Book List for 2009
I reached my goal of 50 books this year.
Courtney Crumrin Crumb & The Night Things: Ted Noifeh Cute graphic novel about a girl who moves into a creepy house with her parents and creepy uncle. A good be careful what you wish for book.
Need More Love: Aline Kominsky Crumb Wife of R Crumb draws her messed up life in a graphic novel. I loved going on this adventure with her.
Nine Chains to the Moon: R. Buckminster Fuller Ramblings of a mad scientist who was way ahead of his time.
Blindness: Jose Saramago Everyone goes blind except for a few people. Those who are blind are forced into prisons. I liked this book until the end.
Horns & Wrinkles: Joseph Helgeroon Graphic YA novel about two kids who wish too hard and get what they want. A fun read.
The Brief and Wondrous life of Oscar Wao: Junot Diaz Best book I read all year about a geeky and socially inept boy living in the Dominican Republic. Loved the writing style and narration.
The Book Thief: Markus Zusak The life and times of Germans living in a small town during WWII. This book made me cry.
The Phantom Tollbooth: Norton Juster Classic kids book with great puns. A must read for everyone.
Food Matters: Mark Bittman How to eat sensibly and sustainable. I liked this book but a lot of his advice was common sense. I recommend buying it for the recipes.
Bluebirds Used to Crone The Choir: Joe Meno Short stories about life at Greek Camp, Cuban bureaucrats, and more!
The Boy Detective Fails: Joe Meno Bizarre story about a former child detective to spends time in a mental hospital. Classic Meno!
Rain Village: Carolyn Turgeon A backwards girl in a backwards town meets a mysterious woman who teaches her how to become a trapeze artist. I loved this book.
The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Jennifer 8 History of Chinese food in America. I wanted to like this book but I didn’t. It only made fulfilled for a few hours and left me hungry again. Kind of like eating Chinese food.
The Watchmen: Allan Moore Graphic novel about what happens when the watchers go bad. Loved it.
The Gangster We Are All Looking For: Le Thi Diem Thuy Vietnamese family moves to the U.S. Good narrative. Weird plot.
Tricked: Alex Robinson Graphic novel following the path of six characters. Hard to put down.
The Best American Travel Writing of 2008: Anthony Bourdain editor Yeah, I checked out the book because he edited it. Many good stories. Some were duds. A good cross section of travel writing.
Rent Girl: Michelle Tea I’m not neurotic enough to like Michelle Tea’s stuff. The woman is a great writer but I just can’t related to her messed up characters.
The Women: TC Boyle The life of Frank Lloyd Wright told through the women who loved him. Beautifully executed. TC Boyle does no wrong.
Replay: Ken Grimwood A 43 year old man dies and wakes up in his 18 year old body with all of his memories still in tact. A quick read with a great ending.
Jackalope Dreams: Mary Clearman Blew A single woman and former school teacher lives with her father in a small Montana ranching town. He dies and she has to pick up all the pieces and adjust to change. Beautiful writing.
Alone In The Kitchen with an Eggplant: Edited by Jenni Ferrari-Adler Writing and short stories on cooking and eating by yourself. This book made me really hungry and has great recipes.
Lost Continent: Bill Bryson Bill drives around the United States looking for the perfect small town. This was a re-read for me but it made me laugh just as much as the first time.
The Unit: Ninni Holmquist Dumb dumb dumb. Someone tried to do a different version of The Prisoner but the characters give up their limbs and organs. Fail. There can only be one Prisoner.
The Marriage Place:?? Indian man retires and starts a matchmaking business. Starts out strong and fizzles.
My Life in France: Julia Child I so wanted to like this book and I did find parts of if interesting. I just didn’t like how the book was put together and edited. Her passion for food and Paul Child overcomes the bad editing. Sorta.
Sunnyside: Glen David Gold The life of Charlie Chaplin during WWI. Sold writing but I just could not get into it.
The Bride Stripped Bare: Anonymous Marketed as erotica. Snore.
Windy City: Scott Simon A Daley-esque mayor dies and an Indian man is named mayor for 24 hours. Great book and interesting look at Chicago’s culture and politics.
The Vagabond: Colette A recently divorced woman begins a new life. I loved Colette's writing. The character grated on me a bit.
Deciding The Next Decider:Calvin Trillin The 2009 election in rhyme. Bravo!
So Big: Edna Ferbek City girl marries a hard-headed Midwesterner. Moves to the country to farm with her husband. City girl triumphs. This book reminded me of many of the people I grew around in the Midwest.
