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| The Book | Author | Copyright |
| Johathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (fiction) Here's another book that I will think about, perhaps forever. Two magicians revive English magic in the period 1806-1817. England before and after is a slightly different England than we know in this universe. Where O where do these imaginative authors GET their ideas? This is Susanna Clarke's first novel and I look forward to her next. |
Susanna Clarke |
2004 |
| The Brief History of the Dead (fiction) Nancy Pearl recommended this book. She said she could not stop thinking about it. I will also think about it a long, long time. |
Kevin Brockmeier |
2006 |
| Wide Sargasso Sea, Edited by Judith L. Raiskin, with commentary and selections of Jane Eyre (fiction) Bronte's Jane Eyre told from the point of view of "Bertha", Mr. Rochester's mad first wife, of Caribbean ancestry. |
Jean Rys Ed. J.L. Raiskin |
1966 1999 |
| Collected Stories of Vernor Vinge (science fiction) 1965 to 2001, Vinge's favorite short stories. |
Vernor Vinge |
2001 |
| Marooned in Real Time (science fiction) Start reading now about Vinge's ideas of the Singularity and artificial / enhanced intelligence. It may happen in my lifetime. Or yours. I didn't understand much of this when I first read it in 1986. Lots of information online. |
Vernor Vinge |
1986 |
| Madison House (fiction) An historical novel about the regrading of Denny Hill in Seattle, Washington in the early 1900's. A blurb of praise spoke of the author's "having a map of Old Seattle in his head." Despite the good descriptions, this book seriously lacks the maps and photos that would help the reader visualize the regrading. Fortunately, the internet provides many links to this period of history, one of which is on historylink.org |
Peter Donahue | 2005 |
| Sex Wars (fiction) An historical novel about the people (mostly women) involved in the sufferage, religious, free love, and civil rights movements in the eastern U.S. from 1965 to 1915. The historic interest and explanations of the connections among the players is better than the quality of the writing. I would not have read this except it was a book club assignment, but I learned a lot by reading it. |
Marge Piercy |
2005 |
| The Secret Life of Bees (fiction) Excellent writing, wonderful characters, memorable scenes -- A friend who knows my tastes pressed this book into my hands, commanding me to read it, affirming that I would love it. The author's website indicates she has written about her spiritual journey as well. Something to read in the future! |
Sue Monk Kidd |
2002 |
| The Amber Room
(fiction)
Interesting facts about the German / Russian "amber room" presented with fictional characters interacting a mystery/adventure format. A good read, and an enjoyable way to learn about a segment of history. |
Steve Berry | 2003 |
| An Invitation to Poetry
(poetry)
A new Favorite Poem Project Anthology. I had not heard of this -- and it is not the first book by this group. The Oregonian ran an article on the new book, and I wasn't even the first person asking for it at the Gresham Border's. A CD is included with the book. There is a website for the Favorite Poem Project where you can contribute your favorite poem. |
Robert Pinsky & Maggie Dietz, Editors | 2004 |
| Atonement (fiction)
A friend recommended this to me. I found it amazing and compelling. I will certainly read more by this author! An adolescent novelist-to-be writes about her realization of the points of view of others and how they interact with fact. That sounds tame enough -- but it isn't tame. Excellently written, excellently conceived. |
Ian McEwan | 20 |
| Hokusai (children's
book)
The Japanese artist sometimes known as Hokusai (1760-1849) created about 30,000 works of art. He was an innovator in a statis art world. I used this story when teaching Sunday School, and instead of Mt. Fuji, we drew our own Mt. Hood. |
Deborah Kogan Ray
(written and illustrated) |
2001 |
| The No. 1 Ladies'
Detective Agency (fiction)
Followed by several others with the same characters, these are charming and wise stories about Botswana. Something to fall in love with. |
Alexander McCall Smith | 1998 |
| The Rule of Four (fiction)
Set in Princeton University in 1999 (yes, another murder mystery conveniently located in the time before everyone had cell phones....) A jolly good read, and very interesting as to the Renaissance manuscript which is the main subject. |
Ian Caldwell &
Dustin Thomason |
2004 |
| Mirror, Mirror (fiction)
This is even better than Maguire's earlier Wicked: The LIfe and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. |
Gregory Maguire | 2003 |
| Fahrenheit 451 (fiction)
