By Andrew Taylor

The Short Take:

One mystery isn’t enough for Andrew Taylor. This book easily contains a half dozen mysteries, not to mention a fair share of red herrings and a bounty of family secrets. Plus there’s Taylor’s rather shocking (for me) portrait of English politics between the two World Wars. All in all, and in all the details, it’s one great read.

Why?

Taylor is an established, award winning mystery writer but he was new to me. Was I ever missing out! While this might not be a book for the ages (though, who am I to say?) it’s certainly one densely plotted, well populated, intriguing, and even educational mystery.

I say educational due to the window it opens on the political climate in England between the wars. Fascists were surprisingly popular with elements in the upper class while Communism had a strong appeal to the masses. And, of course, the two clash. While these clashes do not form the center of the novel, they do make part of an interesting backdrop.

It’s also somewhat jarring to realize that the cigarette smoking, modern dressed women of that era were still shackled by the social expectations and limitations of the previous century.

But it’s the smart  and multi-faceted mystery itself that absorbs you. And, good luck trying to outguess this writer! Even with the hundreds of mysteries I’ve read, I was still surprised at the end — and Taylor did not play any tricks to make that happen.

A Little Plot:

New bride Lydia Langstone,  abused by her ambitious husband, seeks shelter at the seedy Bleeding Heart Square with a father she has never before met. A mature woman of means, Philippa Penhow, disappears (or worse) after taking up with a charming rogue. A young man hopes if he solves this mysterious disappearance, his sweetheart may obtain the money they need to wed.

The two stories become enmeshed when that charming rogue turns out to now be landlord of the building Philippa once owned and where Lydia now resides. Secrets from the past, coincidences that cannot possibly be accidental, and dangers real and imagined abound. It’s a great mystery to become immersed in: Because you not only want to figure out who did it, but also just what exactly was done.

For more about this book and Andrew Taylor, click here.

By John Irving

The Short Take:

If you already know and like John Irving, grab on to this book. While the situations and personalities aren’t quite as out there as his National Book Award winning The World According to Garp, Irving’s excellent story telling and the attention he devotes to developing the character’s relationships make this effort one of his best.

Why?

John Irving is a “must read” for me. His characters and plot lines are always at least a little quirky — a trait I continually enjoy. Last Night in Twisted River is actually a bit closer to “normal” than most his novels, though there are surprising number of Amazon-sized women scattered throughout the plot. This is also arguably the most political of Irving’s novels in that it includes actual events like the Vietnam War and the attacks of 9/11.

Ultimately this book is about love, but not the romantic variety. It focuses instead on friendship and family and the way you helplessly worry about losing those you love. Irving also includes a fair amount of literary criticism through a central character, Danny, who is also a writer. Danny’s schooling, various homes, and achievements largely parallel Irving’s own, including such details as being mentored by the late Kurt Vonnegut. What’s amusing to me is that Irving uses this character to complain about critics spending so much time looking for influences and hints from “real life” in works of fiction. However, here he goes, pretty much waving a red flag at the bull (or herd of bulls).

Regardless, this is one of Irving’s better efforts: a touching story that will intrigue you in many ways.

A Little Plot:

Danny, the young son of lumber camp cook, Dominic, accidently kills someone who had a close relationship with the crazy, mean, vindictive constable. To protect his son, Dominic decides to go into hiding. Aided by their close friend, Ketchum, the two leave the area and change their identities.

While Ketchum remains at the lumber camp to keep an eye on the constable, Dominic and Danny build close friendships with others that must irrevocably be broken when the constable comes too close to finding them.

Ultimately it is the close and complicated bonds between the cook and his son, and with their friend, Ketchum, that weave through and embrace every page of this novel. Covering half a century, this book contains moments of tragedy and violence but deep and selfless love forms it’s true heart.

To visit John Irving’s own website, click here.

By Sarah Vowell

The Short Take:

Vowell tells the story of the Puritan’s colony in the New World (not to be confused with the Mayflower Pilgrims) with humor, giving it context in history as well as relevance to the present day. Her obvious love for her subject is tempered by a lively wit and clear-eyed observations that make this non-fiction book a delight to read.

Why?

