Another Best of 2009 List

Well 2009 is most definitely over and I've finally recovered enough from the holiday season here at the store to get a chance to reflect on 2009. It was a great year for books. 2009 really reminded me that I am a very lucky person to get to work around books everyday, to think about them, read them, write about them...and get paid to do it! I looked over all the books I read last year and whittled it down to 13 favorite reads. Here they are, in no particular order:

A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood

Although it definitely didn't come out in 2009, it did get the movie re-release. And a well-deserved one at that. Isherwood originally published this novel in 1964. It has not lost any of its punch. Written in spare, hard-hitting prose, this book took my breath away. I did see the movie, and think it stands on its own right next to this most excellent book.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Numerous co-workers told me to read this book. They told me I wouldn't be able to put it down. They told me I would think about it and crave the as-of-yet unpublished sequel. I hemmed and I hawed and finally I gave in. They were right. Although we shelve this book in Science Fiction, it is more than just fantasy. Rothfuss created a world I was reluctant to leave. I urge all of you to read this, even if you think fantasy isn't your thing. Rivetting prose, characters written with depth, humor and compassion, and a universal coming-of-age story combine to make one memorable book.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

This is another book that took my breath away. The story of an African girl and a British woman trying to make sense of the nightmare their lives have become. If you haven't read it, I don't want to give anything away. Read it, and you'll not soon forget it. There are scenes in this imminently readable book that haunt me to this day. And when I finished it, I couldn't read fiction for weeks.


Goat Song by Brad Kessler

After reading "Little Bee", I switched to non-fiction for a while. And this was the first book I read. It nearly sp
oiled me on non-fiction. Brad Kessler's memoir of becoming a goatherder and cheesmonger is written so wonderfully it's easy to forget it's a true story. The prose is beautiful and so rich you can feel the wind in your hair and taste the grass. If Kessler makes cheese half as good as he wrote this book, it must be the best cheese in the world! I loved this book and urge you to read it!

Cleaving by Julie Powell

I wrote a lot about this book this year. I loved it. Julie Powell writes so honestly and candidly about her life it's a little off-putting. I heard from some people that she's too honest, that there's too much sex, that it's not the Julie they liked from "Julie & Julia". Maybe that's why I liked it! She seems more grown up in this book, and her writing? Fantastic! I read this book in a few days and felt a little sad when it was over. She really brought alive the butcher shop she apprenticed in: I could smell that cold scent of blood, picture the cuts of meat in the case and how so recently they'd been on the animal on the stainless steel table in the back. Well-done, Julie Powell!

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

I hate to admit it, but this is the first book I've read by Mr. Foer. I feel bad saying it, but I just never got around to reading his first two novels. It won't be long, though, after reading this unforgettable piece of non-fiction. A meditation on the plight of the animals that become our food, a challenge to not only the reader (the eater) but the animal food industry, this book I can easily say as changed my life. A must-read for those who eat meat, or for those who've read "Omnivore's Dilemma", "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" or anything else in this new genre of books. In "Eating Animals", Foer has managed to turn his personal struggle with meat eating into something universal.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

This book is a fun, interesting tale of magicians in the modern world. I enjoyed this book. Quentin discovers that magic is real, and that he is a magician, when he is selected to attend Brakebills College, a hidden upstate New York college for magic. Of course you're thinking, didn't we already read about this? There are funny Harry Potter references the characters make, but this is no Harry Potter. Not only is magic real in this book, this book is set in reality: adult language, drinking, drugs and sex are present in the lives of the characters of this book as they come of age. The action moves to Fillory, a land believed to be made-up, but in fact, very real. There, Quentin and his friends face evil in a war they don't quite understand. This book is about growing up, about trying to find happiness in yourself and where you are rather than always looking ahead to the next best thing. Lev Grossman's writing is compelling and fun. His characters are memorable, and the imagery is fantastic.


The Bad Girl by Mario Vargas Llosa

My friend, Chris, declared 2009 the Llear of Llosa. I was remiss in only reading one novel by this South American master. This book surprised me. It's fun to love such a bad character! A novel about obsession and how it consumes the main character, Ricardo Somocurcio. Llosa brings Lima, Peru, alive, as well as Paris, England and Tokyo. If this novel is any indication, Llosa is the perfect author for our newly interconnected world. I kept thinking of Gabriel Garcia Marquez when I read this book. Like Garcia Marquez, Vargas Llosa writes lushly, sensually, and with a painter's eye to detail. Just fabulous!



Salvation Army by Abdellah Taia

One of a handful of books in translation I read this year, this slim autobiographical novel about growing up gay in Morocco really is much larger than its size. Originally published in France in 2006, Taia tells a seldom-heard tale of what it means to be gay in a society at once so restrictive yet rather permissive. Add to that the difficulties of being an immigrant in a society coming to terms with the effects of immigration on its values, this book reminds me of how far we have come in the United States. A fascinating read, I am looking forward to reading more from him soon.

