Thursday, September 27, 2007

Novel Dilemma

I just finished reading Jack London's The Call of the Wild and now I'm staring at a stack of books on my desk. What should I read next? I need some help deciding. Here are the nominees (descriptions from powells.com):

Special Topics in Calamity Physics - Marisha Pessl
Structured around a syllabus for a Great Works of Literature class and containing ironic visual aids (drawn by the author), Pessl's debut novel is complex yet compelling, erudite yet accessible. It combines the suspense of Hitchcock, the self-parody of Dave Eggers, and the storytelling gifts of Donna Tartt with a dazzling intelligence and wit entirely Pessl's own.

Digging to America - Anne Tyler
In what is perhaps her richest and most deeply searching novel, Anne Tyler gives us a story about what it is to be an American, and about Maryam Yazdan, who after thirty-five years in this country must finally come to terms with her "outsiderness."

Big If - Mark Costello
The Secret Service agents guarding the vice president steel their nerves to a multitude of dangers every day. When he runs for the top spot on the Democratic ticket, however, their personal lives may just be the biggest obstacle to keeping him safe.

Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
Anna Karenina tells of the doomed love affair between the sensuous and rebellious Anna and the dashing officer, Count Vronsky. Tragedy unfolds as Anna rejects her passionless marriage and must endure the hypocrisies of society.

A Good Year - Peter Mayle
Max Skinner has recently lost his job at a London financial firm and just as recently learned that he has inherited his late uncle’ s vineyard in Provence. On arrival he finds the climate delicious, the food even better, and two of the locals ravishing. Unfortunately, the wine produced on his new property is swill. Why then are so many people interested in it? Enter a beguiling Californian who knows more about wine than Max does– and may have a better claim to the estate. Fizzy with intrigue, bursting with local color and savor, A Good Year is Mayle at his most entertaining.

Straight Up and Dirty: A Memoir - Stephanie Klein
elebrated bloggist, photographer, and freelance writer Stephanie Klein lets it all hang out in this juicy tell-all tracing her jump back into single life following her divorce.

Any suggestions?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Straight Up and Dirty....Definately:) You won't be able to put it down.

The Critic said...

Not the Peter Mayle

Tolstoy would probably be your best bet since you just finished Jack London and they are contemporaries to a degree. It would be a sort of continuation.

However, if you're looking to get away from what you've just been doing, I'll second Straight Up And Dirty.