Poison wood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
This is a great book. I read some lukewarm reviews, but I cannot think of a reasonable criticism for this book. It is a terrific story, creatively done, and the fact that Kingsolver had parents who were missionaries lends the book a quality of authenticity.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
McInerny
Father Dowling Mysteries by Ralph McInerney
I discovered these shortly after writing the last list. They are mind candy, to be sure, but they're better than most television by a long shot. The setting is a Catholic community outside of Chicago and the Notre Dame professor/author informs the reader about the dilemmas and issues of Catholics.
I discovered these shortly after writing the last list. They are mind candy, to be sure, but they're better than most television by a long shot. The setting is a Catholic community outside of Chicago and the Notre Dame professor/author informs the reader about the dilemmas and issues of Catholics.
Nurture Assumption
Nurture Assumption by Judith Rich Harris
Free Press, New York: 1998
This is a very important book written about child rearing and the nature/nurture controversy. Harris takes on the entire industry of child development and parenting literature. Her book is convincing and well researched.
Free Press, New York: 1998
This is a very important book written about child rearing and the nature/nurture controversy. Harris takes on the entire industry of child development and parenting literature. Her book is convincing and well researched.
South Asia
Infidel by Ayan Hirsi Ali
This is a riveting tale of the life of a youngster in war torn Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. She lives in the US, currently, and is in danger from Muslim extremists because she has renounced (and denounced) the Muslim faith.
Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad
This is an astounding story of a Norwegian journalist who was invited into the home of an Afghani family following the US takedown of the Taliban in 2001- 2002.
This is a riveting tale of the life of a youngster in war torn Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. She lives in the US, currently, and is in danger from Muslim extremists because she has renounced (and denounced) the Muslim faith.
Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad
This is an astounding story of a Norwegian journalist who was invited into the home of an Afghani family following the US takedown of the Taliban in 2001- 2002.
John Dean
Conservatives without Conscience by John Dean
Dean describes the difference between the Goldwater version of conservatism and the modern variety. This is informative and interesting.
Dean describes the difference between the Goldwater version of conservatism and the modern variety. This is informative and interesting.
Imagine
Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris
After publishing The End of Faith, Harris received so much hate mail, particularly from Christians, that he composed a treatise that speaks directly to Christians. It refutes specific right wing positions with concrete data, i.e., stem cell research, abstinence, and all religious beliefs and practices that result in increased suffering rather than increased well-being. It is clear and concise.
God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens
Hitchens, like Dawkins, is an author who is well acquainted with religious texts of many sources, and is particularly well versed in Bible scholarship. While both he and Dawkins are appreciative of the Bible as literature, Hitchens is adamant that there is no reason to adopt any supernatural beliefs based on these readings.
God Delusion – Richard Dawkins
This is a perfect companion to Christopher Hitchens’ God is Not Great and Sam Harris’ Letter to a Christian Nation.
After publishing The End of Faith, Harris received so much hate mail, particularly from Christians, that he composed a treatise that speaks directly to Christians. It refutes specific right wing positions with concrete data, i.e., stem cell research, abstinence, and all religious beliefs and practices that result in increased suffering rather than increased well-being. It is clear and concise.
God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens
Hitchens, like Dawkins, is an author who is well acquainted with religious texts of many sources, and is particularly well versed in Bible scholarship. While both he and Dawkins are appreciative of the Bible as literature, Hitchens is adamant that there is no reason to adopt any supernatural beliefs based on these readings.
God Delusion – Richard Dawkins
This is a perfect companion to Christopher Hitchens’ God is Not Great and Sam Harris’ Letter to a Christian Nation.
Monkey Girl
Monkey Girl by Edward Humes
This is a well told tale of the Dover, Pennsylvania school board debacle concerning creation and intelligent design. The author does a terrific job of narrating a complex and nearly unbelievable true story.
This is a well told tale of the Dover, Pennsylvania school board debacle concerning creation and intelligent design. The author does a terrific job of narrating a complex and nearly unbelievable true story.
