Books of 2009
This year, I read 192 books in total. I started and didn't finish several books, discovered several new authors (Jonathan Ames, Dan Chaon and Brad Warner), read a lot of books about food and read a lot of Canadian literature (as always). I track all of my books on goodreads. I was surprised to find that my rating system is bad. In some cases, I rate a book highly, but don't remember it later. The books that I do remember then end up ranking higher over time.
Non-fiction-
1. Columbine by David Cullen- If I had to recommend one non-fiction book this year, it would be Columbine. This is the year's "In Cold Blood." The book gave me nightmares for 2 days and actually caused my body to tense up as I was reading it. It's a factual account of the Columbine school massacre, written by a journalist who followed the case for 10 years. He debunks misconceptions about the case and shows the lead up and aftermath of the massacre. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to do long form journalism. It's brilliant even though it's VERY hard to read.
2. What's not to love (Adventures of a mildly perverted young writer) by Jonathan Ames- Recommended by a friend (Dwight), this book of funny essays reminded me of a modern day Charles Bukowski. I've got a sick sense of humour and I love self deprecation. Jonathan Ames delivers in spades.
3. Food Matters by Mark Bittman- Simple thinking about food and how we should eat. For everyone who can't get through "The Omnivore's dilemma's".
4. Where the Pavement Ends by Marie Wadden- Do you want to know about the reality of native life in Canada? Want to feel seriously ill, disgusted and disturbed? Read this book. You'll be glad you did.
5. Factory Girls by Leslie Chang- Leslie Chang is a Chinese-American journalist who goes into the factories in China and studies the lives of factory workers. Because of her in-between status, she is able to tap into the lives of young women and give readers a picture of some of the players of the world's largest migration in history. (The world's largest migration is the internal migration of rural Chinese to urban centres within the country.)
6. The Horse Boy by Rupert Isaacson- Rupert Isaacson and his wife had an autistic son named Rowan. They could not communicate with him. Then they noticed that he improved around horses. A chance encounter with some African shamans also gave the boy some healing. So Rupert has the brilliant idea to take his son on a healing, horseback ride through Mongolia. This might not be a book for everyone but I love Mongolia, am fascinated with neuroscience, healing and the mind-body connection, and so it really spoke to me. There's also a movie too. I know I'll cry when I see it.
7. Grizzlyville by Jake MacDonald- MacDonald's book is divided into three sections; black bears, grizzly bears and polar bears. If you want to read all about bears, this is your book.
8. Seducing the Demon by Erica Jong- I love Erica Jong. I love her sexuality, her feminism and her attitude. Loved this book, then re-read "Fear of Flying" and a couple more of her books.
9. Alone in the kitchen with an eggplant- edited by Jenni Ferrari-Adler- This book is a collection of essays about the meals that we cook ourselves when we are alone. From meals of shame to full course dinners, they're all included in this book.
10. End of Overeating by David Kessler- A look at how the food industry teaches you to supersize and overeat. Read this and you'll be wise to their tricks and gimmicks.
11. Not Yet by Wayson Choy- A short memoir about Wayson Choy's near death experiences. This book was uplifting to me because it was about life and love and how we all have families even if we don't have a spouse and 1.5 children. It's also about how we create our families.
12. Zen wrapped in Karma dipped in chocolate by Brad Warner- Recommended to me by my friend Pete. I read all three of Brad Warner's books, but this was my favourite. Warner is a Zen priest who used to work on monster movies. He's also a punk rock bassist and a writer for Suicide Girls. This book looked at how he applied Zen philosophy to deal with a year where he lost his wife, mother, grandma and job.
13. Trauma Farm by Brian Brett- Brett, who is a great Canadian poet and underrated writer, lives on Saltspring Island. In this book, he examines the history of his 18-year-old farm, through the lens of a single day. Lots of good, and funny information about food, farming, governments, life and love. I loved this book and was very happy when it won the Writers Trust Prize for Non-fiction.
FICTION-
1. Amphibian by Carla Gunn- This book made me cry buckets. It's the story of 8-year-old Phineas Walsh, a kid who is passionate about the environment and saving the environment. His angst about his family and his personal troubles comes out in obsessive ways. The voice of the narrator was perfect. I cried while reading this because I WAS Phineas Walsh.
2. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath- I read this when I was in my late teens, early 20s. I came back to it again this year and was incredibly moved. It was a completely different book, and one I could relate to, since I am a writer who suffers from depression issues.
3. Endless Love by Scott Spencer- I read this disturbing tale of obsession in one day. This is a sick and dirty book. God, I loved it.
3. The beautiful things that heaven bears by Dinaw Mengetsu- My mom gave me this book and I read it on the plane home from Winnipeg. It's the story about an African immigrant and his relationship with a white woman who lives across the street. It's also a story about gentrification, class, identity and racial violence. Reminded me intensely of "Do the Right Thing" which is one of my favourite movies.
