development of newer medicines for manic-depressive or bipolar condition. But what her book offers, not to be found in more up-to-date sources that I have read, is a human story that gives you a sense of how it feels to have this condition.
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. This tells the story of a Syrian guy, a painting and home repair contractor in New Orleans, who decides that he has to stay in the city during Katrina. He paddles his canoe around and ends up rescuing people, feeding abandoned dogs, and eventually getting into more adventure than he had counted on. It's scary and exciting and maddening-- all of the above. He and his American-born wife stay in close touch-- until it's no longer possible. A great read. (I haven't even read What is the What, but it's high on my list now.)
This isn't a book, but I recommend the assorted writings and essays of Alfie Kohn in the field of education. He attacks high-stakes testing and a whole host of modern directions in education that are currently in vogue. Just check out alfiekohn.org.
44.Elizabeth Miller:
Freedom - Jonathan Franzen
Life on the Screen: Identity in the Age of the Internet - Sherry Turkle
Next Generation Democracy: What The Open Source Revolution Means for Power, Politics and Change - Jared Duval
Faithful Place - Tana French
South of Broad - Pat Conroy
Strength in What Remains - Tracy Kidder
Brooklyn - Colm Toibin
Let The Great World Spin - Colum McCann
The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution That Will Begin the World Again - Robert McChesney
45. Arthur Boruchof:
Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig is an old book. It is set in Austria-Hungary just before World War I and tells the story of how pity has good and bad effects on a young Austrian Army officer and a young crippled woman. It gives insights into a variety of subjects: bourgeois and peasant life, the code of honor of the officer corps, deliberations on the role of physicians in dealing with serious illness amongst others. The writing is a bit ponderous but the content most thought-provoking. I'd be interested in the reaction of others to this book.
46. Karen Pogoda:
Colors of the Mountain by Da Chen. I read this book and was so taken by the story and the language that I had to find the author. It is about the struggles of a young boy growing up during the Cultural Revolution. As it turns out, Da lives in the Hudson Valley, and I have invited him to my school to speak. He is my guest speaker at our Welcome Dinner for the new delegation. He has also written Sounds of the River a sequel to Colors of the Mt. and another book, Brothers. There is a children's version of Colors of the Mt. called China's Son (language is filtered) and another young adult book called Wandering Warrior, which is sort of a Harry Potter meets Kung Fu. It has been optioned for a movie.
47. Todd Endo
The Relentless Revolutions: A History of Capitalism by Joyce Appleby
And a series of books for some courses (the first since grad school in 1969) on the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, Church History, and Issues in Modern Religion/Philosophy of Religion. Some of which are:
This Hebrew Lord & Jesus for the Non-Religious by Bishop John Shelby Spong
Rabbi Jesus by Bruce Chilton
Jesus: A Revolutions by John Dominic Cross
48. Peter Schimm (Sect. 117):
Fifty-Nine in ’84: Old Hoss Radbourn, Barehanded Baseball, & the Greatest Season a Pitcher Ever Had by Edward Achorn. I just finished (this) fascinating book about Old Hoss Redbourn, a pitcher who played for the Providence Grays in 1884 and won a major league record 59 wins. It's very interesting how different the game was, and yet how similar it was too. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
49.Sean McLaughlin:
The Help by Kathryn Stockett: Probably the best I read this year...loved it! Well written...easy and hard read...amazing how we treat each other!
The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer (LA Times reporter). Story of his life growing up in a NYC family....I really enjoyed (and related to!) so many things in this book. You'll enjoy it!
Faithful Place by Tana French. Detective/murder story based in working class Dublin. She is a good writer, and I found I wanted to read more!
Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow. Yes, you've read everything about ou country's founding/founder. Yet, this was the first book I read about Washington that I felt I got to know the person, the man, etc. Well done and not boring history book.
The Mind’s Eye by Oliver Sacks. You already know about this from Rick Miller. Very interesting book...Didn't think I'd even get "into" it and ending up not being able to put it down.
52 Loaves by William Alexander. A one person's search for 'how' to make the perfect loaf of bread. Warm, funny, enjoyable light reading of one person's 52 weeks journey to accomplish this.
Shannon: A Novel by Frank Delaney. I loved this book and didn't want it to end! Story of a USA Catholic priest Chaplain who survived WWI but was 'shell shocked.’ Sent to Ireland to discover his 'roots'....Story is about this journey and all the people, issues, etc during his trip along the Shannon River. Well written!
Love and Death: my journey thought the valley of the shadow by Forrest Church. Rev. Church, son of the former US senator, deals with his journey during an illness that will take his life. This is not a morbid book but one person's spiritual journey...Church is a good writer who kept me engaged during the whole read....I got much, personally, from this enjoyable book. May he rest is peace!