Modern Politics
Piety and Politics by Barry Lynn
Lynn is the head of an organization calling for careful separation of church and state (Americans United for Separation of Church and State), and he and his organization have figured prominently in several court cases surrounding this topic. He is a very well informed author, having been a front and center player in many of the leading civil liberty issues during the past thirty or so years.
Faith and Politics by John Danforth
Danforth has an impressive background. He is an Episcopalian minister, has been a US Senator, and a United Nations ambassador. He is a lifelong Republican, and writes about the traditional values of the Republican party, and the current trends in the Republican party, which he finds deplorable.
Lynn is the head of an organization calling for careful separation of church and state (Americans United for Separation of Church and State), and he and his organization have figured prominently in several court cases surrounding this topic. He is a very well informed author, having been a front and center player in many of the leading civil liberty issues during the past thirty or so years.
Faith and Politics by John Danforth
Danforth has an impressive background. He is an Episcopalian minister, has been a US Senator, and a United Nations ambassador. He is a lifelong Republican, and writes about the traditional values of the Republican party, and the current trends in the Republican party, which he finds deplorable.
Gladwell
Blink, Tipping Point and Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.
These are all relatively short and all relatively brilliant. I’m sure there will be more books from him, and I’m guessing they will all be excellent. He is both informative and entertaining.
These are all relatively short and all relatively brilliant. I’m sure there will be more books from him, and I’m guessing they will all be excellent. He is both informative and entertaining.
British Mysteries
A few more mystery series authors:
It’s almost always a good idea to read these in order. In addition to the mystery murder plot of each book, there is a long running story thread in each series. All of these are set in England in more or less modern times –late 20th and early 21st century.
Martha Grimes – There are two central sleuths in this series; one is a bona fide detective (shades of P.D. James’ Adam Dalgliesh), and the other is a landed gentry type (shades of Lord Peter Wimsey). For added fun, each story takes place in connection with an English pub possessing a whimsical name, i.e., The Man With a Load of Mischief, The Grave Maurice, The Lamorna Wink, and The Five Bells and Bladebone, to name a few.
Simon Brett – This fellow has written a couple of series; the one I found to be compelling enough to read straight through in the course of a few weeks was the ‘Fethering Mystery’ series featuring two middle-aged women who live next door to each other, and develop a friendship despite some personality difference. One is a rather conservative, retired civil servant and the other is a rather Bohemian character with a questionable past.
Hazel Holt is a modern mystery writer whose character is a Sayer’s fan, so there are occasional references to Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, which will be amusing for readers who are also Sayers admirers. The main character is a likable widow writer who is an enthusiastic participant in small town life. She likes cats and dogs, but does not imbue them with any mystery solving propensities, much to my relief.
Hamish Macbeth series by M C Beaton
M C Beaton also writes the Agatha Raisin series, which I didn’t like at first, but they grew on me after a dozen or so of them. The BBC produced three seasons of Hamish Macbeth television shows. They are extremely well done, but you may need to watch them twice in order to completely understand the Highlander brogue.
It’s almost always a good idea to read these in order. In addition to the mystery murder plot of each book, there is a long running story thread in each series. All of these are set in England in more or less modern times –late 20th and early 21st century.
Martha Grimes – There are two central sleuths in this series; one is a bona fide detective (shades of P.D. James’ Adam Dalgliesh), and the other is a landed gentry type (shades of Lord Peter Wimsey). For added fun, each story takes place in connection with an English pub possessing a whimsical name, i.e., The Man With a Load of Mischief, The Grave Maurice, The Lamorna Wink, and The Five Bells and Bladebone, to name a few.
Simon Brett – This fellow has written a couple of series; the one I found to be compelling enough to read straight through in the course of a few weeks was the ‘Fethering Mystery’ series featuring two middle-aged women who live next door to each other, and develop a friendship despite some personality difference. One is a rather conservative, retired civil servant and the other is a rather Bohemian character with a questionable past.
