Jesus Christ Almighty.

I have been having a very cranky week where books are concerned. First, there was this news:

James Patterson signs 17-book deal with Hachette: "He has agreed to a 17-book deal with his longtime publisher, the Hachette Book Group -- an unthinkable commitment for most writers, but for Patterson a mere three years worth of work."

I know there are bigger problems in the world, but that's just ucky.

And then it continued, just one of those weeks where every new book I read about annoyed me on principle. Have you ever had one of those days? Where you cast about for a book to read, and although there were many good choices available, and you knew it, you were just looking for something different, and all you kept coming across were new books like Katrina Kenison's* memoir The Gift of an Ordinary Day, the advertising copy for which reads:

"Kenison, here at middle age with two sons in their teens, pursues with graceful serenity a time of enormous upheaval and transformation in her family's life. As her sons grew out of babyhood and into the 'new, unknown territory' of adolescence, she no longer felt clear about what her life's purpose was supposed to be; their comfortable suburban Boston house of 13 years grew restraining, and Kenison longed for a simpler, more nature-connected lifestyle."

Again, something about that just makes me tired. Now, I am not the target audience for parenting memoirs, or books on women's midlife crises. But must they all sound like this? (I was annoyed with Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle for the same vague reasons--"look, middle-aged woman changing her life! She's becoming more genuine! She can be a famous novelist AND an earth mother!") It didn't help to learn that Kenison's first memoir is titled Mitten Strings for God.**

So. Here I am. Books all around but too cranky to read any of them. Does anyone have any good suggestions? Some good, nonsentimental nonfiction? Novels that didn't make you want to toss them after 50 pages? Even poetry that you like? I'm desperate for something to love over here.

*Kenison was the longtime series editor for The Best American Short Stories series, so it's become rather clearer why I haven't found a whole lot of stories in that series over the past decade that really spoke to me.

**That's really the title. I would never joke about mitten strings or God, much less mitten strings FOR God. Sounds like a great name for an ironic college band or something, though, doesn't it?

Comments

[Maggie]

I don't know if this is up your alley, but I recently read Columbine by Dave Cullen. It was excellent.

[Citizen Reader]

Hi Maggie!
Had "Columbine" home but didn't have the heart to read it. Now that you've vetted it I will give it a better try. Thank you!

[Rachael]

OK, my (current) favorite work of non-fiction is an older title, Rising Tide: The great Mississippi flood of 1927 and how it changed America, by John Barry. Outstanding title, I've yet to meet a fan of non-fiction who wasn't truly engrossed. It's Simon Winchester/John McPhee like.

Losing the Garden by Jane Waterman is another good one. It may make you furious, but it's fascinating. Or if you're in the mood for fiction that reads like good autobiography, read the Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser. Can't find better.

[Rachael]

Oh, I was going to say Columbine, too, but I thought you wrote about it already??? Seriously, the best non-fiction I've read with a 2009 pub date. I'm reading Baader-Meinhof by Aust right now, which is not as good but is almost as absorbing.

[Nora]

I recently read some books by Jonathan Lethem and I liked them when I hadn't been able to motivate myself to read through anything else. I liked Motherless Brooklyn (ficton) and The Disappointment Artist (non).

Nora

[Beth]

I just read When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead, and it's wonderful. Don't be fooled by the YA book thing. It's short and sweet. I said this about it on my blog:

The narrator's voice is wonderful, a sixth grade girl in 1979. It's a book that combines stories of friendship, life in New York, the $20,000 Pyramid, A Wrinkle In Time, epilepsy, homelessness, notes from the future and the art of sandwich making. It's fantastic.

The Center Cannot Hold by Elyn Saks is an excellent, very much so unsentimental memoir about schizophrenia.

Loved Tunneling to the Center of the Earth, stories by Kevin Wilson.

Continuum, poems by Nina Cassian was lovely.

And I have Notes from the Underwire, by Quinn Cummings on deck.

[Tripp]

Hmm, something to love? I keep seeing people pick up Lonesome Dove for the first time. If you haven't read that one, go for it. I second Rachael's Rising Tide recommendation, it's great.

[laura]

Well, my coworkers are overjoyed about the Patterson thing, even if I'm not. Sigh. I recently read Methland and am trying to make up my mind about it, so I'd be interested in your take. I've been there with the casting about in despair for something decent to read. I think it may be why I reread books so often.