The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen

Although this was one of the first books I read in 2009, even now I take great pleasure in recommending this unique novel. Not only is this a great coming-of-age tale of young cartographer T.S. Spivet, and a great story of the American West, the book is a joy to look at. It's larger than your average hardcover book, and it is crammed with marginalia, with maps, drawings and a story-within-a-story that will win your heart. If you haven't checked out this book, do yourself the favor and do so. I think Reif Larsen is an author to look out for.

Birds In Fall by Brad Kessler


After reading Kessler's "Goat Song" and raving about it at work, one of my coworkers brought me her copy of his earlier novel and told me to read it already! I'd heard about this one years ago, but never got around to reading it. Shame on me. "Birds in Fall" is the story of the families of the victims of a plane crash off the coast of Nova Scotia. The families gather, at first in hope, and then in mourning. This book is sad, but it is full of the beauty of transformation through grief. I knew Kessler was a great writer, but this book really shows it. A wonderful, wonderful novel.


Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

This British import is the most fun I've ever had learning! The Greek gods are alive (they are immortal, you know) and living in England. But their powers are waning. Some of them have had to take up jobs. Others seem to live only to hassle others. All they need is people to believe in them and perhaps their powers will return. An interesting novel on the power of faith and the dangers of religion, this book is fun!


And finally, Labor Day by Joyce Maynard.

This book was the Tattered Cover's first V.I.B. (Very Impressive Book). And it's still very impressive to me. Most definitely, the most hopeful novel I've read in a long time, Maynard's latest book is a treat. When a boy meets a bleeding man in the grocery store and convinces his mom to bring him home, no one has any idea how this will turn out. A powerful love story and an even more powerful story about forgiveness, I can't recommend this book enough.

And those are the 13 books that I read in 2009 that I loved the most. Not all of them were published in 2009, and if you haven't read them yet, each of them is worth reading in 2010.

Nocturnes

Kazuo Ishiguro's latest novel, Nocturnes, Five Stories of Music and Nightfall, has really struck a chord (argh, but it's true!) with a number of our booksellers.

When we heard that he had a new novel coming out, many of us scrambled to get a chance to read the advanced copy. We only had one copy that we passed from bookseller to bookseller.

Here's what some of those who have read the book had to say:

Ishiguro conceived of this book as if it were a piece of music in five movements. It is his first collection of short stories, coming after his six very accomplished and nuanced novels. The theme of music is woven into each of these stories, connecting them, and sometimes the
characters, as if with a gossamer thread. I am not usually a short story reader, but I absolutely loved this book! It is sometimes heartbreaking, always lyrical, and surprisingly humorous - I laughed out loud at times. He is so skillful at using narrative in a way that lets the reader in on insights about his characters that they are unaware of. His prose is clear and precise.
This is an extraordinary piece of writing that gently and insistently pulls you from one story to the next, rewarding you every step of the way.

--Linda

Wow. Just read this book in one sitting. Utterly sublime. These five short stories of music and nightfall just highlight what a wonderful writer Ishiguro is. Each of these stories stand on their own, but read as an ensemble, their slow & gentle power carries the reader away. The stories are full of heartbreak and loss, of the sweet music of memory, of spare descriptions that paint a picture so perfectly, the reader is sitting in the hotels, the piazzas and hearing the music. Each is told from a first-person narrator, not always visible to us. This adds an intimacy to the stories that really brings out the emotional impact of each. Highly recommended. I would like to sit back down and re-read them again and again, like listening to music.

--Joe

After reading Joe and Linda's glowing reviews, I had to give this one a try for myself. It really is a wonderful book, and for it was a great introduction to an author I have previously avoided (blame the cure-for-insomnia movie that was made from his "The Remains Of The Day"). I'm especially pleased with his character development given the fact that these are short stories--really short, since there is 5 of them in this slim volume. But each story gave me both a character that I could identify with and a character that I had to puzzle over. The themed stories (music and nightfall) and the interwoven characters added a nice touch as well. They read quickly but give you plenty to think about. In a nutshell--I'm impressed.

--Jackie

A New VIB!

Announcing the Tattered Cover's second V.I.B. choice: Jarrettsville by Cornelia Nixon. This is a paperback original, which means that we get all of the power this novel has to offer, only at a smaller price!


Jarrettsville takes place in Northern Maryland, just as the Civil War has officially ended. It is a love story. It is the story of a murder and subsequent trial. It is unlike anything else I have read. Rebel sympathies have not faded with the end of the war. Southern values have not changed overnight. Into this world comes Martha Cairnes, a modern-for-her-time woman who falls in love with Nick McComas, a neighbor whose family helped fleeing slaves during the war. They fall in love, but are held back from fully realizing their love from their families and societal pull. It is a tragic story, told from multiple points of view. This book will leave folks with much to talk about.

