How Do I
Geo's Picks
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Young, William P. The Shack Fiction (Inspirational) |
| Part mystery, part fantasy, part philosophical discussion, the key to enjoying The Shack is keeping an open mind. When a man's daughter is abducted from their campsite and later presumed dead, he is overwhelmed by a depression that curdles everything in his life. A mysterious note left in his mailbox compels him to return to the place where the last evidence of his beloved child was found. Though dreading what he might find there, he makes the trip. What the bereaved father encounters tests his faith, helps him turn his life around and move on as he tries to make sense of what has befallen his family. The scenery and characters are well-wrought and memorable. My favorite is a fractal garden described as a controlled chaos of color. It is easy to appreciate The Shack if you think of the characters as representing different schools of thought, each trying to understand and relate to the others. Some of your own beliefs will be validated even if you don't agree with them all. Recommended November 2009 |
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Pearl-McPhee, Stephanie Free-Range Knitter : The Yarn Harlot Writes Again Nonfiction |
| "Never in a million years would I become one of those
people who reads books about knitting." I guess I'll have to eat those
words. Meet Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, a fantastic knitter, brilliant
woman, and great writer. The world seen through her eyes is full of
interesting characters, a lesson is learned around every corner and
the mundane turns into adventure. You won't get very far into this
book before you forget it's about knitting or knitters. Two favorite
chapters are "Glory Days," about a competition called The Furnace
Wars, and "Things Crappy Yarn Taught Me," which offers insights far
beyond judging yarn quality. Start with those if you're sceptical.
I know you'll want more. If you do, try Drunk,
Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of
a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit after He Split by Laurie
Beasley Perry, recommended for knitters and nonknitters alike. This
reading experience was so good I'm thinking of branching out into
books about fishing, or perhaps even a golf memoir. Recommended September 2009 |
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Sherwood, Ben The Survivor’s Club: The Secrets and Science That Could Save Your Life Nonfiction |
| The premise of The Survivor’s Club is that too
many people die in disasters who shouldn’t. Studies done to find out
why some people survive when others do not reveal surprising insights
that could save your life. From the first anecdote involving a misstep
and a knitting needle, you will be riveted. You might recognize some
stories from the news, but Sherwood supplies clarifying information
and answers the question, "What happened to these people?" One example
is Dr. Phil. I didn't know he had a sister and certainly wasn't aware
of the tragedy that befell her. Hers is just one of the incredible
stories in this book, stories that will haunt you long after you've
read the final page. You will learn from this book and, as incredible
as this may sound, be uplifted as well. Recommended August 2009 |
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Cocks, Heather and Jessica Morgan Go Fug Yourself Presents The Fug Awards Nonfiction |
| Being barely aware of the website www.gofugyourself.com
didn't stop me from picking this up and reading it from cover to cover
in one sitting. The Fug Awards features photos of known,
unknown to me, and unknown-and-could-happily-have-stayed-that-way
celebrities, in various states of dress, undress, overdress, underdress,
and what the ? dress. A lot of the time I actually loved what the
authors hated, but the commentary is amusing whether you agree with
them or not. Glossy photos, funny commentary and perhaps even a few
fashion do's and don'ts, and what's not to love? Recommended July 2009 |
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Fossum, Karin Black Seconds Mystery |
| Black Seconds, an Inspector Sejer mystery penned by Norway's
"Queen of Crime," displays a curiously civilized and sedate tone.
Although I was certain I'd figured out the mystery long before the
end (in spite of purposely trying to be dense), Inspector Sejer's
need to understand the suspects and their motives kept me enthralled.
Black Seconds may sacrifice the fun of guessing the "who" of the crime,
yet it contains emotional and psychological depth that is thoroughly
satisfying, and surpasses most mysteries in character development.
