I love John Irving!

Irving, John. In One Person: A Novel. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2012. Print.

Whenever I embark upon a new John Irving novel, I feel like I should bid my friends farewell and post a "Gone Fishin'" sign on my front door. I waited all year for the new book to come out, and when I finally got my paws on a copy, it was better than Christmas Day. And here's the icing on the cake . . . the very first sentence is about a librarian!

In One Person has all the elements you expect in a John Irving novel--incest, bears (sort of), New England, boarding school, wrestling, and there's even a brief stint in Vienna. This is his first book, however, which focuses on the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning) community. A large portion of the book takes place during the heart of the AIDS crisis.

I'm not going to tell you much more about the book because I don't want to ruin any of the surprises. If you are not afraid of spoilers, check out the following two reviews:

New York Times: Sexuality and Other Multitudes: In One Person, John Irving's New Novel.

Huffington Post: Identity, Sexuality, and Society's Assault on the Self: A Commentary of John Irving's Novel, In One Person.

The Leftovers

"Perrotta has delivered a troubling disquisition on how ordinary people react to extraordinary and inexplicable events, the power of family to hurt and to heal, and the unobtrusive ease with which faith can slide into fanaticism." — Stephen King

Perrotta, Tom. The Leftovers. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2011. Print.

Tom Perrotta's latest novel is about how the residents of a small suburban town carry on with their lives after the Rapture has taken away many of their loved ones without warning. For a longer description of the storyline, read this review from the New York Times: nytimes.com.

SPOILER ALERT:

I was disappointed by the book's ending. Like the Rapture itself (or the last episode of The Sopranos), it happened abruptly without tying up any loose ends. I had grown attached to the characters and wanted to spend more time with them. If this had been a John Irving book, it would have gone on for another 500 pages and I still wouldn't have wanted it to end. The main characters would have adopted (or shot) a bear and run away to New Hampshire or Austria (or both). The Leftovers could have been a great American classic, had it not ended so soon.

Freedom

Franzen, Jonathan. Freedom. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2010.

This is the best book I've read since John Irving's Last Night in Twisted River. Since there is probably a long waiting list for it at your library, I recommend that you buy your own copy and then donate it to your local library. New York Times critic Stan Tanenhaus calls it a masterpiece of American fiction and compares Franzen to Updike, Dickens, Tolstoy, Bellow, and Mann. I like him better.

9 from '09

Here are my 9 favorite books that were published in 2009. Please click on the links to see what the critics had to say about each book. Happy Reading in 2010!

Irving, John. Last Night in Twisted River: A Novel. New York: Random House, 2009.

Lamb, Wally. Wishin' and Hopin': A Christmas Story. New York: Harper, 2009.


Gardner, Lisa. The Neighbor. New York: Bantam Books, 2009.


Hensley, William L. Iġġiaġruk. Fifty Miles from Tomorrow: A Memoir of Alaska and the Real People. New York: Sarah Crichton Books, 2009.


Lipman, Elinor. The Family Man. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009.

Koslow, Sally. The Late, Lamented Molly Marx: A Novel. New York: Ballantine Books, 2009.

Griffin, Kathy. Official Book Club Selection. New York: Ballantine Books, 2009

Green, George Dawes. Ravens. New York: Grand Central Pub, 2009.


Berg, Elizabeth. Home Safe: A Novel. New York: Random House, 2009.

I'm not done reading yet.

"This is my twelfth novel. Only once before in The World According to Garp which was my fourth novel have I been able to insert the title of the novel into the last sentence. I don't always try to do that; I don't force it. But its usually an idea in the back of my mind, and if it works, I don't hesitate to do it . . . " - John Irving

Irving, John. Last Night in Twisted River: A Novel. New York: Random House, 2009.

I broke my word. No John Irving review this week. Last night in Twisted River is such a great book that I can't bear to finish it yet. Since there are only about 70 pages left to go, I'm savoring it and only reading a few pages a night. In the meanwhile, visit the author's official site to learn more about his writing process.

