Yeas and Nays of July - December 2008

It’s been another quite good half year of reading, and I find it pretty tough, yet again, to honor my blogging tradition of choosing my six favorite reads (and my 2008 “tradition” of adding my six least favorites) from July - December. Goodreads helped this go-around, because I could go back and see which books I gave the most stars and remember what I said about them. The six “yeas” are those I would highly recommend adding to your TBR lists. If you see any of the six “nays” hanging out anywhere, I’d highly recommend running in the opposite direction. I’m giving them to you in alphabetical order by title this time.

Yeas

The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten

If Ina Garten were a man, I’d want to marry her. What’s not to love about her? She made me want to cook, to bake, even (horrors!) to entertain. I love the way she encourages the reader to think of recipes as suggestions, not as scripts to be followed religiously. That’s how I’ve always thought of recipes.

A Death in the Family by James Agee

I wrote in my book journal, “Wow! Just plain wow!” Agee had an amazing ability to get inside people’s heads with poetic majesty. I wish I had at least ten more novels by him to read. If you haven’t read it, drop everything and do so (I say that a lot when I like a book, don’t I? But I really mean it this time).

Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by M.R. James

I think it had been about five years or so since I’d last read James, so I decided it was about time to pay him another visit this past fall. I’m not one much to be very scared by ghost stories at this point in my life, but he has a few, like “Lost Hearts” that still manage to ignite my imagination, sending a couple of shivers down my spine when I think about them too much (or when I’m walking around the cemetery at dusk). Mostly, I just love the way he writes, the way his imagination works (is there anything cooler than “The Mezzotint?”), and his subtle sense of humor.

Hearts and Minds by Rosie Thornton

There’s nothing I like better than superb characterization, except maybe superb characterization paired with an interesting, believable story and subtle humor. This one manages to put all three together, culminating in a true-to-life ending that gives hope without tying everything up neatly in an unrealistic bow. The characters will live with you while you read it and leave lasting imprints when you’ve finished.

Ross Macdonald by Tom Nolan

I didn’t expect to be so glued to this one, but I was. Nolan is a very matter-of-fact, prosaic writer. Nonetheless, this book was absolutely fascinating. Interesting story of a man who had a very interesting life. Interesting as a history of the mystery genre. Interesting as a look into the publishing industry. Interesting as a “Who’s and Who Was Who of Mystery Writing.” Oh, and did I mention this book was extremely interesting?

Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder

This one makes The Book of Lost Things look like mere child’s play. I guess I’m a philosopher at heart, because I was mesmerized by it from the get-go. It’s so much more than a history of philosophy in novel form. It’s a history of western civilization, really, and a history of literature, religion, psychology…everything. It’s also a fun post-modernist romp. About halfway through it, I thought, “This one ought to be required reading for all high school students.” I still think so.

Nays

The Casting Away of Mrs. Lex and Mrs. Aleshine by Frank R. Stockton

This “classic” comic novel would have made a much better short story. Like so many Saturday Night Live skits, it was tiresome as it dragged on, letting the joke get way too old. I didn’t bother to finish it.

The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

I read this one, because I had it confused with The Knitting Circle (recommended to me by someone whose recommendations I respect). Sometimes I’m in the mood for an over-the-top-made-for-the-Lifetime-channel-tearjerker-TV-movie, but I really prefer it in movie, not book form, because it doesn’t waste as much time. I really only finished it because I was on vacation and was too lazy that day to go out and get something else to read (anyone else ever do that?), and it wasn't quite such a waste of time while on vacation.

Jane-Emily by Patricia Clapp

Supposedly a great YA ghost story. Great idea, maybe, but poorly executed, and a bit too goody-two-shoes for me. Finished it because it was short, and I kept expecting it to get better.

Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by E. Ware

Made me feel like the dumbest kid on earth (and I feel even dumber having recently discovered that David Sedaris recommends it). I just did not get it. Didn’t finish it (truth be told? Barely started it).

The Midnight Before Christmas by William Bernhardt

I’ll be hopeful and generous and concede that maybe this one was written in a rush for a greedy publisher eager to capitalize on the season. Otherwise, I’m going to despair that this author is apparently highly regarded and that the publishing industry employees editors who allow something like this to be printed. I finished it because I was stuck on an airplane, and my other books were in the suitcase in the overhead compartment.

Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist’s Quest to Discover if Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big and Why Pie is Not the Answer by Jen Lancaster

Funny in places, but the narcissist spiel is overdone and irritating after a while, and again, her editor ought to be ashamed for letting this one get published as is. I managed to finish it because of those “funny in places” bits.

And now, I’m headed up to Maine (and snow!) in a few days, don’t expect to post before I leave, and will wish everyone Happy New Year! “See” you when I get back.