A few nights ago, as I closed the brilliant metafictional
“Grief is a thing with feathers” by Max Porter, Goodreads alerted me that I had
officially completed my 52nd book of the year, bringing my book-readin’
average to 1 (technically 1.1) books per week.
Reading a buncha books is my singular accomplishment for the
year and a feat that is only impressive relative to everything else I have done
in 2016 with my dumb life.
I hope you don’t mind me sharing some of my favorites of the
year with you. Reading and discussing books is the only thing that brings me
genuine joy anymore. Everything else is me acting.
In order from most mind-blowing to also mind-blowing but slightly
less so, here are my favorite books of the year:
1. The Sellout by Paul Beatty was the best book I
read this year. My favorite chapter was “Too Many Mexicans”. This novel was quite possibly the
funnest (not funniest, think whee whee slip ‘n slide) way anyone could ever
address racism in contemporary America. Filled with relentless and biting satire
that shook me to the core (really!), this book left me wide-eyed on a Septa bus
asking “Can I…can I laugh at this?”
2. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff is like a
gorgeous poem with characters who experience this vast spectrum of feelings
that doesn’t seem real because of the….vastness of the spectrum. Super vast. If
you want to feel like your life is emotionally bland, give Fates and Furies a
go. JK. This book is perfect. Lauren Groff is God.
3. Imagine Me
Gone by Adam Haslett was the most accurate portrait of mental illness I’ve seen
in an American novel. Armed with a droll, wry, smart sense of humor, Haslett’s
Michael is the most intense, heartbreaking character I’ve ever come across. A
trillion stars. V. sad tho.
4. Saga by Brian K Vaughn Volumes 1-5 are just nuts.
Read the first one and you’ll feel psychologically obligated to finish the
series. Fans of Miyasaki, Neil Gaiman and anything that’s cool will especially
enjoy.
5. Grief is a thing with feathers is a dark and
atmospheric “quickie” that centers
on a grieving father and his two young sons as they cope with the sudden death
of a wife and mother with the “counseling” of Ted Hughes's Crow. Max Porter’s prose is bonkers. Holy
shit! Oh and bonus points for brevity. You can finish this guy in like 45
minutes (or 3 breakfastses!).
Let me know if you have any suggestions for 2017 reading
based on my list or what you know about me in general. I cling to your recommendations in earnest.
All the smooches in my smooch arsenal,
E
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