A 50th Anniversary Edition. Part of Portland's "Everybody Reads" program in 2003-04, there were free copies in all libraries. Many associated plays, performances, and events happened around town. Even better than I remembered it from 1956. |
Ray Bradbury | 1953 |
| Frida (children's
book)
The most beautiful child's book about Frida Kahlo I've seen. And there are many. Ana Juan's illustrations are wonderful. I used this book in a Sunday School class. The children were fascenated by Frida's life and courage and agreed that even when her works are strange and terrible, one cannot stop looking at them. |
Jonah Winter & Ana Juan | 2002 |
| The Eyre Affair
(fiction)
Literary alternate-reality mystery set in 1985 England --but not the 1985 that you and I remember! The barriers between reality and fiction are softer than we think; a bit like a frozen lake. Hundreds of people can walk across it, but then one evening a thin spot develops and someone falls through; the hole is frozen over by the following morning. |
Jasper Fforde | 2001 |
| The Bird Artist (fiction)
Set in a small town in Newfoundland. |
Howard Norman | 1994 |
| Lamb: The
Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
The author says " All books reveal perfection, by what they are or what they are not. May you find that which you seek, in these pages or outside them. May you find perfection, and know it by name." |
Christopher Moore | 2002 |
| The Way of All Flesh
I used to be the only person in North America who had not read this. Now that I have, I certainly wish I had read it much earlier in my life. It was not published until after Butler's death in 1902, waiting in his desk for 30 years before beginning it's influence. It is about middle-class customs, manners, and religion in Victorian England, especially of the country clergy. |
Samuel Butler | Written
1872-1874 |
| American Gods
A mystery thriller, with lots of Gaiman's thoughts about religion as expressed through "old gods" brought by early immigrants to America. A background in history, art history, and history of religion would be helpful but not necessary. |
Niel Gaiman | 2001 |
| His
Dark Materials (series)
The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass, Lyra's Oxford Children's fiction heavily read by adults. A lot of the underlying thought structure is Pullman's creative ideas about religion. |
Philip Pullman | 1995 |
| The Tontine
(2 volumes)
A novel of manners, sociology, and economics of Edwardian and Victorian England. A tontine is a financial scheme -- part annuity insurance and part pyramid scheme -- the final stages involve so much intrigue that tontines were eventually outlawed. I found the first volume at a rummage sale for $0.25. One of the used booksellers listed on amazon.com supplied the second volume for about $8.00 including shipping. Not a bad average for a good old read. |
Thomas B. Costain | 1955? |
| The Da Vinci Code
A true thriller incorporating a wealth of detail about the search for the feminine devine, art history, symbology, cryptology, and spy technology. Read only if you have an open mind about religion! Brown's website contain as list of books HE recommends. |
Dan Brown | 2003 |
| Mirabilis
(fiction about 1420 France) |
Susann Cokal | 2001 |
| Ex Libris
(mystery set in a 17th Century London Bookseller's shop, rich in historical detail regarding ancient literary treasures) Review |
Ross King | 2002 |
| The Dante Club
A mystery set in post-Civil War Boston; the real Dante Club existed as did the conditions of murder and unrest shown in the book) Author's Website |
Matthew Pearl | 2002 |
| Ahab's Wife, or The Star Gazer | Susan Jeter Nashlund | 2000 |
| Frida
(fiction about Mexican artist Frida Kahlo) |
Barbara Mujica | 2001 |
| Girl in Hyacinth Blue
(One of the novels about the painter Vermeer that were born of several writers' inspiration at National Gallery's exhibit of 1995-1996) |
Susan Vreeland | 1999 |
| The Girl with the
Pearl Earring
(One of the novels about the painter Vermeer that were born of several writers' inspiration at National Gallery's exhibit of 1995-1996) |
Tracy Chevalier | 1999 |
| Confessions of an
Ugly Stepsister
(One of the novels about the painter Vermeer that were born of several writers' inspiration at National Gallery's exhibit of 1995-1996) |
Andrea Barrett | . |
| Circles of Confusion
(Portland, Oregon author who write mysteries incorporating local events and places. This one is also a novel inspired by the Vermeer exhibit of 1995-1996, and got me searching for more of the same) Author's website |
April Henry | 1999 |
| The Archivist
A knotted tale about psychology, religion, poetry, and libraries. |
Martha Cooley | 1998 |
| Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden | 1997 |