Godmother:Carolyn Turgeon A modern day Cinderella story. Great idea. Loved the ending.
The Outlander:Gil Adamson Woman runs from an abusive relationship through the woods of Canada. Great story. Interesting characters.
Ravens:George Dawes Story of blackmail and kidnapping gone wrong. Great idea and solid writing. I got too wrapped up in the story and it made me anxious.
The Death of Bunny Munroe:Nick Cave Misogynistic book about an ass-hat who is dealing with the death of his wife. Poorly. I love Nick Cave dearly but this book was too much.
Portland Noir: Edited by Kevin Sampsell Short stories set in Portland. Great selection.
The Absolutely True Diary of A Part Time Indian:Sherman Alexie This book broke my heart. Sherman Alexie’s finest.
Go Go Girls of the Apocalypse:Victor Gischler The apocalypse happens and the owner of a strip club takes over. A fun book.
Fool:Christopher Moore A funnier version of King Lear. I love Christopher Moore but this wasn’t his best.
The Complete Persepolis:Marjane Satropi Graphic novel of a woman growing up in Iran and how she deals with her own culture in a changing world. The book broke my heart.
Well Preserved: Eugenia Bone Excellent book on how to can food. Easy directions and great recipes.
Dumb Food Book whose title I can’t remember
Whale Season: NM Kelby The author tries to be Carl Hiasson and fails.
Tracks: Louise Erdich Life in small town North Dakota through the eyes of the Indians who live there. Another book that made me cry.
Everything Matters:Ron Curry, Jr What do you do when you are told that the world is going to end in 36 years? You wonder if anything in your life matters. Good story up until the ending.
Even The Stars Look Lonesome: Maya Angelou Very short stories and writings on her life.
The Man Who Ate The World:Jay Raynerz What happens when a writer goes searching for the perfect meal. I enjoyed this book but his writing style got a little old towards the end.
Snuff:Chuck Palahniuk I knew this book would be horrible and I read it anyway. I wish I hadn’t wasted those two hours.
Snow Falling on Cedars: David Guterson Emotionally gripping book about a small fishing village in northern Washington state. Beautiful book. I can't wait to see the play. One of the best books I read this year.
Courtney Crumrin Crumb & The Night Things: Ted Noifeh Cute graphic novel about a girl who moves into a creepy house with her parents and creepy uncle. A good be careful what you wish for book.
Need More Love: Aline Kominsky Crumb Wife of R Crumb draws her messed up life in a graphic novel. I loved going on this adventure with her.
Nine Chains to the Moon: R. Buckminster Fuller Ramblings of a mad scientist who was way ahead of his time.
Blindness: Jose Saramago Everyone goes blind except for a few people. Those who are blind are forced into prisons. I liked this book until the end.
Horns & Wrinkles: Joseph Helgeroon Graphic YA novel about two kids who wish too hard and get what they want. A fun read.
The Brief and Wondrous life of Oscar Wao: Junot Diaz Best book I read all year about a geeky and socially inept boy living in the Dominican Republic. Loved the writing style and narration.
The Book Thief: Markus Zusak The life and times of Germans living in a small town during WWII. This book made me cry.
The Phantom Tollbooth: Norton Juster Classic kids book with great puns. A must read for everyone.
Food Matters: Mark Bittman How to eat sensibly and sustainable. I liked this book but a lot of his advice was common sense. I recommend buying it for the recipes.
Bluebirds Used to Crone The Choir: Joe Meno Short stories about life at Greek Camp, Cuban bureaucrats, and more!
The Boy Detective Fails: Joe Meno Bizarre story about a former child detective to spends time in a mental hospital. Classic Meno!
Rain Village: Carolyn Turgeon A backwards girl in a backwards town meets a mysterious woman who teaches her how to become a trapeze artist. I loved this book.
The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Jennifer 8 History of Chinese food in America. I wanted to like this book but I didn’t. It only made fulfilled for a few hours and left me hungry again. Kind of like eating Chinese food.
The Watchmen: Allan Moore Graphic novel about what happens when the watchers go bad. Loved it.
The Gangster We Are All Looking For: Le Thi Diem Thuy Vietnamese family moves to the U.S. Good narrative. Weird plot.
Tricked: Alex Robinson Graphic novel following the path of six characters. Hard to put down.
