Books! Books! Books!

So I was speaking to a friend on the phone yesterday and she said “Can you recommend some good books? I went to your blog but you didn’t mention any that you’ve read lately.”

After I got over the shock that someone besides craftivore is reading my blog, I thought about what she had said. Just that day I had run into one of the fab ladies from Ceres Bakery in front of the New Fiction stacks at the library and she asked me the same question. After I jabbered her ear off for 20 minutes, I left the library with a real sense of satisfaction.

I love my job as a book reviewer. I work with awesome editors, books magically appear on my doorstep, and I always have a new book to read on my nightstand in paper and electronic forms. (For the record, I prefer paper.) I even get paid to read books! A dream come true.

But, at the end of the day I still read a lot more books than I am assigned and I need to tell someone how good they are. I’m pretty busy talking about books on twitter, so I had forgotten that there are a whole bunch of people I love talking about books with in real life! At the grocery store! At the library! At the bookstore! At the bakery!

As I said in a post last summer, sometimes my mind just draws a blank when I get asked to recommend a book. That same post had a record number of hits, which was much more gratifying than this month’s hits, which appear to be mainly originating in the Ukraine. (I guess I’m pretty big over there- budmo!) This year I will post a list around the first of the month of all of the books coming out that month which I have either read or I want to read. I’m sure in the process I may miss some good titles, so please chime in and leave a comment with what you are reading.

Since it’s been over seven months since I have posted a good list, I’ll direct you to the mind-blowing round up of “Best of 2012” book lists at largeheartedboy’s site where there is something for everyone. In the meantime, here are a few January titles to check out this month and some that I read at the end of 2012 and really liked.

The postman leaves a trail of footprints...and books!

• The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro; Speedy little art-themed mystery (with a focus on Degas) that takes place in Boston and involves the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, fun for locals and art lovers.
• The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis: A novel told in stories, her first book. I read it and liked it before Oprah announced her as the latest Oprah book pick. (Take that as you will- I know O will be calling me any minute now for tips!)
• Listening for Madeleine: A Portrait of Madeleine L’Engle in Many Voices by Leonard S. Marcus: Interesting and made me want to re-read A Wrinkle in Time.
• Errantry by Elizabeth Hand: See my previous post for my review for the Trib. A lovely, haunting book for fans of Angela Carter or Kelly Link.
• Elsewhere by Richard Russo: A memoir about his journey as a writer, but also about his complicated relationship with his mother. I loved it.
• Names for the Sea: Strangers in Iceland by Sarah Moss: I have a weird fascination with Iceland, so this was the book I've been looking for. A British professor writes about the year she spent in Iceland with her family after the financial crash of 2008. I ordered this directly from the overseas publisher, but I see that there will be a U.S. edition pubbing in May.
• Lit by Mary Karr: This is an older title, and I can't believe I hadn't read this memoir yet. It was as amazing as everyone said.

January titles:

• News from Heaven: The Bakerton Stories by Jennifer Haigh: I have been a longtime fan of Haigh, but couldn’t quite get into her last novel (Faith). These short stories were great and made me want to re-read Baker Towers.
• y: A Novel  by Marjorie Celona: I’ll post my review for the Minneapolis Star Tribune when it runs...a notable debut.
• Calling Dr. Laura: A Graphic Memoir by Nicole J. Georges: Super-talented artist with a fascinating story to tell. I love graphic novels and memoirs, and I'll be writing about them for an upcoming issue of Library Journal.

January titles I haven't read that have caught my eye:

• The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan: Another book focused on Degas, or rather, on one of his subjects. I love the artist/ art-themed novels, so I am excited to check this one out.
• The Good House by Ann Leary: Lots of good buzz for this one on twitter.