Hazel Holt is a modern mystery writer whose character is a Sayer’s fan, so there are occasional references to Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, which will be amusing for readers who are also Sayers admirers. The main character is a likable widow writer who is an enthusiastic participant in small town life. She likes cats and dogs, but does not imbue them with any mystery solving propensities, much to my relief.
Hamish Macbeth series by M C Beaton
M C Beaton also writes the Agatha Raisin series, which I didn’t like at first, but they grew on me after a dozen or so of them. The BBC produced three seasons of Hamish Macbeth television shows. They are extremely well done, but you may need to watch them twice in order to completely understand the Highlander brogue.
Michael Pollan
Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
This book reads more like a suspense novel than a nonfiction book. I couldn’t put it down. Everything you ever wanted – or more likely, didn’t want – to know about the food you eat. Update note: His newest book is In Defense of Food. It’s terrific.
Post Script: Omnivore's Dilemma was released in April of 2006. I read it shortly after that, sitting on the back porch, letting my end of school year work pile up all around me because I simply couldn't put the book down. I knew I should have waited for my summer break, but this was as much a page turner as any mystery I have ever read. Not only did it change my life, I'm pretty sure he changed the world with this book. There are a great many themes about food and food production that have become part of our modern consciousness that can be traced to this book.
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
A follow up to The Omnivore’s Dilemma and just as good. the premise of the book is summed up in his quip, "Eat food, mostly plants, not too much." That seems obvious enough until one realizes that there is startlingly widespread confusion about what food actually is. And that is precisely what the book is all about.
This book reads more like a suspense novel than a nonfiction book. I couldn’t put it down. Everything you ever wanted – or more likely, didn’t want – to know about the food you eat. Update note: His newest book is In Defense of Food. It’s terrific.
Post Script: Omnivore's Dilemma was released in April of 2006. I read it shortly after that, sitting on the back porch, letting my end of school year work pile up all around me because I simply couldn't put the book down. I knew I should have waited for my summer break, but this was as much a page turner as any mystery I have ever read. Not only did it change my life, I'm pretty sure he changed the world with this book. There are a great many themes about food and food production that have become part of our modern consciousness that can be traced to this book.
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
A follow up to The Omnivore’s Dilemma and just as good. the premise of the book is summed up in his quip, "Eat food, mostly plants, not too much." That seems obvious enough until one realizes that there is startlingly widespread confusion about what food actually is. And that is precisely what the book is all about.
Red Tent
Red Tent by Anita Diamant
An excellent work of fiction done by a Biblical scholar, who used her vast knowledge to construct an Old Testament story from a feminine perspective. It receives good reviews from all quarters. She has written another book called Good Harbor, which is about friendship in middle America between two women.
An excellent work of fiction done by a Biblical scholar, who used her vast knowledge to construct an Old Testament story from a feminine perspective. It receives good reviews from all quarters. She has written another book called Good Harbor, which is about friendship in middle America between two women.
Kingsolver
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
This is a novel that contains many facts and issues relating to farming. The context of this excellent novel becomes much clearer several years later when she publishes Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.
This is a novel that contains many facts and issues relating to farming. The context of this excellent novel becomes much clearer several years later when she publishes Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.
Kingsolver
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
This is in the same class as Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma. It is the true story of a family’s attempt to “eat local.” They dubbed themselves “locavores” for one year, and maintained a diet of locally grown and prepared meals. Kingsolver is a great writer and the book is informative as well as entertaining. Her husband and oldest daughter also contribute to this one.
This is in the same class as Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma. It is the true story of a family’s attempt to “eat local.” They dubbed themselves “locavores” for one year, and maintained a diet of locally grown and prepared meals. Kingsolver is a great writer and the book is informative as well as entertaining. Her husband and oldest daughter also contribute to this one.
Slice of Life
I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson
This is a Bridget Jones Style novel about working mother woes. It is very funny and very well written. It is possible that you would have to have been a working mother to really appreciate it.
Last Cocktail Party and other books by Elisabeth McNeill
I have not seen very many of these, but every one that I have read has been excellent. She is a Scottish author who knows something about East Indian life. Some of her novels are mysteries and some are just good stories.