New releases

Some of my favorite authors released new books this fall. Chuck Klosterman put out a book of essays about pop culture entitled Eating the Dinosaur; Augusten Burroughs published a collection of autobiographical Christmas stories called You Better Not Cry; John Irving's Last Night in Twisted River is rumored to be his best novel since Cider House Rules, and R. Crumb just released an illustrated version of the Book of Genesis.

Since I have not finished reading all of the titles yet, I will copy & paste some old posts about the authors' prior works. Tune in next week for a review of the new Irving novel.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Downtown Owl by Chuck Klosterman

Klosterman, Chuck. Downtown Owl: A Novel. New York: Scribner, 2008.

I was very pleasantly surprised by Chuck Klosterman's latest book, Downtown Owl: A Novel. While I'm a HUGE fan of Klosterman's autobiographical works about his adventures as a rock journalist, I had my doubts about his foray into fiction. His most recent nonfiction book, Chuck Klosterman IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas, concludes with a very short story that just didn't grab me.

Downtown Owl is a perfectly crafted apocalyptic tale about life in a small North Dakota town. Each chapter is told from the viewpoint of a different character, mainly by Mitch the introspective high school jock, Horace the widower, and Julia the new teacher in town. I was amazed by Klosterman's ability to see things through a woman's point of view. In his memoirs, he comes across as being a bit of a self-absorbed womanizer.

If you like Jancee Dunn, Nick Hornby, and Dave Eggers, you will love Chuck Klosterman. I highly recommend all of his books:

Klosterman, Chuck. Chuck Klosterman IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas.
New York: Scribner, 2006.


Klosterman, Chuck. Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story. New York: Scribner, 2005.

Klosterman, Chuck. Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto. New York: Scribner, 2003.

Friday, September 5, 2008

R. Crumb

R. Crumb Conversations is a collection of interviews with the iconic artist, Robert Crumb. At first, I thought the book was going to be a bit dry and academic. It has more words than pictures, and it reads more like an oral history transcript than a gritty biography. As I read on, I decided that this is a good thing. Without the distraction of illustrations, it is easier to focus on the essence of his artistic vision and life philosophies. The book also provides an excellent history of the psychedelic comic revolution of the sixties and seventies.

Crumb, R., and D. K. Holm. R. Crumb: Conversations.Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2004.

Crumb is most famous for his Keep on Truckin' logo. However, he was cheated out of most of the proceeds. To make up for this injustice, please buy his books from the official R. Crumb website: crumbproducts.com.

Calt, Stephen, R. Crumb, David A. Jasen, and Richard Nevins.
R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz, & Country.
New York: Abrams, 2006.

Crumb, R., Gary Groth, and Robert Fiore. The Complete Crumb. Westlake Village, CA: Fantagraphics Books, 1987.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Possible Side Effects by Augusten Burroughs

Burroughs, Augusten. Possible Side Effects. Sydney: Hodder, 2006.

I just finished rereading Possible Side Effects by Augusten Burroughs. Although this book of memoirs didn't sell as well as Running with Scissors or Dry, it's still one of my favorites. I love that the opening paragraph is about the author's first crush, an Eastern Airlines Stewardess. (I'm partial to stories about stewardesses because I used to be one myself.)

Burroughs describes himself as having a mean brain, and his sense of humor can be a bit caustic. For instance, he admits that he prefers watching medical TV shows in England because they are taped live, so he's more likely to actually see someone die. (He's a sick-o, but I love him.)

Like Randy Newman, Burroughs isn't afraid to express his disdain for short people. Check out his description of the Skidmore Holiday Inn elevator:

The ceiling was low, which made me feel hugely tall. A short person would be extremely happy in this elevator, I thought, because they're always looking for ways to feel better about their deformity.

Once I spotted Burroughs walking his bulldog in the Upper West Side. I didn't bother him, though, because I didn't want to invade his privacy. I think I was also a little afraid of him.

His next book, A Wolf at the Table, is due out this April. I really can't wait. For now, I get my Augusten fix by visiting his blog and rereading his old books. Visit your local library where you can read his books for free!

Thursday, January 31, 2008

The Hotel New Hampshire

Irving, John. The Hotel New Hampshire. A Henry Robbins book. New York, NY: Dutton, 1981.

