Committees

I have officially accepted my appointment for the ALA RUSA Reading List book award committee and will be heading into year seven of continuous reading award committees. My understanding is that this indicates I may indeed have a book award addiction. People think I am addicted to getting books from the publisher but that isn't it. In fact, I love it when I can get ebook versions instead. What I am addicted to is the challenge of reading hundreds and hundreds of books every year and being force to expand my reading of new authors and types of books.

A friend pointed out I had not yet posted this years winners anywhere except Twitter so here they are. The 2011 Best Genre fiction of the year.

Established in 2007 by the CODES section of RUSA, The Reading List seeks to highlight outstanding genre fiction that merit special attention by general adult readers and the librarians who work with them.

The 2012 List

Adrenaline

*Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson, Harper Collins, (9780062060556)
Each morning, Christine wakes with no memory. From the clues she left herself, she tries to piece together her identity and sort lies from the truth. The unrelenting pace thrusts the reader into the
confusion of a waking nightmare in which revelations of her past lead to a frantic crescendo.

Read-Alikes

The Likeness by Tana French
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Memento (Summit Entertainment, 2000)

Short List

Now You See Me by S. J. Bolton, St. Martin’s (9780312600525)
Spiral by Paul McEuen, Dial Press, (9780385342117)
The Woodcutter by Reginald Hill, Harper Collins, (9780062060747)
*You’re Next by Gregg Hurwitz, St. Martin’s, (9780312534912)

Fantasy

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Doubleday, (9780385534635)
Le Cirque des Rêves is utterly unique, disappearing at dawn in one town only to mysteriously reappear in another. At the heart of the circus are two young magicians, involved in a competition neither completely understands. The dreamlike atmosphere and vivid imagery make this fantasy unforgettable.

Read-Alikes

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Prestige (Touchstone Pictures, 2006)

Short List

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, Little, Brown, (9780316134026) 
The Magician King by Lev Grossman, Viking, (9780670022311)
*The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, DAW, (9780756404734)
*Zoo City by Lauren Beukes, Angry Robot, (9780857660558)

Historical Fiction

*Doc: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell, Random House, (9781400068043)
In the early days of Dodge City, a genteel, tubercular Southern dentist forges a friendship with the infamous Earp brothers. Combining historical details and lyrical language, this gritty psychological portrait of gunslinger Doc Holliday reveals how the man became the legend.

Read-Alikes

Deadwood by Pete Dexter
Etta by Gerald Kolpan
Gunman’s Rhapsody by Robert B. Parker

Short List

Bright and Distant Shores by Dominic Smith, Pocket Books, (9781439198865)
*Lionheart by Sharon Kay Penman, Putnam, (9780399157851)
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, Viking, (9780670022694)
*The Sea Captain’s Wife by Beth Powning, Penguin, (9780452296954)

Horror

*The Ridge by Michael Koryta, Little, Brown, (9780316053662)
The unexplained death of an eccentric lighthouse keeper in the isolated Kentucky woods, followed by a mysterious threat to a nearby large cat sanctuary prompt an investigation by a journalist and the local sheriff. Palpable evil and a sense of dread drive this chilling tale.

Read-Alikes

The Dead Path by Stephen Irwin 
Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman
Harbor by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Short List

The Last Werewolf  by Glen Duncan, Knopf, (9780307595089)
The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian, Crown, (9780307394996)
*Raising Stony Mayhall by Daryl Gregory, Del Rey, (9780345522375)
The White Devil by Justin Evans, Harper Collins, (9780061728273)

Mystery

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino, Minotaur, (9780312375065)
An introverted mathematician matches wits with a brilliant former colleague to protect the neighbor he secretly adores from a murder charge. Although the reader knows the murderer’s identity from the beginning, this unconventional Japanese mystery remains a taut psychological puzzle.

Read-Alikes

Out by Natsuo Kirino
Think of a Number by John Verdon
Sherlock (BBC, 2010-2012)

Short List

Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran, Houghton, Mifflin, (9780547428499)
*Killed at the Whim of a Hat by Colin Cotterill, Minotaur, (9780312564537)
*The Snowman by Jo Nesbo, Knopf, (9780307595867)
A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny, Minotaur, (9780312655457)

Romance

Silk is for Seduction by Loretta Chase, Avon, (9780061632686)
Ambitious dressmaker Marcelline Noirot will do almost anything to secure the patronage of the Duke of Clevendon’s intended bride. Neither her calculated business plan nor his campaign of seduction can withstand the force of their mutual attraction. Witty banter and strong-willed characters make this a memorable tale.

Read-Alikes

Dangerous in Diamonds by Madeline Hunter
The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory

Short List

*Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison, Berkley, (9780425241509)
A Lady’s Lesson in Scandal by Meredith Duran, Pocket, (9781451606935)
My One And Only by Kristin Higgins, Harlequin, (9780373775576)
*When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James, Avon, (9780062021274)

Science Fiction

*Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey, Orbit, (9780316129084)
The missions of a jaded cop and a dedicated ice hauler officer collide as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. A mystery adds a noir touch to this space opera featuring deeply flawed yet heroic characters, non-stop action, and Earth versus Mars politics.