No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith
Smith also has two or three other series, but this one set in Botswana if the hands down winner. This series paints a new and positive picture of this country in southern Africa.
44 Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall Smith. Other books are: Expresso Tales, Love Over Scotland, and The World According to Bertie
The best plan is to read these books, go to Edinburgh, stay in New Town, and then re-read them!
Sunday Philosophy Club series also by Alexander McCall Smith
These are also set in New Town, and are good reads by any standard.
Home to Harmony series by Philip Gulley
This series is reminiscent of the Miss Read books. They are well written, and funny, and paint a humorous picture of small town life. Each story features some small town problem, but the stories are character driven rather than plot centered. There will undoubtedly be more of these, and they are definitely something to look forward to.
This is a Bridget Jones Style novel about working mother woes. It is very funny and very well written. It is possible that you would have to have been a working mother to really appreciate it.
Last Cocktail Party and other books by Elisabeth McNeill
I have not seen very many of these, but every one that I have read has been excellent. She is a Scottish author who knows something about East Indian life. Some of her novels are mysteries and some are just good stories.
No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith
Smith also has two or three other series, but this one set in Botswana if the hands down winner. This series paints a new and positive picture of this country in southern Africa.
44 Scotland Street series by Alexander McCall Smith. Other books are: Expresso Tales, Love Over Scotland, and The World According to Bertie
The best plan is to read these books, go to Edinburgh, stay in New Town, and then re-read them!
Sunday Philosophy Club series also by Alexander McCall Smith
These are also set in New Town, and are good reads by any standard.
Home to Harmony series by Philip Gulley
This series is reminiscent of the Miss Read books. They are well written, and funny, and paint a humorous picture of small town life. Each story features some small town problem, but the stories are character driven rather than plot centered. There will undoubtedly be more of these, and they are definitely something to look forward to.
Historical Fiction
The Far Pavilions by Mary Margaret Kaye
This one book doesn't actually comprise a category, but it does rather stand in a class by itself. I have read some historical fiction, but nothing quite like this. It's very long, (even longer than Michener) but it offers a very good look at the history and culture of India. It is one of the best things I've read.
This one book doesn't actually comprise a category, but it does rather stand in a class by itself. I have read some historical fiction, but nothing quite like this. It's very long, (even longer than Michener) but it offers a very good look at the history and culture of India. It is one of the best things I've read.
History
People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn
This book is a favorite among college students and among history buffs everywhere. Howard Zinn's perspective on history and government is a real eye opener. Every reader of this classic wonders why so much is omitted the first time around. This book explains why history is so dry in school; all the good stuff was taken out!
This book is a favorite among college students and among history buffs everywhere. Howard Zinn's perspective on history and government is a real eye opener. Every reader of this classic wonders why so much is omitted the first time around. This book explains why history is so dry in school; all the good stuff was taken out!
Social and Political Themes
Green Mile by Stephen King
King is a social activist with a unique method. Green Mile deals with justice and the death penalty.
Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter
This book has been somewhat controversial, not for its content, but for its origins. The final conclusion by most readers is that compared to its message, the origins cannot matter much at all. Whether it's literally true or not does not change the importance of the theme.
Black Elk Speaks
This is the complete chronological history of the wars between Native Americans and European settlers during the last half of the 19th century. It is a first person account from a Native American perspective - not exactly what you got from your history textbook.
Animal Dreams, Bean Trees, and Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
The political references are, at best, a minor subplot, but Kingsolver deals with several social ideas and issues in novels that feel like pure fiction. These read like "just good stories".
King is a social activist with a unique method. Green Mile deals with justice and the death penalty.
Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter
This book has been somewhat controversial, not for its content, but for its origins. The final conclusion by most readers is that compared to its message, the origins cannot matter much at all. Whether it's literally true or not does not change the importance of the theme.
Black Elk Speaks
This is the complete chronological history of the wars between Native Americans and European settlers during the last half of the 19th century. It is a first person account from a Native American perspective - not exactly what you got from your history textbook.