The Mayflower, Thanksgiving, “Why don’t you speak for yourself, John”: that’s pretty much all I retained about the settling of America by Europeans after many, many American history classes. Sad but true.

This book not only helps to correct that flaw in an entertaining way, it also demonstrates how the beliefs of the original Puritans differed from what we consider to be Puritan thinking today.

Vowell has a political point of view (she definitely is not wild about Reagan), but it is obvious she loves the Puritans in addition to finding them intolerant and hypocritical. And, yes, it is possible to feel both: The Puritans were complex, well educated people who valued writing and reading (hence the book’s title). There is plenty to both respect and decry.

Among other things, you’ll gain a better understanding of the thinking behind separation of church and state (thank you, Roger Williams), and where that “shining city on a hill” reference comes from politicians so delight in using when talking about the U.S.A.

A frequent contributor to public radio, Vowell’s seductive sense of humor and wry observations make this book much more entertaining than your typical history. You not only gain historical information, you also garner a greater appreciation for the uniqueness of this country and it’s Constitution.

A Little Plot:

This book focuses on the Puritans from the time they left England in 1630, until the death of their leader, John Winthrop, in 1683. Within that time they establish Boston and other communities in the area, wage wars against the native inhabitants, and worry about their relationship with their King back home.

However, this books focuses more on how their religious beliefs shape their government and its relationships with other settlements, the original North American occupants, and its own citizens. You’ll see why Roger William’s ideas about religious tolerance  were a troubling and divisive force (he felt the Puritans weren’t saintly enough and wanted them to tolerate his more sanctified life). Again, the slightly different religious thinking of housewife Anne Hutchison is considered just as worrisome as the King’s threat to send a military force to oversee the colony.

It’s a fascinating look at people who not only went boldly into the wilderness but who cared mightily about knowledge, understanding, and community.

By the way, if you like reading about Pilgrims and their ilk, you might consider this as a companion piece to Nathaniel Philbrick’s book, Mayflower (which I wrote a bit about on 9/30/2008 if you care to check my archive). It’s interesting that while Plymouth Pilgrims are so geographically close, they barely seem to impact Boston’s Puritans. Again, a subtle difference in religious belief kept them apart.

By A. S. Byatt

The Short Take:

Reading this brilliantly complex book is a humbling experience. Alongside the wonder and delight one feels as the novel unfolds — weaving the stories of children from different families; there is the amazing amount of background information that gives you a solid sense of time and place — England from the waning of the Victorian age through World War 1.

Why?

Novels often encompass a very limited world, strictly defined by the characters, their immediate surroundings, and their intimate experiences. Not so The Children’s Book. Anarchists, suffragists, the trials of Dreyfus and Wilde, the original production of Peter Pan, the building of the Victoria and Albert Museum, neo-paganism, the Boer War, socialism, William Morris — these are just a few of the myriad influences that shape and reshape Byatt’s characters. It’s as real-world a novel as I think I have ever read.

The humbling part is how little I knew about the complex social and cultural tensions and concerns of these times. In fact, as a result of this book, I have a whole list of topics I want to explore further. For me, this is the ultimate gift from a writer — a book I can truly savor as a literary work that also piques my curiosity and expands my understanding of the human story.

Then there is the central theme of the book — the difference (or possibly the sameness) between fantasy and reality. The writing and performance of fairly tales contrasts with the desire for sweeping socialist reforms in the real world. Or maybe they are one and the same? Certainly the families in this novel all have incorporated fairy tales into their personal narratives.

Some people may find descriptions of different lectures on topics like social issues or the origins of myths tedious to read. Don’t feel like you have to absorb every line fully. These speeches and references are important to the story but you can grasp their gist even if, like me, you are sometimes confused by what they mean (I will learn more, though!).

This book is rich in everything — character development, writing, plot, background. Yum.

A Little Plot:

The children (and some of the parents) of six (more or less) families form the nucleus of this epic story. And they aren’t all the characters that inhabit this novel. Don’t let that daunt you. Byatt gently moves the focus of her book from one character to another in a graceful flow that keeps you from being overwhelmed by names and relationships.

