Monday, December 19, 2011

Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings

Where to start?  In fact, I'd be grateful for any book a friend or family member thinks I'd enjoy.  That's the truth.  But if The Broke and the Bookish affords me the opportunity to proffer a few bold hints, here goes...

1. The Conference of the Birds by Peter Sis.  I've already ordered and paid for this illustrated text based on a twelfth century Persian poem, but I've been waiting on alibris to deliver it for a couple of weeks now.  Can't wait to enjoy this promising new work from one of my favorite illustrators.  (I linked to an Atlantic Monthly article about the book.  It includes slides of some of Sis's illustrations and a review too.)

2. The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides.  The latest novel from my fellow Brunonian has garnered strong reviews, and I'd enjoy reading it.


3.  The Complete New Yorker on CD rom.  Can you imagine?  Eighty years of impeccable stories, poems, in depth journalistic pieces, and cartoons, all at your fingertips?  Ultimate gift!


4.  The Apothecary by Maile Meloy.  Somehow, my copy never arrived from her publisher, but I'd love to read Meloy's new middle reader fantasy.

5.  My own copy of Howl's Moving Castle and the other two in Diana Gwynne Jones's fantasy trilogy.  Loved Howl's, but I'd appreciate my own copy to lend out to friends - pay it forward, I say.

6.  T.C. Boyle's newest: When The Killing's Done.  I simply enjoy anything that guy writes.

7.  The Best American Short Stories 2011.  This collection always offers treasures and pleasures aplenty, and I tend to purchase my own copies if I don't receive them as gifts. Bonus this year: Geraldine Brooks, one of my favorite American writers, is this year's guest editor.  And among this year's authors: Jennifer Egan, Nathan Englander, Elizabeth McCracken, and Joyce Carol Oates.


8.  Wildwood by Colin Meloy (Maile Meloy's brother, of The Decemberists).  This children's fantasy reads well from its first sentences on, and I'd love to enjoy it in its entirety.

9.  2011 National Book Award non-fiction winner The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt.  I adored his speculative biography of Shakespeare, Will In The World, and would be grateful to read his latest.

10.  Whatever Santa and his elves wish deliver, I'll read with relish.

What's on your list this year?  Visit The Broke and the Bookish if you're looking for a few more good books to add...

MFB,
L

19 comments:

Kathy Ann Coleman said...

I'm honestly not familiar with anything you listed. Either way, though, I hope that you find lots of wonderful goodies under your tree this year. Have a wonderful day. Merry Christmas!

Sidne said...

hello lady, happy holidays to you. so this is your list,well come on by my bog and veiw mine:
http://sidnereviewz.blogspot.com

The Read & Seek said...

I actually had Wildwood on my shelf for awhile now, and haven't gotten to it yet. Now, I really want to read it. I hoping it's good, I really like the illustrations.

Here's my list:
http://thestoryseekers.blogspot.com/2011/12/top-ten-tuesday-dear-santa-i-want-books.html

Happy Holidays, Ivy

Jennifer said...

I really want to try Wildwood--of course, since my current TBR shelf just on Goodreads is nearly 500 books, I don't know how long it will be before I get around to it! Happy Holidays.

Unknown said...

Whatever your festive season brings, I hope that it brings you joy.

Laura said...

The Marriage Plot is so great- I hope you get it (and everything else you want!) and love it :)

Anne said...

I want to read The Marriage Plot too, I have heard a lot of good things about it!

As the Crowe Flies and Reads said...

Great list! I love reading lists where I've read at least one book 'cause then I don't feel so totally out of it.

I've been thinking of picking up this year's Best American Short Stories simply because Brooks edited it!

Karis Jacobstein said...

Wildwood is fabulous! It has the potential to be a modern classic! Great list! I hope Santa brings everything on it! Merry Christmas!

Karis's Top Ten

kayerj said...

Looks like a wonderful list for Santa to choose from, have a Merry Christmas! kaye—the road goes ever ever on

Laurie said...

Thanks for your wonderful wishes and thoughts, all. I'm bopping by your lists today too!
Kathy - I enjoyed your choices but couldn't post because of a glitch in blogger. Using pop-up comments is a good work-around. The Tiger's Curse looks interesting - it's on my TBR list too.

Peppermint Ph.D. said...

The Marriage Plot is on my list as well :)

LBC said...

Nice choices. Those New Yorker CDs are particularly awesome and I have The Apothecary on my list as well. I hope you get some of these great gifts.

MARY IN SCOTLAND said...

Apothecary looks good! I'm going to check this out!

Anonymous said...

That's a lot of New Yorker! How much would that set Santa back?

I just put Howl's Moving Castle on my TBR list (I think because I read about it here, actually). I like the idea of having a spare copy of a really good book that one can loan out. I'm super picky about to whom I loan though, so it might be a silly thing for me to do.

Genny said...

The Marriage Plot sounds like a really interesting book! Thanks for bringing it to my attention. New follower :)

You can see my Top Ten list at Books Are My Heroine

- Genny @ Books Are My Heroine
www.booksaremyheroine.blogspot.com

Laurie said...

And I've officially visited everybody's blogs now! Thanks so much for stopping by here, and do know that I either commented or (if you don't use pop-up comments or the option of filling in our own names/URLs, my Explorer/blogger blocks me from commenting)certainly poked around your blog and read some of your more recent posts. What a wonderful community of bloggers we've got, and I wish you the best of everything in 2012, plus a safe, peaceful, and memorable holiday season.

Laurie said...

And FYI, CouchPotatoCritic: You (members of my family, close friends, blogging benefactors) can purchase The Complete New Yorker at half.com for under $20. I'll send you my address if you're in a gifting mood ;-)! (kidding!)

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed The Marriage Plot and When The Killing's Done (love TC Boyle!). On my list is The Night Circus and the latest Diana Gabaldon. Hope you get lots of great books for the holidays!

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