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Staff Picks — Best Fiction Reads of 2010
These titles were the best books read by Multnomah County Library staff during 2010. Find more good reads on our blogs and previous Staff Picks booklists.
All titles shelved in Fiction collection, except as noted: M=mystery, SF=science fiction, y=young adult, j=juvenile fiction, jgn=juvenile graphic novel, GN=graphic novel.
Books
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Atwood, Margaret -
2009FICTION ATWOODEven if you haven't read Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake, you can pick up Year of the Flood and enjoy it, as you get the same catastrophic event from the view of other characters — sort of a holographic trilogy in the making. Religion, genetic engineering and other modern developments bring about the end of civilization as we know it. Margaret Atwood comes through again with a thoughtful, complex and entirely possible story. (And do go back and read Oryx and Crake.) (Heidi H.)
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Becker, Geoffrey -
2010FICTION BECKERBernice, a young woman who has given up her baby for adoption, cons her boyfriend, Landis, into helping her kidnap the child five years later. How far will people go for love? (Helen F.)
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Crusie, Jennifer and Mayer, Bob -
2010FICTION CRUSIEFunny and unpredictable story of what happens when some old world demons get loose in an amusement park but can't agree on what to do next — and the people trying to put them back before anyone notices. Written with wit and charm, this is a perfect book for a dreary day. I liked this book because it looks like it should be a romance novel but turns into something different. (Rachel T.)
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Deutsch, Barry -
2010jgn DEUTSCHReally, the tag-line almost says it all: "Yet another troll-fighting 11-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl." Mirka finds knitting boring and longs to become a hero, but options seem limited in her small town and cantankerous but warm Orthodox family. But then she purloins a grape from the garden of a mysterious house in the woods, gets tangled up with a vindictive pig and stumbles into an adventure — despite the earnest efforts of her younger brother to drag her back to safety. The story is surprising and nuanced, the characters are wonderfully distinctive, the drawing is expressive and full of character. An absolute hoot. (Deborah G.)
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Donoghue, Emma -
2010FICTION DONOGHUENarrator Jack and his mother, who was kidnapped seven years earlier when she was a 19-year-old college student, celebrate his fifth birthday. They live in a tiny, 11-foot-square soundproofed cell in a converted shed in the kidnapper's yard. The sociopath, whom Jack has dubbed Old Nick, visits at night, grudgingly doling out food and supplies. But Ma, as Jack calls her, proves to be resilient and resourceful — and attempts a nail-biting escape. (Helen F.)
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Erdrich, Louise -
2010FICTION ERDRICHShadow Tag is a dark, fascinating book about a marriage that's gone terribly wrong, written in a spare style that's quite different from anything else Erdrich has written. Irene discovers that her emotionally abusive husband has been reading her private journal, so she starts using the journal to hurt him, and keeps another journal, her real one, in a safe deposit box. Excerpts from both journals appear in the book. (Diana A.)
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French, Tana -
2010MYSTERY FRENCHEach of Tana French’s previous two novels, In the Woods and The Likeness, have been particular favorites of mine. This, her latest, is possibly her finest to date — rich with place, character, family and history. I devoured this story about the return of Undercover Squad agent Frank Mackay to his childhood home following a terrible discovery that changes the way he has thought about his life. Be prepared to settle in for the long haul with this one; you will not want to put it down. (Stephanie C.)
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Ignatow, Amy -
2010j IGNATOWSomewhere in between a novel and a graphic novel, the pictures and handwritten text of The Popularity Papers show two fifth graders' research into what makes the popular girls popular. If Lydia and Julia can figure out what makes girls popular and copy it, they won't get all weird in Junior High — like Lydia's sister, who went from completely normal to depressed goth chick. Their observations take them through bleaching their hair, several hobbies, underhanded schemes to get a cell phone, pretending to have crushes on a boy, the boy finding out, the boy writing a poem about it and the class singing it at the spring concert, among many other totally embarrassing and totally hilarious situations. (Karen M.)