Add to this the subtle attractions of a Norwegian locale and few will
be disappointed. Fossum has been compared to Ruth Rendell, who is
another author I've enjoyed and you may too. Recommended May 2009 |
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Haigh, Jennifer Mrs. Kimble Fiction |
| The title of this book suggests one person but actually
stands for three different women who married the same man consecutively.
The weight of the story subtly shifts from the wives’ individual experiences
to the bigger picture of who or what their husband is. Always mysterious
and chameleonic, Mr. Kimble gradually comes into focus in the wake
of devastation he leaves behind. Haigh’s book, The
Condition, was a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Best
Books of 2008” pick. Recommended April 2009 |
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Martinez, Guillermo The Book of Murder Fiction |
| A woman approaches a man she worked for briefly ten years
before with a fantastic story. She believes that another of her previous
employers is murdering everyone close to her. The alleged murderer
is now a profoundly successful and famous author who is apparently
murdering her loved ones in ingeniously contrived “accidents.” Not
just a murder mystery, Martinez attempts to analyze life itself. Is
life just a series of random events or coincidences that the human
mind needs to organize in an attempt to make meaningful? Or is all
this philosophizing just a smoke screen to discredit the victim and
hide the truth? Guillermo Martinez also wrote The Oxford Murders,
another psychological and philosophical mystery. Recommended March 2009 |
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London, Jack Martin Eden Fiction |
| Jack London, known predominantly as the author of The
Call of the Wild and the short story "To Build a Fire," is often
pigeonholed for his “dog” and “man-against-nature” books. But he actually
wrote on other subjects, including a memoir of his struggles with
alcoholism, John Barleycorn. Considered too shocking to be
published in his day, today it would rest on a crowded shelf. Martin
Eden is not about dogs or nature but is an adventure story of
another kind. Imbued with philosophy and the difficulties faced by
anyone who tries to circumvent society’s predilection for squelching
individualism and nurturance of mediocrity, the peril of our hero,
while not physical, is real. Attempting to become worthy of a woman
far above his class, autodidact extraordinaire Martin Eden manages
to outstrip all his contemporaries only to find that it is, indeed,
lonely at the top. Throughout Martin’s quest, London gives glowing
examples of public libraries and librarians and the self-empowerment
they facilitate. I felt as if I’d been thanked. Thank you, Jack. Recommended February 2009 |
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Beaton, M. C. Death of a Charming Man Mystery |
| This is number ten of the Hamish Macbeth series and I
can honestly say, since I am reading the series in order, that these
never get old. Instead, I have a new favorite country: Scotland. I
have a newfound respect for the unambitious--albeit one probably confined
to Hamish. I revel in the descriptions of the smells and dank weather
and always-threatening storms, mists, fogs, and even the occasional
sunny day. The characters are maddening, and Hamish's on-again-off-again
relationship with the love of his life is always intriguing. I have
avoided series my whole life as being too much of a commitment, but
I have to say that these and M. C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin series (I'm
alternating between the two not having been able to choose between
them after having read the first of each) are a constant delight.
I'm serious! So enter if you dare. Guaranteed: the well-written Agatha
and Hamish series will become not only a welcome, but necessary part
of your life. Recommended October 2008 |
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Cooper, M. Thomas 42 Fiction |
| I was attracted to this book not only because of its
title (an homage to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)
but because Booklist's review described it as "Highly recommended
for adventurous readers willing to expand the boundaries of genre
fiction." It starts off at the apparent cliche--end of a marriage;
two people married to each other and each experiencing discontent,
hohum. George married a painter and ended up with Martha Stewart.
When George comes home to find a cryptic note from his wife stating
the obvious while invoking Murakami--she's left with their child,
a subtle and yet relentless decline begins in George and consequently
the life they'd built together. As George becomes more obsessed with
finding his family the pace of the narrative becomes downhill-rollercoastering
breathtaking. You will rush to find the answers to all his questions,
dodging falling debris and careening events. While the end leaves
a lot of questions unanswered, this is truly a fun reading experience.
