Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts
1.28.2011
Amelia Bloomer Project
There are probably as many "best books of __" lists in existence as there are stars in the sky. And I'm touting yet another one! But this particular list has some very specific criteria, more specific than "decently written" in any event, and one that I think is certainly worth taking (more than) a glance at. I'm talking about the Amelia Bloomer Project, which recently announced its top 10 of 2011 list! This is a really neat organization affiliated with the ALA that creates a yearly booklist for the top feminist books for readers aged 0-18. Not just a nod to literature featuring plucky, brave, daring and genius female characters navigating their way out of sticky situations, the books on this list (a mix of non-fiction and fiction) must be actively feminist. What does that mean exactly, you might ask? To meet the list's criteria books must openly acknowledge- and confront- the disparities that women face and show them dealing with and overcoming obstacles. Just as importantly, the stories must be told in an engaging, thoughtful, well-written and age appropriate way. Looking for an alternative to Bella Swan? How about a graphic novel by Jane Yolen about a girl who, in addition to feeling like a misfit at school, is also a master swordswoman? I know I would have appreciated a list like this when I was younger (I most certainly appreciate it now) and look forward to using the list as a gift guide for the egalitarian-minded young people in my life. You can find the list here.
12.10.2010
A list to end all lists
(via Powell's)
Wow. You know how, come December, there are all of those lists of "Best of the Year"? Well, blogger Largehearted Boy is compiling a list of links to all of the Best Books of 2010 lists available on line. And it is a looooong list. However, if you have some time to kill and are wondering which books you might have missed over the past 11-12 months, or find out if you agree with the critics, do take a look.
I'm pretty sure these are on that list, but I had to point it out, because it's a pretty fun idea: the literary mix tape. GalleyCat has assembled "mixes" of books that you can read excerpts from--Best YA Books of 2010, Best Novels of 2010, and Best eBooks of 2010.
And, although it is not technically a "best of" list, I would also recommend a browse through our own Staff Gift Picks list! (Scroll past our everyday Staff Favorites for the special Holiday list.)
Happy Reading!
Wow. You know how, come December, there are all of those lists of "Best of the Year"? Well, blogger Largehearted Boy is compiling a list of links to all of the Best Books of 2010 lists available on line. And it is a looooong list. However, if you have some time to kill and are wondering which books you might have missed over the past 11-12 months, or find out if you agree with the critics, do take a look.
I'm pretty sure these are on that list, but I had to point it out, because it's a pretty fun idea: the literary mix tape. GalleyCat has assembled "mixes" of books that you can read excerpts from--Best YA Books of 2010, Best Novels of 2010, and Best eBooks of 2010.
And, although it is not technically a "best of" list, I would also recommend a browse through our own Staff Gift Picks list! (Scroll past our everyday Staff Favorites for the special Holiday list.)
Happy Reading!
6.19.2009
The Books of Summer: Part 2
Last week, we posted links to other peoples' recommended reading lists. This week, we'd like to offer our own suggestions.
First up, the books we've read and highly recommend:
Border Songs by Jim Lynch - Set along the Washington-Canada
border, this novel tells the story of a two small communities, separated by a ditch and not much else, that are shaken up by increased pressure by Homeland Security to patrol the comings and goings across that ditch. The loveable and misunderstood Brandon Vanderkool falls right in the center of the turmoil by accidentally becoming the border patrol's most successful agent. It's a great story by a great author, and we're looking forward to welcoming Jim Lynch to the bookstore on July 10!
The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen - A fascinating, unusual story packaged in a gorgeous book. T.S. Spivet is a cartographic genius who has won a prestigious award at the young age of 12. During his cross-country train trip to the award ceremony, he ruminates on his life and fractured family, interspersing the story with numerous maps and notes in the margins.
Outcasts United by Warren St. John - A compelling journalistic style of
writing makes this story about a refugee youth soccer team a must-read. St. John weaves historical and cultural background in with the stories of various children and their families who are trying to make a new home in a town that is unsure of how to handle the sudden influx of foreigners into their community.
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley - This little mystery is quick to read and has a wicked sense of humor, thanks to its protagonist. Flavia de Luce is an 11 year old girl with a passion for chemistry (especially poisons) who takes on the task of clearing her father's name in a murder that took place on the family estate.
John Adams by David McCullough - A very accessible account of this
fascinating early American leader. Don't let the size of this book intimidate you--it is an absorbing read.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - This middle grade/young adult novel is a gripping story about a girl who is forced to fight for her life in a government-sponsored reality show that pits teenagers against one another for the honor of their district and the entertainment of the Capitol. Read (or re-read) it before the sequel, Catching Fire, comes out in September!