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Lethem, Jonathan -
2009FICTION LETHEMManhattan has a tiger on the loose, newspapers are published in "war free" editions and a man named Perkus Tooth retypes the New Yorker so that he can be free of the hegemony of its font. I predict that one day the Lethem-coined word "chaldron" will enter our lexicon. Meaning: object of desire, fetish, something that will make us whole, will-o-the-wisp. (Rachael S.)
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Li, Yiyun -
2010FICTION LII love a story with an unpredictable ending. Many of the characters in these stories are strong women dealing with contemporary issues in modern day China. Unusual insight into a culture many of us know little about. (Vailey O.)
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Mitchell, David -
2010FICTION MITCHELLSet in Japan at the turn of the 19th century, this fiercely intelligent novel interweaves clever wordplay and enlightening historical detail. Mitchell writes thrillingly about large-scale events and beautifully captures the details of everyday life. I don't usually buy books, but this is one I had to own. (Jayne F.)
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Ogawa, Yoko -
2009FICTION OGAWAA quiet story with wonderful characters, the author makes poetry of math. I never really cared about prime numbers until I read this book. (Vailey O.)
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Penny, Louise -
2010MYSTERY PENNYLouise Penny fans will be thrilled with the latest Inspector Gamache mystery. Penny deftly weaves three free-standing and intertwined plot lines together in a deliciously complex story set in Québec City. Inspector Gamache is a compelling main character and this story is peopled with lots of intriguing characters. A caveat: be sure to read the previous Inspector Gamache mystery The Brutal Telling first, if you haven't already. (Nancy P.)
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Reeve, Philip -
2010y REEVEIn a future London, as armies mass and the first traction cities are constructed, foundling Fever Crumb must leave her sheltered life with the Order of Engineers to seek her origins. I loved this chaotic vision of London in the 30th century, full of invention and detail. There are names like B@ersea, Gloomstove and Wormtimber, humorous touches like a completely absurd sedan chair chase and sly references to David Bowie and Harry Potter, among others. Oh, and the man has a way with similes. (Erika B.)
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Reynolds, Aaron -
2009jgn REYNOLDSThis fun graphic novel about a hard-boiled detective is set in the insect world, with a world-weary, aphorism-dispensing fly detective and his bungling, snotty scorpion assistant, Sammy Stingtail. Detailed, expressive drawings; tons of funny one-liners; and a silly mystery that actually centers solidly around the messy emotions in friendship make this a satisfying read. "Life in the bug city. It ain't easy." (Deborah G.)
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Sanderson, Brandon -
2010SF SANDERSONIf you are looking for a new doorstopper of a fantasy novel, look no further: this book weighs in at 1007 pages of epic world-building bliss. And it's just volume one of a projected ten. While it is certainly lengthy, I enjoyed the unique lands and ecology of Roshar, and am curious to see what happens next to Kaladin, Shallan and Dalinar, and how their stories intertwine. (Erika B.)
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Scholes, Ken -
2010SF SCHOLESNothing is as it seems to be. The ancient past is not dead. The hand of the Wizard Kings still reaches out to challenge the Androfrancine Order, to control the magick and technology that they sought to understand and claim for their own. This series (The Psalms of Isaak) is full of twists, turns, plots and factions — I'm not *quite* sure I'm rooting for the right groups. Oregon author. (Heidi S.)
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Scott, A. D. -
2010FICTION SCOTTThis beautiful and lyrical story is set in 1956 in a Scottish Highlands town dealing with the death of a young boy in their community. Focused on the staff of the town newspaper, the story is filled with vivid details and rich characters. I love the writing of this book, the descriptions are vivid and interesting and make a time and place that are far away feel very real and the story goes far beyond just a murder mystery. (Rachel T.)
