It’s obvious, it’s cliché, but its so true: how did it get to be December 1st?!? Between work and life (which my mom will remind me are often the same thing), here we are…30 days away from 2010. Yowza.
I want to do something totally different from my usual posts this time around. I want to share some book recommendations (of the reading sort, not the handbound sort), whether for you to gift, or just for your own to-read list!
I read a lot (nursing a 2 month old gives you lots of time for that!), and chat with friends about what they’re reading, so I think this is a decent assortment – enjoy! And, if you decide to purchase any of these, see if you can support your local bookstore (Unnameable Books in Brooklyn and Prairie Lights in Iowa City are both fantastic!) – believe me, they’ll appreciate it!
• Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving
This is John Irving’s newest novel and, as a devout fan, I loved it. I will say, though, that Irving is an author you either love or hate – a fan of his will love this one. It’s full of all the usual idiosyncracies…dogs with one ear, car accidents, a little wrestling, a bear…but with a plot that is completely different and thoroughly engaging. For the record, my personal Irving favorite will probably always be Hotel New Hampshire; full of those idiosyncracies, and entirely captivating.
• The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles
This is not a new novel, and also not for the faint of heart. There are a number of surprisingly vivid and sudden scenes that I found unexpected, but totally captivating. This is beautfully written, but probably most appealing to someone with an interest in North Africa and a stomach for the slightly absurd and gruesome. In a past life, when I used to sell private tours of Morocco, this was on our recommended reading list…I’m not sure I’d suggest reading it before going to North Africa, but it’s unquestionably a great look at cultural differences in a very particular time period of travel.
• Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
My all-time favorite. Stegner’s writing is crafted with such care that you find yourself appreciating not only the story but its cadence and the beauty of its construction. If there’s a metaphor lover you know, this is almost a surefire hit. There are gorgeous short passages, but Stegner’s brilliance is in his construction of a large, complicated story. His Crossing to Safety is a close second for all the same reasons.
• Christopher Alexander’s The Timeless Way of Building
Matt introduced me to this book and it quickly became a favorite. Set up in unbelievably digestible small sections, it’s essentially a how-to for designing and using our living, working, and playing spaces in the best ways possible. It’s a great combination of simple, practical, and philosophical, plus logical, calm, and beautiful. One of my favorite passages is the one my dad uses as his email signature: “The power to make buildings beautiful lies in each of us already. It is a core so simple, and so deep, that we are born with it. This is no metaphor. I mean it literally. Imagine the greatest possible beauty and harmony in the world-the most beautiful place that you have ever seen or dreamt of. You have the power to create it, at this very moment, just as you are.”
There are a zillion more I could throw out here, but that’s a start! I’m also going to put together a few more recommendations in the next week – one of children’s books, and another of totally handmade work – both full of things that make me happy, and that might be helpful to have in your back pocket this time of year!
By the way, has anyone figured out how to squeeze about 17 extra hours out of the day? I’d love to know…
Thank you so much for the book recommendations! John Irving is my favorite, and I didn’t even realize there was a new book. Yay!
Angle of Repose is a favorite of mine, too. Thanks for sharing these, I look forward to finding a copy of the Bowles book, it sounds great!
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