This is the second time she’s done it to me.
Sara has recommended two books to me in the past month, and both times I stayed up much too late finishing them, and sobbed my way through the final sections. So in revenge, I am going to pass on these books to you. And, from time to time, I will add other books that cause me anguish or delight.
The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
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OK, this is the funniest book I have ever read – aloud. In Me Own Words – the autobiography of Bigfoot (words and pictures by Graham Roumieu)
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Shara & I had the rare experience of watching the movie version of a book we both love that was equal to, if not superior than, the quality of the book: Persepolis. This was made even more impressive by the fact that the movie was in French – and set in Iran and Austria – and almost entirely in black & white. We saw Marjane Satrapi on a panel presentation with Chris Ware at the Union a couple of years ago – what an awesome combination! Chris Ware did a series in the NYT Magazine that mesmerized me:
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Gentlemen of the Road was initially published as a serial in the NYTimes Magazine. This was irritating and I didn’t read any episodes after the first (I hate waiting.).
But when I saw the published form at Barnes & Noble I snatched it up. And read it on the plane, which was appropriate since the story is one of travel and adventure. I did not, however, wield any weapons. Nor did I rescue any elephants.
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Out Stealing Horses – Per Petersson
This book is a soaring testament to the power of language to take us to places unknown and let us feel other people’s emotions — even though it was written in Norwegian and translated into English. It is also tremendously frustrating, as it offers *exactly* what Trond, the narrator, sees and knows — and no more. We are unable to resolve the tensions and mysteries in the story because Trond is unable to do so. This is true realism.
