Favourite Reads of 2010: Calgary Public Library. . .

We finish our postings of Favourite Reads lists for this year with the two Sarahs from Calgary Public Library. Sarah Laing is one of their book selectors, and Sarah Meilleur is their Customer Service Manager for the library's Humanities, Community Heritage and Family History Department.  Some terrific reads here to give as gifts or to hunker down with yourself over the holidays. 


Sarah Laing's Favourite Reads of 2010:

Annabel by Kathleen Winter.
 I really enjoyed this first novel set in Labrador. Winter writes a unique story about a couple raising their hermaphrodite child as a boy and does a great job..

The Golden Mean by Annabel Lyon.
An excellent historical novel about the relationship between tutor, Aristotle and student, Alexander the Great. I really enjoyed Lyon’s meticulous research and portrayal of life during this time period.

Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny.
I always love Louise Penny’s settings and descriptions and this one was particularly wonderful as it was set in Quebec city. Penny’s research into Samuel de Champlain’s burial place was a joy to read.

On the Proper Use of Stars by Dominque Fortier, translated by Sheila Fischman
A very different viewpoint of the quest to discover the Northwest passage told by Sir John Franklin’s wife.

 Heartstone by C.J. Sansom.
Number 5 of an intriguing, well-written historical series set during Henry VIII’s reign and featuring lawyer, Matthew Shardlake.

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson. A charming and thoughtful first novel.

Captive Queen by Alison Weir.

Trauma Farm: A Rebel History of Rural Life by Brian Brett.
After hearing Brian at the Sunshine Coast Festival of the written arts, I just had to read his book about his family homestead on Salt Spring Island in B.C. A fascinating, witty look at farming on an independent small mixed farm.

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  The best children’s book I’ve read for a long time!

The Quickening by Michelle Hoover. A beautifully written debut historical novel set in the early 1900’s in the Midwest plains. Hoover’s characterization, setting and descriptive prose is very strong.


Sarah Meilleur's Favourite Reads of 2010:

April & Oliver by Tess Callahan
A haunting tale about childhood, innocence, and hope that I couldn’t stop thinking about after I put the book down.

The 13 Clocks by James Thurber
Great to read out loud, to kids or spouses. Quirky and funny with a quest and fairy tale elements.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
A family saga of love, loss, deception, and secrets.

The Vintage Caper by Peter Mayle
I’ve recommended this to many men in my life, who have all enjoyed this tale of food, France, good wine, and a grand theft.

The Broken Teaglass by Emily Arsenault
If you love words, their meanings, and mysteries, this is the book for you.

The Factory Voice by Jeanette Lynes
Set in WWII at a northern Ontario airplane factory this is written in alternating perspectives of four very different women, whose voices ring true.

The Spice Necklace by Ann Vanderhoof
I read this while on vacation in the Caribbean, and it was the perfect read for the place, resonant of the culture, and more importantly the food.

Vanishing and other Stories by Deborah Willis
A fantastic collection of short stories about family and relationships, written from widely varying perspectives whose individual voices are remarkably authentic.

A History of Forgetting by Caroline Adderson
A novel of loss, and human nature, and I can’t wait to read her next book, The Sky is Falling.

Solitaria by Genni Gunn
A body is found and a family’s history unravels before us, through the confessions an aunt makes to her nephew.

Favourite Reads of 2010: Ottawa Public Library. . .

Today's list comes from Marcia Aronson, Manager of Diversity and Accesibility Services at Ottawa Public Library. She also puts together great lists of book club picks every year and is an avid reader. Here are her favourite reads of 2010:

 

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson.  Delightful satire.
Great House by Nicole Krauss. Well-written convergence of four stories of loss, memory & loss.
Solar by Ian McEwan. Fabulous comic novel, well written satire.
Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada, translated by Michael Hoffman. Emotionally difficult novel to read but a must for anyone who wants to understand the life & choices of the common man under a wartime regime.
The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman.  Intimate view of ex-pat journalists.
The Man From Saigon by Marti Leimbach. Viet Nam War from the perspective of a female journalist.
What Is Left the Daughter by Howard Norman. Novel of love, strong emotions and forgiveness set in Nova Scotia.
The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer. Beautifully written historical romance.
Room by Emma Donoghue. Totally consuming.
The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant.  Magical adventure set in Siberia.

Favourite Reads of 2010: Woodstock Public Library. . .