But don't just take my word on it, Cathy Langer, our lead buyer was the person who got me to read it, and here's her review:

Cornelia Nixon's novel begins in 1869 as Martha Jane Cairnes murders Nicholas McComas in
front of many witnesses in Jarrettsville, Maryland, a town just below the Mason-Dixon
Line and a microcosm of America in the years following the Civil War. This tale of two
lovers and why it ends so badly for them is the story of neighbor fighting neighbor, old
customs and quarrels dying hard, passion, friendship, and the complicated relationships
between whites and blacks, all told exquisitely.

--Joe

David Small this Wednesday

My coworker, Charles, handed me a book recently and told me, "Joe, you have to read this." I hesitated as I always do when someone tells me I have to do something. And then one evening I picked up the book. And I devoured it. And I have been walking around the store telling people, "You have to read this book." It's powerful. It's humorous. It's touching and very sad. I'm glad I read it. And the exciting thing is this: not only can you read this book, you can come to the Tattered Cover LoDo store this Wednesday night, October 7, and meet David Small. He's the author of Stitches: A Memoir.

David Small is reading this Wednesday at 7:30 at the Tattered Cover Lower Downtown.

Here is an interview with him on NPR.


Below is a series of scenes from the book.


--Joe

Introducing VIB

Greetings everyone. It's a new month, and we here at the Tattered Cover are proud to announce a new initiative: V.I.B., or Very Impressive Book. Every month or so, the staff here are going to announce the arrival of a new book we are very impressed by, and think you will be, too.

Our very first V.I.B. is the latest book by Joyce Maynard, Labor Day.

Here is what some of our booksellers have to say about this book:

I haven't read anything by Maynard before, but she's certainly on my list of authors to read more of now. This story, which I easily devoured in a lazy day at home, is touching on so many levels. Told through the eyes of a 13 year old boy, it's the story of five days when an escaped criminal comes to live with him and his mom, changing their lives forever. Henry feels responsible for his recluse mother, Adele, and spends all of his time with her. He's a bit of an outcast himself, being rather small for his age yet beginning the inevitable battle with his raging hormones. They meet Frank in one of their rare shopping excursions in town, and both immediately take to the bleeding man with the kind eyes. Frank does just enough "bad guy" stuff to help them pass a lie detector test should the need ever arise, but mostly he brings both of these broken people out of their shells and into remembering what being loved and being a family is like. This gentle story of love and hope is sure to be a hit.

I think this is a little gem of a book. When you're tired of just another story, this is the book for you, because it is definitely not just another story. Utterly unique and charming, I was quickly pulled into this quirky meeting of lost souls. And, in the most unlikely of places and in the most unlikely of ways, love manages to sweetly rear its hopeful head. You won't forget these characters or this weekend they spend together or they way it changes all of them, and you, just by having read it.

Wow. I feel as if I have just read one of the books of the year. Joyce Maynard's "Labor Day" is simply put: gorgeous. What, on the surface, seems like such a small story: a bleeding man approaches a boy in a discount store, and he & his Mom take him home for the long Labor Day weekend, becomes a stunning work on the nature of love and forgiveness. This book made me weep, I'm not ashamed to say. I wept from the beauty and simplicity and deep truths contained in its pages. Maynard's prose is perfect. An absolute must read.

And don't take just our word for it, it's also the main selection for the August Indie Next List.

"In Labor Day, Joyce Maynard has created three well-written and engaging characters, has put them in an extraordinary situation, and has delivered a wonderful book. I admit to being teary during the last few pages." --Lisa Sharp, Nightbird Books, Fayetteville, AR

So come into any one of our stores, and look for the V.I.B. displays, or order it from our website.

Everything Matters!

Ron Currie Jr's second novel, Everything Matters!, recently came out. And let me tell you, it's well worth reading. Junior Thibodeau has been encoded in utero with the knowledge that the world will be obliterated by a comet in 36 years. With this knowledge ever present, Junior lives his life as best he can. He's something of an alcoholic like his mother. His brother is a star ball player for the Cubs, and his hard-working father gets cancer. Bleak, I tell you, but this book is not bleak. Mr. Currie handles the Doom of us all with humor and a humanist touch. The story challenges the reader in many ways. It is told from the perspective of multiple characters, and some of Junior's story is told by the beings who gave him the burden of knowing how and when the earth will be destroyed. Part of the story plays out amid the political endgame of a planet realizing its doom. There are some amazing plot twists I won't talk about. But know that if you're willing to go along for the ride, it is a beautiful ride. Everything Matters! is a visceral, breathtaking novel. When I finished it, I sat in the chair, looking up at the clouds, at the birds, at the airplanes flying overhead, and believed in the title's truth. This is a book, a story, that lingers deliciously. I highly recommend this one. It would bring up some very interesting talk in a book club, that's for sure.