The last two Girl Who... books by Stieg Larsson. WOW! What can I say that has not been said. I loved all three of these books and wish more were coming.
50. Glen Willis:
The Brethren by Robyn Young. Dutton Pub. - 2006 (First of a Trilogy). A historical novel centered on the Knights Templar during the time of the ninth and last crusade. What makes it most interesting is that the story is told from both sides. One narrative comes through the eyes of a young squire training to be accepted into the Knights while the next chapter tells the story from the perspective of Baybars Bundukdari, the Sultan of the Egyptian/Syrian army. Both are dedicated religious men, each believing that they are right. What fascinated me is that 800 years later we are still witnessing the same disparity of beliefs with much of the same foundations that were laid in the 11th century.. It was a good read, well researched and well written.
Robert Kennedy- His Life by Evan Thomas. Last year I read Ted Kennedy’s “True Compass” because I thought it would be interesting reading about the Kennedy clan from a family member. This book on Bobby, presents a reporter’s point of view with Bobby as the central character. It is well written and well documented. I found out that Bobby Kennedy was a deeply conflicted person. He seemed like a reluctant politician who after the devastating loss of his brother Jack, decided to run for President to finish the dreams of Camelot. The difference in perspective between Ted’s writing about his own family and a seasoned reporter describing many of the same events was captivating. I would recommend this book to get a good perspective on the relationship between Jack and Bobby. I have to admit much of the portrait of Bobby was all-new to me.
Duma Key by Stephen King. I have been a fan of Stephen King since the first book I read of his called, “Salem’s Lot.”A great vampire tale, much better that the current fixation with “Twilight.” After that I read “Carrie” a darker version of the current TV hit, “Glee”.( There is a rumor that the title had something to do with Carrie Trauth, a therapist at the Frost School in Rockville.) There has been a lot of blood under the door since those earlier novels. This story is a tribute to Mr. King’s imagination and a real psychological thriller. I read the whole book sitting on a beach in Florida. This book is his first to take place in Florida. It is a great scary story. What often gives me a kick is his use of names, places, and events from his other novels. For example, the hero (?) is named Edgar Freemantle. In his epic story of good vs. evil, “The Stand”, the leader of the good folks is Abigail Freemantle. It is a good escape novel. Finally, Edgar is visiting his elderly and only neighbor on the long stretch of beach called Duma Key. She asks him to read her a poem. He reads from a book called, “Good Poems” edited by Garrison Keillor. His choice: Animals, by Frank O’Hara.
Animals
Have you forgotten what we were like then
when we were still first rate
and the day came fat with an apple in its mouth
it's no use worrying about Time
but we did have a few tricks up our sleeves
and turned some sharp corners
the whole pasture looked like our meal
we didn't need speedometers
we could manage cocktails out of ice and water
I wouldn't want to be faster
or greener than now if you were with me O you
were the best of all my days
—Frank O'Hara © 1971 by his estate.
What a segue into my final choice:
Good Poems, Selected and Introduced by Garrison Keillor. A wonderful collection to be tasted slowly, like eating a Popsicle while sitting in the surf on Corolla Beach, NC.
12/20/10
MILLERSTIME READERS’ FAVORITE BOOKS FROM 2010
Here they are:
The choices of 50 quite varied folks (ages just under two to just over 90) of the books they’ve most enjoyed reading in the past year.
I think I’ll print it out for myself (an ‘old fashion’ way of keeping track of things) and use it in the coming year.
Much thanx to everyone who took the time to send in their favorites.
Update: 12/23/10 – Since I initially posted this list,, several ‘late bloomers’ sent their choices for this year, and so I have integrated their books into the list below (and will continue to do so as others titles arrive).
Further, on the recommendation of one reader, here are a few notes (for those who have much better things to do than comb through the list):
As far as fiction is concerned, readers continued to enjoy (and finish) the Stieg Larsson books and then were looking for a replacement. Lee Child’s books provided that for some readers, as did the Twilight series. Only four of the approximately 225 books were mentioned five or more times (see below).
For the nonfiction books listed, there was an even wider range of books, subjects, and interests than last year. There seemed to be an increase in books with a religious focus. Alas, only one baseball book was listed.
•Female responders – 57%; Male 43%
•Returning responders – 75% (so far)
•Mentioned: Fiction – 63%; Non-Fiction 37%
•Books most often cited:
oLet the Great World Spin (F)
oCutting for Stone (F)
oThe Help (F)
oMillennium Trilogy (Stieg Larsson (F)
Finally, there were complaints about less time available this year for reading and also, from a certain segment of the responders, complaints about the difficulty in remembering what they had read. Only a few folks mentioned whether or not they were using electronic readers, which turns out to be a good way of keeping track of what was read.
THE LIST