2008 Book List
I’m embarrassed that every year I make a book list yet never complete it. *sigh* But I do enjoy making the list! Unfortnately, I think I’ve carried over the same books for more than two years. *big sigh*
Next year’s list will contain only 12 books, comprised of books currently collecting dust on my bookshelf—at least I have a reasonable chance of reading one a month. Notice there are no poetry books here. That list is really more fluid for me. For instance, in late January, I’ll attend the AWP conference and pick up a few titles while I’m there, not to mention new journals and anthologies, too.
Note: I’d like to read a John Edgar Wideman book but he has so many I don’t know where to start. He’s coming to speak at my college in February. Any suggestions?
2008 Book List
1. Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe (int’l fiction)
2. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou (classic fiction)
3. Brevity and Echo anthology (short stories and prose poems)
4. In Cold Blood, Truman Capote (classic fiction)
5. Against All Enemies, Richard A. Clarke (history)
6. A Personal History, Katherine Graham (autobiography)
7. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (classic fiction)
8. Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, Audre Lorde ("biomythography")
9. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, David Sedaris (nonfiction)
10. Vinegar Hill, A Nanette Ansay (fiction)
11. White Teeth, Zadie Smith (fiction, a re-read for me)
12. John Edgar Wideman (Need a suggestion)
So, what's on your book list for 2008?
Next year’s list will contain only 12 books, comprised of books currently collecting dust on my bookshelf—at least I have a reasonable chance of reading one a month. Notice there are no poetry books here. That list is really more fluid for me. For instance, in late January, I’ll attend the AWP conference and pick up a few titles while I’m there, not to mention new journals and anthologies, too.
Note: I’d like to read a John Edgar Wideman book but he has so many I don’t know where to start. He’s coming to speak at my college in February. Any suggestions?
2008 Book List
1. Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe (int’l fiction)
2. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou (classic fiction)
3. Brevity and Echo anthology (short stories and prose poems)
4. In Cold Blood, Truman Capote (classic fiction)
5. Against All Enemies, Richard A. Clarke (history)
6. A Personal History, Katherine Graham (autobiography)
7. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (classic fiction)
8. Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, Audre Lorde ("biomythography")
9. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, David Sedaris (nonfiction)
10. Vinegar Hill, A Nanette Ansay (fiction)
11. White Teeth, Zadie Smith (fiction, a re-read for me)
12. John Edgar Wideman (Need a suggestion)
So, what's on your book list for 2008?
Comments
Fever has always been my favorite Wideman book, short stories with, as the title suggests, a nice, slow burn to them. Very enjoyable.
The first is an old post from last year on the subject: http://poetmom.blogspot.com/2006/10/top-to-bottom-tony-hoagland-what.html
The second is an article on intentional reading that was published a while back in Poets & Writers: http://www.bobhostetler.com/writing/favorite009.html
Hope that helps.
I'm a member at Shelfari. I've discovered many more reads since joining. I was a bibliophile before but since Shelfari, my tbr has spiraled out of control.
I may have to add a few books from your list onto mine.
And I know exactly what you mean about writing at work.
Also read Eat Pray Love. It's a quick and easy read that is terrific.
Just a suggestion.
rooted
reading room
I wish I had committed to my work, but I seem to be perpetually preoccupied with supporting artists rather than cultivating my own art.
Toi was my professor long ago, which is how I got involved with CC. I'm in the second and fourth anthologies (I think). If 2008 is not the year for you, then definitely try in 2009.
No matter what happens, keep writing, and take advantage of the online communities to hone your craft (while you support others on their goals).