I Loved This Book! And I Think You Will, Too.

Emily St. John's Mandel's debut novel, Last Night In Montreal, is out now. And that is a very good thing. Lilla has been on the move ever since her father took her when she was seven years old. And she can't stop moving. This mesmerizing story surprised me with its depth, its insight, its compelling characters, its I could go on, but really, it's a wonderful book. The morning I finished it, I let my coffee grow cold, I let the day wear on, but none of that mattered: I had to finish. St. John Mandel is a fantastic writer, and I can not wait to read more from her.

Another cool thing about this book: it's published by Unbridled Books, who are from right here on the Front Range.

Don't just take my word on it: It's an Indie Next Pick. And below are more reviews from booksellers across the country.

"The flashbacks are beautiful and haunting. The pacing is impeccable, the characters are intriguing and well developed. The details the author chooses to highlight are poetic and evocative, and the paragraphs are well crafted. And the way that Mandel ties together all the threads is extremely impressive for a debut novel. What more could a reader want?" - Emily Pullen, Skylight Books, Los Angeles

"Mandel’s debut novel follows Christopher - a private eye still working on a case he is no longer being paid for, Eli - a student of dead languages writing a thesis so overdue no one thinks he’ll ever finish it and Michaela- a night club dancer who tries not to sleep and longs for a life as a tight rope walker. All of their lives swirl around the appearances and disappearances of Lilia, whose character gains an almost mythical status with each person she leaves behind. Beginning the night her father took her away in the snow as a little girl Lilia has always been leaving where ever she is, wanting nothing more than to slip through the cracks of the world, leaving no trace and no one who will remember her after she is gone. The genius of Mandels’ writing is not just the beautiful prose she employs, (do yourself a favor and read the first few pages aloud) it’s that she manages to portray the deeply interconnected lives the characters have with Lilia even though they almost never appear on the page together. By interspersing the character’s stories with flashback chapters that slowly uncover Lilia’s past and her connections to each person Mandel has crafted a beautiful novel with elements of mystery and a little of Kerouac’s On The Road. This is a wonderful read!" - Chris Rickert, Joseph-Beth Bookstore, Pitsburgh, PA

T.S. Spivet!

This week a fantastic book came out that I think everyone should read:

The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen. I think this book is magical. 12-year old T.S. Spivet, of Montana, is invited to the Smithsonian to speak of his cartography skills. They don't know he's 12. He decides to hobo it to Washington, not telling his parents where he's going. Along the way, he meets some memorable characters. He's not your everyday 12-year old. He's a genius, and his drawings (drawn by the author) grace the pages in marginalia that create an even richer story. This book is so much: train trip, coming-of-age, maps, culture, the old west vs the new west, and ultimately, family. Absolutely wonderful.

And if you still don't believe me, check out this blog from our friends at Green Apple Books in San Fransisco here.

Or check out the great website for the book here.

And after all that convincing, come to the Colfax store next week to meet Reif Larsen. He's a very nice guy who wrote a fantastic book. He'll be at the Colfax Avenue store Thursday, May 14th, at 7:30 p.m.

See you there! --Joe

The Lie: She Said And He Said

Many of us here loved Chad Kultgen's first novel, Average American Male. Now his second novel is out, entitled The Lie. Today, Jackie & Joe present us with their reviews of it.

Jackie says:
I have a sort of morbid fascination with this author after reading his first book The Average American Male. To say his writing style is saying misogynistic is like saying the Grand Canyon is a big hole. It terrified me that when I gave that book to a guy friend of mine he gobbled it up and reviewed it by saying "Ya, that's pretty much how we think". This gave me a full body shudder that I've never been quite able to shake.

Kultgen's second book, The Lie, trumps the first soundly. This is the story of three college kids--2 males, one female. One guy is relatively normal, at least at the beginning of the book. The other guy is an over-privileged fiend that goes out of his way to invent humiliating sexual situations to put women in and has an extensive catalog of offensive descriptions for, and opinions of, women. Completing the triangle is a status conscious, brainless and seemingly soulless young woman. The book tells the tale of how these 3, over the course of their 4 years at college, do their best to destroy each other.

There is some suspense, or at least a hovering sense of impending doom, that kept me turning the pages of this book. It is definitely NOT for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It is sick, twisted, dark and hypnotic. And yes, I will be giving my copy to that same guy friend to see what he thinks. I'm afraid. Very afraid.

Bret Easton Ellis and Chuck Palahniuk fans will easily fall into the Cult of Kultgen.