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie - This novel in journal format is about a reservation kid who defies tradition and his best friend to go to school with white kids, 22 miles and a whole world away. Funny and poignant and discussion-provoking, this is a fantastic book for teenaged boys (or girls) and adults.
Bayou by Jeremy Love - Bayou collects the first four chapters in a
webcomics series about a menacing world in which the small but brave daughter of a black sharecropper fights racism, in the form of men and monsters, and is joined by one particular monster named Bayou in her search for justice.
And now, the books that we're looking forward to reading this summer:
My Dearest Friend - The letters of John and Abigail Adams offer a personal look at a pivotal point in our history.
The Family Man - Elinor Lipman's latest promises to be a light, funny, and heartwarming read.
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey - The first book
was delightful, and the adventures and mysteries just keep coming.
Southern Vampire series (Living Dead in Dallas, #2) - You can't open a magazine these days without seeing those gorgeously gothic photos advertising the t.v. series True Blood. For those of us that don't have cable, original books, by Charlaine Harris, are entertaining servings of romance, mystery, and the supernatural.
The Elegance of the Hedgehog - This translated novel about lives in an
apartment building in France sounds like a good, character-driven story with the added charm of a Parisian setting.
Whiskey Rebels - Treason, deception, redemption, and a host of real-life characters make this sound like the perfect thrilling historical novel to get lost in on a lazy summer day.
Of course, this is by no means a complete list. What are your recommendations, or the books that are on your planned summer reading list? Let us know in the comments (or stop by the store--one thing we never get tired of is talking about books!)
First up, the books we've read and highly recommend:
Border Songs by Jim Lynch - Set along the Washington-Canada
border, this novel tells the story of a two small communities, separated by a ditch and not much else, that are shaken up by increased pressure by Homeland Security to patrol the comings and goings across that ditch. The loveable and misunderstood Brandon Vanderkool falls right in the center of the turmoil by accidentally becoming the border patrol's most successful agent. It's a great story by a great author, and we're looking forward to welcoming Jim Lynch to the bookstore on July 10!The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen - A fascinating, unusual story packaged in a gorgeous book. T.S. Spivet is a cartographic genius who has won a prestigious award at the young age of 12. During his cross-country train trip to the award ceremony, he ruminates on his life and fractured family, interspersing the story with numerous maps and notes in the margins.
Outcasts United by Warren St. John - A compelling journalistic style of
writing makes this story about a refugee youth soccer team a must-read. St. John weaves historical and cultural background in with the stories of various children and their families who are trying to make a new home in a town that is unsure of how to handle the sudden influx of foreigners into their community.The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley - This little mystery is quick to read and has a wicked sense of humor, thanks to its protagonist. Flavia de Luce is an 11 year old girl with a passion for chemistry (especially poisons) who takes on the task of clearing her father's name in a murder that took place on the family estate.
John Adams by David McCullough - A very accessible account of this
fascinating early American leader. Don't let the size of this book intimidate you--it is an absorbing read.The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - This middle grade/young adult novel is a gripping story about a girl who is forced to fight for her life in a government-sponsored reality show that pits teenagers against one another for the honor of their district and the entertainment of the Capitol. Read (or re-read) it before the sequel, Catching Fire, comes out in September!
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie - This novel in journal format is about a reservation kid who defies tradition and his best friend to go to school with white kids, 22 miles and a whole world away. Funny and poignant and discussion-provoking, this is a fantastic book for teenaged boys (or girls) and adults.
Bayou by Jeremy Love - Bayou collects the first four chapters in a
webcomics series about a menacing world in which the small but brave daughter of a black sharecropper fights racism, in the form of men and monsters, and is joined by one particular monster named Bayou in her search for justice.And now, the books that we're looking forward to reading this summer:
My Dearest Friend - The letters of John and Abigail Adams offer a personal look at a pivotal point in our history.
The Family Man - Elinor Lipman's latest promises to be a light, funny, and heartwarming read.
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey - The first book
was delightful, and the adventures and mysteries just keep coming.Southern Vampire series (Living Dead in Dallas, #2) - You can't open a magazine these days without seeing those gorgeously gothic photos advertising the t.v. series True Blood. For those of us that don't have cable, original books, by Charlaine Harris, are entertaining servings of romance, mystery, and the supernatural.
