Thanks to Elizabeth Taylor deciding to let the authors read and quote from Richard's love letters to her, we finally get a truly intimate and accurate peak into one of the most sizzling love affairs ever. I loved this book.
Raybourn's fourth book in this wonderful historical mystery series finds her at the top of her game. The series seems to only improve with time and I am already anticipating number five!
The author, famous for her historical biographies, takes a look at her 30 + years with the playwright, Harold Pinter. The book draws largely from Fraser's diaries and there is an enormous amount of detail as to their everyday lives, their work, their friends (many quite famous) and their political as well as personal issues. Nothing terribly titillating here, just a remarkable story of two rather extraordinary individuals building a life together.
The 10th thriller featuring the always brilliant and erudite FBI agent Pendergast, this is one of the best. I was starting to tire of this series and felt like it might be losing me, but this one pulled me back in. Cannot wait for number 11.
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer - Siddhartha Mukherjee
A comprehensive and amazing look at a disease that has touched us all. This book is packed with information, yet written in a really accessible style. I'm reading it in small chunks because I keep finding myself rushing off to google people and places that are discussed. Mukherjee is an oncologist and a researcher, but he is also an excellent writer.
So there you go. Five books that stood out from the pack for me this year. As always, I'd love to hear about your faves. What did you read in 2010 that you think everyone should read? What are you most looking forward to reading in 2011? Cause you know, it is never to early to get a start on next year's list...
I have awful book memory, but I just finished this memoir and can recommend it highly. "Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook", by Anthony Bourdain. If you've not heard of him, he's a rather egotistical, no-holds-barred chef/foodie/travel guru, though I'm sure he'd hate that description. His first memoir was Kitchen Confidential, and my impression then was that he was a complete and total jerk. After this book, I still think he's a jerk, but an enthralling and fascinating one.
ReplyDeleteNow, if I could get you interested in contemporary Westerns, I'd recommend the Tate-Garrett-Austin series by Linda Lael Miller. No?
You're the second person to suggest the Bourdain memoir, so I'm considering it. I used to really dislike his tv show, but maybe he is better in print. I think contemporary Westerns may be the last sub-genre left for me. This year found me breaking my no contemporaries and no paranormals rules, so who knows what 2011 might bring!
ReplyDelete