Animal Dreams, Bean Trees, and Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
The political references are, at best, a minor subplot, but Kingsolver deals with several social ideas and issues in novels that feel like pure fiction. These read like "just good stories".
Philosophy
Composing A Life and Peripheral Visions by Mary Catherine Bateson
This author is the daughter of Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson who were both famous anthropologists. In this unusual case, the wife was more famous that the husband, and their one child is a creative and thoughtful a writer.
Gifts from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
One of the many interesting things about this book is that it was written while the author took a five-week vacation on an island. She needed and was able to get a break from the demands of family life and her five children. The idea of a vacation for any mother of young children is almost too spectacular to contemplate. She certainly made good use of her time; it's a priceless book.
Peace is Every Step and Being Peace by Thich Nhat Hanh
This fascinating Vietnamese monk has written over 70 books. He travels and lectures around the world, and has endeared himself to millions. Everything he writes has the same comforting, sensible quality.
The Soul's Code by James Hillman
Hillman is a very famous psychologist; he is quoted in nearly every book on philosophical or psychology topics. He is considered brilliant by many. This particular book presents an especially unique way of looking at human personality.
This author is the daughter of Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson who were both famous anthropologists. In this unusual case, the wife was more famous that the husband, and their one child is a creative and thoughtful a writer.
Gifts from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
One of the many interesting things about this book is that it was written while the author took a five-week vacation on an island. She needed and was able to get a break from the demands of family life and her five children. The idea of a vacation for any mother of young children is almost too spectacular to contemplate. She certainly made good use of her time; it's a priceless book.
Peace is Every Step and Being Peace by Thich Nhat Hanh
This fascinating Vietnamese monk has written over 70 books. He travels and lectures around the world, and has endeared himself to millions. Everything he writes has the same comforting, sensible quality.
The Soul's Code by James Hillman
Hillman is a very famous psychologist; he is quoted in nearly every book on philosophical or psychology topics. He is considered brilliant by many. This particular book presents an especially unique way of looking at human personality.
Mysteries
Everything by Agatha Christie
Nothing can touch the Christie stories for plot. She is the reigning queen, with no contenders on the horizon. My method is to read them all, forget them, and then reread them all again every ten years. This way I can enjoy these masterpieces at least 5 or 6 six times during my lifetime. If I become more forgetful in my advancing years, maybe I can shorten the span to every five years!
The "Lord Peter Wimsey" series by Dorothy Sayers
Dorothy Sayers is the runner up in this category. This series has a romance running through it, so I have prepared a list of these books in chronological order that I bestow upon my lucky friends! The butler's character in this series, Bunter, is very much like Wodehouse's Jeeves, and adds a dimension of humor to the reading.
The Dorothy Sayers List of Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane Mysteries
1. Whose Body?
2. Unnatural Death
3. Clouds of Witness
4. Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
5. Documents in the Case
5. Strong Poison
6. Five Red Herrings
7. Have His Carcase
8. Hangman's Holiday
9. Murder Must Advertise
10. Nine Tailors
11. Gaudy Night
12. Busman's Honeymoon
13. In the Teeth of the Evidence (Collection)
14. Thrones, Dominations by Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh (This was written in 1998, using a partial manuscript and notes of Sayers. It is excellent.)
"Joe Leaphorn" and "Jim Chee" series by Tony Hillerman
These are reasonably good mysteries, but they are a Master's level course on Navajo history, culture and religion. The combination of these two things makes the whole series a real treat. As with all of the series books, I think they are more fun in chronological order.
The "Peter Decker, Rina Lazarus" series by Faye Kellerman
This series contains a bit more crime than I usually like in a novel, but her portrayal of Orthodox Judaism is as good as any religious studies text without having to suffer from the boring, dried up style of the average textbook.
The "Day the Rabbi…" series by Harry Kemelman
After learning all about Orthodox Judaism from Faye Kellerman the next logical step is to read these books, which describe Conservative Judaism. Kemelman is a little more prosaic than Kellerman, and he offers a pretty thorough examination of Jewish thought and life in a broad sense. He also helps readers understand the variations among Jewish tradition. After reading these two enlightening series, I realized that most people I'm acquainted with knew as little about Judaism as I did. It seems a shame that we don't know more about each other as a matter of course.