The Elegance of the Hedgehog - This translated novel about lives in an
apartment building in France sounds like a good, character-driven story with the added charm of a Parisian setting.Whiskey Rebels - Treason, deception, redemption, and a host of real-life characters make this sound like the perfect thrilling historical novel to get lost in on a lazy summer day.
Of course, this is by no means a complete list. What are your recommendations, or the books that are on your planned summer reading list? Let us know in the comments (or stop by the store--one thing we never get tired of is talking about books!)
6.12.2009
The Books of Summer: Part 1
Though summer isn't officially here, we are into the longest days of the year, school's out (or nearly), and the summer reading lists have hit newstands and airwaves.
This week, a small selection of lists found around the internet--stay tuned for our personal picks, coming next week!
National Public Radio has a lot of good recommendations, from mysteries to cookbooks; they also link to excerpts from some of their picks.
Also from NPR, bookseller recommendations (always among our favorite lists to peruse).
The L.A. Times book blog Jacket Copy takes the long view with a list of over 50 books that are being published in the coming months.
Wall Street Journal offers their five choices for vacation reading.
Entertainment Weekly has the PopWatch edition and Steven King's picks.
The Seattle Times shares picks from librarian Nancy Pearl.
International summer reading: from Canada - some of these won't be available in the states, but others, like Guillermo del Torro's horror-fest The Strain, are being published simultaneously in Canada and the U.S.
The Indie Choice Awards provide a list of bookseller-approved reading, good for anytime of year (actually, that applies to all of these books, really). Highly recommended: Sarah Vowell's funny acceptance video.
The Onion's A.V. Club has introduced Wrapped Up in Books, an online book club to introduce or re-introduce readers to modern classics. Currently on the table is Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian. Another online book club idea is Paste magazine's Infinite Summer Reading Group, which is honoring the late David Foster Wallace by reading Infinite Jest.
Author Kenneth C. Davis gives history buffs a list of his favorites. (Enough with the "not all summer books are light reading" disclaimers already, though, Mr. Davis. That's been done to death.)
Salon interviewed authors about their favorite books and/or books they plan to read this summer.
Are these some of those frothy books Kenneth Davis was referring to?
[Edited to add:] There it is - thanks, New York Times, for a list of fiction by women, for women. There are some really good books on this list, though I think we could all do without the condescension towards "chick lit."
And let's not forget younger readers:
The Horn Book has some great suggestions for kids and teens.
ReadKiddoRead says Summer Reading Doesn't Have to Be Punishment, and provides a long list of reasons why, including books like Adele & Simon, Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things, Coraline: The Graphic Novel, and The London Eye Mystery.
This week, a small selection of lists found around the internet--stay tuned for our personal picks, coming next week!
National Public Radio has a lot of good recommendations, from mysteries to cookbooks; they also link to excerpts from some of their picks.
Also from NPR, bookseller recommendations (always among our favorite lists to peruse).
The L.A. Times book blog Jacket Copy takes the long view with a list of over 50 books that are being published in the coming months.
Wall Street Journal offers their five choices for vacation reading.
Entertainment Weekly has the PopWatch edition and Steven King's picks.
The Seattle Times shares picks from librarian Nancy Pearl.
International summer reading: from Canada - some of these won't be available in the states, but others, like Guillermo del Torro's horror-fest The Strain, are being published simultaneously in Canada and the U.S.
The Indie Choice Awards provide a list of bookseller-approved reading, good for anytime of year (actually, that applies to all of these books, really). Highly recommended: Sarah Vowell's funny acceptance video.
The Onion's A.V. Club has introduced Wrapped Up in Books, an online book club to introduce or re-introduce readers to modern classics. Currently on the table is Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian. Another online book club idea is Paste magazine's Infinite Summer Reading Group, which is honoring the late David Foster Wallace by reading Infinite Jest.
Author Kenneth C. Davis gives history buffs a list of his favorites. (Enough with the "not all summer books are light reading" disclaimers already, though, Mr. Davis. That's been done to death.)
Salon interviewed authors about their favorite books and/or books they plan to read this summer.
Are these some of those frothy books Kenneth Davis was referring to?
[Edited to add:] There it is - thanks, New York Times, for a list of fiction by women, for women. There are some really good books on this list, though I think we could all do without the condescension towards "chick lit."
And let's not forget younger readers:
The Horn Book has some great suggestions for kids and teens.
ReadKiddoRead says Summer Reading Doesn't Have to Be Punishment, and provides a long list of reasons why, including books like Adele & Simon, Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things, Coraline: The Graphic Novel, and The London Eye Mystery.
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