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A Maven's Year in Books
December 31, 2007
Classic to Revisit: The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell. Calling all authors and their editors: if you need a lesson or four on perspective and/or sense of place, here’s where to find them. Thank goodness no one has tried to make this into a film.
Page to Screen: "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" wins my vote as the best adaptation, although I haven’t seen “Atonement” yet. (Full disclosure: I’m one of the five people in the reading world who didn’t actually adore “Atonement;” I’m an “Amsterdam” girl, myself… )
Trend to Kill: <Begin rant>Books about Strong Female Friendships and how they Change Everything. I’m female and I have strong friendships, but I’m sick of books that neglect plot in favor of endless cups of tea and sympathy. <End rant>
Media Darling: Denis Johnson bowled everyone over for Tree of Smoke – except this guy. If you read the National Book Award-winning novel, what did you think?
Author to Watch: Matthew Sharpe; Jamestown is edgy yet accessible, fresh yet worldweary, funny yet poignant. If you haven’t yet read, I highly recommend – and Matthew, please work quickly on your next novel!
Missing in Action: Jonathan Franzen had a very quiet 2007. Maybe he is working out some of his discomforts.
BEA Highlight: Christopher Hitchens talking about savaging and being savaged by Martin Amis in various reviews. For anyone who wonders what the differences between the US and UK publishing worlds, just read a little Hitch.
Biggest Surprise: I read On Chesil Beach and didn't like it much... then I listened to it on my iPod and loved it. Is the medium really the message? If so, any ideas which books might be best on a Kindle?
oks Purchased: Too few; at last count, I bought about 50 books for my own reading (and about 75 more for the two mini-Mavens). How many did you buy? C'mon, this is one contest I won't mind losing...
Books Read: 183. Yes, I counted. It would have been more, but I’ve had 20 manuscripts to read for an assignment. And moment of truth: there are lots of books I start and don’t finish – but those are not books I write about or review.
Biggest Fangrrl Moment: I interviewed Tom Perrotta, and off-camera got his recommendations as a Yale alum for New Haven’s best pizza. What? You think I’m going to reveal this secret? (Email thereadingwriter at aol dot com if you’re tired of waiting in line at Sally’s… )
Best Book of the Year: Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris
Book I Missed (But Will Read!): The Gathering by Anne Enright
Posted by Bethanne Patrick on December 31, 2007 | Comments (3)