The large and happy family of Humphrey and Olive Wellwood link all the other characters. She is a successful writer of fairy tales. He is a budding socialist and member of the Fabian Society. They surround themselves with artists, intellectuals, political activists, and other intriguing characters. The growing up years of their children — and the children of their family and friends — are all influenced by these visitors and lecturers, but no two in the same exact way.

As the children move from their teens to adulthood, they experience uncertainties, tragedies, successes, and the revelation that some of their closest held truisms were actually fantasies. But that’s all the information you’re getting here. Just read the book. It’s a great way to start off this year. Or any year.

For more about A. S. Byatt, this book and others click here.

Of course I review nowhere near as many books as the newspapers, but I thought I would go ahead and do my own top 10 books from the year anyway.  I’m including the date of my original review in case you want to go into my archives and read the original full review.

In no particular order…

Cutting for Stone By Abraham Verghese

A wonderful epic novel that takes you from India to Ethiopia to America as you follow two generations of doctors and the family and political powers that shaped them. Reviewed May 10.






The Winter Vault by Anne Michaels

This book is so beautifully written and contains so many thoughtful passages you don’t mind the simple plot. Rich and fulfilling. Reviewed August 12.












The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Broockmeier

This is a cheat since this book was not released in 2009, but the paperback was issued. One of my all time favorite books, it explores human relationships as mankind disappears from the planet. And, no, it’s not depressing. Reviewed March 1.






The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

An unflinchingly fierce look at modern India as seen through the eyes of an ambitious young man. Written with humor and plenty of punch. Reviewed January 2.












Sea of Poppies by Amitav Gosh

This engrossing novel intertwines the stories of several families and individuals in 1830s India. The rich, memorable characters inspire the full gamut of emotions. Reviewed March 8.












The Lost City of Z by David Grann

The true story of Amazon explorer Percy Fawcett and others who searched for the legendary El Dorado, this book is one wild ride. It’s a clear case of fact being stranger than fiction. Reviewed May 23.






The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

A charming mystery suitable for young and old. It stars an eleven year old girl who thinks finding a dead body in the garden makes it the most interesting day in her life. Flavia de Luce is a worthy heroine. Reviewed June 22.






The Boy Next Door by Irene Sabatine.

A compelling portrait of the evolving relationship of an interracial couple against the background of the birth of Zimbabwe and the ensuing struggle for safety and survival. A wonderful first novel. Reviewed October 9.












American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham

Tightly focused on Jackson’s two terms, this biography gives a clear-eyed portrait of a man who made indelible marks on our country — for better or worse. Jackson’s war on the National Bank is particularly interesting given recent events. Reviewed February 20.






The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

An intense and thrilling mystery built around one of the most interesting characters to come along in years. It’s a page turner to the very end. Literally. Reviewed September 12.












Keep in mind I like every book I write about — but often for very different reasons. I try to write reviews that give you an idea if what I like is also something you will care for.

I hope I’ve made it easier for you to find some new good books this past year. And that you’ll continue to visit (sign up for my RSS feed!).

Enjoy the holidays. I’ll spend mine with a good book. Or two. Or more.

By Eoin Colfer

The Short Take:

Colfer picks up where the late Douglas Adams’ left his popular series, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. For a huge Adams fan like me, this is very dangerous territory. I almost hate to admit that Colfer largely won me over. Honest.

Why?

Colfer’s own Artemis Fowl series (aimed primarily at young adult readers) has it’s own sense of the absurd, so one can see why Adams’ widow and daughter asked him to continue the Hitchhiker series. Though I’m not so sure there was any reason to continue: Adams’ last book had a very final feeling to it. Still, the deed is done.

While Colfer doesn’t have quite the twisted wit of the late Adams (”The ships hung in the sky in much the same way as bricks don’t.” — Adams), but he does have an incredible imagination and peppers this “part six of three” with a wide range of bizarre creatures, cultures, and unexpected happenings. He is also quite sly with the names he gives random characters.

More important, Colfer stays true to the underlying theme of the Hitchhiker series of probability and improbability, the main characters continue to behave just as they should, and you still wonder what new craziness each turn of the page will bring.

So, don’t panic. After all, if we can’t have Adams on our planet any more, it is nice to have Colfer.