Nothing can touch the Christie stories for plot. She is the reigning queen, with no contenders on the horizon. My method is to read them all, forget them, and then reread them all again every ten years. This way I can enjoy these masterpieces at least 5 or 6 six times during my lifetime. If I become more forgetful in my advancing years, maybe I can shorten the span to every five years!
The "Lord Peter Wimsey" series by Dorothy Sayers
Dorothy Sayers is the runner up in this category. This series has a romance running through it, so I have prepared a list of these books in chronological order that I bestow upon my lucky friends! The butler's character in this series, Bunter, is very much like Wodehouse's Jeeves, and adds a dimension of humor to the reading.
The Dorothy Sayers List of Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane Mysteries
1. Whose Body?
2. Unnatural Death
3. Clouds of Witness
4. Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
5. Documents in the Case
5. Strong Poison
6. Five Red Herrings
7. Have His Carcase
8. Hangman's Holiday
9. Murder Must Advertise
10. Nine Tailors
11. Gaudy Night
12. Busman's Honeymoon
13. In the Teeth of the Evidence (Collection)
14. Thrones, Dominations by Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh (This was written in 1998, using a partial manuscript and notes of Sayers. It is excellent.)
"Joe Leaphorn" and "Jim Chee" series by Tony Hillerman
These are reasonably good mysteries, but they are a Master's level course on Navajo history, culture and religion. The combination of these two things makes the whole series a real treat. As with all of the series books, I think they are more fun in chronological order.
The "Peter Decker, Rina Lazarus" series by Faye Kellerman
This series contains a bit more crime than I usually like in a novel, but her portrayal of Orthodox Judaism is as good as any religious studies text without having to suffer from the boring, dried up style of the average textbook.
The "Day the Rabbi…" series by Harry Kemelman
After learning all about Orthodox Judaism from Faye Kellerman the next logical step is to read these books, which describe Conservative Judaism. Kemelman is a little more prosaic than Kellerman, and he offers a pretty thorough examination of Jewish thought and life in a broad sense. He also helps readers understand the variations among Jewish tradition. After reading these two enlightening series, I realized that most people I'm acquainted with knew as little about Judaism as I did. It seems a shame that we don't know more about each other as a matter of course.
Miss Read
No one deserves a class by herself more than Miss Read, which is a pseudonym for Dora Jesse Saint. Most likely, however, library catalogues list these books under "Read, Miss".This author retired from school teaching in the 1920's or 30's. Around the mid fifties, she began writing a book a year and continued into the late 90's! She wrote two series: one about a school teacher in the English village of Fairacre and one based on the life of a village vicar in the village of Thrush Green. Miss Read's skill with language and her ability to create very loveable and believable characters has made her a public icon. Everyone who reads these wants to move to an English village and stay there. Her portrayal of ordinary people makes readers happy to be among the human race. I understand that somewhere in Michigan they hold a Miss Read festival every year. I have a list of these books (in chronological order, of course), which I happily distribute to any willing recipients.
Books by Miss Read (pseudonym for Dora Jesse Saint)
Born 1913
1955 - Village School
1957 - Village Diary
1959 - Thrush Green
1959 - Storm in the Village
1960 - Fresh in the Village
1962 - Winter in Thrush Green
1963 - Miss Clare Remembers
1964 - Over the Gate
1966 - Village Christmas
1966 - Market Square
1967 - Howard's of Caxley
1968 - Fairacre Festival
1970 - News from Thrush Green
1971 - Emily Davis
1972 - Tyler's Row
1973 - Christmas Mouse
1975 - Farther Afield
1976 - Battles at Thrush Green
1976 - No Holly for Miss Quinn
1977 - Village Affairs
1978 - Return to Thrush Green
1979 - White Robin
1980 - Village Centenary
1981 - Gossip from Thrush Green
1982 - A Fortunate Grandchild
1983 - Affairs at Thrush Green
1985 - At Home in Thrush Green
1987 - School at Thrush Green
1988 - World at Thrush Green
1989 - Mrs. Pringle
1991 - Friends at Thrush Green
1992 - Changes at Fairacre
1982 - Celebrations at Thrush Green
1983 - Farewell to Fairacre
1995 - Tales from a Village School
1997 - A Peaceful Retirement
Time Remembered - 823.914 (Read)
(Some dates are British publications and some are US version, so may not always match exactly - they may be off by one year.)