[laura]

Oh, I forget this thing doesn't take html. Here's the link that I was trying to include: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/263147011.

[Rachael]

Laura--Methland was horrifying, wasn't it? The writing wasn't especially strong, but the narrative itself was difficult to resist. And were you also not surprised to learn that Tom Arnold's sister is a meth dealer?

[Brandon]

So Patterson is going to shit out 17 more books over the next three months? I wonder who's going to wipe his ass? (Oops, ghostwrite!) (Oops, co-write! Damn it!)

[Citizen Reader]

WOW-
You all are the best. I put up a cranky post with a broadly profane title and all I get are wonderful and helpful suggestions. Thank you! This discussion, if nothing else, has put me in a better mood, just in time, because I remembered Dan Brown's book comes out next week. Double ucky.

Rachael, I've had Columbine around but I don't think I ever posted on it. Have reading Wally Lamb's too long and terrible novel "The Hour I First Believed" I couldn't read anything more about Columbine, but maybe now I could do it. I used to shelve that "Rising Tide" book at the library all the time and thought about reading it but never did--thank you for the reminder. I'm going to check it out.

Laura, Rachael:
Just picked up Methland the other day and am hoping to get a chance to read it over the weekend. I actually know someone from Oelwein, Iowa, so I'm a little horrifed that that is where it's set, but intrigued as well.

Nora,
Yes, Lethem. I liked "Motherless Brooklyn" in a strange way, and I think he's got a new novel out; perhaps I will get that. Thank you for the reminder! I think he gets rather pushed aside in the mad rush for Michael Chabon, which I think is unfair, as I believe Lethem to be the superior talent. But that's just me--I know too many good readers who love Chabon so I really must stop slagging him off.

Beth,
All of your choices sound wonderful, and wonderfully eclectic. I'm intrigued by "When You Reach Me"--almost sounds like it may be similar to Martin Millar's "Suzy, Led Zeppelin, and Me," which is one of my all-time faves. I'm going to read it and see if I'm right on that. I'm also going to re-read the Millar, now that I've thought of it! Thank you.

Tripp,
Hmm, Lonesome Dove. Now there's one I wouldn't have thought of in a million years. Does it count if I get the movie from the library? :) Wait, was it a movie? I think I'm thinking of the "Thorn Birds," which, now that I think about it, might be a wild and entertaining read. Hmm.

Laura, Brandon,
Patterson is sickening. I don't care if that does make me a highbrow snob. How much money does the guy need? Maybe we could all make money writing books for under his name--he's got to be making more than the GDP of most small countries by now. Brandon, the question is not who's going to be wiping his ass, but with what: and I would guess the answer is "with $100 bills." Me, bitter? Nah.

THANKS ALL!! I feel much more in the mood to dive back into reading now.

[Jennifer]

If you're in the mood for depressing yet fascinating, "Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath" by Michael and Elizabeth M. Norman is an excellent choice.

[Jessica]

I read "The Magicians" last week and thought it was superlative, though I'm not sure if it's up your alley for fiction. Alas, I haven't been reading much non-fiction lately due to the Booker list coming out. Any good non-fiction I've read, I probably learned about from your blog anyway...

[Katharine]

LOL Mitten strings for God! that made my day. Have you heard about the new title coming out this fall called "Homer's Odyssey" It features a blind cat. Go check out the pictures. It takes Marley and Me to a whole new level...

[Laura]

Mitten Strings for God?? I'd blind myself first . . .

The first book that ever got me onto nonfiction is a delightful gem called Westward Whoa by W. Hodding Carter. Two guys retrace the Lewis and Clark trail in a rubber raft, unaware that a group of proctologists did the same thing in much higher style the year before. It was great! The writing was funny and also quirky.

I'm sure you've probably read it, but The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is one of the best books I've ever read.

[Anonymous Library Employee]

I just finished reading "Crazy for the Storm" by Norman Ollestad - at age 11 he survived a plane crash in which his dad and two others were killed, by climbing down an icy, rocky mountain in his blue Vans. It's really about his relationship with his dad - not sentimental at all. Part of my two-book "plane-crash survivor" kick this fall (along with "Down Around Midnight"). Larger question: why are female memoirists giving us such dreck? Obvious answer: that's what sells. Still and all - I'm keeping a weather eye out for nasty, sarcastic lady-nonfiction now. Also good: "Another Bullshit Night In Suck City" by Nick Flynn.

