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Books read 2009/Top Ten
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As before I have put all the books I've read this year, usually with star rating and reviews on Goodreads.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/698826-alan?shelf=read-in-2009
Many of the books this year were recommended by fellow goodreadians, and it's been a fantastic year of new discoveries.
My top ten - a diifficult choice with so many good books are as follows:
Number one easily is How I Came to Know Fish by Ota Pavel. Utterly fantastic collection of stories, subtle and full of character.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57342097
The runners-up:
George & Rue by George Elliot Clarke (novel): http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1193672.George_Rue
Going Native by Richard Wright (novel): http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/62313001
Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan (stories): http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53936937
Heartland by Anthony Cartwright (novel): http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/53325478
The Civilized Tribes: New & Selected Stories by Jerry Bumpus: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/45939383
Country of the Grand by Gerard Donovan (stories): http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/45539298
Not a Chance by Jessica Treat (stories): http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/45118233
Night Train by Lise Erdrich (stories): http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40748810
The Witnesses are Gone by Joel Lane (novel); http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55666892
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2 Comments
Meg Sefton says...
Very good taste: Ota Pavel. He experienced some tremendous suffering in his life, Alan, did you know that? I like this book too. It has some unforgettable characters, "tall tales," visions of what war did to Europe, an exploration of the effects of time and tragedy. It's incredibly beautiful. Hope you are well.
I did read a bit about him - suffered mental illness and breakdown later in life. This book is not only the best I read last year but one of the best I've ever read, quite stunning in its quiet effects and insights, moving and funny too.
