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The Possessed: Adventures With Russian Books and the People Who Read Them by Elif Batuman
Many of these essays are truly delightful, funny and bright. A couple, however, were clearly sort of phoned in.
Border Crossing by Pat Barker
I could read nothing but Pat Barker to the end of my days. I mean, not really. But you know what I mean.
Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
A wonderful memoir about women saving each other's sanity and helping each other survive.
The Regeneration Trilogy by Pat Barker
The best. Ever.
Another World by Pat Barker
Not my favorite of her books, but still pretty awesome.
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
This is a huge book and I read it in a single day. So that tells you how great I thought it was.
Juliet Naked by Nick Hornby
Delightful.
In the White Hotel by D.M. Thomas
The Babi Yar scene puts today's callow young Holocaust novelists to shame.
The Bedwetter by Sarah Silverman
She's funny. But what works on stage works less well on the page.
Every Last One by Anna Quindlen
I bought this for a plane ride and ended up crying like a freak.
Happy Now by Katherine Shonk
Quiet but moving.
The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
OK, am I the only person in the universe who has noticed that the writing in this book is appalling? I mean, truly truly appalling. And it's all creepy S&M shit.
The Husbands and Wives by Laurie Abraham
Other people's bad marriages are like car accidents. You can't help but stare but it makes you feel bad.
Three Junes by Julia Glass This was a reread, because I'm trying to figure out what makes really good three-part novels tick. It's a terrific novel. You should read it if you hadn't.
The County of Birches by Judith Kalman This is a short story by a Canadian-Hungarian writer. If you're Canadian or Hungarian, or if you're writing a novel like mine, by all means read it.
The Man in the Wooden Hat by Jane Gardam A perfect specimen of one of my favorite genres of English novels.
The Hours by Michael Cunningham Again, another three-part novel. Equally marvelous.
Kingdom of Shadows by Alan Furst I love a good spy novel, and this one is about a Hungarian.
In Other Rooms Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin This is a marvelous first story collection.
Too Much Happiness by Alice MunroI love Alice Munro. She's so quiet, and so incisive.
One Must Also Be Hungarian by Adam Biro
This book is sort of impossible to understand. I feel like I have to reread.
Morning, Noon & Night by Spalding Gray
There's something just a little bit depressing about how privileged he is and how unhappy.
The Innocent by Ian McEwan
Oh LORD this book is KILLER.
Nazi Women by Cate Haste
As bad as the men.
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
This is really the most perfect novel ever.
The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford
Very silly but fun.
Of the Farm by John UpdikeA fine little novel. Maybe my favorite of his.
Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson
A pure delight.
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Oh lord was this ever FUN.
Homer & Langley by E.L. Doctorow A very good novel, if not his best.
Big Machine by Victor La Valle Magnificently original.
The Man in the Wooden Hat by Jane Gardam A perfect specimen of one of my favorite genres of English novels.
The Sky Below by Stacey D'Erasmo I was very grateful to discover this author.
Auschwitz and After by Charlotte Delbo Very difficult to read. Haunting.
The Informer by Juan Gabriel Vásquez Got off to a terrific start. Then petered out -- for me, that is.
The Confessions of Edward Day by Valerie MartinIf you're interested in the theater, you'll enjoy this book.
Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays by Zadie Smith
She's so smart it's scary. She's also charming as well. This essays are magnificent.
Vanessa & Virginia by Susan Sellers
As I am Bloomsbury obsessed, I quite enjoyed this.
Ordinary Men by Christopher R. Browning
I'm not sure how 'ordinary' they were. Or, rather, I think there is something different, or was something different, about ordinary Germans. But then again, they don't have an exclusive on bigotry and murderousness, do they?
Nazi Women by Cate Haste
As bad as the men.
Blame by Michelle Hunevan
Great novel!
The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt
I love love loved this novel.
Into That Darkness by Gitta Sereny
I honestly think every single person in the world should be forced to read this.
The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman
If you believe this novel, the vast majority of Poles were busy saving Jews. Well, since 90% (YES! THAT MANY) of Polish Jews were exterminated, and since the very few who survived tell us that the vast majority of Poles not only did nothing but applauded the death of the Jews among them, it's hard not to feel like much of this novel is horse-shit. I understand the impulse to glorify the few righteous Gentiles, but the whole point is that there were VERY few of them. That's why they were so amazing. Brave beyond all measure. Anyway, I'm sure this book made a lot of people feel good.
An Elegy for Easterly by Petina Gappah
I seem to never get enough of African fiction nowadays.
This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen by Tadeusz Borowski You want to know what it was really like to be a Pole during the Holocaust? Read this.