[Care]

I love your commentors!! I am tbr-ing ALL of these.

[Nora]

I definitely prefer Lethem to Chabon (though I guess I've read more Chabon). Also, saw your response just below--I was the proofreader for "Suzy, Led Zeppelin, and Me." Hope you didn't encounter any typos in your reading!

[Citizen Reader]

Jessica,
I notice you've been working your way through the Booker nominees. I salute you! With the exception of Ian McEwan, I can't say I've ever been real big on Booker-winning authors. And thank you for the suggestion of "The Magicians." I'll wander over to your blog and see what you had to say there about it...

Katharine,
I thought you might like that "Mitten Strings for God" stuff. I HAVE seen Homer's Odyssey and it made me throw up in my mouth a little bit. Then again, I enjoyed the memoir Dewey, about the library cat, so I guess I should stop acting all highbrow.

Laura,
I have just requested Westward, Whoa, which sounds AWESOME. My favorite part about your comment is that they followed a group of proctologists. The mention of "proctologists" just makes everything funnier, unless, of course, you have to go see the proctologist.

I have read "The Spirit Catches You," but it never hurts to mention it again. You're right: a great read.

Anonymous LE:
Yeah, dreck. Particularly female dreck, which seems about a million times more dreckish to me than normal dreck, perhaps because I am a woman? This is why I always enjoyed Hollis Gillespie (she of the book Bleachy Haired Honky Bitch). There's nothing drecky about her! (So of course I doubt she sells as much as Katrina Kenison.)

Oh, the Nick Flynn book, awesome pick. I read it based on the title alone and was not disappointed. Sad, but a great read. Thanks for the suggestions!

Care,
I love them too. I never have to worry that I won't hear good discussion about books and reading when I put questions to the group. I just wish we could all get together and have a drink too, while we're at it.

Nora,
Yay! Another member of the Lethem 1, Chabon 0 club! And, you proofread Suzy? That is SO COOL. And no, I didn't encounter any typos--and I definitely always notice that sort of thing, as a proofreader and indexer myself--good job! How does one get into proofreading books like that, might I inquire? I loved it so much I not only have a little hero worship for Millar, but now I think I've got a little for you too. Worship by association!

[Nora]

I got into the proofreading by interning for the publisher; after I did that they hired me as a freelancer (and this led to other similar projects for other small presses--though the Martin Millar books were I think my favorite so far). I'm not sure how they hire people now because so much of the organization/staff has changed, but you could always send them an email. Thanks for the worship-by-association!

[Robin]

Yes, yes to Lonesome Dove! As Augustus McCrae said, "It's a good thing I ain't scairt to be lazy." Or some such thing. Perhaps one shouldn't put quotation marks around a quote one's too lazy to verify.

Please read it and love it.

It's right behind P&P for books I like to re-read. Always makes me laugh and cry.

[Citizen Reader]

Robin,
Wow, Lonesome Dove's making a strong showing. I'm fascinated, and yes, I think I will have to add it to my TBR list. I ain't scairt to take on a Western! (Especially one that evokes comparisons to Jane Austen, wowza.)

[Citizen Reader]

And Nora: Thank you for the information. I'm always interested to hear how other people go about getting their work (and always happy to worship by association, as well)!

[twitter.com/vickinovak]

These are some nonfiction titles that I've enjoyed lately:
Comfort me with apples : more adventures at the table by Ruth Reichl
The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness by Elyn Saks
The fortune cookie chronicles : adventures in the world of Chinese food by Jennifer 8 Lee
The unthinkable : who survives when disaster strikes and why by Amanda Ripley
"Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman!" : adventures of a curious character by Richard Feynman

I get some of my reading ideas from you, so it's entirely possibly you've already reviewed some of these!

[Citizen Reader]

Vicki!
Thanks so much for the suggestions. I've been very interested in that "The Center Cannot Hold" book and with your suggestion, am going to snag it from the library. Also got to look into that "The Unthinkable," because I know when the going gets tough I'm going to be the first to give up.