A Little Plot:

If you’ve never read any Adams, this is going to make no sense to you whatsoever. Sorry. (But it is kind of your fault for not reading Adams.)

The Vogons, who destroyed Earth at the beginning of the very first Hitchhiker, are intent on destroying Earth in every parallel universe as well as eliminating any stray humans in the galaxy. A reunited Arthur Dent, Trillian, Ford Prefect, and Random are on the next Earth to meet its doom when Zaphod Beeblebrox appears to rescue them.

Unfortunately the rescuer winds up needing rescuing. This gives rise to various deals being made that involve contacting the god Thor, transporting our refugees to a hidden colony of humans, ending the life of an immortal, and evading the hot-in-pursuit Vogons.

And that’s just the beginning. But that’s all you’re getting here.

There’s quite a website connected to this book that you might enjoy if you click here.

By Nancy Mauro

The Short Take:

There’s a lot going on in this compelling and chilling novel. Immensely readable, with a primary focus on the troubled marriage of its two protagonists, the plot embraces a wide variety of sometimes bizarre situations. A vein of violence  – repressed and overt — courses throughout. It’s disturbing. That’s what makes it good.

Why?

That introduction was the hardest I’ve ever had to write, simply because Mauro’s first novel is so different. You think you’re in familiar reading territory — the troubled urban marriage. Then she sweeps you right down the rabbit hole into a looking glass world shaped by century old bones, a voluble pervert, townspeople that belong in a Stephen King book, and a shocker of an ad campaign for cheap jeans.

It sounds crazy but somehow Mauro makes it all work. In fact, as you are reading, it all seems completely logical. It’s only after you put the book down that you ask, “What the heck was that?” And then start really thinking about how the disparate elements relate to each other and to the floundering marriage of Lily and Duncan.

Ultimately it all comes down to human communication and its inherent inadequacies. Mauro’s Lily and Duncan spend so much time listening to their inner voices and looking for hidden meanings in the other’s words they’ve become emotionally paralyzed. Every other element ties into this problem of communication. As bizarre and disturbing as parts of this novel are, they all coalesce around this central theme.

A Little Plot:

Ad man Duncan and his dissertation-focused wife plan a summer where she stays in her family’s inherited country manor with Duncan coming up weekends. They both suspect this is the beginning of the end of their relationship. On their first drive up, a wild boar crashes into their car setting off a series of events that colors their relationship with each other as well as their summer neighbors.

Add to this the unearthing of human bones in the overgrown garden, Lily’s interest in the adventures of a local pervert, and Duncan’s development of a fantastic advertising campaign that could revitalize his career. Yes, there’s a lot going on in this novel.

But that’s all you’re getting here. If you want more, go to Mauro’s really great website by clicking here. It’s worth the visit. Just like her book is worth reading… and thinking about afterwards.

By Richard Dawkins

The Short Take:

Dawkins lays out all the evidence for evolution — from molecular genetics to poor body design to plate tectonics and more — in one easy-to-read and entertaining book. Even if you think you understand the process, Dawkins will enlighten you further.

Why?

I tried to approach this book as a sceptic. From that viewpoint, the first chapter is rather irritating: Dawkins can be downright snarky at times. He has no patience for those he calls “history deniers.” But once he got past his complaining, things really picked up and I quickly became engrossed in the depth, breadth, and clearness of the evidence he presented.

I’ve read a fair amount of popular paleontology books over the years and still learned (relearned?) new things from this book about atomic numbers, isotopes, and radioactive half lives; embryo development; and plate tectonics. Dawkins also included fascinating facts about different creatures from dugongs to koalas.

I can’t imagine any non-evolutionist reading this book and coming away with anything less than severe doubts about previous beliefs. Unfortunately, I suspect that due to Dawkins’ most recent and hugely successful book, The God Delusion, he won’t reach many of the people he purports to be writing for. Well, at least the rest of us can enjoy this work.

Even I approached this book with some trepidation, as a huge fan of the late Stephen Jay Gould. Gould didn’t quite agree with certain aspects of Dawkins gene-centric approach to evolution. I needn’t have worried, there was no Gould bashing. This book focuses on what is well known and accepted, not on the subtleties of their minor disagreements.

