Not sure if the KC Star hack knows his books or not, but I saw these on his tops of 2009 list...
“Lovers & Strangers,” by Grant Tracey (Pocol Press). Artfully constructed short stories thick with pop culture and deep in characters who grapple with timely, yet timeless, questions of love, intimacy, betrayal, sex and sexuality.
“Welcome to Oakland: A Novel,” by Eric Miles Williamson (Mad Dog Screaming Press). Working-class fiction is rare. Working-class fiction of such zest, evoking Nathanael West at his most frenzied, is even rarer.
“The Year of the Flood,” by Margaret Atwood (Doubleday/Nan A. Talese). Leave it to Atwood to find humor in a post-apocalyptic world as she covertly, and brilliantly, address questions of how we need to live on an imperiled planet. (I think Dave mentioned this one too.)
“Road Dogs,” by Elmore Leonard (Morrow). Three characters from earlier Leonard mysteries plan joint capers and individual double crosses.
“This Is Where I Leave You,” by Jonathan Tropper (Dutton). Despite the fact that you could cast this as a seriocomic venture for Carrey, Sandler or Ferrell, Tropper may have picked up where Anne Tyler left off awhile back, crafting laughter and tears in a claustrophobic dysfunctional family environment. (I know I am in the minority of liking this guy...thought it is funny that the guy casts the movie...which I am sure has been optioned.)
“Manhood for Amateurs,” by Michael Chabon (Harper). A writerexplores his journey into adulthood in 39 funny, often painfully honest personal essays.
I think the ladies are doing their January club at my house on Jan. 9 or 16. We could do club at my place on the 23rd or 30th. I would like to keep things going, but the severe lack of interest lately leads me to believe that I may be solo on that.
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3 comments:
I am definitely still interested in book club. As a matter of fact, I am more interested than I have been in a while. I really think my life has settled down to the point that I can actually read the books. I think we should pick a book by the end of the week. I vote for Atwood book.
No one seems to be reading this, so I say we make the executive decision to make it the Atwood book and if you still want to host, Eric, you can pick whichever of those January dates is better for you. I have no preference
Dave, Dennis and I discussed it briefly. The Atwood book is fine. Dennis mentioned that he might host...so I will check with him. If not, I will pick a date.
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