VPL Staff Fiction Picks - January 2010
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Wyld, Evie I have a weakness for Australian fiction and I’m always happy to discover a new writer. This is a wonderful debut novel from Wyld. The complex story covers family history, coming of age stories, post war trauma, and beautiful descriptions of Eastern Australia. At heart, the novel focuses on the father-son relationship between Leon and Frank. If you enjoy Tim Winton , Peter Carey or Elizabeth Jolley, you’ll love this book.
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Goodwin, Jason In his third Inspector Yasmin novel, Edgar Award winner Goodwin offers a story filled with intrigue, period detail, and a fascinating glimpse into the flourishing art world of 19th Century Venice. Being a eunuch in the service of the Ottoman Empire, Yasmin’s adventures will appeal to fans of historical mysteries as well as fans of Orhan Pamuk’s My Name Is Red.
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Wynn, Patricia This is the first volume in an historical mystery series set in Georgian England. We meet Gideon, a young gentleman who has been framed for murder. Lacking allies with influence, Gideon assumes the disguise of a highwayman named Blue Satan as he attempts to clear his name. Rich in historical detail, the series is a must for mystery fans.
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Sjon This slim novella is a poetic, winter’s tale that blends Icelandic folk tale with keen observations of the natural world.
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Crumb, R. Working with the Robert Alter translation, Robert Crumb presents a unique vision of the Book of Genesis. From the creation of the universe to the death of Joseph, Crumb illustrates the tales from Genesis with, at times, erotic detail and an obvious love of one of the world’s great narratives.
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This gripping novel is about a group of Jewish exiles living in Shanghai at the beginning of World War II. Wagenstein is a screenwriter as well as a novelist and his approach to Farewell, Shanghai is cinematic. This book will appeal to fans of film history and historical fiction.
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Lansens, Lori This debut novel from Larsens is about conjoined twins, Ruby and Rose Darlen, growing up in rural, South Western Ontario. When they decide to write their autobiography, much is revealed about local and family history. If you enjoyed your visits to Margaret Laurence’s Manawaka, you’ll definitely want to visit Lansens’ Leaford. I highly recommend this splendid book.
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Hall, Sarah This is Man Booker shortlisted author Hall’s novel about art and artists. Rich in atmosphere and spanning more than 30 years, this introspective novel will appeal to fans interested in the role art plays in our lives.
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This clever novel will appeal to booklovers, librarians, and fans of domestic fiction. Murphy peppers her story with Newfoundland witticisms and an authentic feel for both landscape and character.
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This book, Tanizaki’s masterpiece, is about the decline of the upper-class Makioka family in the years leading up to WW II. The story focus on the lives of the four Makioka sisters as they struggle with the choice of maintaining traditional standards or accepting the compromises modern times seem to demand. Epic in length, the Makioka Sisters will linger in memory long after you’ve finished the last page.
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Lever, James This hilarious book will appeal to fans of satire and Hollywood biographies alike. Part Patrick Dennis, part Kenneth Anger, and part Jane Goodall, this autobiography of Tarzan’s Cheeta, also surprises the reader with its touching meditation of the nature of time and fame. Recommended.
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Sibyl Danforth has been a dedicated midwife in rural community Vermont, for 15 years. But one treacherous winter night desperately hoping to save the baby’s life she performs an emergency Caesarean section on the mother, who appears to have died in labor. But what if--as Sibyl's assistant later charges--the patient wasn't already dead, and it was Sibyl who inadvertently killed her?
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Ackerley, J. R. A profoundly moving memoir from Ackerley recounting his rescue and rehabilitation of an abused Alsatian dog named Tulip. The bond between dog and master has seldom been depicted with such clarity. The book was recently released as an animated film.
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Glavinic, Thomas What would you do if you woke up one morning to discover that you might be the last person left alive? This is the predicament of Glavinic’s hero, Jonas, in this thoughtful psychological thriller. Jonas sets out on a quest that challenges his inner resources as he attempts to make contact with a world that, seemingly, no longer exists. This book would appeal to fans of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road or China Mieville’s Perdido Street Station.
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Stahl, Jerry It’s impossible not to react one way or another to this Gonzo-noir story from Stahl which features the return of private investigator Manny Rupert. In this outing, Manny must infiltrate San Quentin to interview an elderly inmate who claims to be Josef Mengele. The humour in very much in-your-face and it’s definitely not for the pure of heart or the politically correct reader. Yet, this book could well become the next cult classic. This book would appeal to fans of Christopher Brookmyre, Carl Hiaasen, or Colin Bateman.
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Chbosky, Stephen This is one of the best coming of age stories I’ve ever read. Intelligent and sensitive, Charlie tends to look at life from the sidelines and marks important life changes with favourite books and demo tapes of music meant to signify “a time when [he] was infinite.” Highly recommended.
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Pekar, Harvey Fans of Pekar’s American Splendor series of graphic novels, will definitely want to check out this autobiographical story of Pekar’s adolescence and young adulthood.
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First published in 1938, 'Rebecca' tells the story of a young wife, taken to her husband's estate, Manderley, where she is haunted by the memory of his dead, first wife Rebecca. Maxim de Winter's new wife is taunted by the housekeeper Mrs Danvers who refuses to accept the new Mrs De Winter into the house.
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Burroughs, Augusten If you are a fan of David Sedaris’ Holidays On Ice and were wondering, “Where, oh where can I find another alternative take on the holiday season?” look no further. Burroughs offers a child who confuses Jesus and Santa, a young man who wakes up in an upscale hotel room next to Santa, and many other wry observations on the meaning of Christmas.
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