If you are still looking for a few good books to buy as gifts for the holidays, there are plenty of "Best of 2011" lists out there and newly named award-winning books.
For Junior Readers - ages 8-12 the Connecticut Library Consortium has published a list that has been recommended by CT librarians. A few titles are: The Lone Wolf by Kathryn Lasky, Lunch Lady by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Stuff That Scares Your Pants Off! by Glenn Murphy, Titanic Sinks! by Barry Denenberg, Alice-Miranda at School by Jacqueline Harvery, Bless This Mouse by Lois Lowry and Close to Famous by Joan Bauer. The complete list will be available at the library for your perusal.
For Older Readers - The New York Times published their list of the top ten books for 2011 in last Sunday's Book Review. The fiction list includes The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach, 11/22/63 by Stephen King, Swamplandia! by Karen Russell, Ten Thousand Saints by Eleanor Henderson and The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht. The nonfiction list includes Arguably by Chrisopher Hitchens, The Boy in the Moon by Ian Brown, Malcolm X by Manning Marable, Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman and A World on Fire by Amanda Foreman
Has anyone read any of those titles? Do you have any comments to share? We would love to know if they rank in YOUR top ten list for 2011.
With the American film version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo soon to be released, you will be hearing more about Swedish mystery writers again so it is worth noting that Jo Nesbo, one of my favorites, is releasing a new novel entitled The Leopard this week. If you read The Snowman and liked it, I am sure you will like this one as well.
Currently, I am reading The London Train - noted on some of the "best books" lists and enjoying it. Also, I am delving into the works of Haruki Marakami, the subject of a title article in The New York Times Magazine on October 23, 2011. His books are dense and I am not sure I am ready for his newest one at 900+ pages, but he is an incredible writer with a "fierce imagination".
Meanwhile, the morning book group will meet again on January 19th to discuss Waiting by Ha Jin, the 1999 National Book Award Winner and on February 16th we will meet to discuss Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear as we tackle the mystery genre for the first time. Please join us upstairs in the library at 9:30 A.M. Refreshments are served.
e