Read-Alikes

Up Against It by M. J. Locke
Pandora’s Star by Peter Hamilton
The Quiet War by Paul J. McAuley

Short List

Embassytown by China Miéville, Del Rey, (9780345524492)
The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi, Tor, (9780765329493)
*Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, Crown, (9780307887436)
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan, Algonquin, (9781565126299)

Women’s Fiction

*The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh Ballantine, (9780345525543)
A former foster child struggles to overcome a past filled with abuse, neglect and anger. Communicating through the Victorian language of flowers allows her to discover hope, redemption and a capacity for love. Damaged, authentic characters create an emotional tension in this profoundly moving story.

Read-Alikes

Like Family by Paula McLain (NF)
The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys
White Oleander by Janet Fitch

Short List

*Deep Down True by Juliette Fay, Penguin, (9780143118510)
Joy for Beginners by Erica Bauermeister, Putnam, (9780399157127)
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown, Putnam, (9780399157226)
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty, Penguin, (9780141043760)

* My personal favorites from the list.

Blogging

As you may have noticed, it has been a while since I have posted. Let's find out what I have been up to during the past few months....

New Foster Kittens: Fred and George Weasley

And George even has superpowers!

Christmas in Colorado

Birthday Month Karaoke

 Birthday Month Cake

Books!

 And of course, READING until 2 or later every night to be ready for the American Library Association Reading List committee meeting. Ten more days until the big meeting when we decide the best books of the year. 

A Year of Skippyjon Jones

When I picked Skippyjon Jones up last year at 8 weeks old I should have known I was doomed. Apart from the extreme cuteness factor, he immediately imprinted on me and wouldn't even go back to say goodbye to the lovely gentleman who bottle fed his litter until they were ready to be weaned. The rescue organization is guessing his birthday was October 18th so I thought I would do a year of Skippyjon Jones montage.

Although he is now almost full grown at twelve pounds, he is still crazy cute and probably the most personable cat I have ever owned. While he likes the big cats, he loves people and follows us around chatting all the time, begging us to play fetch or looking out the window guarding us from invaders. 

Help with Horror!

I am trying to pull together a list of good examples of novels for all of the horror sub-genres. Below is the list of sub-genres I have pulled from different websites. Anyone have suggestions for additional sub-genres or for the "perfect" novel for one or more of the categories?

1. Adrenaline                                                                            John Saul
2. Adventure                                            Blood Oath              Christopher Farnsworth
3. African-American                                Minion                     L.A. Banks   
4. Alternate History                          World War Z                                          Max Brooks
5. American Gothic/Surreal Horror
6. Apocalyptic                                          The Passage           Justin Cronin 
7. Biography/Memoir                      The Lighthouse at the End of the World -Stephen Marlowe
8. Chick-lit                                              
9. Christian/Inspirational                                 
10. Classic                                                 The Tell-Tale Heart         Edgar Allan Poe  
11. Contemporary                                    
12. Creepy Kids                            Something Wicked This Way Comes - Bradbury
13. Crime                                                  
14. Cross/Multi-Genre
15. Cutting Edge                                        Purity                     Dougless Clegg
16. English Gothic/Haunted Houses       The Haunting of Hill House      Shirley Jackson
17. Erotic                                                   Dark Seductions         Alfonsi and Scognamiglio
18. Dark Fantasy
19. Dark Fiction                                        
20. Fabulist                                                Islands                                          Sara Stamey
21. Ghost Stories                                       Ghost Story                                  Peter Straub
22. Graphic                                                Start with the Feast             Graham Masterson
23. Historical                                             Those Who Hunt the Night      Barbara Hambly
24. History
25. Humor                                                  Suck                                 Christopher Moore
    
26. Hauntings                                            The Amityville Horror                Jay Anson       
27. Inspirational                                         Monster                                        Frank Peretti
28. Literary                                                House of Leaves                 Mark Z Danielewski
29. LGBT                                                   Lost Souls                                    Poppy Z. Brite
30. Lovecraftian                                        The Call of Cthulhu                 H.P. Lovecraft
31. Medical                                                Coma                                               Robin Cook
32. Mind Control                                        Donovan’s Brain                          Curt Siodmak
33. Monsters                                              Frankenstein                               Mary Shelley
34. Multicultural                                         The Ring                                          Koji Suzuki
35. Mystery                                                                                                    F. Paul Wilson
36. Natural History                                     The Fog                             James Herbert
37. Noir                                                      The Midnight Road                         Tom Piccirilli
38. Nonfiction                                           
39. Paranormal                                                     
40. Plays                                                   
41. Poetry                                                  Sharp Teeth                                   Toby Barlow 
42. Psychological                                     Heart-Shaped Box                                 Joe Hill
43. Quirky                                                 
44. Rampant Animals                               Cujo                                              Stephen King
45. Rampant Technology                          Dead Lines                                       Greg Bear
46. Romance                                              Prince of Wolves                     Susan Krinard  
47. Saga                                                      Interview with a Vampire             Anne Rice
48. Satanic Bargins                                   The Picture of Dorian Gray            Oscar Wilde
49. Science Fiction                                    Infected                     Scott Sigler
    
