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Death of a Snob

Death of a Snob

By M.C. Beaton 160 pages Adult

Danny Says

With school starting, a lot of teachers, students and parents find themselves with little time to read. I have just the cure: M.C. Beaton. Beaton’s series of mysteries featuring Scottish detective Hamish Macbeth is one of my favorites, as these books are always quick, intelligent and written with just the right amount of humor.
Rick Monday's Tales from the Dodger Dugout

Rick Monday's Tales from the Dodger Dugout

By Rick Monday 192 pages Adult

Danny Says

I selfishly included this book on this month’s list because I am caught up in pennant fever, and I am pulling for the Dodgers to hold on to the NL West. Rick Monday has always been one of my favorite commentators, and he is beloved by all for sparing the American flag from a couple of knuckleheads who tried to ignite it on the field of a game at Dodger stadium in the 70s. This book recounts the ups and downs of the 1981 world champion Dodger team, with great anecdotes about one of my favorite teams. Yes – this is a selfish pick.
The Unfinished Novel and Other Stories

The Unfinished Novel and Other Stories

By Valerie Martin 212 pages Adult

Danny Says

Browsing the shelves at Border’s one day, I was intrigued by this book’s title and cover art. Four hours and two coffees later, I found myself advertising the book to all who would listen. Wonderfully written with its fair share of twists and turns, this book left me wanting more books by Valerie Martin.
Crabwalk

Crabwalk

By Gunter Grass 252 pages Adult

Danny Says

October is the month Nobel Prizes are handed out, so why not impress your friends by reading the work of a Nobel laureate? The fictional narrator in this amazing story recalls surviving one of the worst maritime disasters of all time, the 1945 sinking of the German refugee carrier Willem Gustloff by a Soviet submarine. This one will whet your appetite to learn more about an event I had never heard of before.
My Life as a Furry Red Monster

My Life as a Furry Red Monster

By Kevin Clash 224 pages Adult

Danny Says

Maybe I am only interested in Elmo because of my 2-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son. I think this is a great book for anyone to read, though. Do not let the page count throw you off, as the book is small (I read the entire book in a couple of hours while listening to CDs at Border’s). The book works because it is not some sing-songy drudge but a thoughtful semi-autobiography (I say “semi” because the book offers all sorts of inspirational messages and timely observations). This book just came out, and it is well worth your time.
Girl with a Pearl Earring: A Novel

Girl with a Pearl Earring: A Novel

By Tracy Chevalier 240 pages Adult

Danny Says

I have been meaning to put this book on the list for months, as it is not often that I get to recommend a bestseller that is also fairly short. This is a quick read and most enjoyable, as Chevalier writes a tale of how a young maiden was immortalized in one of the world’s most famous paintings. Vermeer is a fascinating character in art history, and I once convinced a bunch of fraternity brothers to accompany me to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. to see an exhibit of his work (in exchange, they forced me to watch “Showgirls,” so I would argue they got the better part of that bargain).
The Discomfort Zone

The Discomfort Zone

By Jonathan Franzen 208 pages Adult

Danny Says

Even though this book was written for adults, I would encourage any teenage boy to read this wonderful memoir, as Franzen (a National Book Award winner for The Corrections) details his childhood and does a particularly great job of describing the awkwardness of his adolescence, often to comical effect. This book was very easy and enjoyable to read. 
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things

By Michael Braungart,William McDonough 193 pages Adult

Danny Says

Let me preface by saying that I was not excited to read a book dealing with idealistic environmental arguments. Now that I have admitted that, let me say that I think everyone should read this book, especially CEOs and politicians. The authors, an architect and chemist, respectively, respond to environmental crises with refreshingly original thinking. The book reads like a science fiction novel, but by the end I found myself believing that the authors’ ideas could really work. I sound like a character from a B movie, but this book really got me excited about ways to solve various environmental problems.
The Case of the Roasted Onion

The Case of the Roasted Onion

By Claudia Bishop 240 pages Adult

Danny Says

I have a confession to make: I love reading short mysteries. I’ve read just about every Agatha Christie, and I treasure reading a book from cover to cover in one sitting. Bishop writes in a very reader-friendly style, and I plan on reading more of her work. This book is a breeze.
Crawling: A Father's First Year

Crawling: A Father's First Year

By Elisha Cooper 176 pages Adult

Danny Says

Being the father of a daughter who turns three this month and a year-and-a-half-old son, I totally related to this funny narrative about fatherhood. Cooper shares the same attitude I had about my children being born: it was not miraculous as much as it was totally freaky. This is the perfect gift for any dad.
The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories

The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories

By Susanna Clarke 224 pages Adult

Danny Says

This is Clarke’s follow-up to her wonderful debut, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. That book is over 1000 pages long and has no place on this list. To whet your appetite, though, this latest book (which is actually a compilation of several of Clarke’s previously published short stories) highlights why Clarke is an author to be reckoned with, as she takes us into the fantastical world of magic and fairies set in 19th century England. A wonderfully witty writer who crafts extremely gratifying tales.
Botchan

Botchan

By Natsume Soseki 112 pages Adult

Danny Says

How had I never heard of this book? I stumbled across this hundred-year-old book while scanning the Classics at Barnes & Noble, and I could not put it down. When you think about Japanese literature, you do not often think “hilarious.” I devoured this book in a couple of hours. Soseki reads like a Japanese version of Voltaire or Camus. I am pleading with high school English teachers to recommend this book to their students, as it is just a wonderfully entertaining treasure.
The Book of Courage

The Book of Courage

By Hans Wilhelm 128 pages Adult

Danny Says

A children’s book author and illustrator best known for his tear-jerker I’ll Always Love You, Wilhelm offers bits of wisdom meant to inspire people of all ages. I think this is the perfect gift for all occasions, including graduations and bar mitzvahs. An excellent book to read to start off the new year right.
The Royal Ghosts

The Royal Ghosts

By Samrat Upadhyay 224 pages Adult

Danny Says

I was in Tibet in the summer of 2001 when I discovered that the entire royal family of Nepal had been assassinated by the Crown Prince Dipendra. This collection of short stories by Nepali writer Upadhyah takes place in Kathmandu during this tumultuous time, and its depictions are both stirring and shocking.
The Bluest Eye

The Bluest Eye

By Toni Morrison 224 pages Adult

Danny Says

I have an unwritten rule that I do not usually promote Oprah’s Book Club books, as these books need no help from me (if Oprah ever wants to talk about my books on her show, though, I’d gladly make an appearance). I do feel it is important from time to time to get people reading important authors. Toni Morrison is a Nobel Prize winner, and this book affords lazy readers a glimpse at her genius in a lot fewer pages.

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