Planning on doing some traveling this winter? Be sure to carry along a good, thick book. If you're stuck waiting on the tarmac, you'll want to have more to read than just an old copy of SkyMall and the aircraft safety card.

I recommend packing a copy of Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving. This warped tale of taxidermy, incest, and international espionage will keep you entertained for hours. It's considered to be an American classic, too.

By the way, please don't be afraid to take library books on vacation with you. If your trip is extended for some unforeseen reason, you can probably avoid late fees by calling the library or renewing your books online.

Coming next week:

Irving, John. Last Night in Twisted River: A Novel. New York: Random House, 2009.

Friends

"If a fight breaks out and you're the cause of it

In some redneck bar where you've been talkin' s*^t

I would not forsake you later in that parking lot
'Cause that's the kind of friend that you've got"

-Johnny Hickman

Here are some great books about friendship:

Patchett, Ann. Truth & Beauty: A Friendship. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2004.

Ann Pratchett (author of Bel Canto) writes about her difficult relationship with Lucy Grealy (author of Autobiography of a Face).

McMillan, Terry. Waiting to Exhale. New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Viking, 1992.

This wonderful chick lit novel is much better than the movie.

Paterson, Katherine, and Donna Diamond. Bridge to Terabithia. New York: Crowell, 1977.
Be prepared to cry. The first time I read this book I was riding the subway and I felt like such an idiot sobbing in public.

Tyler, Anne. Digging to America: A Novel. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006.

Two families meet each other at the airport as they await the arrival of their adopted daughters. By the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Breathing Lessons, The Accidental Tourist, Saint Maybe, and Ladder of Years.

ps. Here are a few great books about friendship that I've already blogged about in the past:

Irving, John. A Prayer for Owen Meany: A Novel. New York: Morrow, 1989.

Saint-Exupery, Antoine de. The Little Prince. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1965.



Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. New York: Modern library, 1937.


Maupin, Armistead. Further Tales of the City. New York: Harper & Row, 1982.

Hornby, Nick. About a Boy. New York: Riverhead Books, 1998.

pps. Friends debuted on Johnny Hickman's solo album, Palmhenge. Click here for a preview.

Hickman, Johnny. Palmhenge. [Redlands, CA]: Campstove Records, 2005.

David Lowery and Patterson Hood perform a duet of the song on the latest Cracker album, Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey. Have you bought your copy yet?

Cracker (Musical group), David Lowery, Johhny Hickman, Frank Funaro, and Sal Maida. Sunrise In The Land of Milk & Honey. Santa Monica, CA: 429 Records, 2009.

Have a great weekend!

Your friend,
Rebecca

C is for Cracker and Catcher in the Rye

Here are some of my favorite classics:

C=Catcher in the Rye

R=Running with Scissors

A=About a Boy

C=Cider House Rules, The

K=Kiss my Tiara

E=Emma
R=Rest of her Life, The

Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown, 1951.

Teen Angst at its best.

Burroughs, Augusten. Running with Scissors: A Memoir. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2002.
So, you think you had a bad childhood . . .

Hornby, Nick. About a Boy. New York: Riverhead Books, 1998.
Good book. Great movie.

Irving, John. The Cider House Rules: A Novel. New York: Morrow, 1985.
Great book. Great movie.

Gilman, Susan Jane. Kiss My Tiara: How to Rule the World As a Smartmouth Goddess. New York: Warner Books, 2001
Growing up funny in NYC.

Austen, Jane, and Fiona J. Stafford. Emma. Penguin classics. London: Penguin Books, 1815.
The original Clueless.

Moriarty, Laura. The Rest of Her Life. New York: Hyperion, 2007.
Is there life after vehicular homicide? Everyone's worst nightmare.

The Hotel New Hampshire

Planning on doing some traveling this winter? Be sure to carry along a good, thick book. If you're stuck waiting on the tarmac, you'll want to have more to read than just an old copy of SkyMall and the aircraft safety card.

I recommend packing a copy of Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving. This warped tale of taxidermy, incest, and international espionage will keep you entertained for hours. It's considered to be an American classic, too.

By the way, please don't be afraid to take library books on vacation with you. If your trip is extended for some unforeseen reason, you can probably avoid late fees by calling the library or renewing your books online.