4. Babylon Rolling by Amanda Boyden- This book tells the story of five (I think) different people living in New Orleans, the year before Hurricane Katrina. Great characterization and seamless narrative and an inside look at some of the problems and issues inside New Orleans. (My dad read this after he went to New Orleans and said that she actually captured the flavour of the city.)
5. The Disappeared by Kim Echlin- A young Montrealer falls in love with a Cambodian activist in a jazz club in Montreal. This book was about love and the Pol pot genocide in Cambodia. Full of historical details and poetic language.
6. The Bishop's Man by Linden MacIntyre- I thought this would be a story about a priest and sexual abuse. Instead, it's the story about the roles of the priest, loneliness and the pressures of accepting certain roles in society. An intense look at the inner world of a man.
7. Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery- A French novel about friendship, expectations and taking the time to really see people as they are. Could be considered pretentious by some, but look beyond to see what is there.
8. You remind me of me by Dan Chaon- Mom discovered Dan Chaon and I read all his books. He's one of the best writers writing today. He is a master at detail, nuances and character and this book, told in fragmented narrative structure, is about family, identity and loss.
9. Half of a yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie- A brilliant, multi character epic about a tumultous time in Nigerian history.
10. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See- Two sisters are forced to escape from China when the Japanese attack and bomb it in the 1930s. This book tells about the history of the attack, immigrations through Angel Island and life for Chinese immigrants in the 1940-1960s. Mom and I loved this book because it taught us a great deal about Chinese history and I FINALLY understand the concept of a paper son. If you have ANY interest at all in Chinese history, you should read this book. (I hated the ending of the book, but I still loved the book, so I'll mention it anyway.)
11. The Syringa Tree by Pamela Gien- A novel based on the award winning play about growing up white in South Africa. Read this stirring book, then contrast it with Richard Poplak's non-fiction book about growing up white in South Africa, called "Ja No Man."
12. The Opposite of Love- by Julie Buxbaum- The smartest chicklit book I have read in years. It's about a woman who has to grow before she can fall in love. If you liked Jennifer Weiner's "Good in Bed", you should read this one.
13. My favourite YA books this year- Robin Stevenson's "A Thousand Shades of Blue" (about a girl who has to sail to the Bahamas with her family), Carol Lynch Williams' "The Chosen One" (about a girl in a polygamous sect), Ender's Game(my writing group kids insisted I read it and then we all discussed it one day), and Leanne Liebermann's "Gravity" about a gay, Jewish teen.
Non-fiction-
1. Columbine by David Cullen- If I had to recommend one non-fiction book this year, it would be Columbine. This is the year's "In Cold Blood." The book gave me nightmares for 2 days and actually caused my body to tense up as I was reading it. It's a factual account of the Columbine school massacre, written by a journalist who followed the case for 10 years. He debunks misconceptions about the case and shows the lead up and aftermath of the massacre. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to do long form journalism. It's brilliant even though it's VERY hard to read.
2. What's not to love (Adventures of a mildly perverted young writer) by Jonathan Ames- Recommended by a friend (Dwight), this book of funny essays reminded me of a modern day Charles Bukowski. I've got a sick sense of humour and I love self deprecation. Jonathan Ames delivers in spades.
3. Food Matters by Mark Bittman- Simple thinking about food and how we should eat. For everyone who can't get through "The Omnivore's dilemma's".
4. Where the Pavement Ends by Marie Wadden- Do you want to know about the reality of native life in Canada? Want to feel seriously ill, disgusted and disturbed? Read this book. You'll be glad you did.
5. Factory Girls by Leslie Chang- Leslie Chang is a Chinese-American journalist who goes into the factories in China and studies the lives of factory workers. Because of her in-between status, she is able to tap into the lives of young women and give readers a picture of some of the players of the world's largest migration in history. (The world's largest migration is the internal migration of rural Chinese to urban centres within the country.)
6. The Horse Boy by Rupert Isaacson- Rupert Isaacson and his wife had an autistic son named Rowan. They could not communicate with him. Then they noticed that he improved around horses. A chance encounter with some African shamans also gave the boy some healing. So Rupert has the brilliant idea to take his son on a healing, horseback ride through Mongolia. This might not be a book for everyone but I love Mongolia, am fascinated with neuroscience, healing and the mind-body connection, and so it really spoke to me. There's also a movie too. I know I'll cry when I see it.
7. Grizzlyville by Jake MacDonald- MacDonald's book is divided into three sections; black bears, grizzly bears and polar bears. If you want to read all about bears, this is your book.
8. Seducing the Demon by Erica Jong- I love Erica Jong. I love her sexuality, her feminism and her attitude. Loved this book, then re-read "Fear of Flying" and a couple more of her books.
