A quick flip through my bookcase this morning reminded me which books I got the most out of in 2008.
In Defence of Food by Michael Pollan - After reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver in 2007 and then seeing Michael Pollan at the Sydney Writers Festival in early 2008 I started getting interested in
real food books. This was the first I picked up in 2008. I challenge you to pick up another Yoghurt Gogurt tube from the supermarket after reading this book.
The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan - again, a real food book. Looking at food from the plant's point of view. I don't think I could eat a mass-produced Idaho Potato ever again.
The 100-mile diet by Alisa Smith and J B MacKinnon - yes, more food books. Drawing on the theme that we are best to eat things that come from close to where we live. Also debunks some of the rubbish being touted about the exactness of the 100 mile/160km radius requirement. This was an experiment, not a mantra.
The Secret River by Kate Grenville - didn't like the last book I read by Kate (The Idea of Perfection), all too small town for me. However, this book, set in early NSW was fabulous. The story of fictional convict William Thornhill and his family making a life for themselves on the Hawkesbury River.
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks - I find Geraldine a dependable read. Story of a book conservator that reveals the history of a book while repairing it. That this is in my top 9 books (or series) for 2008 is more a reflection on the quality of the books I read this year rather than the quality of this book in particular. Do like the story premise 'though.
A Sense of the World by Jason Roberts - the story of the Blind Traveller, James Holman, a naval lieutenant who went blind at 25 but continued to travel the world 'seeing' it with his feet, his ears, his nose and his sense of taste. Amazing story.
Jonathon Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke - a truly fabulous book that at 1000 pages should probably be attempted while on holiday. I am a sucker for the sort of fantasy which creates alternative realities within the very real world we live in. This book goes further than that by creating a fantasy world within 19th century England (and Europe).
The
His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullmann - as I said above I am a sucker for Fantasy novels involving alternate realities. As much as I loved this trilogy, the first book was the best and got a little weird towards the end. I'm not keen on being told what to think in a book (hence my detestation of Blindness by Jose Saramago) and I think Mr Pullmann gets a little preachy towards the end.
The Twilight series by Stephenie Myer - simply the best series for teenage girls I have read. This book is engaging enough for adults (female only I suspect) because it reminds us what it is like to be a teenager as well as creating an alternate reality (which I'm a sucker for). This is Harry Potter for teenage girls. I seem to be one of the few who believe it is a shame to read this book too early. I'm sure the average 10-11 year old will get something from the series but I can't see that they will feel the emotional pull as a 12-18 year old would and that is the magic and the fantasy of the book. I have told my 10yo that I don't mind if she reads the series (it is certainly very moral and chaste - to a point (lots of sexual tension) - until the fourth book) but I have said that if she waits until she is 12 she will get so.much.more from it.
How about you? What have you read in 2008 that is worth sharing?