Joe says:
Chad Kultgen's second novel is quite possibly even more biting than his first. The story of a love triangle gone bad, then worse, then oh-my-god-how-could-it-have-gotten-even-worse-but-it-does. Some of the scenes were not only laugh-out-loud funny, they had me shaking and giggling so much it caused the folks in front of me on the plane I was on to ask what was wrong. And then I let them read it, and they then joined me in laughing as well. (All three of them were women, and I hesitated in letting them read it, as the scene concerned the thoughts of the female character while having sex. I was so relived when they started laughing!) The author doesn't shy away from delving into the horrible inner natures we harbor...and letting his characters live with the nasty debris. This book is not for the feint of heart, nor is it for someone who firmly believes in the trans formative (for the good) power of love. This book is not for any person who finds any derogatory term for women offensive. They all exist here in spades. In the world of this novel, love is a lie and can only bring hell. But if you're looking for a book to describe the inner workings of today's youth, this is the one.


This is a book I could not put down, except when I was laughing too hard, or too gut-punched by the lows each of the three characters managed to take themselves into. I recommended it to a friend of mine, a woman I have known since college, a little unsure what she might think of me as she read the book. She is enjoying the book immensely, saying that she thinks it's hilarious and sadly true.

Some new books this week

This week has turned out to be a big week for some fantastic new releases we love:
Irreplaceable by Stephen Lovely

This is a very intriguing novel about two families--one the family of an young organ donor in Iowa, the other of the recipient of one of those organs in Chicago. Though typically donations are kept
confidential, an overheard conversation between doctors leads the curious and very grateful Janet, who received a very needed heart transplant to the names and addresses of her donor's husband, who wants nothing whatsoever to do with her, and mother, who embraces the chance to hold on to this last piece of her daughter. This is a very deep book, dealing with all sorts of tough things--the many forms of grief, the dynamics of organ donation on both the donors and the recipients and their families, dealing with chronic illness, the nature of gratitude and responsibility, and much more. The common thread seems to be how we deal with choices--both the ones we make and the ones that others do. Lovely obviously poured a lot of research into this book and it rings true on every page. This book will really make you think. -- Jackie

This is a haunting elegy to love & loss, grief & guilt. Beautifully, compellingly, written. I marvelled at the way Stephen Lovely painted his characters: so real & so flawed. As Jackie said, not an easy read, but most definitely a rewarding one. Especially recommended for folks who want to read about Chicago - some great descriptions of the Andersonville and Pilsen neighborhoods! -- Joe


The Spare Room by Helen Garner

Award winning writer Helen Garner returns to fiction after 15 years to write this short, intense and beautiful novel about friendship and dying. It seems intimately personal since the narrator is also named Helen, and the emotions are so raw and powerful. The premise--Helen agrees to let her friend stay with her for 3 weeks while she undergoes an alternative cancer therapy in Melbourne (where Helen lives). What she didn't know was just how very sick her friend is. Both women are in their 60s and on their own, and it becomes a struggle between needing help and asking for it, wanting to help but knowing what personal limits there are, and the boundaries of friendship and love. The issue of truth comes up again and again--facing the truth of an illness, the realities of a moment, and the sum of a life. This is a quick read, but not an easy one. -- Jackie

Addition by Toni Jordan

After reading a couple of books about people dealing with death, I was SOOOOOO ready for this light-hearted, quirky story, and in fact nearly swallowed it whole on a lazy, cloudy Saturday. This is a story about Grace, who lives with a form of obsessive/compulsive disorder that demands that she count EVERYTHING and live by the rule of numbers. This can be rather demanding, as you can probably guess. But she is absolutely adorable, with an acerbic wit that made me giggle many, many times. This book is all about learning to embrace, and even flaunt, who you are, no matter what. It's a first novel by Australian author Jordan who is bound to set the chic-lit world on it's ear with this delicious down-under treat! -- Jackie


A Rose By Any Name by Douglas Brenner and Stephen Scanniello

I'll start out by fully admitting that I did not read this whole book--I skipped around, sampled, and savored. This book is incredible. It's literally the history of the names of roughly 1200 (of the 15,000 that exist today) rose varieties. The stories are far more interesting than I ever dreamed they could be. I can't wait to see the finished book--the illustrations and photographs are going to be AMAZING. There is politics, intrigue, flattery, mockery, and espionage involved. Who knew?! -- Jackie




Bloodprint by Kitty Sewell

There are so many plot twists, especially in the last hundred pages or so, you might fell like you are on a roller coaster ride. This is the story of two women: Madeleine Frank, artist and psychologist, and the secrets that have formed her and her family's lives; and Rachel Locklear, former prostitute and now devoted mother trying desperately to escape the clutches of a crime family that has owned her for too long. These women meet by chance (that might not be chance) and their stories slowly come together into a hurricane of intrigue and fear that changes who they are forever. The characters in this book are very vivid, even the most minor, which makes an already interesting
story rich with depth and color. In short, this is a fantastic read! -- Jackie

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

This book is painful and beautiful and bound to be HUGE. Little Bee, a Nigerian girl who fled after the murder of her whole village by oil men, ends up in England searching for the two people she knows outside of Nigeria, two people who helped to spare her life once before. Her appearance back in Andrew and Sarah's life sets off a string of events that changes all of their lives forever--though forever is not as long for some of them as for others. There is horror (some of it graphic) and hope in this novel, and it's told in such a strong, fresh voice--you won't forget Little Bee and her story. Governments at their very worst, human beings at their very best and how they clash--it's haunting.

