Comments on: Twelve months of reading http://www.dystel.com/blog/2011/12/twelve-months-of-reading/ Mon, 26 Jun 2017 15:15:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.15 By: Teri Carter http://www.dystel.com/blog/2011/12/twelve-months-of-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-27227 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:32:42 +0000 http://www.dystel.com/?p=7071#comment-27227 Barbara Kingsolver’s THE LACUNA was my favorite, by far. It was so good I started saving pages at the end because I didn’t want the story to be over. How often does that happen?

Have a wonderful vacation.

]]> By: Emily http://www.dystel.com/blog/2011/12/twelve-months-of-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-27214 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:01:31 +0000 http://www.dystel.com/?p=7071#comment-27214 GOSH!! I read for entertainment — the Brand Name Authors of adult fiction. Long ago i discovered the best seller list — the most entertaining reads come from that list.

So this year’s fiction has been Janet Evanovich, John Grissom, Lisa See, Nevada Barr, Susan Wittig Albert [a local luminary], Patrick O’Brian and C.S. Forester.

To understand O’Brian’s stories, I need a reference book called a Sea of Words because he uses such obscure sailing ship terms.

My favorite non-fiction of the year is Juliet Nicholson’s “The Perfect Summer; England 1911, Just Before the Storm.” And the most fascinating history was an audio book by Ken Alder, “The Measure of All Things” about a scientific expedition begun in the French Revolution and carried on by Napoleon with the aim of creating a unified measurement system — giving us the meter.

]]> By: Ryan Field http://www.dystel.com/blog/2011/12/twelve-months-of-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-27211 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:52:40 +0000 http://www.dystel.com/?p=7071#comment-27211 I read a lot of non-fiction for pleasure because I write a lot of fiction. It helps me escape.

I know it’s the most gifted book this year, but I truly did enjoy the Steve Jobs bio. It takes you back to the early days and explains how “it” all started.

I’m also enjoying “Merv Griffen: A Life in the Closet.” It received a good review from an editor I once worked with, Richard Labonte, and it’s well written. A good deal of it is hearsay, but I’m sure the author had good sources.

]]> By: Tamara http://www.dystel.com/blog/2011/12/twelve-months-of-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-27210 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:28:25 +0000 http://www.dystel.com/?p=7071#comment-27210 Julian Barnes’s The Sense of an Ending, hands down. But I’m a huge JB fan.

]]> By: Julie Nilson http://www.dystel.com/blog/2011/12/twelve-months-of-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-27201 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:32:26 +0000 http://www.dystel.com/?p=7071#comment-27201 I *loved* Divergent. I can’t wait for the next installment!

]]> By: Julie Nilson http://www.dystel.com/blog/2011/12/twelve-months-of-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-27200 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:31:35 +0000 http://www.dystel.com/?p=7071#comment-27200 My favorites this year:

Divergent, by Veronica Roth (YA, set in a future, dystopian Chicago)

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling (so, so funny)

The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth, by Alexandra Robbins (excellent narrative nonfiction about high school clique behavior)

]]> By: Thomas Wolf http://www.dystel.com/blog/2011/12/twelve-months-of-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-27196 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:29:58 +0000 http://www.dystel.com/?p=7071#comment-27196 The Florist’s Daughter by Patricia Hampl–beautiful writing; poignant story.

I Could Tell You Stories by Patricia Hampl–superb essays on a variety of topics

Brook Trout and the Writing Life by Craig Nova–a reflective memoir about nature, family, and writing

All Aunt Hagar’s Children by Edward P. Jones–simply because he’s one of the best storytellers I’ve ever read

The Personal History of Rachel Dupree by Ann Weisgarber–I saw her read at a local bookstore and loved the way she described her research and impulses for writing this novel.

I Sailed with Magellan by Stuart Dybek–one of my favorite short story writers; wonderful collection

Hemingway’s Boat by Paul Hendrickson–wonderful writing, unique perspective, and creative approach to biographical writing

The Last Boy by Jane Leavvy–one of the two best baseball books I read this year; plus, she’s a terrific writer

The House That Ruth Built by Robert Weintraub–my other favorite baseball book of the year

The Los Angles Diaries by James Brown–intense and personal essays from a writer who has lived a troubled life

And I would add Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones to this list, but since you represent Tayari, I’m sure you’ve already read this wonderful novel

]]> By: Jacquelyn Sylvan http://www.dystel.com/blog/2011/12/twelve-months-of-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-27195 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:25:35 +0000 http://www.dystel.com/?p=7071#comment-27195 Veronica Roth’s Divergent, Franny Billingsley’s Chime, and Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed In Blood were my big three of the year. Divergent, because it was the Lady Gaga to Hunger Games’ Madonna; Chime, for combining literary fiction and supernatural YA and getting it so very RIGHT for once; and Anna Dressed In Blood, for giving us a male YA protag who was sympathetic, vulnerable, and kick-ass.

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