50. Soft/Quiet                                                                                              Charles L Grant
51. Splatterpunk/Extreme                           The Drive-In                             Joe Lansdale 
52. Steampunk                                                              
53. Supernatural                                        I Am Legend                        Richard Matheson 
54. Time Travel                                                 
55. True Crime                                                                                                   John Farris
56. Urban Fantasy                                      Storm Front                           Jim Butcher      
57. Werewolf                                              St Peter’s Wolf                       Michael Cadnum
58. Western                                               
59. Women’s Lives                                    Bitten                           Kelley Armstrong            
60. Young Adult                                         Monstrumologist                        Richard Yancy

Blowback: The Fifth of the Enzo Files by Peter May

Scottish forensic biologist, Enzo Macleod, has bet he can do what no one else has been able to do and solve seven famous unsolved cold cases from Roger Raffin’s celebrated book. Enzo has now solved four of the seven murders and is now investigating murder number five, the murder of France’s top chef, Marc Fraysse. Brutally murdered on the eve of an important announcement amid rumors that he was about to lose his coveted four star Michelin rating leads to discoveries of everything from professional jealousy to adultery as a motive for murder and also opens old wounds from Enzo’s own past.

This is a mystery for Iron Chef crowd and the mystery puzzle enthusiasts alike. Solid mystery elements and a complicated puzzle make this book a winner.

Midnight Movie by Tobe Hooper and Alan Goldsher

Tobe Hooper has been invited to speak at the opening for a movie he made as a teenager. The problem, he doesn’t remember anything about the movie. After a small group of fans watch the movie at South by Southwest they start to become...strange. Soon the entire country is being affected by this strange epidemic manifesting is sexual obsession, violence, madness and yes, there are even zombies. When Tobe becomes aware that this began after watching his movie, he races to find the answers and save civilization.

Blog posts, twitter updates and email give this splatterpunk grindhouse style novel a fresh modern spin.

You Are Too Old to Wear That!

Last week I was told I was too old to wear t-shirts with anything printed on them. Plain tee's are all that are left for me. When I questioned the rule, I was told because I didn't immediately tell them to mind their own business I didn't "own my choices" and that proved I shouldn't be wearing them. Until that moment in time it had never occurred to me that people might think I was trying too hard to look young by wearing a t-shirt with a SF saying on it or a wine comment. They just made me laugh and I just thought my other SF friends would get a kick out of it. Will I wear the T-Shirts again? Yes. Will I ever feel as happy wearing them as I did before? No. No matter how much I say other people's opinions don't matter, there will always be a small part of me that wonders who is judging my outfit and deciding I don't measure up.

The problem with rules like this is they seemed designed to punish people who don't do it right. I want my clothing choices and fashion moments to reflect my personality in a unique way, not make me more grown-up, dignified, fashionable or appropriate. I want to be able to be silly and quirky and fun, especially during my non-work hours and I truly don't understand how that can be defined by age. Although I do enjoy reading the fashion magazines I am tired of rules made up by some mythical fashion police. I am tired of conversations designed to judge clothing errors instead of complimenting what someone is doing right. I don't want to be one of those women who drags other women down instead of supports and encourages them. Women have it hard enough without having to worry about unwritten arbitrary rules for how they dress.  This is why I will never find the People of Walmart blog funny but instead will always wonder how the person profiled feels when they find they have been highlighted there and wish I could give them a hug. I am done participating in conversations that make fun of strangers clothing and I am done tearing other people down so I can feel better about my questionable clothing choices.

Exclusively Yours

Exclusively Yours - I have been having really good luck with new authors and e-books lately. When Keri Daniels boss finds out that reclusive author, Joe Kowalski, was a high school boyfriend, she demands that Keri get an exclusive interview... or lose her job. Of course, nothing is that easy. Joe and his entire family still hold a grudge because Keri chose a career after high school instead of marrying Joe and living happily ever after.

What I liked about this novel was how well adjusted and happy Joe's family was. He has great parents, siblings he loves and although there are problems, they talk them out and basically act like nice people who love each other. It was also nice to see girls enjoying "boy activities" like camping and four-wheeling. I do love my shoe shopping but it is nice to see some diversity in the kinds of activities women can and do enjoy.

My one quibble with this book is why Keri was so attached to such a crappy job with a crappy boss. I would have immediately started sending out resumes when it became clear the interview would cost a happy ending. It isn't like she was in a profession that wouldn't allow telecommuting after all.