This would make a superb bookclub book! -- Jackie




Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

February might be a short and bleak month, but this year we have the debut of a new, unstoppable, hilarious, hard hitting crime fighting duo--Bernie and Chet--to look forward to. Bernie is a human private investigator with more heart than money. Chet is an almost completely trained police dog (there was an incident with a squirrel during the final field test--he'll tell you about it if he gets time later). And that's the real kicker to this team--Chet narrates the action in a very "dog nation" kind of way. Their current case is a missing 17 year old girl that many people don't want to be found. It's a good mystery with interesting clues, and the charm of the storytelling style just can't be beat. The great news is that this is the first book in what promises to be a popular ongoing series--author Spencer Quinn and his dog Audrey are busy on the next one even now! -- Jackie

I've gotta tell you all that I started reading this book with a raised eyebrow: really, another book narrated by a dog? And then I promptly devoured it! Chet is a great narrator. All dog: there are times when he is on the hunt, focused, and wham! what's that smell? The mystery kept me glued, with all its twists and turns, and had me rooting for down-on-his luck Private Investigator Bernie. Highly recommended! -- Joe

Fool by Christopher Moore

In his latest, Christopher Moore takes on the Bard, Shakespeare, in his hilarious retelling of King Lear. Rip-roaringly funny, with lots of gross-out humor, this book is for any fan of Christopher Moore. Irreverant, while somehow still being respectful of the original, this book had me bent over laughing! -- Joe

Moore is at it again, this time taking on Shakespeare. It follows (relative term here) the plot and characters of King Lear (including the Ghost--there's ALWAYS a bloody ghost), though Moore freely admits to generously borrowing lines from several other Shakespearian plays (to confuse the critics, supposedly). I am no Shakespearian scholar, so I was worried that perhaps I wouldn't "get" this book--but it really didn't matter. The few things that need to be explained are explained and the rest is just rib-achingly hilarious. This is an EXTREMELY bawdy/raunchy/R-rated novel--even Moore feels the need to put a warning at the front of the book. Bodily fluids feature greatly, as do the racier body parts, there is a bit of graphic violence and a great deal more graphic sexual moments. But mostly there is laughter and the sharp, snappy wit of Christopher Moore. This is his homage to British humor more than anything, and I found it spot on! -- Jackie

Whew! I told you it was a big week for new releases! Hopefully there's something here for everyone.

A few cookbook recommendations

Did someone who loves you get you a giftcard for the holidays? Do you love cookbooks? If you're like me, and you have a weakness for cookbooks, here are a few of my favorites recently. Perhaps you'll want to use your giftcard on one of them:

The Cook And The Gardener by Amanda Hesser

This is not a new cookbook (in fact, it's ten years old this year!) but it is my favorite! Amanda Hesser is a former New York Times food columnist and this book charts a year she spent with a farmer and his wife, learning to farm and cook. The book is divided up seasonally, and each season into months. Filled with great stories of her quirky hosts as well as recipes that have never once failed me. It is a book I return to again and again, even if just to while away a morning drinking coffee and dreaming of the garden.

Jamie at Home by Jamie Oliver

Jamie Oliver's latest cookbook is gorgeous. The paper quality is lovely, and the photographs, many of which are multi-page spreads, are of an almost-dreamlike quality. It also reflects Jamie's obsession with his garden and cooking with the fresh produce from it. As always, his recipes are easy-to-follow, full of surprising taste combinations, and delicious. For a cook and a gardener, this is another must-have.


How To Cook Everything by Mark Bittman

This fantastic update to Mark Bittman classic cookbook is truly indispensable. I find myself using this one side-by-side with my Joy of Cooking for my general kitchen how-to. Just two days ago, I made yogurt and ricotta using this cookbook. Both turned out perfectly. Bittman has added tons of variations to his recipes that exponentially increase the value of this book. This is a perfect gift for someone just starting out into the wonderful world of home cooking. It is chockful of charts, descriptions, along with the hows, whys and whats of the kitchen.

Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume One by Julia Child

Yes this classic cookbook seems formidable. But, really, it is anything but. Julia Child's way of walking the cook through her recipes guarantees no missed steps. The ingredients you need for each step are clearly laid out, along with the time each step takes, the equipment needed, and any variations that may work. This is more than a cookbook; it is an entire cooking class, just as Julia Child intended. Even now, forty years later, the recipes are just as current as ever, especially since Julia Child was a big fan of fresh ingredients, whole foods over processed, and taking the time to do things right. Although this cookbook may scare off a beginner, it is designed for anyone in the kitchen, and the illustrations from Julia Child's husband are so useful! Highly recommended.

