Author Archives: Rory

Authors I’ve discovered in 2012: A top ten list

This week’s top ten list: “Top Ten Favorite New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2012” (as hosted by The Broke and The Bookish). This guarantees that there will be no mention of John Irving, Richard Russo, or Stephen King – after this sentence of course. I’ve discovered several new authors and “met” a few bloggers whoContinue reading “Authors I’ve discovered in 2012: A top ten list”

A Sport and a Pastime by James Salter

From Goodreads: “As nearly perfect as any American fiction I know,” is how Reynolds Price (The New York Times) described this classic that has been a favorite of readers, both here and in Europe, for almost forty years. Set in provincial France in the 1960s, it is the intensely carnal story–part shocking reality, part feverishContinue reading “A Sport and a Pastime by James Salter”

Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell

  Winter’s Bone is a novel that manages to be simultaneously gritty, sparse, and poetic. It’s beautiful and certainly one of my favorite books that I have read in 2012. The focus of the novel is sixteen year old Ree Dolly. Ree’s father, Jessup, is the best meth cooker is the Ozarks. Only he’s beenContinue reading “Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell”

Holiday gift guide: A top ten list for Santa

The Christmas season, and December in general, is my favorite time of the year. I love the cold weather, snow, winter clothes, the necessity of boots, the Santa and polar bear Coca-Cola ads, the music (but only in December please, Christmas is not in October), the giving of gifts, the list goes on and on.Continue reading “Holiday gift guide: A top ten list for Santa”

What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver

According to a few other and myself, with What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, Raymond Carver has written one of the best short story collection of the twentieth century. Given the number of writers he has influenced and how frequently the title is parodied, I gather I am not the only one who thinks so (evenContinue reading “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver”

Men I would date in books and other nonsense

Occasionally I have been known to participate in the question of the week (as hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read – New? Follow by email, RSS, or Twitter).  This week’s question (and request): “Who is your to-die-for book crush? What do you think they look like? Add an image to make us all happy.” While I do thinkContinue reading “Men I would date in books and other nonsense”

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

From Goodreads: The School of Essential Ingredients follows the lives of eight students who gather in Lillian’s Restaurant every Monday night for cooking class. It soon becomes clear, however, that each one seeks a recipe for something beyond the kitchen. Students include Claire, a young mother struggling with the demands of her family; Antonia, anContinue reading “The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister”

Upcoming books, 2013 edition: A top ten list

Soooo….it’s almost the new year. Assuming we all survive 12-21-12, there will plenty of good books to read in 2013. Here are ten I will be picking up (as hosted by The Broke and The Bookish), in no particular order. 10. Finding Camlann by Sean Pidgeon 9. Schroder by Amity Gage 8. The Good HouseContinue reading “Upcoming books, 2013 edition: A top ten list”

Being thankful: A top ten list

Today I am thankful. I am thankful for the authors and books that inspire me. Books, and the authors who write them, have made me happy and sad and angry and afraid and fulfilled and understood and a little less alone. I am in awe of you. So in honor of this, I am givingContinue reading “Being thankful: A top ten list”