The librarians at the Glen Park Library would like to share with you some of our favorite reads of 2012. All books were published in 2012.
Selected by the editors of the New York Times Book Review as one of the ten best books of 2012, Eggers's latest novel tells the story of a 54 year old consultant who is trying to close a big deal in Saudi Arabia.
Hilary
Mantel won the Man Booker Prize in 2009 for Wolf Hall, her first novel
set in the court of Henry VIII, so this sequel could have suffered by
comparison. Fortunately, this book is as good as the first. (It was awarded the
Man Booker Prize in 2012.) Again the action is seen through the keenly observant
eyes of Thomas Cromwell, who is close to Henry and well placed in his court.
Cromwell enjoys the rewards of his position, but he is also tasked with
difficult and delicate jobs. His latest is getting rid of Anne Boleyn. Mantel
has created a fascinating and believable character in her version of Cromwell
and the court of Henry VIII has never seemed quite so thrilling and dangerous.
This is historical fiction at its most intoxicating.
Bring
Up the Bodies
will make sense even if you haven’t read Wolf Hall, but for maximum
enjoyment read the books in order. A third novel, concluding Cromwell’s story,
is in the works.
This
delightful novel takes place in an English country home during the course of one
eventful day in 1912. The estate was heavily mortgaged by the first husband of
the lady of the house and it is now up to her second husband to save the
property from creditors. While he is off dealing with this situation, the rest
of the family is busy preparing for the oldest child’s 20th birthday
celebration. A railway accident nearby adds an ever-growing contingent of
mysterious “uninvited guests” and one of them has some interesting information
about a family member’s past. The excitement provides the perfect
opportunity for the youngest member of the household, Smudge, to embark on what
she refers to as her “great undertaking.” This endeavor provides one of the
book’s most hilarious scenes. Funny, surprising and poignant, this novel is a
fresh take on life in an English country manor.
The YellowBirds: A Novel by Kevin Powers
The author of this novel about two young soldiers in the Iraq War was himself a machine gunner in the conflict. More recently he has been recognized for his poetry. Both aspects of his experience are apparent in The Yellow Birds. The details, dialogue and images create a powerful sense of place and the beautiful language draws the reader deeper into the story. The chapters alternate between the action in Iraq and the narrator’s homecoming, an event that is complicated by decisions he made during the war. Although the novel has the immediacy of being set only a few years ago, there is a timeless quality about the book. It could be about any war anywhere any time.
Believe the hype. This is a beautiful, compelling and important novel.
The author of this novel about two young soldiers in the Iraq War was himself a machine gunner in the conflict. More recently he has been recognized for his poetry. Both aspects of his experience are apparent in The Yellow Birds. The details, dialogue and images create a powerful sense of place and the beautiful language draws the reader deeper into the story. The chapters alternate between the action in Iraq and the narrator’s homecoming, an event that is complicated by decisions he made during the war. Although the novel has the immediacy of being set only a few years ago, there is a timeless quality about the book. It could be about any war anywhere any time.
Believe the hype. This is a beautiful, compelling and important novel.
This hilarious novel isn't for everyone but if you were a fan of the TV Show, Arrested Development, then you will probably get a kick out of it.
Teenager Bee's tale about her agoraphobic mother and an impending trip to the Antarctic.With an interesting cast of characters and not your typical view of Seattle, I found this hard to put down.
I am a big fan of The Los Bros Hernandez comics/graphic novels of Love and Rockets. This is a bit of departure for L & R and stands alone even if you have not read any of his other works. A group of lady superheros band together to fight one of their own. Great story and amazing artwork as well.
Waiting for the next book in Divergent series? Check out these newly published follow-ups to dystopian Teen titles:
The excitement started with Marbury Lens where16-year-old Jack is handed a pair of glasses. Through the lenses, he sees another world called Marbury. There is war in Marbury. It is a desolate and murderous place where Jack is responsible for the survival of two younger boys. His best friend, Conner is there, too, but he’s trying to kill them.
Hold Me Closer Necromancer starts with Sam leading a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he’s doing all right—until a fast food prank brings him to the attention of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak.Turns out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he’s a necromancer too, but with strangely latent powers. And Douglas wants Sam to join forces with him. . . or else.