You might just be tempted to hop right back on and take this ride
again. I can't wait to see what Cooper is going to do next. Recommended September 2008 |
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Sedaris, David When You Are Engulfed In Flames Nonfiction |
| Where else can you read about an assault with a cough
drop, an abduction by a spider, and the boy scout motto, which isn't
be prepared to ask people for stuff? David Sedaris does it again,
globally. Recommended July 2008 |
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Adams, Scott Stick to Drawing Comics, Monkey Brain!: Cartoonist Ignores Helpful Advice Nonfiction |
| Having loved all the previous Dilbert books, I didn't
hesitate to pick this up. It is at first a disorienting read since
this book does not adhere to a business theme, but finding out how
brilliant Scott Adams can be in his take on the world from globe to
doorstep was startling and satisfying. Adams is a very funny and wise
man and writing this review makes me just want to pick the book up
and read it again. Anyone who has read Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451
thinks about what book they would commit to memory to preserve for
generations to come. This would be the one for me. Recommended June 2008 |
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Rock, Peter The Unsettling Short Stories |
| I first discovered Peter Rock when I read Carnival
Wolves(reviewed
Sept. 2006). He reminded me then of the "grotesques" of Sherwood
Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio and this short story collection
is also populated by the subtly awry. Rock’s stories beg the question
“what if?” His characters are just lost enough to pursue ghosts of
temptation. The message throughout this collection seems to be: if
you don’t seek, you are never going to find. The quest is its own
reward; a variation on the theme that the journey is more important
than the destination. Rock doesn’t do anything crass or rude or violent,
but he does keep you teetering on a brink that somehow you’ve imagined.
Perhaps the title says it all. Recommended May 2008 |
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Matheson, Richard I am Legend Horror |
| Richard Matheson’s original story of a man who finds himself
alone in a world overrun by the “living” dead is a misanthrope’s fantasy.
The plot has been done over and over again since without improvement.
Matheson’s version is so practical in its details, it is almost a
how-to book for an apocalyptic event. (I found myself taking mental
notes just in case I ever ended up being the “one.”) However, if you
read this as a simple story of what could go horribly wrong, you will
be unseated when the narrative segues into the philosophical side
of what it means to be the “other.” This novel could be a truly refreshing
interlude for those who need a break from the turmoil of modern life
or a timely read for a world threatened by the not so unrealistic
consequences of power shift. You will want to read more of Richard
Matheson. Recommended May 2008 |
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Brookner, Anita Leaving Home Fiction |
| On the surface, Leaving Home is about a woman
trying to reach a decision about her future and is typical of Anita
Brookner’s writing. Brookner specializes in real people, unheroic
and almost insanely normal. Their outer lives may appear dull, possibly
pathetic, but their inner lives are rich with observation, imagination,
and projection. They turn the minor events in their lives into adventures
and the major events into only temporary excursions away from their
practically unassailable equilibrium. The life of the mind makes these
people rich and shows up the pursuits of their more active and adventurous
counterparts as being shallow and futile. Read Brookner for her character
development and a break from writers that try too hard to stimulate
only to exhaust or at best provide only a temporary escape. You will
think about her characters long after you've finished her books as
if you'd actually met them. Her people think and analyze; perhaps
a habit we could all benefit from developing. Recommended April 2008 |
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Bageant, Joe Deer Hunting with Jesus: Dispatches from America's Class War Nonfiction |
| Remember, not long ago, the horror some of us felt over
the result of the last election? Red vs. Blue? How could the very
people most brutalized by the current economic system not take a chance
on even just the possibilty of relief from these conditions by their
vote? The answer is frightening. Bageant understands and even loves
these people and his compassion and concern comes through. This is
a problem and reality that none of us can afford to remain ignorant
about, for it can, and will, engulf us all. I truly feel that there
isn't anyone that wouldn't benefit from the insights Deer Hunting
With Jesus provides, including the people being discussed. Recommended February 2008 |
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Little, Bentley The Vanishing Horror |
| The Vanishing is written almost as a series
of vignettes or short stories that traverse time and introduce what,
at first appearance, seem to be jarringly unrelated characters, victims,
and manifestations of dark and brutal forces. The individual stories
are fascinating in their own right, but it is the juxtaposition of
past and present, ancestors and progeny, and the karmic play of justice
that makes this much more than just a scary story and a bumpy ride.