This year, the Dewey Divas presented at Woodstock Public Libary for the first time and got a marvellously warm reception from all the great librairans there.  Today's list of favourite reads of the year comes from Deputy Chief librarian Susan Start:

The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway – this novel will change the way you view your world. If you were moved by Joseph Boyden’s Three Day Road, you will not want to miss this riveting, and shorter, book on the same theme, but set in the modern era.

My Life In France by Julia Child – a memoir that will appeal to you not only if you loved Julie and Julia. A wonderful, warm and insightful view of Paris and the French countryside in that charismatic post-WWII era.

Brooklyn by Colm Toibin – so well written, such clean and clear prose, with a truly engaging, though deceptively ordinary heroine.

The New Traditional: Reinvent, Balance, Define Your Home by Darryl Carter – my favorite decorating book of this year; truly lovely, both its photographs and the writing, if a calm oasis is your goal.

A Lion Called Christian by Anthony Bourke – I defy you to read this animal story without sinking into a puddle of tears.

The Road From Coorain by Jill Ker Conway – it’s twenty years old, but a wonderful engaging memoir of an Australian childhood and why this respected Can/American academic had to leave it.

The Architect of Desire by Susannah Lessard – an amazing read about the ‘architecture’ of families, told by the granddaughter of the celebrated and notorious American Beaux-Art architect, Stanford White.

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett – such a treat; laugh-out-loud in that way that only a Brit can convey.

What The Psychic Told The Pilgrim by Jane Christmas – better than Eat, Pray, Love; a 50-year-old Canadian woman takes on Spain’s Camino.

March by Geraldine Brooks – if you harbor a secret ‘Little Women’ sentimentality, here is a brilliant retelling of the story through Mr. March’s eyes.

Favourite Reads of 2010: Greater Victoria Public Library's Youth Advisory Council's Picks. . .

Today we have a treat - a list of books chosen entirely by teens, members of the Greater Victoria Public Library's Youth Advisory Council.  Many thanks to librarian Kirsten Andersen for asking the group and sending the list along. Here's what this bunch of teen readers chose as their favourites of the year ( I love that there's a classic included):

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Blood Red, Snow White by Marcus Sedgwick
By Royal Command by Charlie Higson
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

Favourite Reads of 2010: Ron Stadnik's Picks. . .

Today's list of favourite reads comes from Ron Stadnik, the Print Manager for Library Bound. He's one of the most eclectic and eager readers I know, and I can always count on him to deliver a list with plenty of adrenaline. Here are his top picks of the year:

Since straight up “best of” lists of top fiction & non-fiction books can eventually be a dull overload, this year I’ve created my own fringe categories. They are:

Best Books of Men Behaving Badly (Fiction)

Solar by Ian McEwan
Hysterically funny misadventures of a middle-aged prize winning philandering physicist whose best days are behind him, this is also an effective satire on academia and the politics of climate change.

All That Follows by Jim Crace
A narcissistic British jazzman struggles with past and present, private and public. While it reminded me of Solar in many respects, this is a quieter book, more subtle and nuanced.

Swap by John McFetridge
An ex-army Detroit criminal comes to Toronto to make a guns for drugs deal with a biker gang. McFetridge has garnered critical praise for dialogue worthy of Elmore Leonard but what impressed me even more were the observations he’s able to make about U.S. and Canadian culture. His knowledge of bike gangs rivals that of the best non-fiction. Released in the U.S. as “Let it Ride,” to the general confusion of Canadian libraries and their customers.

When the Killing’s Done by T.C. Boyle
Another outstanding Boyle tale of obsession, hubris, and the sheer ignominious folly of man. Conflict rages between an environmentalist and a biologist in Santa Barbara and on The Channel Islands over the fate of invasive species.

The Swap by Antony Moore
A very funny book that manages to be a mystery, thriller and dark comedy verging on horror at times, this is another tale of a middle age British loser having a terrible time of it, thanks entirely to their own extremely selfish decisions, past and present. A comic shop owner returns home for a 20th anniversary school reunion and becomes haplessly involved in revenge and murder. Probably the most surprising book I read all year, it’s beyond any simple attempt at categorization.

Best Books of Men Behaving Badly, Non-Fiction

Siberian Education: Family, Honour, and Tattoos: an Extraordinary Underworld Life by Nicolai Lin, translated by Jonathan Hunt
This look at the lives of the Urkas, a close knit criminal community relocated from Siberia, absolutely transcends the true crime genre in its poetic beauty and moral certainty.

