2009 great reads, part 2

Last year I was involved in Project Book Babe, a charity event to raise money for Faith, friend to many an author, in her battle with cancer. I'm happy to report that all is well with her! She's asked us to pass along this letter of thanks to all those who participated in any way.

I neglected a few books I wanted to praise in my last round-up, so here's part 2:

Going Bovine, by Libba Bray

This book is unlike anything I've ever read. I've heard people say it's Catcher in the Rye on a fever dream. Libba has given herself an impossible premise for a book (boy with terminal mad cow's disease goes on a road trip...maybe...) and carries it off with wit, humor, thought, and drama. I thought it was fabulous, brave, and will long stand out in the growing crowd of young adult literature. Note that this book has lots of mature content.

Magician's Elephant, by Kate DiCamillo

A really lovely, peaceful kind of tale. I want to sit inside on a rainy or snowy day, cuddled up in a blanket, and read it again. I'm a sucker for Kate's prose. I love her every sentence. She writes like Gene Kelly dances. She makes it look easy, but not many writers could stand up beside her without looking a little sloppy. Her stories often seem sweet and simple, yet they bubble with so much underneath. We also love her Mercy Watson books. The paperbacks for the first two just came out--at steal at $6 for 60 pages with many full-color illustrations. But if your young ones are re-readers, the hardcovers always stand up better. Oh Kate DiCamillo, I will go with you anywhere. Including prom.

Day of the Pelican, by Katherine Paterson

Katherine Paterson, our grand dame; or as her grandchildren call her, our damn gran. (That's what I said when I introduced her last year--she has a wonderful sense of humor, thank goodness.) This is the kind of book that seizes me and won't let my imagination go until I'm finished. It's chilling to read this book. So much has been written about the holocaust, but so little (especially in children's literature) about the similar atrocities that continue in other regions. For three days, I was a refuge inside that story, and it made me realize that this could happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Rebecca, by Daphne duMaurier

I'd never read this book before, though I'd often heard about it. Written in the 1930s, it's a lovely example of gothic romance, and is probably the most uncomfortable book I've ever read. I was uncomfortable from the first page to the last. You never relax. She keeps the tension taut even during scenes which should be mundane. I was fully in this world. I think many writers have been influenced by duMaurier, including the recent What I Saw and How I Lied, last year's NBA winner for young people's lit.

Comments

[Katie-wa]

You've NEVER read Rebecca until NOW? Whoa, wait a minute, how is that POSSIBLE? Gah, now you have to read her other books! I love Frenchman's Creek with a passion. You will, too.

I've been dying to read Going Bovine. I just hate hardcover so bad I don't have it yet. *sad face* Thanks for the recommends! I've been needing some new fodder to chow through. ;)

Happy New Year. ^_^

[andalucy]

Have you read The Haunting of Hill House? One of the best ghost stories ever. A bit like Turn of the Screw.

Thank you for posting about your favorite reads!

[L.T. Elliot]

Thanks for sharing this. I now have several books to pick up! I love the way you talked about why you liked each one. All such honest, thoughtful mini-reviews.

[Megan J.]

Thanks for the list! I have Going Bovine on hold at the library already, as well as The Magician's Elephant. Now I've added Day of the Pelican as well.

Rebecca is one of my favorite books. I read it for the first time in high school, and I've enjoyed it many times since. I also enjoyed the 1940 film version with Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier!

[Nadia]

A couple of fun books I read this year were The Runaway Princess and its sequel, The Runaway Dragon. Easy reading, but with a lot of heart and depth. Very good for the young, tweener set.

[Shannon Morris]

Thanks so much for the recommendations! My problem is now that I have to buy a new bookcase to hold everything- because, you know, I have to own everything (books at least). My old bookcase crashed to the floor twice over the holidays as I tried to stuff my favorites, unsuccessfully, onto the shelves. It has now been demoted to a CD case. My poor lonely books are just stacked next to the desk awaiting a new home. Thanks to you I have to buy an even bigger one! Yeah!!!! Maybe I'll be buying an even bigger house one of these days to house my library! Can't wait to read these recs. Just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. Not exactly YA but amazing! Highly recommend it. And a bigger bookshelf.....

[Miss Erin]

"She writes like Gene Kelly dances." - I absolutely love that phrase.

Rebecca is on my 2010 reading list, coincidentally. :)

[Taffy]

Read a fun and moving book last year called 'The Actor and the Housewife'. I don't know how many times I laughed out loud. Got nervous toward the end, wasn't sure what you were going to do, then I breathed a sigh of relief.
Just finished 'Wintergirls'; very interesting book.

[Myrna Foster]

I love Kate DiCamillo's writing too.

I posted part of a fuzzy picture of us at your Forest Born release party, and I'm giving away a copy of Calamity Jack on my blog. I wish we could drive up again this weekend.

[Christen]

I can't wait to read Going Bovine; it sounds interesting. (And I love Rebecca--it's one of my all-time faves) :D

[myrna]

I can't get the fuzzy picture to stay up, and, for some reason, the above link doesn't go to my blog. The blog is http://myrnafoster.blogspot.com

[Tamsen]

She writes like Gene Kelly dances? I'M SOLD!!!!

[Amrita]

Thanks for the suggestions! I've been trying to get ahold of Going Bovine for a while now.
I love Kate DiCamillo and Katherine Paterson. And I've heard a lot about Rebecca, so I should probably just hurry up and read it.

[Je Reve]

THanks for the suggestions!

[Caroline]

Last night I was drawing a picture of Finn and Enna, and I needed a model for Finn, so I found a black-and-white headshot of Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian.) I can't believe how much he looks like Razo! Or he could be Finn... Anyways, here's the link, if you're interested: http://www.mannythemovieguy.com/images/ben_barnes.jpg.

[Heather Zahn Gardner]

Here is my post about the launch. So fun to meet all of you!
http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/2010/01/calamity-jack-launch-party.html

[M. W. C.]

I have been DYING to read GOING BOVINE, but couldn't find it ANYWHERE. I'll have to bribe somebody to get it for me now that I know for a fact it's really good. Lovely Suggestions. :)

I also LUH-UVE the little pictures beside each comment. So cute! I hope I get the first blue one.