#43. The Hammer of God
by Arthur C. Clarke

1/24/10 - … currently reading

#42. Fallen Angels
by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and Mike Flynn

1/23/10 - 1/24/10

#41. The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling
by Henry Fielding

It’s almost hard to believe this fantastic romp of a book actually got published in 1749. The ridiculously comic situations, the idiotic but charming hero, and tons of (offstage) sex must have been pretty shocking at the time. This isn’t far different from a modern bedroom farce and I wish now I’d first read it during the summer on a beach vacation.

I also love the edition I have - 1948, The Literary Guild of America, Inc., illustrated by Harry Diamond, hardbound, no dust jacket, rough cut pages…

1/19/10 - 1/22/10

#40. The Secret City
by Hugh Walpole

Every reference to Hugh Walpole mentions that he was a well known and successful novelist in the first half of the twentieth century, but he’s forgotten and obscure these days.

This book is copyrighted 1919 - and again I picked it up for 50 cents at a book sale - and might be first edition, I’m not sure. So obscure that while you can get it free online from Project Gutenberg, I can’t even find a picture of the book online. It deals with Russia and a couple of chapters in it’s still right before the Revolution. Really good so far.

Well. Wow. Inevitable, and yet, still shocking ending to this story. Wonderful perspective - the outsider’s inside view, so to speak. The narrator is English and there are many reminders of that, but this is pretty damn close to reading Russian literature.

1/15/10 - 1/18/10

#39. Marsh-Fire
by Mateel Howe Farnham

Published in 1928 - and I believe this might be a first edition even though it doesn’t say that. She was fairly well known in her time, but these days this is just an obscure, old book I picked up for 50 cents at a book sale. Lucky for me - this was a fun, fast read and a story that is reminiscent of something Theodore Dreiser might have written - almost. It aspires to Dreiser’s heights but doesn’t quite reach.

A tycoon, a scheming woman, an aloof wife, an affair, a son, troubles in the boardroom, triumph, reconciliation and a tidy ending. This would actually make a good, modern, summer read.

1/12/10 - 1/14/10

#38. The Years of Rice and Salt
by Kim Stanley Robinson

This man, in my opinion, is one of the smartest writers alive. And I deliberately did not include the words “science fiction” because I think his books should be considered as much mainstream as sci-fi.

This alternate history is not only eye opening, but I found myself nodding a lot. As in, yes, I do believe that could have and would have happened if 99 percent of Europe had died during the Plague.

January 2010

#37. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents
by Julia Alvarez

I’ve read so many more Asian immigrant stories than Latin American, but every time I read something like this book I find myself making comparisons. The traditions and culture may be different, but the emotions of kids and young adults dealing with new and old worlds are strikingly similar. Excellent book and lovely use of language.

January 2010

#36. The Encyclopedia of Country Living
by Carla Emery

I skimmed through roughly a million words in a few days and I continue to pick it up and read in depth. For the tiny little farm I will have one day when the kids are grown and gone. Fun and useful.

December 2009

#35. Crown of Stars
by Kate Elliott
(Crown of Stars, Vol. 7)

See note for #29. King’s Dragon

December 2009