Bentley Little is my new favorite horror author. Recommended January 2008 |
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Smith, Scott The Ruins Horror |
| There is something wrong with Scott Smith. Someone call
a professional. The Ruins is the most relentless horror experience
I have ever had. Page after page, you keep telling yourself it can’t
get any worse, and it does. I didn’t care about the characters at
all (whether that was the author’s intent or just my personal antipathy,
I don’t know) and still cringed throughout the entire story. I don’t
want to reveal the nature of the horror, but I guarantee that you
have never come close to imagining it. Even as the characters’ horror
builds through physical hardship and deprivation, their minds can’t
accept what has become their reality. I was experiencing voyeuristic
guilt. Just keep in mind you can’t help them or save them without
sacrificing not only yourself, but the entire world. Recommended November 2007 |
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Skibbins, David The Eight of Swords Mystery |
| David Skibbins’ debut into the mystery genre is a wonder
to behold. In a field so crowded and prolific how could it be possible
to come up with something not only unique, but potentially long running?
Make your reluctant sleuth a fugitive from the law with multiple identities
and then you're not cornered. Plots and characters don't all have
to disgorge from the same center. How do you provide titular cohesiveness
without mimicking what's already out there? Use the great visuals
and interpretations inspired by the tarot deck without weighing down
the storyline. In this first of the series, Warren Ritter is older,
wiser, and nonaffiliated. He reads, loves poetry, philosophizes, and
attempts to be a better person. You will like him and root for him
even as he tries to evade the sometimes life-and-death responsibilities
that befall him. Recommended October 2007 |
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Patterson, James The Quickie Fiction |
| I read my first James Patterson, The Quickie,
and came to appreciate that the source of his popularity is that he
has practically invented a new genre: quickies. The periods don’t
even stop you. If there’d been a squad car behind the couch, I would
have gotten a ticket for speed-reading. I almost broke my neck tripping
over some implausibilities, but I brushed myself off and turned the
page. Reading has never been this breathless, reckless, or fat burning.
If you’re ever tempted to indulge in an almost unbearably suspenseful
read, James Patterson is the man. Recommended September 2007 |
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found by Kristine Atkinson and Joyce Atkinson Journal : Amy Zoe Mason Fiction |
| Reading Journal is a unique experience. The
story, told through notes, letters, and emails, is presented as a
gorgeous antique scrapbook. The detritus of life is given a glorious
makeover lending background music to the sinister plot. The clues
Amy accidentally stumbles upon are inadvertently and alarmingly given
a cohesiveness rendering both the reader and narrator helpless in
the face of what is to come. While the story is suspenseful, sad,
and poignant, the reader can't help enjoying a certain sense of adventure
in having "found" the evidence of this horrific crime. Recommended July 2007 |
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Lancaster, Jen Bitter is the New Black Nonfiction |
| Being a memoir written by a survivor of the dot.com crash
which in itself contains enough material to be a superficial kind
of hysterical, I was surprised by the amount of real depth and truth
contained here. Between the lines about material excess, bloated egos,
and entitlement issues, a real story emerges. There is heart among
the thorns and the dawning of a true awareness that ironically, some
would pay millions to achieve. Jen Lancaster maintains a certain edginess
to her tone and sense of humor throughout that never waivers or jars
even as she becomes a mature and caring adult. Lancaster's new book,
Bright
Lights, Big Ass is available at a library near you. Recommended June 2007 |
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Rapp, Adam The Year of Sorrows Fiction |
| Four young men pursue their dreams in New York City in
a reality more conducive to suicide. In spite of that, the main character
and novelist wannabee maintains a healthy attitude. While it is hard
to understand how these people stay motivated, an almost catatonic,
smelly centerpiece of a roommate may be the answer. No one would want
to end up like The Loach. Rapp’s language is fresh, although disturbingly
olfactory-obsessed at the beginning. The odors blessedly taper off
and his wide and wild palette of adjectives is put to better use.