If you have any interest in evolution, this book is for you. It clearly demonstrates, as Darwin famously said, “There is grandeur in this view of life.”

By Irene Sabatine

The Short Take:

The main characters in Sabatini’s first novel feel completely real — as confused, conflicted, and multi-faceted as anybody in real life. The fact that her story weaves around an inter-racial couple amid the transformation of Rhodesia into Zimbabwe and the rise of Mugabe simply makes it even more fascinating. I must admit I cried at the end — for the love as well as the pain. Everyone should read this book.

Why?

This book is so much like real life. At first it took some getting used to — you’re just dropped right in and must get to know characters and their “roles” through discovery more than exposition. The dialogue can sometimes read like, “Yes. No. Wait.” But that’s how people really talk as they try to sort out what they really want to say. It all adds to this book’s exceptional believability.

Sabatini’s own life, in large respect, parallels that of her central character, Lindiwe Bishop. However, according to her, Lindiwe’s relationship with a white, largely “racialistic” young man (Ian McKenzie) is based on a “what if” not an actual experience (check out the her website link at the end to learn more).

I guess some people might call this a romance, though it certainly doesn’t unfold like one. It is filled with hesitations, foreboding, insecurities, and frustrations — just like real life. I believe Sabatini uses the core relationship as a tool to portray the complex relationships and feelings between white, black, colored, and Indian in her homeland. Both Ian and Lindiwe evolve — sometimes in surprising ways — as Zimbabwe transforms. A diverse supporting cast serves mainly to reflect these changes and the good and bad they bring.

I particularly loved the way this novel was so clear-eyed about the disappointment, fear, and prejudice — as well as the goodness — found in people of every shade. I am so glad I read this book. It gave me a new degree of understanding as well as taking me on a wonderful journey.

A Little Plot:

Next door to 15 year-old Lindiwe, a white woman is burned to death. Her teenage stepson is accused but finally released, though not exactly exonerated. One day he offers Lindiwe a ride. This is the very tentative beginning of their relationship. However, finding one’s soul mate in the worst possible person for their place and time is not something either seems anxious to pursue. Their connection doesn’t grow by romantic stealth. It is companionship that grows into friendship based on better mutual understanding.

Yet, both still have secrets and both have fears. As people would say: It’s complicated. Frankly, that’s what makes it so great to read.

For more about Irene Sabatini and her book, click here. It has some footage from a book signing that I think you’ll find particularly interesting.

The Short Take:

The screen actually looks like paper. It even has a matte look. Wow.

Why?

I’ve been intrigued by the idea of the Kindle, Amazon’s proprietary, computerized version of a book — actually a lot of books stored in one very light-weight package. But I really couldn’t imagine liking it. After all, my biggest irritation with laptops is that the screens are pretty much impossible to see outside except on the dreariest of days — and who wants to be outside then?

Plus the only way to try one out is to know somebody who has a Kindle or actually buy one from Amazon. Unfortunately, most people I know aren’t anxious to trade in the feel and smell of real books for some cold and possibly complicated alternative.

Then I went to the Pink Palace Craft Fair where Dorothy Northern, an exceptionally talented jewelry creator, graciously let me play with her Kindle.

I’m not sure about love, but it was definitely extreme like at first sight.

The screen was a shocker. It looked like ink on paper. Truly. And you can easily change the type size if you forget your glasses. Dorothy assured me the battery power was good enough to easily last through a trans-Atlantic flight. And she mentioned how just before she was leaving for a holiday, she decided to down load more guide books and maps, and bam, it was done.

Yep. This baby works independently. No computer needed, though you can transfer Kindle books to your computer if you want to. It doesn’t require a wi-fi hot spot and there are no connection or service fees. It holds a whole lot of books, too — claims 1500. And it was unbelievably light. Lighter than a lot of paperbacks.

To repay Dorothy’s good deed in letting me play with her Kindle, I encourage you to visit her website by clicking here.

And, if you dismissed it before, give that Kindle a second thought. Because there’s one additional advantage Amazon doesn’t seem to be promoting: no one will judge you by the cover of the book you are reading. Trash or treasure, it all looks the same to them.