Sunday, August 28, 2005
Five Reads Worth Your Time
The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde: Are you a bibliophile? If so, Jasper Fforde is the mystery writer who is meant for you. The Big Over Easy was actually his first novel, which was not published until after he came out with the Thursday Next series—a detective tale in which literary work is more important in society than a movie star ever could be (my kind of place!). This novel centers on the work of a “Nursery Crimes” detective, Jack Spratt (who can’t stop feeling a sense of déjà vu as he notices magical beans growing in his mother’s garden to epic proportions). Incredibly amusing, with just enough social commentary so you don’t have to feel too guilty about frittering away your time with your nose stuck in a book. In fact, I’d like to recommend all of his books—read the Thursday Next series to see what happened to his first novel to make it publishable! Jasper Fforde has an ideal sense of the ridiculous—who doesn’t need to indulge in that once in a while?
Happiness ™ by Will Ferguson: Another amazingly amusing read. What would happen if someone actually wrote a self-help book that worked? The world as we know it might end! This book was actually remaindered at Barnes and Noble, which is a sad, foolish thing—do yourself a favor and pick it up, seeing as it’s selling much cheaper than it should be. You won’t be sorry.
Poptart by Liz Langley: It was this book of amusing essays (several stick in my mind, but right now one concerning Kenny Loggins’ affair with his colonist is making me chuckle) that helped me fall in love first with Langley’s essays (she’s online—look her up and subscribe to her paper) that mentions Ferguson’s book. Since she’s a good humorist, I thought it was my responsibility to mention her here.
How the Universe Got its Spots by Janna Levin: Oh, science geeks rejoice—especially science geeks who never got their share of cosmology. Levin is not only a good science writer (she has a gift for making very hard concepts make sense to the layperson) but she’s a good writer in general—her book centers partially upon her work as well as her life. As she explores her field and starts to feel isolated from the rest of the world, her universe starts to alter.
A Book of Bees and How to Keep Them: by Sue Hubbell: This is another one for the science geeks—in this case, those of us who secretly long to become naturalists. Hubbell became a beekeeper after a mental breakdown—but it’s her writing that will probably be appreciated most by society. She’s got a lively voice, amusing commentary, and enough factoids to make any subject fascinating. (OK—I find bugs interesting—but then again, I’m a geek. What do you expect from me? It’s you I’m concerned about.) She’s also got enough emotion to keep her work from getting dry. If you love this book, make sure to get A Country Year, which is the book that made me fall in love with her work to begin with.
Happiness ™ by Will Ferguson: Another amazingly amusing read. What would happen if someone actually wrote a self-help book that worked? The world as we know it might end! This book was actually remaindered at Barnes and Noble, which is a sad, foolish thing—do yourself a favor and pick it up, seeing as it’s selling much cheaper than it should be. You won’t be sorry.
Poptart by Liz Langley: It was this book of amusing essays (several stick in my mind, but right now one concerning Kenny Loggins’ affair with his colonist is making me chuckle) that helped me fall in love first with Langley’s essays (she’s online—look her up and subscribe to her paper) that mentions Ferguson’s book. Since she’s a good humorist, I thought it was my responsibility to mention her here.
How the Universe Got its Spots by Janna Levin: Oh, science geeks rejoice—especially science geeks who never got their share of cosmology. Levin is not only a good science writer (she has a gift for making very hard concepts make sense to the layperson) but she’s a good writer in general—her book centers partially upon her work as well as her life. As she explores her field and starts to feel isolated from the rest of the world, her universe starts to alter.
A Book of Bees and How to Keep Them: by Sue Hubbell: This is another one for the science geeks—in this case, those of us who secretly long to become naturalists. Hubbell became a beekeeper after a mental breakdown—but it’s her writing that will probably be appreciated most by society. She’s got a lively voice, amusing commentary, and enough factoids to make any subject fascinating. (OK—I find bugs interesting—but then again, I’m a geek. What do you expect from me? It’s you I’m concerned about.) She’s also got enough emotion to keep her work from getting dry. If you love this book, make sure to get A Country Year, which is the book that made me fall in love with her work to begin with.
