Oh, My God, Girls, It's Here! "The New York Times Ten Best List Of Books For 2025!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" And Wait Till You Hear The Fiction Selection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         I will start by saying two things about the Fiction section.  The first is, I have read two of the selections--but I will not yet tell you which ones.  The second has one I was not able to get through, so I may wait till the paperback edition comes out.  But my instincts are generally right.

                                         OK?  Let's go--

                                        "Angel Down," by Daniel Kraus--Huh?  What?  Never heard of it.  Nor have I read Kraus' previous novel, "Whalefall." And I am not sure I will.  As for this book, another one-sentencer but only 285 pages.  Quit with the Joycean, people!  And a World War I draft dodger, encountering an angel?  Are you kidding me?  Oh, well, I will have to read it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                           

                                       "The Director," by Daniel Kehlmann-- Never heard of this one, either, darlings; what bin was this pulled from?  However, I, and other cinema mavens, have heard of filmmaker G. W. Pabst, who is at the center of this novel.  As a true film maven, I just may have to read this one.  It could turn out to be a pleasant surprise.

                                                                             

                                       "The Loneliness Of Sonia And Sunny," by Kiran Desai--Oh, my God, why did this have to make the list?  I could only get through page 260 of this 700 plus page novel.  The sad thing is that with its 19th Century style, and family saga narration, I should have been hooked.  But Desai's writing did not do it for me.   I know others have loved this novel, so is there something wrong with me?  I may give it a second try with the paperback edition.

                                          "The Sisters," by Jonas Hassen Khemiri--How ironic this is placed right after 'Sonia and Sunny.'  "The Sisters" was the gigantic family saga novel that did it for me.  As I have said elsewhere, the Mikola sisters are the most fascinating female siblings since the Bennets, and the observations of their lives by Jonas in the novel may echo that of the author.  Perhaps he modeled this after some early crushes he had.  Whether that is right or not, this is the most readable gigantic book of the year!

                                                                              

                                        "Stone Yard Devotional," by Charlotte Wood--Like "The Sisters," I have read this one.  It is great for Catholics of all types, and those who want Catholicism 101, without the theatricality.  A woman in Sydney, Australia, gives up her career to transition to convent life in New South Wales.  Moving and spiritual, this is an enriching reading experience.

                                           There, darlings, you have "The New York Times" choices.  I only agree with two of them, which says something about age and my changing regard for The Times.  I always held the paper in the highest regard, and anything they put on the list I would read.  I have wanted to write for them ever since April 23, 1972, when Joyce Maynard wrote her signature piece "An Eighteen-Year-Old Looks Back On Life."  Today, I am maybe somewhat jaded, but at least more questioning than I was when younger.  I no longer agree with everything The Times says; more importantly, nor do I feel I have to.

                                                So, peruse this list at hand, and think for yourselves, darings.

                                                Meanwhile, here I come with my list!

                                                 Which I am certain is better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!