Books by Miss Read (pseudonym for Dora Jesse Saint)
Born 1913
1955 - Village School
1957 - Village Diary
1959 - Thrush Green
1959 - Storm in the Village
1960 - Fresh in the Village
1962 - Winter in Thrush Green
1963 - Miss Clare Remembers
1964 - Over the Gate
1966 - Village Christmas
1966 - Market Square
1967 - Howard's of Caxley
1968 - Fairacre Festival
1970 - News from Thrush Green
1971 - Emily Davis
1972 - Tyler's Row
1973 - Christmas Mouse
1975 - Farther Afield
1976 - Battles at Thrush Green
1976 - No Holly for Miss Quinn
1977 - Village Affairs
1978 - Return to Thrush Green
1979 - White Robin
1980 - Village Centenary
1981 - Gossip from Thrush Green
1982 - A Fortunate Grandchild
1983 - Affairs at Thrush Green
1985 - At Home in Thrush Green
1987 - School at Thrush Green
1988 - World at Thrush Green
1989 - Mrs. Pringle
1991 - Friends at Thrush Green
1992 - Changes at Fairacre
1982 - Celebrations at Thrush Green
1983 - Farewell to Fairacre
1995 - Tales from a Village School
1997 - A Peaceful Retirement
Time Remembered - 823.914 (Read)
(Some dates are British publications and some are US version, so may not always match exactly - they may be off by one year.)
Science and Nature
Life on Earth by David Attenbourough
This is a beautifully written and photographed book about the fascinating world of plants and animals all over the globe. This is nature writing at its best.
The Naked Ape by Desmond Morris
The book is dated in that the central ideas have woven themselves into our collective cultural knowledge. It is still a good book because it was revolutionary in its day and reading it is a little bit like traveling to the headwaters of a great river.
Kon-Tiki and Fatu-Hiva by Thor Heyerdahl
Among infinite other talents, Thor Heyerdahl is a wonderful storyteller. These two books are the ones we've read, but he has a few others as well. Fatu-Hiva has been published more recently under the title: How Green Was the Earth on the Seventh Day.
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and Teaching a Stone to Talk by Annie Dillard
These are just two of her books; she has written several. Her work is not easily categorized, but she makes a great many observations about the natural world and her writing has a unique quality that merits more publicity than she gets. She is a favorite of scholars, writers, and philosophers and is quoted frequently.
This is a beautifully written and photographed book about the fascinating world of plants and animals all over the globe. This is nature writing at its best.
The Naked Ape by Desmond Morris
The book is dated in that the central ideas have woven themselves into our collective cultural knowledge. It is still a good book because it was revolutionary in its day and reading it is a little bit like traveling to the headwaters of a great river.
Kon-Tiki and Fatu-Hiva by Thor Heyerdahl
Among infinite other talents, Thor Heyerdahl is a wonderful storyteller. These two books are the ones we've read, but he has a few others as well. Fatu-Hiva has been published more recently under the title: How Green Was the Earth on the Seventh Day.
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and Teaching a Stone to Talk by Annie Dillard
These are just two of her books; she has written several. Her work is not easily categorized, but she makes a great many observations about the natural world and her writing has a unique quality that merits more publicity than she gets. She is a favorite of scholars, writers, and philosophers and is quoted frequently.
Classics
Middlemarch and Silas Marner by George Eliot (Maryann Evans Cross)
These two novels, in particular, have great plots. They also have some of the best character development ever found in any novels. She has several more novels as well.