Recommended May 2007 |
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Waldman, Ayelet Nursery Crimes Mysteries |
| As fluff goes, this is a dandelion seed riding its parachute
across a playground. So why couldn’t I put this down? The characters
are charming. That’s how you know they are the “good” guys. The villains
are cliché and stereotypical making them very familiar and adding
coziness to the mood. The very pregnant crime buster has a charming
husband with whom she has a charming relationship. Her child is imperfectly
charming, as are her mothering skills. They all have the right attitude
and a buoyancy that while it may not keep them from harm at least
guarantees another day. Mysteries and murders are solved almost matter-of-factly
and the book is short enough to guarantee a desire for the next installment
in the Mommy-Track Mystery Series. Recommended March 2007 |
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| Donovan, Gerald Julius Winsome Fiction |
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| Julius Winsome, surrounded by 3,282 books, is living
an idyllic life in a cabin in the woods of Maine. But they've left
something out of the guidebooks: the constant sound of gunshots and
the killers and victims that they represent. Julius has been under
a constant barrage of reminders of mortality his whole life, both
historically (both his grandfather and father were soldiers) and daily.
When he finds his dog murdered it is as if this is the last death
he can tolerate. Something is unleashed in Julius and sets off a need
to somehow restore balance to his world. There are times when having
sympathy for Julius gets to be a bit much, but that is when another
crumb of truth is thrown on the path and you can't help but follow.
This is a tight, intense, and eye-opening experience instinctively
muted at times and made bearable by Julius's affinity for nature and
deep respect for all forms of life. Recommended February 2007 |
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McCarthy, Cormac The Road Fiction |
| McCarthy serves up the thinnest and most potent sliver
of apocalyptic hell in his latest, The Road. As a father and
son make their way through a stark and devastated landscape where
all the "roads" go nowhere, the reader can't help but wonder, "What
is the point?" along with the characters. The difference between hope
and survival is blurred leading to the suspicion that hope might just
be "will to survive" in a tux and consequently overdressed for this
occasion. The subject matter is grim, but the poetic flow makes it
impossible to sink or stop swimming. In spite of already knowing the
end of the story, readers of The Road will find themselves
rushing along to find out how the book about the ultimate end of everything
is going to end. Oh, and as an added bonus, you will never look at
a grocery cart the same way again. Recommended January 2007 |
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Collins, Wilkie The Woman in White Classic Fiction |
| Wilkie Collins wrote what was called "sensation" novels
in his day. The "sensations" that comprise this novel would probably
be considered hohum by today's standards but that aside, The Woman
in White still manages to maintain a level of almost excruciating
suspense throughout. The story is well-populated with well-drawn and
despicable characters acting out against a detailed backdrop of the
culture, history, and economics of the time. The result is a rewarding
immersion akin to time travel and a sense of familiarity with a humanity
that existed before our level of technology. Recommended December 2006 |
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Bronte, Charlotte Jane Eyre Classic Fiction |
| Having recently reread Jane Eyre, I found that it was
far from the book I'd read originally as a teenager. I'd remembered
only the bare bones of the story and was surprised that as a teenager
I'd loved something so dour. My teenage affections must have been
snared by the integrity and resilience of Jane, the protagonist and
heroine of the story. I have a new appreciation and admiration for
this book which stems from Bronte's amazing development of character
and motivation. My favorite character was one I'd forgotten; Jane's
zealous missionary cousin, Mr. St. John, who tries to tempt Jane with
an interesting proposal of marriage. Mr. St. John's rationalization,
manipulation, and will, while recognizable as universal qualities
and thoroughly familiar to modern readers, take on a frightening ruthlessness
when forged on the anvil of agenda. This work is definitely worth
a second look or, if you're lucky enough to have ducked this assignment
in school, a first. Recommended November 2006 |
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Rock, Peter Carnival Wolves Fiction |
| Peter Rock gives the reader a philosophical gift in this
portrayal of how perception can alter reality and just being interested
can reap fascinating results. Meet Alan Johnson. You may not like
him, but you will be drawn to his relationship with the world. Alan
supports an appreciation of the most mundane that is contagious and
magnetic. A dog falling from a cliff frees Alan from his security
guard job and triggers a nomadic non-quest. Through Alan’s wanderings
the pathways of the people he meets crisscross in ways that only through
the aerial view given the reader can be appreciated. This is a profoundly
affecting rendering of the interconnectedness of people and the undeniable
power we have over each other, both humbling and inspiring. Recommended September 2006 |
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Parkhurst, Carolyn The Dogs of Babel Fiction |
| Recommended September 2006 |
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Ishiguro, Kazuo Never Let Me Go Fiction |
| This is a horror story of the most civilized kind. On
the surface, Never Let Me Go appears to be a story about
a school. You are introduced to students and teachers as you become
privy to the mechanics of this intimately enclosed society. The subject
matter and time are futuristic without being technological. Mysteries,
clues, and questions propel the story until locking in on what is
looming over this microcosm; society has taken the potential of cloning
to an obscenely organized level of dehumanization. The subject is
compelling in and of itself, but Ishiguro's true stroke of genius
is generated by the blanket of passivity and acceptance over it all.
The horror lies not in the offense, but in the toleration of it. Is
humanity beyond experiencing the outrage that could save us from ourselves?
Very well written and detailed, you will think about this book a long
time after you've turned the last page. And yes, fear. Recommended June 2006 |
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P.D. James Cover Her Face Mystery |
| A not-so-innocent victim is murdered at the time when
you hate him/her the most. A nucleus of suspects hem and haw exhaling
fumes of guilt, while an intriguingly intelligent and potentially
dashing police inspector sifts through just the right amount of evidence.
The summation is arranged and dramatically delivered with excruciating
suspense et voila, the murderer/ess is exposed. Sounds like every
good mystery? The difference lies in the details. James, in her first
book, provides wonderful interiors and a procession of realistically
flawed characters, none of which could ever commit a murder, or could
they? Recommended January 2006 |
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Carlos Maria Dominguez The House of Paper Fiction |
| Carlos Maria Dominquez turns prose into poetry. He bequeaths
visual treasures that you will turn over and over in your mind's eye
as if exploring the facets of a rare gem. The House of Paper
is a mystery, a quest, a dreamlike parable, and an expose of bibliomania.
Take comfort that the characters and locales are exotic because the
psychology and motivation will be disarmingly personal. Curiosity,
passion, obsession, fear, and the sordid degradation and murder of
that most cherished is all contained in these few pages beginning
with the most intriguing of first lines: "One day in the spring of 1998, Bluma Lennon bought a secondhand copy of Emily Dickinson's poems in a bookshop in Soho, and as she reached the second poem on the first street corner, she was knocked down by a car." Warning: This book is infusive and in the event that you ever need a transplant will render you only compatible with other people who have been exposed to this book's transformative power. Recommended January 2006 |
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| Cynthia Rylant Boris Poetry |
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| A poignant collection of observations about a mysteriously
intriguing cat named Boris. Atmospheric without being maudlin, sympathetic
without the requisite death, this was a pleasure to read and will
strike a chord with most cat lovers. Recommended October 2005 |
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