The Ask by Sam Lipsyte
Super super fun novel.
What the Dog Saw and Other Adventures by Malcolm Gladwell
I always enjoy reading him.
Oh well. I'll give it the old college try. You'll notice a lot of Holocaust-related novels this time. Research for a novel I may or may not write.
Girl Factory by Jim Krusoe.
Interesting, weird, pretty great.
The Enthusiast by Charlie Haas
Delightful. A veritable "romp."
Wanting by Richard Flanagan
Great novel about Charles Dickens.
Perfect Circle by Sean Stewart
I kind of loved this, although at the very end I started to worry. He pulled it out, though.
The Children's Day by Michael Heyns
This is a terrific, terrific book.
Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi
If you haven't read this you should be ashamed of yourself.
Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert
Oh GOD I wish I'd written this book. The perfect next step. But no, it had to Liz! Well, she did it better than I ever could.
Black Water Rising by Attica Locke
It's been a long long time since I read a mystery. Pretty well out of love with the genre, I'm afraid.
Hitler's Willing Executioners by Daniel Jonah Goldhagen
Chilling, depressing, sad as fucking hell.
A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore
When I want to find out what real writing is, I read Lorrie Moore.
The Adderall Diaries by Stephen Elliott
Sad, gripping, great.
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Reading this was just as much fun as reading all those terrific series I adored as a kid -- from Half Magic to Narnia and on and on.
The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Lovely stories.
Love & Obstacles by Aleksandar Hemon
Gave this a prize!
Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It by Maile Meloy
She is just such a great writer! Marvelous collection.
Hell is Other Parents by Deborah Copaken Kogan.
Awesomely funny essays by my dear dear friend Deb.
Irreplaceable by Stephen Lovely
Depressing. Interesting, but depressoing.
Heroic Measures by Jill Cement
Oh my god, this book is GREAT. I mean, really really great. And I hate little dogs.
Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams
No one writes like Terry. No one.
A Happy Marriage by Rafael Yglesias
One of the best novels I've read in years.
That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo
Definitely readable.
Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon
This book is killer. I mean, seriously. Go buy it. NOW.
Nurture Shock by Po Bronson
Every educator should read this immediately. What the HELL are we doing starting high school before 9:00?
Anatomy of the Auschwitz Death Camp by Yisrael Gutman and Michael Berenbaum
You know, honestly, there's just no way to make some glib comment about this.
The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker
Cute.
I Shudder by Paul Rudnick
Hi-larious!
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There's a photo here, another one here, and another one here.
And here are Natalie Portman and Lisa Kudrow looking drop dead gorgeous.
]]>The Believers by Zoe Heller.
LOVED it. Seriously.
Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Also great, except for the fact that I now know my children will never get into college and will attend what we in New Jersey fondly refer to as Harvard on the Highway - Bergen Community College.
When Washington Was in Vogue by Edward Christopher Williams
Lovely old Harlen renaissance novel.
The Winter Vault by Anne Michaels
Bit of a drama queen of a novel.
The Garden of Last Days by Andre Dubus III
Great, although I admit to liking the stripper parts a lot more than the terrorist parts.
The House on Fortune Street by Margot Livesey
Only the best book I've read in years.
The Bestiary by Nicholas Christoper
Probably would have enjoyed more if I gave the slightest shit about animals. I know, I know, sue me.
Just Like Family by Tasha Blaine
Compulsively readable NF about nannies.
Wetlands by Charlotte Roche
The most juvenile piece of total crap I've ever read. Avoid. AVOID.
The Slippery Year by Melanie Gideon
Lovely memoir.
Not Becoming My Mother by Ruth Reichl
Read it in a single (short) afternoon! Fun.
Sunnyside by Glen David Gold
Does NOT disappoint. Great writer.
The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris
God, I love this writer!
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Sad and sweet.
American Parent by Sam Apple
Delightful.
Dangerous or Safe by Cara Natterson.
Way to freak out completely! But also to calm down.
Legend of a Suicide by David Vann
The middle section is incredible.
The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist
This book fucking rocks!!! I love a good dystopia.
Mary Robison by One DOA One on the Way
I loved this book. LOVED IT. And I don't usually "get" her.
The Seven Principals for Making Marriage Workt by John M. Gottman.
This man is a genius. He can predict divorce with a 93% accuracy rate in FIVE MINUTES.
Bonk by Mary Roach
I wish I wrote this book. I need an idea JUST LIKE this one.
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Did I log this already? It's terrific, I don't care what anyone says.
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
I love a good Jewish novel.