The Best American Travel Writing of 2008: Anthony Bourdain editor Yeah, I checked out the book because he edited it. Many good stories. Some were duds. A good cross section of travel writing.
Rent Girl: Michelle Tea I’m not neurotic enough to like Michelle Tea’s stuff. The woman is a great writer but I just can’t related to her messed up characters.
The Women: TC Boyle The life of Frank Lloyd Wright told through the women who loved him. Beautifully executed. TC Boyle does no wrong.
Replay: Ken Grimwood A 43 year old man dies and wakes up in his 18 year old body with all of his memories still in tact. A quick read with a great ending.
Jackalope Dreams: Mary Clearman Blew A single woman and former school teacher lives with her father in a small Montana ranching town. He dies and she has to pick up all the pieces and adjust to change. Beautiful writing.
Alone In The Kitchen with an Eggplant: Edited by Jenni Ferrari-Adler Writing and short stories on cooking and eating by yourself. This book made me really hungry and has great recipes.
Lost Continent: Bill Bryson Bill drives around the United States looking for the perfect small town. This was a re-read for me but it made me laugh just as much as the first time.
The Unit: Ninni Holmquist Dumb dumb dumb. Someone tried to do a different version of The Prisoner but the characters give up their limbs and organs. Fail. There can only be one Prisoner.
The Marriage Place:?? Indian man retires and starts a matchmaking business. Starts out strong and fizzles.
My Life in France: Julia Child I so wanted to like this book and I did find parts of if interesting. I just didn’t like how the book was put together and edited. Her passion for food and Paul Child overcomes the bad editing. Sorta.
Sunnyside: Glen David Gold The life of Charlie Chaplin during WWI. Sold writing but I just could not get into it.
The Bride Stripped Bare: Anonymous Marketed as erotica. Snore.
Windy City: Scott Simon A Daley-esque mayor dies and an Indian man is named mayor for 24 hours. Great book and interesting look at Chicago’s culture and politics.
The Vagabond: Colette A recently divorced woman begins a new life. I loved Colette's writing. The character grated on me a bit.
Deciding The Next Decider:Calvin Trillin The 2009 election in rhyme. Bravo!
So Big: Edna Ferbek City girl marries a hard-headed Midwesterner. Moves to the country to farm with her husband. City girl triumphs. This book reminded me of many of the people I grew around in the Midwest.
Godmother:Carolyn Turgeon A modern day Cinderella story. Great idea. Loved the ending.
The Outlander:Gil Adamson Woman runs from an abusive relationship through the woods of Canada. Great story. Interesting characters.
Ravens:George Dawes Story of blackmail and kidnapping gone wrong. Great idea and solid writing. I got too wrapped up in the story and it made me anxious.
The Death of Bunny Munroe:Nick Cave Misogynistic book about an ass-hat who is dealing with the death of his wife. Poorly. I love Nick Cave dearly but this book was too much.
Portland Noir: Edited by Kevin Sampsell Short stories set in Portland. Great selection.
The Absolutely True Diary of A Part Time Indian:Sherman Alexie This book broke my heart. Sherman Alexie’s finest.
Go Go Girls of the Apocalypse:Victor Gischler The apocalypse happens and the owner of a strip club takes over. A fun book.
Fool:Christopher Moore A funnier version of King Lear. I love Christopher Moore but this wasn’t his best.
The Complete Persepolis:Marjane Satropi Graphic novel of a woman growing up in Iran and how she deals with her own culture in a changing world. The book broke my heart.
Well Preserved: Eugenia Bone Excellent book on how to can food. Easy directions and great recipes.
Dumb Food Book whose title I can’t remember
Whale Season: NM Kelby The author tries to be Carl Hiasson and fails.
Tracks: Louise Erdich Life in small town North Dakota through the eyes of the Indians who live there. Another book that made me cry.
Everything Matters:Ron Curry, Jr What do you do when you are told that the world is going to end in 36 years? You wonder if anything in your life matters. Good story up until the ending.
Even The Stars Look Lonesome: Maya Angelou Very short stories and writings on her life.
The Man Who Ate The World:Jay Raynerz What happens when a writer goes searching for the perfect meal. I enjoyed this book but his writing style got a little old towards the end.
Snuff:Chuck Palahniuk I knew this book would be horrible and I read it anyway. I wish I hadn’t wasted those two hours.
Snow Falling on Cedars: David Guterson Emotionally gripping book about a small fishing village in northern Washington state. Beautiful book. I can't wait to see the play. One of the best books I read this year.