A Moveable Feast by Hemingway
This is a departure from most other Hemingway books in that it is a pretty uplifting book. The central theme is a romantic and artistic look at life that is as good as any philosophy ever written.
Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes by Ernestine and Frank Gilbreth, Jr.
These two books are some of the cleverest and funniest writing available. Many people, having seen the movie, think that they know the story, but nothing could be further from the truth. The second greatest thing about these stories is that they are true, being biographies, rather than fiction. As biographies, however, they are in a class by themselves. (Neither one of us is a big fan of biographies in general.)
Siddhartha and Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse
These two are the stock-in-trade college student's introduction to life and thought beyond the Western Hemisphere. As an introduction to nonwestern ideas, they are unparalleled. They are also good stories.
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
There has been so much written about this book in so many places for so many years that everyone thinks they have read it, and virtually no one has! It's too bad, because it's a terrific novel. It was controversial when it was written, and came under attack again in the 1960's and 70's. Stowe was a woman with a cause and she probably accomplished a great deal more than she intended. Lincoln met her and referred to her as "the little woman who started the great big war". If you like epic novels, this is one of the best.
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
This is another book that everyone thinks they've read. (If a picture of Henry Fonda comes to mind when you hear the title, that's a clue) It's a good story with a strong political bias, which gives a clear view of the sentiments of the day. It's hard to find that anywhere else, because communism became so unpopular in the US, few books even explore the ideas and ideals that so fascinated people in the early part of the 20th century.
These two novels, in particular, have great plots. They also have some of the best character development ever found in any novels. She has several more novels as well.
A Moveable Feast by Hemingway
This is a departure from most other Hemingway books in that it is a pretty uplifting book. The central theme is a romantic and artistic look at life that is as good as any philosophy ever written.
Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes by Ernestine and Frank Gilbreth, Jr.
These two books are some of the cleverest and funniest writing available. Many people, having seen the movie, think that they know the story, but nothing could be further from the truth. The second greatest thing about these stories is that they are true, being biographies, rather than fiction. As biographies, however, they are in a class by themselves. (Neither one of us is a big fan of biographies in general.)
Siddhartha and Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse
These two are the stock-in-trade college student's introduction to life and thought beyond the Western Hemisphere. As an introduction to nonwestern ideas, they are unparalleled. They are also good stories.
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
There has been so much written about this book in so many places for so many years that everyone thinks they have read it, and virtually no one has! It's too bad, because it's a terrific novel. It was controversial when it was written, and came under attack again in the 1960's and 70's. Stowe was a woman with a cause and she probably accomplished a great deal more than she intended. Lincoln met her and referred to her as "the little woman who started the great big war". If you like epic novels, this is one of the best.
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
This is another book that everyone thinks they've read. (If a picture of Henry Fonda comes to mind when you hear the title, that's a clue) It's a good story with a strong political bias, which gives a clear view of the sentiments of the day. It's hard to find that anywhere else, because communism became so unpopular in the US, few books even explore the ideas and ideals that so fascinated people in the early part of the 20th century.
Humor
Everything by Lewis Grizzard, Andy Rooney, Erma Bombeck and Art Buchwald
These authors were all newspaper columnists who published several collections of humorous essays. Their commentary on life in the twentieth century is both funny and at times poignant.
Books by P. G. Wodehouse, especially the "Jeeves" stories
These have become classics in their own right. Wodehouse was a master of language; and the humor is in a class of its own.
Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes
This light comedy is actually a biography. There was a television show based on this book, called I Remember Mama, which I have never seen. The book is one of the best character sketches ever written and could be enjoyed by readers of any age.
These authors were all newspaper columnists who published several collections of humorous essays. Their commentary on life in the twentieth century is both funny and at times poignant.
Books by P. G. Wodehouse, especially the "Jeeves" stories
These have become classics in their own right. Wodehouse was a master of language; and the humor is in a class of its own.
Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes
This light comedy is actually a biography. There was a television show based on this book, called I Remember Mama, which I have never seen. The book is one of the best character sketches ever written and could be enjoyed by readers of any age.