As I am sure my readers are
aware, I like nothing better for the holidays than a nice stack of books. I hope your holiday is not so busy you won’t
have time for reading. Here are some
suggestions for yourself, or the reader in your life.
If you are looking
for a good biography, I have one for you.
A couple of years ago, I reviewed Stacy Schiff’s magnificent biography
of Cleopatra. She has taken a new tack
in Witches, a history of the Salem
Witch trials. Her ability to tell a
story of the lives of these unfortunate individuals, murdered because of
superstition, is unsurpassed.
Margaret Atwood’s
latest novel, The Heart Goes Last is
another jewel in her crown. I would also
recommend A Handmaid’s Tale and Cat’s Eye as must reads by this
talented, award winning Canadian writer.
Lauren Groff’s
latest work makes my list of suggestions. Fates
and Furies is the story of a young couple married right out of college, who
struggle to hold their marriage together.
An absorbing and interesting insight into strong relationships.
After reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain, I could
not resist her 2015 novel, Circling the
Sun. Paris is about the women in
Hemingway’s life, and Circling the Sun,
is a fictional account of the life of Beryl Markham. For the real scoop on Beryl Markham, I cannot
recommend any book higher than her own autobiography, West with the Night. She was an amazing woman who took on roles of
aviator and horse trainer, occupations almost exclusively that of men at the
time.
The Booker Prize
winning author, John Banvile also has a new novel, The Blue Guitar. I am really
looking forward to this one. He is one
of my favorites, and I am nearly half through all of his novels. Banville is a literary master who is sure to
please.
While not for
everyone, Jonathan Franzen is a writer’s writer, and working your way through
his novels will not be a wasted effort.
His newest, Purity, has been
getting great reviews, and you will hear about it on Likely Stories soon.
The third and final
volume of Autobiography of Mark Twain has
finally been published. Along with volumes
one and two, we have a whopping 2,100+ pages of detailed information on one of
the most fascinating and well-known figures in American literary history.
Finally, as we
approach the last season of Downton Abbey,
two books about this magnificent series have been published. Downton
Abbey: A Celebration by Jessica Fellows is a beautiful, detailed, and
marvelous companion to the series loved by hundreds of millions around the
world. Her uncle, Lord Julian Fellowes,
the author of Downton Abbey, has
added a foreword. Caution: the companion
contains spoiler alerts for season six.
Jessica also wrote a slim volume, The
Wit and Wisdom of Downton Abbey, which has all the funny sayings of the
characters. Both are published by St. Martin’s Press.
All these books are
easily available in time for wrapping and holiday cheer. All merit 5 stars
--Chiron, 12/3/15
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