I love reading books. Why? The turn of the page, the sentence that resonates, or the lingering feeling that you remember even after you’ve finished reading a book almost two days ago. It’s a place where you can consume yourself with a vast array of emotions, resounding sadness and raucous laughter, sparkled with nuances of disappointment, anger, contentment, and most importantly, escape. Once I’ve experienced a good book, I am eager to converse about it.
This is what I am reading at this moment:
When She Woke By Hilary Jordan
Blue Nights by Joan Didion
The Sense of An Ending by Julian Barnes
Miss Timmons School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy
As the end of year approaches, I’m asking this question. Of all the books you’ve read this year, which one book would you recommend as your must read for 2011? And, please, let me know why.
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
Rudri,
I love the book, “The Art Of Racing In The Rain”. It’s a beautiful story and at the end, I just cried and cried. Anyone I recommended it to, has come back to thank me.
xo
I just started The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
Let me know if you enjoy Blue Nights by Joan Didion…that is one I was thinking of getting.
Maybe it’s because I just had a baby but Louise Erdrich’s “The Blue Jay’s Dance” – her memoir of early motherhood really resonated with me. Not only could I relate but her prose was so lyrical and so beautiful that it at once inspired and soothed my soul. She’s a stunning writer.
Right now I’m reading Alice Hoffman’s “The Dovekeepers” (after greedily devouring “The Hunger Games” series) and so far, I’m liking it, A book about women seems to be my kind of thing these days. Come to think of it, that’s what I mostly gravitate towards, and I suppose it isn’t surprising.
What’s your 2011 book? 🙂
Sorry I am replying late Justine. Best book on life lessons I’ve read this year: Same Kind of Different As Me by Denver Moore and Ron Hall. I am definitely going to check out Louise Erdrich’s The Blue Jay’s Dance. Thanks for the recommendation.
I recently finished rereading (for the 7th time) my most favorite book ever — The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. After about the third time, I noticed a whole symbolic level to the novel. I love it.
Any of the Flavia de Luce novels by Alan Bradley are excellent.
I would say The Hunger Games Trilogy. Amazing.
I just finished the book, “Killing Lincoln” (Bill O’Reilly) — no matter what one’s political persuasion, Honest Abe was one authentic patriot and a man of and for the people wrapped into one lean tidy unit. A great book about character development with the story as a sideline — loved it. Also read “Miss Timmins School For Girls” by Nyanna Currimbhoy – another fascinating tale of a young woman’s coming to age experiences, rich in East Indian culture.
My favorites change from time to time, but one that has always been in my “Top Ten” is “To Kill a Mockingbird” (Harper Lee). Spending time in AL in the post-Civil Rights days, I experienced joy and sorrow — reminiscent of the some of the characters in Lee’s timeless novel, with the beauty of the South in the Spring of the year. I am also reading, “The Member of the Wedding” by Carson McCullers and “God’s Guest List” by Debbie MacComber.. Might as well mention the non-fiction of Ron Carlson, “Ron Carlson Writes a Story”and Robert Boswell’s “Half Known World.”
Glad to get even more recommendations from your readers, Rudri! Thanks for posing the question. Trish
I am reading “Memoirs of Geisha” at the moment, but getting my next book “Born on a blue day” soon. Books I liked this year were “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hossieni, “A Free Life” by Ha Jin, “Slave” by Damien Lewis, “Someone knows my name” by Lawrence Hill (My favorite).
Oh and how can I forget “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot. I will also check into your selection above.
The Immortal Life of HL is one of the best books I’ve ever read.
Oh, how I love talking about books and reading other people’s recommendations.
On Justine’s recommendation, I’m reading Blue Jay’s Dance right now and loving it. Other books I really enjoyed this year were Katrina Kenison’s The Gift of an Ordinary Day and Abraham Verghese’s Cutting for Stone.
I just loved The Help. Not incredibly heavy but a well told story. And while the movie was a close representation, the book (as always) was better.
I love getting people’s recommendations on books. I finished the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy over the summer, and they were great! Well written and very suspenseful. I’m looking forward to watching the movies, and I’ve convinced Dan to read the books beforehand. I just downloaded Water for Elephants, so I’m looking forward to reading that. I also really enjoyed The Help. There seems to be a theme of books made into movies on my reading list!
Perfect timing for this post as I just finished The Marriage Plot. Going to review these recommendations and get a book ordered!
Just finished The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Sad, dry, educational. I’m cracking open The Hunger Games today because I’m in the mood for some adventure next!
I’m reading Dave Eggers’ Zeitoun and so far, loving it.
I just finished reading Russell Brand’s My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs and Standup, which was laugh-out-loud hilarious in some parts.
I’m terrible at recommending books because I honestly find something to like in each book I read so there really isn’t anything I wouldn’t not recommend.
Will add your list to mine! Thanks!
Memoirs of a Geisha I have read multiple times along with Joy Luck Club. I am looking forward to reading The Help.
I just read Newes from the Dead, as I’m on a YA lit bender (as research for the YA novel I’m writing), but it was a disappointment. It promised a gripping storyline (the true story of a girl who was hanged but lived through it), but the writing was sub-par.
I just finished THE MARRIAGE PLOT and A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD and loved them both. Am now about to start THE FAMILY FANG. So lovely to be reading your blog, Rudri. Thanks so much for your sweet comment on mine. I hope to be back in the bloggy swing of things soon. xox