9. Alone in the kitchen with an eggplant- edited by Jenni Ferrari-Adler- This book is a collection of essays about the meals that we cook ourselves when we are alone. From meals of shame to full course dinners, they're all included in this book.
10. End of Overeating by David Kessler- A look at how the food industry teaches you to supersize and overeat. Read this and you'll be wise to their tricks and gimmicks.
11. Not Yet by Wayson Choy- A short memoir about Wayson Choy's near death experiences. This book was uplifting to me because it was about life and love and how we all have families even if we don't have a spouse and 1.5 children. It's also about how we create our families.
12. Zen wrapped in Karma dipped in chocolate by Brad Warner- Recommended to me by my friend Pete. I read all three of Brad Warner's books, but this was my favourite. Warner is a Zen priest who used to work on monster movies. He's also a punk rock bassist and a writer for Suicide Girls. This book looked at how he applied Zen philosophy to deal with a year where he lost his wife, mother, grandma and job.
13. Trauma Farm by Brian Brett- Brett, who is a great Canadian poet and underrated writer, lives on Saltspring Island. In this book, he examines the history of his 18-year-old farm, through the lens of a single day. Lots of good, and funny information about food, farming, governments, life and love. I loved this book and was very happy when it won the Writers Trust Prize for Non-fiction.
FICTION-
1. Amphibian by Carla Gunn- This book made me cry buckets. It's the story of 8-year-old Phineas Walsh, a kid who is passionate about the environment and saving the environment. His angst about his family and his personal troubles comes out in obsessive ways. The voice of the narrator was perfect. I cried while reading this because I WAS Phineas Walsh.
2. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath- I read this when I was in my late teens, early 20s. I came back to it again this year and was incredibly moved. It was a completely different book, and one I could relate to, since I am a writer who suffers from depression issues.
3. Endless Love by Scott Spencer- I read this disturbing tale of obsession in one day. This is a sick and dirty book. God, I loved it.
3. The beautiful things that heaven bears by Dinaw Mengetsu- My mom gave me this book and I read it on the plane home from Winnipeg. It's the story about an African immigrant and his relationship with a white woman who lives across the street. It's also a story about gentrification, class, identity and racial violence. Reminded me intensely of "Do the Right Thing" which is one of my favourite movies.
4. Babylon Rolling by Amanda Boyden- This book tells the story of five (I think) different people living in New Orleans, the year before Hurricane Katrina. Great characterization and seamless narrative and an inside look at some of the problems and issues inside New Orleans. (My dad read this after he went to New Orleans and said that she actually captured the flavour of the city.)
5. The Disappeared by Kim Echlin- A young Montrealer falls in love with a Cambodian activist in a jazz club in Montreal. This book was about love and the Pol pot genocide in Cambodia. Full of historical details and poetic language.
6. The Bishop's Man by Linden MacIntyre- I thought this would be a story about a priest and sexual abuse. Instead, it's the story about the roles of the priest, loneliness and the pressures of accepting certain roles in society. An intense look at the inner world of a man.
7. Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery- A French novel about friendship, expectations and taking the time to really see people as they are. Could be considered pretentious by some, but look beyond to see what is there.
8. You remind me of me by Dan Chaon- Mom discovered Dan Chaon and I read all his books. He's one of the best writers writing today. He is a master at detail, nuances and character and this book, told in fragmented narrative structure, is about family, identity and loss.
9. Half of a yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie- A brilliant, multi character epic about a tumultous time in Nigerian history.
10. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See- Two sisters are forced to escape from China when the Japanese attack and bomb it in the 1930s. This book tells about the history of the attack, immigrations through Angel Island and life for Chinese immigrants in the 1940-1960s. Mom and I loved this book because it taught us a great deal about Chinese history and I FINALLY understand the concept of a paper son. If you have ANY interest at all in Chinese history, you should read this book. (I hated the ending of the book, but I still loved the book, so I'll mention it anyway.)
11. The Syringa Tree by Pamela Gien- A novel based on the award winning play about growing up white in South Africa. Read this stirring book, then contrast it with Richard Poplak's non-fiction book about growing up white in South Africa, called "Ja No Man."
12. The Opposite of Love- by Julie Buxbaum- The smartest chicklit book I have read in years. It's about a woman who has to grow before she can fall in love. If you liked Jennifer Weiner's "Good in Bed", you should read this one.
13. My favourite YA books this year- Robin Stevenson's "A Thousand Shades of Blue" (about a girl who has to sail to the Bahamas with her family), Carol Lynch Williams' "The Chosen One" (about a girl in a polygamous sect), Ender's Game(my writing group kids insisted I read it and then we all discussed it one day), and Leanne Liebermann's "Gravity" about a gay, Jewish teen.