So these are four of my favorite cookbooks right now. They are well-worn in my kitchen, covered lovingly in sauces and butter and crumbs. Copies of them await your kitchen!

--Joe

Julia Glass coming to the TC Colfax Avenue!

Julia Glass, winner of the National Book Award for her debut, Three Junes, is coming to the Tattered Cover Colfax Avenue on Monday, October 20, 7:30 p.m., in support of her latest novel, I See You Everywhere.

I have read all three of Glass' novels, including her second one, The Whole World Over, and think she is getting better with each successive novel. Her latest is just sublime. Once again, Julia Glass has taken me into the world she has created. A world at once familiar and at the same time, somehow more focused, sharper emotionally. This novel, the intertwining stories of two sisters, Clem and Louisa, whose lives are spent mostly apart, is written in each of their voices as they tell their stories. Julia Glass has a way of laying out the plot naturally, in heartbreaking vistas and subtle nearly-missed revelations. This is a must-read from a powerful writer.

This is a fantastic chance to come and meet a powerful American author! For more information on the event, click here.

-Joe

The Little Book

Over 30 years in the making, "The Little Book" by Selden Edwards just arrived at the Tattered Cover!

Here is Jackie's review:


The Library of Congress cataloging for this book is: 1. Rock musician--fiction. 2. Time travel--fiction. 3.Vienna(Austria)--fiction. 4. Austria--History--1867-1918--Fiction. And it is definitely all of those things. But it's SOOOOOOOOO much more. This book tells a story that keeps looping back upon itself and back upon itself and back upon itself. It introduces us to the likes of Freud and Samuel Clemens, Hitler and the Empress of Vienna. It's a history lesson and a brilliant work of science fiction. It's a love story. It's a travelog. It's intellectual, political, psychological and sociological. It's a fairy tale. But mostly, it's an amazing book that took this author 30 years to write, finish and get published. Fans of The Time Traveler's Wife or Somewhere in Time will LOVE this book. So will fans of WWII intrigue/spy fiction. Really, this book offers something for everyone who is willing to suspend their disbelief and just let the story unfold. 5 stars absolutely.

And here is Joe's review:

A little over a month ago, Jackie wrote about a 5-star novel she'd recently read called "The Little Book". And she's right; it's absolutely fantastic. 5 Stars.

Selden Edwards tells the tale of Wheeler Burden, 60's rock star, college baseball star,
and son of an even more iconic man who died at the hands of the Gestapo. Somehow Wheeler
wakes up in 1897 Vienna, a city in the middle of an unparalleled explosion of art, philosophy, thinking, and building surrounded by an empire quickly crumbling. While we never really find out HOW Wheeler got there, we do learn why, and to what affect.

Jackie said she thought the book was science fiction, and I disagree. Although time travel is not something readily explained in most general fiction, for non-fans of sci-fi, there is nothing to be afraid of here. Art, philosophy, a tremendous love story all blend here along with a touching story of father and son and fascinating discussions of Freud's work.

This book was fun to read (especially since I lived in Vienna and frequently miss the city, described in rich detail here) and I think is going to be fun to sell!

Even though the time has long since passed when summer meant free days of fun in the sunshine, days at the pool, and long sultry afternoons with a great book, I can't help but approach summer with dreams of all the above. Every year I pick out a few summer reads. Books that I think will represent that summer for me. That will transport me out of the tedium of having to put on work clothes when the high temperature is going to be in the 90's. Something to look forward to during those long evenings I now spend on my porch.

I thought I would write a little bit about the books I'm planning on reading this summer, and perhaps inspire you to set out with some great summer dreams of your own:

For the past few summers, I have picked a book relating to the garden that I will read all summer long. Last year it was the excellent Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, now in paperback. This year it's Gardening At The Dragon's Gate, by Wendy Johnson. This is a zen approach to gardening in the form of a memoir. I am really enjoying it. I like to spend my weekend mornings gardening, weeding, watering, and then sit with my coffee and this book. Her approach to gardening is very similar to mine: it is more than making plants grow, it is a way of communicating not only with nature, but the past and the future as well. I recommend this book.

Each summer, I like to read some lighter fare as well. Something when your attention may wander: either to watch a bird you haven't seen before, or because the people watching is really superb in the summer. This year, I am planning on starting to read Men From The Boys by William J Mann. This is the first novel by the author, published in 1998. He has since written a few other books, sequels to this first novel. And though I may have implied that this is lighter fare, I think it would be better described as a conversational approach to some very serious topics: coming out of the closet, HIV and AIDS, and trying to be yourself. I have been wanting to read this highly regarded series for a number of years, and will finally do it this year.

A friend just recommended I read The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti. The book doesn't come out until August, but I have it on good faith that it's going to be well worth the wait. From what I've been hearing, this book is one of those fantastic, can't put down, completely transported to another world kind of books. Which is often exactly what I crave during the summer.

