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Michael Chabon made it, darlings! And so did Zadie Smith. Yesterday, The New York Times released their list of the 100 Most Notable Books Of 2012, in both the Fiction/Poetry, and Non-Fiction categories. And from this list, ten--five Fiction, five Non--will be culled, to form the 10 Best Books Of 2012, which, according to my calculations, should appear on Sunday, December 9.
It is anyone's guess as to what will make that list. But, first, let me get to
Fiction--which is what we all want to know, and which books listed I actually thought were worth reading--and a couple of them I already have!!!!!!!!!
1. Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter--read it!!!!!!!!
2.Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, by Ben Fountain
3.Blasphemy, by Sherman Alexie
4.Bring Up The Bodies, by Hilary Mantel
5. Canada, by Richard Ford
6.Carry The One, by Carol Anshaw
7. Gods Without Men, by Hari Kunzu
8. Home, by Toni Morrison
9. NW, by Zadie Smith
10. The Round House, by Louise Erdrich
11. Salvage The Bones, by Jessmyn Ward--read it!!!!!!!!!
12. Telegraph Avenue, by Michael Chabon
13. This Is How You Lose Her, by Junot Diaz
11.The Yellow Birds, by Kevin Powers
These are the books that stood out for me, the ones I want to read. The odds are one or more--but certainly not all--will end up on the Ten Best List, because there are other books
I did not list, and some may be selected from there, like, for example, "Dear Life," by Alice Munro.
So, let me first guess what the Times will pick for their five Fiction
selections, and then what I might do for mine.
What I Think the Times Will Do--
1. Home, by Toni Morrison--because whenever she or Philip
Roth publish, it gets on; it is a given!!!!!!!!!
2. Telegraph Avenue, by Michael Chabon--hey, it's Chabon,
and too good to pass up
3. Dear Life, by Alice Munro--another writer who usually
gets on.
4. The Yellow Birds, by Kevin Powers--with the war an
issue, and there has been too much buzz over this one
to ignore it.
5. Bring Up The Bodies by Hilary Mantel--it has been
on such a roll, and no reason that should continue!!!!
What I Would Do, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. Telegraph Avenue, by Michael Chabon--the best
thing he has written since 'Kavalier And Clay'!!!
2. Canada, by Richard Ford--because I would read
anything Richard Ford put in front of me. He is
worth it!!!!!!!!!
3. Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter--lush, rich romantic,
and literary, to boot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4. The Round House, by Louise Erdrich--she hasn't
turned up lately, and a writer always worth reading!
5. Bring Up The Bodies, by Hilary Mantel--a groundswell,
and, after "Wolf Hall," can Hil do anything wrong????
How shall I fare? We should find out after Sunday, December 9, if not before!!!! Let me also add I was greatly surprised that the book I am currently reading, "The World Without You," by Joshua Henkin, did not make the 100 List. Though I am halfway through, I feel
it should have. The story and characters are far too compelling, and the writing too good for it to be
passed over. Better that than the much heralded "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk," by Ben Fountain,
which, though I did not place it anywhere, I have a sneaking suspicion will turn up on The Times Ten
Best List! Groan!!!!!!!!!!! Am I actually going to have to read it????????????
So, now we know, darlings, that the year is starting to wind down!!!!!!!!!
Make your book list now, girls, and if you want to show me, go ahead. Let's see how we fare, in comparison to the so-called almighty Times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To another Reading Year, everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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