Murder City: Ciudad Juarez and the Global Economy’s New Killing Fields by Charles Bowden
Charles Bowden cries with the intensity and poetry of a Biblical prophet who can’t turn off the visions that overwhelm him, of life on the ground in Ciudad Juarez.

War by Sebastian Junger
Brilliant old school war reporting from the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan in 2008.

Best “End of” Books

The Wayfinders by Wade Davis
The 2009 Massey Lecture explores the end of cultural diversity.

Empire of Illusion by Chris Hedges
The end of literacy, from the Pulitzer Prize winner.

Eaarth by Bill McKibben
The end of everything! (At least, earth as we’ve known it.)

(Maylin's note:  After Ron handed in his list, I got an e-mail from him raving about The Wave: In the Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks and Giants of the Ocean  by Susan Casey so with his permission, I'm adding it here, mostly because I chuckled over the ahem . . . wave of his enthusiasm:
"Holy clacking Underwoods, I absolutely loved this book! One of those rare non fiction reads you learn from while being entertained as though it was a thriller. Make a great beach read... well, unless a rogue wave came in and sucked you out to sea I guess. LOVED IT!")

Favourite Reads of 2010: Maylin's Picks. . .

Over the next few days we'll be posting various (and varied) lists of great reading suggestions from librarians and library wholesalers. Today we'll start with my list, which like any book rep's, will be a bit out of sync.  Some terrific books that were published in 2010 I actually read in manuscript or galley form back in 2009, just as I've been lucky enough to dip into some goodies coming our way next year.  So those won't be included in this list.  I'm also not including any books read for my NYRB Challenge as I'll post my top 10 of those when I finish (soon, soon, I hope).  One of the highlights this year was definitely discovering the work of Javier Marais - I ended up reading five of his books this year, including the fantastic Your Face Tomorrow trilogy.  Here then, in alphabetical author order are my top ten favourite reads of 2010:

 Room by Emma Donoghue.  Rosalyn gave me an early galley of this and I read it in two sittings, completely captivated by the story and the voice of young Jack.

The American Girl by Monika Fagerholm, translated by Katarina Tucker.  An endlessly fascinating mystery as two young girls try to solve a murder in a small town but get sucked into a web of adult lies and game playing.

To The End of the Land by David Grossman, translated by Jessica Cohen.  A sweeping, romantic, lustful, tragic and unforgettable story about war and its everlasting wounds.

Crisis of Brilliance: Five Young British Artists and the Great War by David Haycock.  A wonderful study of painters Dora Carrington, Mark Gertler, Paul Nash, Richard Nevinson and Stanley Spencer and how the First World War impacted on their lives and work.

Fame by Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Carol Janeway.  The perfect hilarious antidote if you are tired of being bombarded by narcissistic social media.

Your Face Tomorrow Trilogy by Javier Marias, translated by Margaret Jull Costa. Part spy story, part love obsession, this was a fully engrossing, all absorbing read. I loved his style and circular narratives and this is definitely a work that can be read over and over again.

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell.  Glorious storytelling by one of my favourite writers. Still think it should have won the Booker.

 The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog and of His Friend Marilyn Monroe by Andrew O'Hagan. Dogs should narrate more novels when they are this astute, witty and clever. The Russian bedbugs also had me in stitches.

The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman.  A warm and very funny look at the lives of several oddball characters working on an English newspaper in Rome.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.  I don't read as much children's literature as I should, given that it's such a rich field, but I just loved the characters and inventiveness of this Newbery Award winner.

More 2010 Best Book wrap-ups. . .

The Globe and Mail chimes in with their Top 100 here.
The Guardian has their annual round-up asking writers such as Jonathan Coe, A.S. Byatt, and Jeanette Winterson to pick their favourite reads of the year here.
And in case you missed it last week, The New York Times has its Top 100 Notable Books here.

We'll be posting some Top 10 Dewey and librarian picks over the next few weeks. Stay tuned. . .

OPLA Readers' Advisory Picks Their Favourite Reads of 2010. . .

Lots of "best of" lists are already coming out, even with eight weeks left on the year.  I always like the lists of readers best and The Ontario Public Library Association Readers' Advisory Committee has come up with Top 5 Reads from each of its members.  Long time followers of this blog will recognize the names of many librarians who have contributed in the past to my requests for top 10 lists (and we'll continue that tradition in December) and one former Dewey Diva is also represented.  To see all their picks, click here.  Thanks to Only Connect for the link.