So these are three of the books I am planning on reading this summer. Of course, I have a huge shelf of books I want to read, and plan on getting to, including finishing the Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin. I'm on the fourth book, and can't wait to fall back into the City.

I'd love to hear from you about what you're planning on reading this summer.

Bookseller Joe

The Art of Racing In The Rain

Two staff members write briefly about the new book, The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein:


This book is a heartbreaking, can't-put-it-down treasure. The story is told by the family dog, Enzo, who is highly evolved and intellectual and preparing to be a man in his next life (he saw a show on the Discovery Channel that explained that that is what will happen to dogs such as himself). He was picked out of a litter at 12 weeks old by semi-pro race car driver Denny and was there for Denny meeting and marrying Eve and a witness to the couple's daughter Zoe's home birth. And, alas, he was there when Eve became ill and the family began to fall apart. Through it all Enzo struggles to care for the people he loves, communicate some essential truths that only he sees from his unique perspective, and fights for his family. Enzo's compassionate insider-yet-other commentaries about the nature of humans, family, love, loyalty, honesty, play and togetherness are moving and memorable.

-Jackie

A coworker of mine told me I needed to read this book. When I read the jacket flap, I wasn't too sure. I needn't have worried: this book is fantastic. A family drama told from the point-of-view of Enzo, the lab/terrier mix. Enzo's narration is honestly some of the most humane and insightful I've read recently. He struggles to communicate, to explain how he understands, but all he has are gestures. But then, even with all of our talking...sometimes it's only the gestures that get through. A well-written, interesting, engaging and emotional book.

-Joe

The author, Garth Stein, is coming to our Lower Downtown store on Monday, June 9, at 7:30 p.m.

And, this book is the June selection for our Autographed Book Club. Click here for more information.

If you'd like to purchase the book, click here.

Willy Vlautin Signing Tonight!

We know it's late notice, but Willy Vlautin will be at the Tattered Cover Colfax Avenue at 7:30 p.m. tonight, May 8, 2008. He'll be there to sign copies of his latest book, Northline. Willy is in the band Richmond Fontaine and should be playing songs he wrote specifically for the book Northline. A free CD is included with the first edition copies of Northline currently available.

Here's Joe's review of Northline:

This book started out so bleak. I mean, dusty wind-swept towns with no hope and lots of booze bleak. But then glimmers of hope, and glimmers of hope and the whole time: from bleak to hope, I was swept up in the storm of Allison's life. She moves from Vegas to Reno, fleeing her abusive boyfriend, her alcohol blackouts, and carrying a baby. Once in Reno, she finds that she hasn't escaped everything she fled. But life in Reno starts to look up, especially with the help of Paul Newman, who visits her in her head and talks her through things. They talk movies, he chides her for her behavior, she offers to cook for him. Eventually, Allison meets Dan, another wounded person, just trying to find a little bit of happy. Read this book when it comes out this spring. Willy Vlautin wrote a soundtrack of instrumental tracks that goes with it, and the music is as haunting and true as his writing. An excellent book.

So come on down to the Tattered Cover Colfax Avenue, 2526 E Colfax Ave. tonight at 7:30 p.m.

You can buy the book here.

Haiku

April is National Poetry Month. It seems that there is not much emphasis placed on my favorite type of poetry, haiku. Haikus are, by their nature, short & sweet. They're little nuggets of poetry. They're easy to remember, and most of all, fun to write.

If you haven't read haiku in a while, or ever, let me suggest one of my favorite books on the subject, "The Haiku Apprentice", by Abigail Friedman. Yes, it's a memoir. But it is not your common story: the author has served many years in the United States Foreign Service. While working in Japan, and with little prior experience in poetry, she joins a haiku group. The book is her memoir of falling in love with this type of poetry. In Japan, haiku is very popular: written by many thousands of people, and read by millions. It is most definitely the poetry of a people, and Friedman takes us on a brief history of the craft, and answers many questions about writing haiku in English. At the end of the book, she outlines the steps to take to start your own haiku group.

Friedman believes, as do I, that haiku is an everyday poetry. Traditionally, it is seventeen syllables long and contains a season word. But there are really no hard and fast rules for writing them in English. This book is an excellent starting point for a lifelong love affair with haiku. After reading this, let me suggest a few more books of poetry:

The Narrow Road to the Interior by Basho. If there is required reading in haiku, this book is it. Written in the 17th century, it is a combination of travel journal and haiku.

Haiku: This Other World by Richard Wright. The author of "Native Son" was an avid haiku writer. His poems capture life in Chicago, full of its joy and pathos.

Book of Haikus by Jack Kerouac. Kerouac wrote beautiful haiku. Some of my favorite of his writing.

If you're interested in this book, click here
Enjoy!

-Joe Eichman, bookseller