First, congratulations to the winner of the Alex and Me giveaway: Darby. Thank you to everyone who entered.
Second, a reminder that the book club for We Need To Talk About Kevin will be taking place here on this blog this Wednesday, December 10. I will post a review of the book to kick off the conversation. I finished the book yesterday, and I have no doubt that this will be a substantive discussion. (All I can say right now is "Wow".)
Third, the Washington Post today released its list of the top books of the year. Here is the top five list for fiction. I've not read any of them, though I do want to read Cost, by Roxanna Robinson. I'd add it to the TBR list right now, except that I don't think I can handle another book today about a middle-aged mother and a difficult son. Maybe next month. Here also is the Post's list of general fiction picks for 2008. I haven't read anything on this list either, though I would like to read Goldengrove, The House on Fortune Street, Olive Kitteridge, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (about which I have heard nothing but good things), and Songs for the Missing. Half of these are sitting upstairs in my massive TBR pile. Sigh.
Any thoughts on any of these books?
Of all those WP books, I've read one - Hope's Boy.
Posted by: Kathy | December 07, 2008 at 07:21 PM
Congrats to Darby!
Posted by: Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit) | December 07, 2008 at 07:32 PM
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is my favorite book of 2008. Move that book to the top of your TBR pile!
Posted by: Michelle B | December 07, 2008 at 08:31 PM
Goldengrove is a fabulous coming-of-age story. I thought it was excellent. Prose seems to clearly remember what it was like to be a teenager, and she wrote so well, I kept wondering if something like the events in the book had happened to her because the voice was so perfect. Cost is a very good book also. It gave me quite a bit of insight into heroin addiction and how it affects not just individuals but families. And people from all social stratospheres. I highly recommend both of these books.
Posted by: Kelly | December 07, 2008 at 10:01 PM
I can vouch for Cost, Goldengrove, Olive Kitteridge, and The House on Fortune Street...try to work them in. They're great reads!
Posted by: jill | December 07, 2008 at 10:21 PM
I loved the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society when I read it. It shouldn't take very long to read, because the story just sucks you in. I read Songs for the Missing, and while generally I liked it, I wouldn't recommend it quite so highly. Some of the characters were really frustrating, and then, with such a sad premise, it was hard to get into.
Posted by: Katie | December 08, 2008 at 09:07 AM
I read Olive and Guernsey. Liked them both - differently. Guernsey was my favorite reading experience of 2008.
Posted by: Mary | December 08, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Thanks for all the recommendations -very helpful!
Posted by: Gayle Weiswasser | December 10, 2008 at 12:10 AM
I highly recommend Olive Kitteridge, as well as Guernsey.
Posted by: Lisa | December 10, 2008 at 01:53 PM