Once again a thoughful and hilarious essay. I'll be buying a copy of TSOS for a friend at Sherman's Books here in Maine and sending it to her as a surprise Christmas gift. We share an inside joke about swans and the cover will defintely catch her attention! I have to read Cold Comfort Farm again! Thanks for the recommendations!
So spot-on about Tom Lake! It seems such a simple tale but it's like you're there listening in to the family's conversations,or even participating. Have you read one of her earliest works, The Magician's Assistant? I've re-read it several times (I'm, gulp. 74) and it remains a favorite of all time. Such quirky and well drawn loving characters. If you haven't read it, you must! Thank you for the recommendations of books I didn't even know existed and I'm always reading.
I read The Magician's Assistant years ago, at the recommendation of one of my MFA professors, Elizabeth McCracken, who is a close friend of Ann Patchett's. BUT I can't remember a thing about it! Ha! I should revisit it. Thanks for the reminder.
Adding a few of these to my thriftbooks wishlist for Xmas!
Loved Society of Shame of course, and purchased a few copies for my girlfriends for Christmas! It’s in my top 5 (currently at #39 for the year)!
My top read this year was I Have Some Questions For You (Makkai also wrote one of my GOAT books Great Believers), followed closely by All My Rage (Tahir). Currently reading Hell of a Book and it might round out the Top 3!
Excellent post/list - Full agree on The Push and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. I put one on my immediate To Read list! Side note, I have a TON of photo's from Shakespeare & Co that I gleefully took about 4+ years ago and never noticed any No Photos sign. I could not have held myself back even if I did see it. What a place!
We're matched on many--so off to get the others! (Time to get off my serial murderer binge)
Oooh, I read a good one about a serial killer this year, too....The Quiet Tenant.
So many good suggestions I haven’t read yet! Thanks! Love reading people’s favorite lists this time of year especially books!
Once again a thoughful and hilarious essay. I'll be buying a copy of TSOS for a friend at Sherman's Books here in Maine and sending it to her as a surprise Christmas gift. We share an inside joke about swans and the cover will defintely catch her attention! I have to read Cold Comfort Farm again! Thanks for the recommendations!
Thanks Paul! I’m fan of Sherman’s. (My mom lives in Freeport so that location is her go-to)
So spot-on about Tom Lake! It seems such a simple tale but it's like you're there listening in to the family's conversations,or even participating. Have you read one of her earliest works, The Magician's Assistant? I've re-read it several times (I'm, gulp. 74) and it remains a favorite of all time. Such quirky and well drawn loving characters. If you haven't read it, you must! Thank you for the recommendations of books I didn't even know existed and I'm always reading.
I read The Magician's Assistant years ago, at the recommendation of one of my MFA professors, Elizabeth McCracken, who is a close friend of Ann Patchett's. BUT I can't remember a thing about it! Ha! I should revisit it. Thanks for the reminder.
Loved Tom Lake. Will add others to TBR. (And - how much fun that you are teaching that workshop!?)
Yes! I'm very excited about it. Now I just have to design the class!!
Adding a few of these to my thriftbooks wishlist for Xmas!
Loved Society of Shame of course, and purchased a few copies for my girlfriends for Christmas! It’s in my top 5 (currently at #39 for the year)!
My top read this year was I Have Some Questions For You (Makkai also wrote one of my GOAT books Great Believers), followed closely by All My Rage (Tahir). Currently reading Hell of a Book and it might round out the Top 3!
Excellent post/list - Full agree on The Push and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. I put one on my immediate To Read list! Side note, I have a TON of photo's from Shakespeare & Co that I gleefully took about 4+ years ago and never noticed any No Photos sign. I could not have held myself back even if I did see it. What a place!