Starting in late October, I want to publish recommendations of books you enjoyed and that others might want to read or consider as Christmas gifts.
Just give me your suggestions in the comments section for fiction (any genre) and nonfiction (especially on creativity), young adult fiction, and children’s books. Include book title and author.
I’ll use the lead “(Your name) recommends…”
Some of my favorite recent picture books include:
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena, illustrated by Christian Robinson (lyrical text, diverse characters)
Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Christian Robinson (charming story about adoptive families, but with dog characters)
Good Night Baddies by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Juli Kangas (funny bedtime story)
The Iridescence of Birds: A Book About Henri Matisse by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Haley Hooper (picture book nonfiction about Matisse’s childhood and evolution as an artist)
Thanks, Laura. The more books we can recommend for young folks, the better!
Adult Fiction: All the Light We Cannot See; The Buddha in the Attic; Cutting for Stone
Oldies but Goodies: Angela’s Ashes, Memoirs of a Geisha, A Walk in the Woods
Children’s: The One and Only Ivan; The Graveyard Book; The Art of Being Cool
Teen: Code Name Verity; The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian; The Book Thief
Books on Creativity: Originals; Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur; Outliers
That’s a great list, Teresa! I’ve read quite a few of them and wholeheartedly agree!
Pat, a lot of great possibilities, just from my own writing group! Beverly Jones book, WAR BONDS, is a beautiful YA book about a girl growing up in Colorado during WWII. It won the Colorado Authors’ League award in YA fiction this past year. Nancy Cathers Phillips tells a 19th century tale of a young female journalist who treks to Leadville in search of her brother in A TARDY JUSTICE. Libby James wrote FRISBEE DREAMS about a couch potato girl who learns about the joys of competition and friendship. Judie Freeland wrote an excellent account of the life of a therapy dog with DICKENS’ FRIENDS and Mim Neal created an engaging memoir in TREE LINES.
For adults into nature and ecology I recommend Edward O. Wilson’s book, HALF EARTH, OUR PLANET’S FIGHT FOR LIFE.
Thank you, Gary. Isn’t it grand that we have so many wonderful authors living right here in Northern Colorado?
Oh, so many possibilities, Pat! Some recommendations for crime fiction that you might enjoy are Andrew Nette’s Gunshine State, Sarah Ward’s novels featuring DI Francis Sadler, and Brian Stoddart’s historical series featuring Superintendent Christian ‘Chris’ Le Fanu. Oh, and D.S. Nelson’s Blake Heatherington series, and Rebecca Bradley’s DI Hannah Robbins series, too. See what I mean? So many, and I’ve not even scratched the surface…
I knew you’d have some good crime fiction selections, Margot. So many wonderful authors and books, so little time….sigh.
Dory Fantamagory by Abby Hanlon. Chapter book for kids about a girl with a big personality and wild imagination. I found it charming!
I’d also recommend Island of Grass by Ellen Wohl which is a beautifully written nature story about Cathy Fromme Grasslands in Fort Collins. I loved how she interwove the story of the animals with research and she made you want to take a closer look at the prairie.
The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister is delicious chick lit centered on a cooking school.
I was going to recommend The School of Essential Ingredients if you didn’t, Natasha. That was a delicious story. Thanks for the heads-up about the Cathy Fromme story — I didn’t know that one existed, and I’ve walked in the Cathy Fromme natural area many times.
I love to talk books! Okay, well I did that post about the excellent books I read over the summer so I won’t repeat those suggestions here. So, since then….
THE GIRL IN THE BLUE COAT by Monica Hesse – YA historical fiction – takes place in Amsterdam, 1943 and offers a different perspective on the war. Loved the voice here, and the writing was excellent.
DEAD SOULS by J Lincoln Fenn – I received a copy of this horror novel in a giveaway, and I thought I would enjoy it. Turns out, I REALLY enjoyed this clever, creepy, dark read.
Thanks, Madeline. I do like a creepy, dark read from time to time so I’m adding that one to my own reading list as well. And the combination of historical and YA in one novel will be hard to resist. I wish I had more reading time….
LOL – can I second Mason’s recommendation? Or any of DLP’s books? If you’re reading YA now, Under a Purple Moon is really good.
Yes, I am hooked on YA. And two of the members of my critique group are working on YA so I get lots of extra exposure.
Oh where to start, here are a few I’ve enjoyed recently — CassaStar and CassaFire (on audio) by Alex J. Cavanaugh
An Obvious Fact by Craig Johnson
Stripped Bare by Shannon Baker
Without Mercy by Jefferson Bass
and if you’re looking for a laugh from the past
In Such Good Company by Carol Burnett (audio) read by her.
Wonderful suggestions, Mason. I just picked up Stripped Bare from the library, so that one may get a double recommendation. I love Carol Burnett, so I’ll definitely have to check out her audiobook.
Broken Branch Falls by Tara Tyler. I’m not into young adult novels, but I really enjoyed it.
Thanks, Alex. I’ve been reading quite a few young adult novels over the last year. There’s some mighty good writing in that genre.