The holiday season is upon us again and it feels like a good time to share some favorite books for the reader on your gift list or maybe for yourself. This list is pretty eclectic- throwing a couple books on faith at you since well it is time for Christmas,Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Some more recent reads and some non-fiction and of course a title or two from my favorite writers. So grab a cup of something warm, maybe something spiked and enjoy the post and maybe you'll find just right the book for a long winters night.
Alice Hoffman has become one of my favorite writers. When I see that a new book of hers is coming out I pre-order it! "The Invisible Hour" did not disappoint. Hoffman blends mysticism and reality so well you almost lose sight of the mysticism. Her characterizations are well drawn and this plot is multi-layered without putting any one plot more forward and losing the trail of the story. Mia Jacob,our young protagonist, is living within the confines of a cult on a farm in Western Massachusetts. The leader is an abusive man who has married her mother who found the cult when she was young, pregnant and unmarried. Mia manages to find a way into the local library. She befriends the local librarian, Sarah Mott who knows where is Mia is from. She helps Mia pick out books and against cult rules Mia brings them back to the farm and hides them in a barn. She finds a way out of her circumstance from the books and When she discovers "The Scarlett Letter" she feels as though Hawthorne wrote the book for her. When her books are discovered she must run from the cult and Sarah is the one to help her escape. And this could possibly be true as she finds herself moving backward in time and comes face to face with the writer himself. What develops is a relationship between the two that helps save Mia from a life within the cult. As Sarah tells her, "Real life is unbelievable. Souls are snatched away from us, flesh and blood turn to dust. People you love betray you, men go to war over nothing. It's all preposterous. That is why we have novels. To make sense of things."
I read this book back in 2000. This was an Oprah pick and you know I love an Oprah pick! Ansay takes us through the wedding of Caleb and April, who after knowing each other for just three months take the matrimonial leap. The wedding takes place at the Great Lakes chapel and motel in the midst of a blizzard. Ansay is able to inform of of family history through the thoughts of the guests and family members. Some of whom question the brides motives for getting married when she had a long standing relationship and broke it off to be with Caleb. Everyone seems to have an opinion about their marriage and marriage in general and the snowstorm traps them all at the Chapel and at the cash bar. A domestic dispute turns deadly and brings an unwanted guest to the reception. It is a story rich in detail, bringing to life the concepts of marriage and what loves means to the young the old and the in between.It takes a talented writer to bring a reader through one evening and one event without getting trapped in stereotypes of weddings or marriage or dragging the reader down in unnecessary detail. A delicious winter read!
This book was given to me this summer. I had never heard of Wallace Stegner, which seems incredible considering his prolific writing life. The story begins in the voice of Larry Morgan, a young newly wed embarking on a career as an English professor at a Wisconsin university. He and his wife become friends with a wealthy charismatic couple and the book takes us through the relationships between the couples. The friendships between husbands and wives and the tension as they share the good and bad life has to offer. The dreams realized, the disappointments life hands out and the ultimate complexity of human beings and how we navigate our relationship with one another. Stegner takes us from Wisconsin to Vermont to Italy and through decades of this beautiful foursome, leaving you with the sense that life is precious, goes quickly and no matter what choices we make we may always look back and wonder what if.
I am not sure what even made me pick this book off the shelf. I had never heard of AJ Jacobs who is an editor at Esquire Magazine and has written several books where he puts himself into the main role of lab rat. Jacobs was not raised within any practicing religion but became interested in the relevance of faith after his son was born. He began a year long journey to take the Bible literally and follow the practices and laws as written. Jacobs begins his year long quest on September 1st and takes us month by month- highlighting the Old Testament and trying to follow the rules. The first two pages made me laugh out loud which is why I bought it. It kept me laughing and wondering how his relationship survived the year as the first day when his partner suggested the movie "The Aristocrats" he declined because it didn't seem very "Biblical". He grows his beard out until he resembles Moses, avoids pork, wears a robe and dabs lamb juice on the door of their apartment for Passover. He does not just follow the Bible blindly but tries to find the reasons behind the laws, engaging clergy along the way. I am not sure if he found himself a better man when it was all done but I enjoyed the lesson and being along for the ride.
I am a Barbara Brown Taylor groupie, if clergy have such a thing. I was first introduced to her from a podcast about this book and since I have very little will power when it comes to hearing about a great book I bought it . One of the first things that struck me was her mentioning how much light we know have. How you can see the world lit up from space. We as humans so afraid of the dark that we just keeping lighting the world around us. I had not ever given much thought to darkness in the way that she decribes it- as something necessary. We always talk about being afraid of the dark and refer to difficult times in out lives as "dark times" but that darkness teaches us something about ourselves. She says," "I have learned things in the dark that I could never have learned in the light, things that have saved me over and over again, so that there is only one logical conclusion. I need darkness as much as I need light." The difficulties we have in life, and life is full of them for everyone, show us our resiliency. They show us how to move back into the light. I found this book moving and profound and even if you aren't a believer in the Divine, Taylor has a way of giving you insight without pouring religion down your throat. Her writing is beautiful and reads like a conversation and it may make you want to turn off some of your lights from time to time.
Adam Grant is someone else who came to me via podcast. This time it was Brene Brown's podcast "Dare to Lead". He is an organizational psychologist and has written several books including "Think Again". This one is my favorite. I just recently finished it and felt my own potential growing. Well not exactly but he does show us through research, storytelling and examples how character and getting comfortable with discomfort helps us reach out potential. It isn't always the smartest person in the room who gets to the top it often is someone who has navigated adversity. There is so much emphasis on the ones who start out smart- the gifted students, the ones already at an advantage from their socioeconomic status but what about the people who don't have that and yet still rise to accomplish something amazing? He takes us from classrooms in Finland to the NBA to space, giving us examples of how people can and do reach their potential. This book will stay with me for a long time and has made me want to move to Finland!
This book was not on my first draft of this post. It just popped into my head and the memory of my mother reading it. My mother was not a big reader but when she found Robin Cook she found a little nirvana. Cook was a graduate of Wesleyan University and a physician. "Coma" was his second book and a big hit in 1977. The cover of this book freaked me out but I read it once my mom was done and I was hooked too. We continued to read several of his books after that. "Coma" focuses on Susan Wheeler, a third year medical student and her difficulties navigating a male dominated world, which may have been the initial appeal since I was about fourteen when I read this. She discovers during her surgical rotation that healthy people are falling into a coma after surgery. When she discovers what is causing it it leads her to a powerful person and puts her life in danger. It is a quick and appealing read if you like mysteries and enjoy some medical drama. I can still see my mom sitting in her recliner completely absorbed, it is a beautiful memory.
I am going to end with this sweet book. I used to read thisbook to my children every Christmas. I love the illustrations and the concept of all the animals waking Bear up so he can enjoy the spirit of Christmas, something he normally sleeps theough every year. It is a lesson in the gift of giving as Bear experiences getting a tree, baking cakes and singing songs all orchestrated by his loving friends. Pick up a copy and make it your annual tradiaiton with your children or grandchildren you won't be disappointed.
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