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2012 Staff Picks
- Staff Picks by Genre in alphabetical order by author's last name.
February 2012
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Asimov, Isaac Foundation Science Fiction |
| Isaac Asimov's original "Foundation Trilogy" of novels, consisting of Foundation, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation, is an interesting meditation on building a society and civilization upon the collapse of a previous one. Inspired by Edward Gibbon's monumental The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Asimov plays an optimistic twentieth-century Hobbes, curious about the causes and interpretations of the fall of the Roman Empire. Perhaps more significantly, he investigates the ingredients that humans consciously and unconsciously select and neglect in their aspirations and inspirations for progress. While all this may sound too heady, Asimov's greatest success lies in couching profound macrocosmic considerations in conjoining stories, like dominoes, filled with action and intrigue, love and lust on an epic scale (centuries! galaxies! psychohistory!), involving all sorts of characters betrayed by their microcosmic perspective—one the reader can immediately relate to, despite the "science fiction." The trilogy eventually expanded to include a wealth of other books that take place within its universe, but these three are the only recipients (ever!) of the Hugo Award for "Best All-Time Series" of fantasy or science fiction. Recommended by Miguel, February 2012 |
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Erdrich, Louise The Plague of Doves Fiction |
| In this masterful novel, characters intertwine after a murder and lynching on a North Dakota Ojibwe reservation. Alternating narrators divulge family histories and contemporary events that unfold in an exquisitely complex plot that examines the crime over generations and culminates in a thrilling conclusion. The novel’s emotional effect is just as engrossing, as characters cope with the weight of historical events on their own lives. Each character, from the teenaged granddaughter of one of the lynching’s witnesses, to descendants of the murderous mob, to the smitten judge, delivers a sympathetic tale. Some passages are so gorgeously written, they’re transformative. Fans of Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible will revel in Erdrich’s ability to incorporate deep social challenges with lush prose, irresistible characters and a riveting story. Recommended by Renée, February 2012 |
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Robb, J.D. Naked in Death Fiction |
| This first book of the series introduces Eve Dallas, tough, no-nonsense cop, and the impossibly handsome and fantastically wealthy Roarke. Love blossoms amidst grisly murder, suspicion and betrayal. Scenes of cosmopolitan sophistication and opulence vie with seamy characters and the sinister streets of Eve's milieu while Roarke and Eve connect through mutually tormented pasts. The year is 2045. Completely plausible technological advances are evenly incorporated into everyone's jobs and lives. Auto-Chefs have to be stocked, so grocery shopping hasn't been eradicated. Felinebots flit among garbage strewn in alleys seeking out rodents. People are transported off planet both for recreational and business reasons. Human foibles accessorized with a layer of future technology make for an entertaining backdrop to the dynamic pairing of two forces of nature. J. D. Robb's "In Death" series, started in 1995, consists of 33 books with more on the way. From what I hear, they never get old. Recommended by Geo, February 2012 |
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Simonson, Helen Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand Fiction |
| In the charming countryside of Southeast England, lives widower, pensioner Major Ernest Pettigrew. He is a debonair gentleman, looking only to mind his gardens, attend his golf club, and generally do nothing out of the ordinary in a simple, quiet life. Upon the death of his brother, however, the Major’s humble and quiet life is forever altered when he finds an unexpected friend in Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper from the village. But it isn’t so easy to befriend someone regarded as an outsider. The characters in this novel are an interesting assortment of the unpalatable (the Major’s son Roger is a narcissistic, materialistic urbanite) and the utterly heart-warming (Major Pettigrew’s uptight Britishness melts away as he dotes upon Ms. Ali’s great-nephew). The author somehow cleverly tangles up comedy, romance, and serious social commentary into one cohesive story. John Cleese would make an ideal leading man for the film version of the novel. Recommended by Connie, February 2012 |
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January 2012
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Arnaldur Indridason Hypothermia Fiction |
| I’ve enjoyed the Swedish mysteries by Stieg Larsson and Henning Mankell so I thought Hypothermia by Icelandic writer Arnaldur Indridason might be a good follow-up. The audiobook version was a good choice for my daily commute because it is short (7 discs) and mysteries keep my attention and are easy to listen to. And it's read by George Guidall, perhaps my favorite reader (listen to his Lord of the Rings). The main character in Hypothermia, Erlendur, is a middle-aged divorced police detective (reminiscent of Mankell’s Wallender), privately investigating the suicide of Maria, a depressed woman who was intrigued by the afterlife. The friend who finds her hanging from the rafters of a lakeside cottage is convinced it wasn’t suicide and sets Erlendur off on a hunt that uncovers seances, the traumatic drowning of Maria’s father during her childhood, and the experimental death and revival of a university student. The topic of suicide also prompts Erlendur to find closure to two missing person cases which were presumed suicides thirty years ago. Throughout the novel, pieces of Erlendur’s own life surface, in particular a blizzard in which he and his younger brother were lost when he was ten, and in which his brother disappeared, and his estranged relationship with his wife, son and daughter. This is not a bloody action thriller but a thoughtful investigation of interrelated events from the past that are tied together by “hypothermia,” an appropriate Icelandic topic. Recommended by Cathy, January 2012 |
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Cain, Shannon The Necessity of Certain Behaviors Short Stories |