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Simonson, Helen -
2010FICTION SIMONSONA perfect meditation on life, family, relationships and community. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand could have come off cozy and cliche — all the pieces are in place, from the charming, retired Major Pettigrew; to the long time family home, Rose Lodge; to the cute little British village where everyone knows your name, complete with gin and tonics, meddling church ladies, the Garden Club, and a peer. But instead, it is a wonderful glimpse into the complexity of our lives and how the choices we make define us. Each character was fully formed and ever so real; Simonson's attention to detail (one that I remember in particular was her description of wearing warm wool slippers on the cold winter floor) created a beautiful picture. (Stephanie C.)
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Udall, Brady -
2010FICTION UDALLA tragicomic story of a deeply faithful man who, crippled by grief and the demands of work and family, becomes entangled in an affair that threatens to destroy his family's future. (Helen F.)Golden Richards has three houses, four wives and 28 kids. The complications may be unique, but this is the story of Every Family writ large — very large. This tragicomic epic of elusive and inescapable love deserves designation as an American classic. If you liked The Corrections or A Gate at the Stairs, this is a book for you. It's sure bet for fans of character-driven domestic fiction and my favorite book of 2010. (Jennifer F.)
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Walls, Jeannette -
2010FICTION WALLSWalls blends fact and fiction to craft the tale of her grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. A no-nonsense, resourceful character, Lily lived a life full of adventure in the early 20th century. And through Walls' reverent prose, Lily emerges as a true American heroine, who survives the Great Depression, two marriages and countless other trials. (Helen F.)
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Weeks, Brent -
2010SF WEEKSPrisms never last, and Guile knows exactly how long he has left to live: five years to achieve five impossible goals. But when Guile discovers he has a son, he must decide what he's willing to pay to protect a secret. First book in this author's second series, Weeks does character intensive darker epic fantasy. Four books into his writing career this Oregon author has become one of my favorite authors. (Heidi S.)
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Weldon, Fay -
2010FICTION WELDONIt's 2013; capitalism has collapsed in Europe and the recession has turned once-prosperous London into an Orwellian dictatorship. Weldon is in sharp form in this mischievous tale — witty, clever and thought provoking — and makes a heavy subject (the collapse of the social order) palatable. (Jayne F.)
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Willis, Connie -
2010SF WILLISThe Oxford Historians have time traveled to London during the Blitz, and they can't get out. Have they changed the course of World War II? As is always the case with Willis, her characters are wonderful, and you feel the desperation and the courage of everyday people. The scrawled graffiti "[expletive] the Jerries, Lundun can tak it" made me burst into tears while reading. All Clear should be read immediately after Blackout. (Rachael S.)
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Wood, Maryrose -
2010j WOODMiss Penelope Lumley, 15-year-old graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females and recently-hired governess, is distressed to find her new charges naked, scratching themselves and howling in a barn. She gamely launches their education in etiquette, geometry, wearing clothing and not chasing squirrels, and the children are soon domesticated, if not quite ordinary. (Deborah G.)
Blogs and Websites
- Bookslut
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http://www.bookslut.com/Insightful reviews and wonderful, in-depth interviews with authors. (Diana A.)
- EarlyWord
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http://www.earlyword.comFor websites, I love Nora Rawlinson's EarlyWord. Nora is a former librarian and Library Journal editor, and does a fantastic job of highlighting titles that will be of popular interest. (Stephanie C.)
- Netgalley
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http://www.netgalley.comI love Netgalley, which provides access to e-book galleys. (Stephanie C.)
- New York Times Book Review
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http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/overview.html?ref=booksLots and lots of reviews that you can trust. (Diana A.)
- SFFMeta
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http://www.sffmeta.com/homeThis site collects reviews for science fiction, fantasy and horror books from 26 different sites. Most books only have one or two reviews but the bigger titles have four to six reviews. It's nice to find the reviews all in one spot and not have to hunt for them. (Heidi S.)
- Tor
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http://www.tor.com/Great information on the latest in Science Fiction, whether books, movies, TV or art. Includes articles on Sci Fi past from novelist Jo Walton, and bits of fun science fact. Writers are passionate and know their stuff. (Rachael S.)
