Thanks, Grandma Mable

I belong to a family of readers, thanks to my Grandma Mable. She was a school teacher in a one-room school in Iowa before she married my grandfather. Apparently she was the brainy sort who encouraged my father to read (although she wasn't too enthusiastic about college, since she thought it would "corrupt" my father). When my dad started reading he said a whole new world was opened up to him. While I didn't know my grandma Mable (she died of cancer 5 months before I was born), my sister remembers her saying "If you like to read, you'll never be lonely."

So, to fend off any bouts of loneliness, here's a list of book recommendations...

Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson. Best book I've read in the past year. It probably helps that I'm from Iowa and have a fondness for writers from the Midwest.

Housekeeping, by Marilynne Robinson. Beautifully written.

In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote. Amazing, amazing. I would say this is the mostly tightly written book I've read in a while...each sentence crafted perfectly and the amount of detail that goes into writing a non-fiction book that reads like fiction -- amazing.

The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion. So many books written about grief, but so few that actually capture it so honestly and beautifully.

Blue Like Jazz, by Donald Miller. Ok, I resisted reading this book because a) it is published by a Christian publisher. b) it was taking the Evangelical world by storm, which always make me suspicious. c) everyone was comparing him to Anne Lammot. But I finally picked it up at Barnes and Nobel and found a well-written and honest book about faith. He's no Anne Lammot, in fact, if I were Donald Miller I'd be a bit offended by that comparison -- why can't he just be a good Donald Miller? I like his voice and he's a Democrat, which helps.

Searching for God Knows What, by Donald Miller. A little disappointed after reading "Blue Like Jazz." I found this book more didactic and less poetic. Too much theology, and not enough narrative. But still worth the read.

The Liar's Club, by Mary Karr. Picked up her book because she was at the Festival of Faith and Writing last April. Funny, sad, beautiful memoir.

Real Sex by Lauren Winner. Okay, another author who's often compared to Anne Lammot. Would everyone just stop it? Why can't she just be Lauren Winner? I couldn't get through her other books (i.e. Girl meets God), but I picked up this book as research for an article I was writing. Finally, a book that honestly and intelligently addresses chastity and faith. Ok, a little hard to take since she was only "chaste" for three of her adult years (try 20!!!), but she makes some really great points. I recommend it for both single and married friends.

Dwelling Places by Vinita Hampton Wright. Another "Iowa" book. At first I was turned off because she's never even lived in Iowa! She lives on the south side of Chicago. But I have to admit she nailed her descriptions of Iowa farm life, the land, the people, etc. I met the author this summer and she's a very cool person.

Three Dog Life, by Abigail Thomas. I have a weakness for any book about animals. Yes, this is about the author's three dogs, but it's about so much more. This short memoir chronicles how her life is turned upside down after her husband suffers brain damage after being hit by a car. Thomas didn't publish her first book until her mid-forties, which gives me hope!


More to come. My next book may be Dave Eggers What is the What which is reviewed today in the NY Times I loved Eggers "Heartbreaking work..." but didn't so much like his subsequent books. But this new one sounds like it's definitely worth reading. I'll let you know.