| The necessary behaviors in these short stories demand a lot of negotiation. In one, a woman struggles to balance relationships with both a boyfriend and girlfriend. In another, a divorcée manages a successful marijuana business and the demands of single motherhood. A cage cleaner at the Queer Zoo is the only straight employee, and his insistence on staying closeted is causing tension with his girlfriend. Obviously, moments of hilarious misunderstanding ensue in these stories—often via wittily sarcastic dialogue. Shannon Cain’s clipped descriptions convey poetic familiarity with the characters’ thoughts and settings. Characters often demonstrate their feelings for each other by proxy—accepting the gift of a puppy or compulsively cleaning an apartment. Beyond the pyrotechnics of these stories’ unconventional premises lie heartfelt explorations of loneliness and companionship. Cain portrays these situations with acceptance that allows as much gravity as humor. Characters tell their mothers wild lies, but they also call them for advice. They ponder functional parenting and family alcoholism while they try to prove the paternity of Bob Barker. The AAA travel agent intentionally remapping customers’ vacations is also coping with her parents’ sudden death in a car wreck. They each arrive at some realization about their lives and connection to others—thanks to whatever behavior they found necessary to bring them there. Recommended by Renée, January 2012 |
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deWitt, Patrick The Sisters Brothers Fiction |
| Charlie and Eli Sisters are infamous assassins in the mid-nineteenth century Wild West. The brothers make their way to booming and frenetic San Francisco to kill a man. Their journey is not quiet or clean, but in the end the brothers take an unexpected turn that alters their career path. The novel is narrated by Eli, and his sparsely simplistic prose and descriptions render him unexpectedly human. While one character describes Charlie as being "simply too lazy to be good," we watch Eli try to act on the good in him, making himself vulnerable in the attempt. Did I mention that this book is funny? Nearly every page contains wicked dry humor, and this ox of a man is exposed as being witty and likeable. You never forget the fact that Eli is a feared killer, but you find yourself rooting for a better life for him, where his circumstances do not dictate his actions, and his simple dreams of shop keeping and clean teeth are realized. The Sisters Brothers was short-listed for the 2011 Man Booker Prize—it certainly had my vote. Recommended by Sheila, January 2012 |
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Haeg, Fritz Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn Nonfiction |
| Have you ever thought of grass as a crop? It does require loads of water, lots of pesticides, tons of fertilizer, and much tending. But as crops go, it's pretty worthless and unappetizing for humans. In this collection of inspirational essays and practical garden examples, Fritz Haeg show us how to turn our thirsty lawns into lush, communal spaces that provide much tastier crops: juicy tomatoes, crunchy sweet peas, red raspberries, and the like. The regional planting calendars in the back of the book will have you drooling. Recommended by Rita, January 2012 |
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Jones, Tayari Silver Sparrow Fiction |
| The narrator’s very first line reveals the tipping point for every member of Jones’s well-developed cast. Dana Lynn Yarboro is the daughter of a bigamist. Her mother is the secret wife of middle-class entrepreneur, James Witherspoon. Dana is his secret daughter, who grew up watching her parallel sibling, Chaurisse, receive the finer opportunities and greater affections. Dana’s mother works hard to make up for the financial and emotional debt created by a frequently absent father, but intelligent and resourceful Dana rebels, and crosses the line into her half-sister’s life. What begins as Dana’s thirst for information becomes a genuine friendship, although naïve Chaurisse has no idea the true significance of Dana’s presence in her life. Inevitably, the world eventually crashes down on all of the major players. The characters are nuanced and rich, the story well-paced and smooth. I have high standards for domestic fiction, and this novel far exceeded my expectations. Recommended by Connie, January 2012 |
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Lippman, Laura The Girl in the Green Raincoat Fiction |
| This short novel, originally serialized in the New York Times Magazine, will implore you to read the whole thing in one sitting! Private investigator Tess Monaghan is stuck on the couch because of pregnancy complications. In a plot reminiscent of Rear Window, she finds herself wondering about the various people she notices outside her window. In particular, she watches a beautiful blond woman wearing a green raincoat walking her similarly dressed dog at the same time each day. When Tess spots the dog running free, her inquisitive nature gets the better of her and she initiates a little investigation of her own. With the aid of her best friend, one devoted employee, and her ever-patient boyfriend, Tess begins her quest to find out what really happened to the “girl in the green raincoat.” Recommended by Karen G., January 2012 |
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Tuten, Frederic Tintin in the New World: A Romance Fiction |
| In this meditation on adulthood, Frederic Tuten describes the process of maturation as it might effect Tintin, the world-famous boy reporter. This book provides a timely and important foil to Steven Spielberg’s new movie. In flawless prose, Tuten attempts to describe an intellectual adventure, rather than another pedestrian exploit pursuing criminals that have won Tintin international acclaim. While the main characters remain (Tintin, Captain Haddock, and of course, Snowy), Tuten introduces a supporting cast of international types from Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain, who alternately represent familiar ideas and entirely confuse any discussion. It is not easy to say what exactly is going on here. Ecology, history, sex, politics, art, economics, dreams (and much more) are at least briefly considered. This novel is, in a sense, "high" art (the rarified setting for much of the novel is Machu Picchu). Yet its original cover art by the pop artist Roy Lichtenstein suggests an experiment in appreciating the unexpectedly profound depth of the most common terrains while highlighting a commonality of the most sublime: take a beloved character, known and familiar, and surprise us with how little we know. Recommended by Miguel, January 2012 |
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