For Christmas I got:
Cain, by Jose Saramago -- In his last novel, the Nobel laureate re-imagines the Cain and Abel story from the point of view of the villain.
Wildwood by Colin Meloy. Meloy is an Indie Rock star in Portland (100 miles to the north of me), and has written a best-selling fantasy novel. I"ve read a couple of superb short story collections by his sister Maile Meloy.
Resister by Bruce Dancis -- a story about draft resisting during the Viet Nam war. The person who gave it to me knows Dancis.
Astoria by Peter Stark. Thomas Jefferson and John Astor build an empire in the Pacific Northwest (ala the Woody Guthrie lyric). The aftermath of Lewis and Clark is explored.
In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides. The story of the USS Jeanette, a ship that was crushed in the ice during an arctic expedition in 1879.
Roll Me Up and Smoke me When I Die by Willie Nelson. I've already learned that Nelson started smoking cigarettes at age six, and wrote "On the Road Again" on the back of an air sickness bag.
Sacred Mountains of the World by Edwin Bernbaum. A picture book about mountains (my favorite subject), with some text about their cultural significance and religious symbolism.
I didn't get Oliver O'Donovan's new theology book. I'll have to order it -- but maybe not until I read some of these. Any recommendations of where to start? Any other lists of Christmas book hauls?
Reply With Quote
