Month: January 2012

My New Year resolution for 2012 is to read more.  While I felt that I didn’t read enough in 2011, after creating my top 15 books of the year, I see that I read quality.  Obviously, I couldn’t quite limit myself to a Top 10, and I had a hard time ranking the books I loved.  (When a Stephen McCauley novel doesn’t end up in my Top 10, you know the competition is fierce!)  I do have to say that I’ve got a pretty terrific job.  Looking at my list of top books of the year, I have met twelve of these talented writers because of that job.  I am constantly exposed to hundreds of really great books; so many that I just can’t read them all!  But I’d sure like to try.

Before I announce my #1 book of the year, here is a quick recap of #’s 2 – 15

15. The Leftovers  by Tom Perotta

14.  We the Animals by Justin Torres

13.  Half Empty by David Rakoff

12.  The Babysitter Murders by Janet Young

11.  Insignificant Others by Stephen McCauley

10.  For the Win by Cory Doctorow

9.  The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

8.  Everything Beautiful Began After by Simon van Booy

7.  The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey

6.  Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire

5.  Faith by Jennifer Haigh

4.  The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar

3.  The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

2.  The Bards of Bone Plain by Patricia A. McKillip

And…

#1 – State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Patchett takes us from Boston to the deepest hidden realms of the Amazon in this layered, haunting tale of biomedical exploration and the search for ourselves. Outstanding writing is Patchett’s hallmark in this intricately layered novel. Deep, complex strands of narrative all come together beautifully and characters, both main and incidental are fully explored and brought to life. This is a masterful work.  I’ve only read one other book by Patchett, Run, which I also love.  This book just grabbed me instantly and wouldn’t let go.  I read it on a trip to the Canary Islands and was totally absorbed as I sat by the pool and sipped cocktails.  The relationship between the two central characters is complicated, challenging, multi-layered and a joy to read.  It’s one of the things I love about fiction as opposed to other media; that two women are allowed to have the central roles and be explored.  This one took me completely by surprise, and while I’m late to the table, I’m sure glad I’ve discovered such a commanding writer.

#3 – The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

This superb debut novel explores the depths of human emotion and family. Victoria is a troubled young woman. Passed from foster home to foster home until finally deemed a lost cause, she finally gains her freedom at age 18. But she is an emotionally damaged person whose only interest is the language of flowers, a Victorian construct where people learned to communicate using the meanings of flowers. Victoria’s journey through childhood, and as a young adult on her own is heartbreaking and fulfilling. Vanessa Diffenaugh tells this story with a mastery that is thoroughly rewarding.  Picked up this galley at BookExpo 2011 and was intrigued after hearing the author speak at a breakfast meeting, but had no idea it would end up being one of my top books of the year.  Powerful and emotionally resonant.

 

#2 – The Bards of Bone Plain by Patricia A. McKillip

Like the bards in her novel, Patricia McKillip enchants readers with her lush, lyrical writing. Alternating between two stories, one set generations ago, the other in this world’s modern day, Patricia tells the tale of two competitions to choose the kingdom’s bard. The first ended in tragedy, and it looks like the second is heading the same way. Patricia is at the top of her game with this novel that drips with magic, romance, mystery, and history. At first I was surprised to find this genre title appearing to high on my list of top books read for the year, but when you’ve got a writer like McKillip, whose use of language exquisitely rises above even an admittedly imaginative and rich story to dizzying literary heights, it’s no surprise at all.

#5 – Faith by Jennifer Haigh

Talented author Jennifer Haigh tackles the Catholic priest abuse scandal with grace and skill. She brings to bear her forte of familial relationships to a splintered family living south of Boston. Don’t be put off by a subject that you might have heard enough of, Haigh’s take is refreshing and powerful.   After reading two of Jennifer’s novels, this one and the outstanding 2008 work, The Condition, it’s clear this is an author to be reckoned with.  I look forward to going back and reading some of her earlier work, even as she moves forward to tackle ever more-complicated and powerful subjects.

 

#4 – The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar

Thrity Umrigar’s The World We Found is a powerful look at four Indian women who shared a galvanizing and complex friendship during college and are now facing mortality some thirty years later when one of their number is discovered to have cancer and given months to live. While the three who remain in India do what they can to reunite and travel to America to see their stricken friend, the depth and complications of their relationships are revealed. Thrity doesn’t just give us four wonderfully drawn women in this novel, she creates a couple of surprising male characters as well. And in what is perhaps most surprising, a story about bringing four friends back together after decades evolves into something so much more – a lost woman’s liberation. Bravo, Thrity! The World We Found is a fantastic book!

I am embarrassed to report that I forgot one of the books I read in 2011, and it should be represented in my Top 15. So, I am sad to report that Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One has dropped off my list, and Justin Javier’s We The Animals, and Tom Perotta’s The Leftovers have shifted down to #’s 14 and 15 respectively.  I have a new title that now comes in at #13.  It also happens to be my friend Chris’ #1 book he read of 2011.

#13 – Half Empty by David Rakoff

David Rakoff tackles pessimism in his usual sardonic and funny way. His acerbic and self-depracating wit make the topic of pessimism a funny yet thought-provoking read.  This collection of essays does involve a sobering twist that makes it one his most personal and moving efforts.

Oh, and while I’m sure that sharp tongue is not an act, Mr. Rakoff is one of the sweetest most charming authors I’ve had the privilege to meet.  And he was blown away by the art and architecture of the Boston Public Library.

#7 – The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey

In the tradition of Jane Eyre, Gemma Hardy is a strong-willed, determined orphan living in Scotland who endures the kinds of trials only orphans in literature can endure before growing into the young lady that we would all love to be.  Livesey explores many of the tropes of this type of tale, but includes surprising detours, including Gemma’s exploration of her heritage in Iceland, a kindly lesbian couple who show her kindness andrefuge at a particularly low moment in her life, and a development of her character that goes far beyond the genre and into a more realistic growth.  Margot Livesey writes beautifully and while her story of the orphan mistreated by her adopted parent who escapes to boarding school only to be disappointed by the harsh cruelties of growing up is familiar, she avoids the melodrama that often accompanies these tales.  Her settings are unique and fascinating, and her characters rich and fully drawn.  In a different year, this one would be near the top of this list.  This book is due out at the beginning of February.

#6 – Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire

Gregory Maguire wraps up his epic Oz series with a grand, complex journey centered around Rain, grand-daughter of the famous? notorious?  Elphaba, self-styled Wicked Witch of the West.  As usual, Gregory weaves Baum’s original tapestry into his work, while commenting with insight on politics, morality and human nature.  The cast of characters is large, with just about all the players from the previous three books making appearances again, but Gregory skillfully brings them in without your having to go back and reread the books from years past to remember what’s going on.  His Dorothy Gale is a strangely ridiculous and heroic character all at once.  It’s a tour de force, and it’s a very satisfying conclusion.