So Much For That by Lionel Shriver. Ms. Shriver rants about health care, and tells a pretty good story. Semicolon review here.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Semicolon review here.
Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser. Classic tale of a fallen woman who actually ends up with nothing worse than a feeling of vague discomfort with her pointless life. Semicolon review here.
Black Narcissus by Rumer Godden. Semicolon review here.
The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson. Semicolon review here.
Crossers by Phillip Caputo. Very violent with gratuitous sex, but also insightful about the U.S./Mexico border wars. Crossers are people who cross the border illegally, for whatever reason, mostly drugs or economic opportunity.
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. Very introspective, depressing, and thought-provoking.
Triangle by Katharine Weber. Not only about the famous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, but also about music. And it’s a history mystery.
Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus by Orson Scott Card. This historical fiction/science fiction novel by a master of both genres was so absorbing that I stayed up late to finish reading it and to find out what would happen to Christopher Columbus in a re-imagined world, changed by time travelers from the future.
Semicolon review here.
Shanghai GIrls by Lisa See. Semicolon review here.
The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson. This book reminded of something as I was reading, and it was only after I finished that I realized what it was: it has a “Touched by an Angel†feel to it, only with a lot more Jesus than Touched By an Angel ever saw fit to indulge. Semicolon review here.
The Best Book I Read in 2010:My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay. Semicolon review here. This story represents really sophisticated and deeply significant Christian fiction. Ms. McKay is not afraid to tackle the hard questions: why does God allow suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? How do Christians pray when it seems as if God isn’t listening? How is Romans 8:28 (“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.â€) true? Is it true? Really?
Not only does the book deal with these and other hard questions, the writing is also courageous enough not to give simple, easy answers. But it also doesn’t say or imply that there are no answers. Oh, just read it. Fantastic.
The Help was amazing, wasn’t it? I also read and – well, enjoyed isn’t exactly the right word, is it? – We Need to Talk About Kevin. I’m planning to listen to Shriver’s newest on audio soon. Happy New Year, Sherry!
you make me want to reread My Hands Came Away Red!
I haven’t read any of the books on your list, but there are a few I would like to get to: Shanghai Girls, The Help & We Need to Talk About Kevin, in particular. I probably should re-visit Sister Carrie. I attempted to read that one years ago but couldn’t make it through.
I hope you have a wonderful New Year!
Wow, I haven’t read any of those! I will have to remedy that at some point 🙂 Glad you had such a great 2010.
Pingback: Semicolon » Blog Archive » Reading about The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire