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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

2010 Reads

Grade 7. I had a terrific teacher for a while. Maybe he was a sub? I can picture his black curly mop of hair and his goofy smile but I can't recall his name. He was the first teacher to reveal something about reading that had never occurred to me before: subtext.

I can unlock the meaning? And I have a key?

Yup, he used the lyrics to Hotel California to mess with our virgin-interpretive minds. Before this experience, I had always loved words and enjoyed reading but he planted a seed for a much more interactive experience. He deepened my reading. And thinking too. Love that guy.

So I became a serious reader. And I'm not alone: see Life of Riles. I mined his top ten 2010 reads for ideas and I decided to list my favourite 2010 reads, in alphabetical order.

A writer meets a fan?
Strange. Intense. Compelling.

Non-fiction. A father's
heartbreak  as his son sinks
deeper into drugs.

Non-fiction. A father's
attempt to cope and find
meaning in his son's
rare disability.

The most hilarious book
about punctuation I've ever
read. (And I've read two.)


Graphic Novel. A thought-
provoking, quirky, funny,
oddly affecting story.

The story of a tragically
clueless boy trying to
find his Jewish parents.
Surprising and despite
the subject matter: funny.













The story of a victim who
chooses not to be a victim
and the teacher who
opens her mind and spirit.
Unique voice; stylistic treat.


A 5 year old narrator.
A disturbing secret revealed.
A skylight.
 











Interesting answers to
this difficult question.

Non-fiction. Informative.
Wacky. Quite a cast
of real characters.

16 comments:

Molly said...

Aaaaand finally I've made my way over here. And I reckon I'll be coming back soon.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Was Yann Martel's new book as good as Life of Pi? Apparently they're making a movie of Pi.

I haven't read any of those books! Although I've read reviews of several of them. Seems like that's all I have time to do these days!

triles said...

Thanks for the link. Year of Living Biblically was probably #11 or #12 on my list-great book. I loved Life of Pi, and I've been meaning to read beatrice and virgil. I think Room will be one of the first books I read in 2011. Come to think of it, all of these books look great, thanks for the ideas.

DB Stewart said...

@Molly Glad to hear it.
@DSWS I would say overall no but I still enjoyed B&V. It freaked me out.
@Tim You're welcome. Thank you.

Alittlesprite said...

I haven't read any of these books, but I've read a HEAP this year. I've got a Sony e-reader and have a lot of books on it. My authors are: David Eddings, Mary Janice Davidson, Charlaine Harris. Plus I'm a bit of a nerd in that I love to read ecology reference books, and books about ancient history.
I'm afraid one of my teachers nearly scared me off reading. His love of the book "Animal Farm" bordered on obsessive.

Sultan said...

This is useful as I am always looking for decent books to read. Thanks for posting it.

DB Stewart said...

@alittlesprite I'm jealous of your sony e-reader. Nice to hear from another reader. I'll check out your authors.
@LoC Hope you find one.

Artist and Geek said...

dbs thank you for posting this.
More books..."my presssssious". Wish publishers would sell time with that.
I've got "Room" waiting and was wondering, in one of your twitter alerts, did you give something away?
A book that I recommend to everyone I like is the hilarious "Notes from a Big Country" by Bill Bryson.
Have big list of highly recommended, but they are not 2010. Happy to share though.
Has anyone read "Eating Animals" by Foer?

Yours truly,

Devout Bibliophile :)

Artist and Geek said...

P.S.dbs-sorry, Please don't answer the question about "Room" in case it's a spoiler. Yes, I know, I'm weird.
(Should process thought before I post comment) :)

DB Stewart said...

A&G Another bibliophile. Nice. Re Room:I don't think I shared anything that isn't on the inside front cover. And although it's not necessary, I appreciate the apology. If only more people thought about what they post before they post it, myself included. Thanks for the recommendations.

Didactic Pirate said...

Good stuff, Sir. Several books here I haven't read yet.

Alittlesprite said...

Mary Janice Davidson wrote her "Undead" series before books like Twilight made vampires popular. Her books are hilarious. I have read all of Charlaine Harris's books to. They are the Sookie stackhouse ones made into the HBO show "True Blood". While I didn't mind her books, they left me a bit dissapointed and I found them to have too many similar characters to Mary's books. The Twilight series was too Teenager-y for me. Honestly I would have beheaded Edward in the first novel. I have loved David Eddings for ages and read his books at least once a year.

Vinny C said...

Oooh! I haven't read any of these & I definitely see some I want to check out.

Chelle said...

I am so happy that you've finally read, "Eats, Shoots & Leaves". I was very concerned that you hadn't read it.

I've been on a Cormac McCarthy kick, but I think he lost me on Blood Meridian.

I am sneaking off the Chapters to pick up a book on the Bielski brothers' partisan story later.

DB Stewart said...

@DP Considering reading Ghostopolis with your daughter.
@Alittlesprite "Beheaded Edward" = awesomeness.
@VinnyC Glad to hear it.
@Chelle Thank you for recommending it. I really enjoyed it--the pen-pal letter part was so funny. I think I'm reading The Sentimentalist next, if I get it for Christmas.

Kimber Leszczuk. said...

I have read one of these but several of them look good!

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