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Holiday Books 2008
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  It’s our annual holiday book show! We’ll hear what bios, novels and bestsellers are flying off the shelves this season. There’s a new biography of investment king Warren Buffett, novelists Wally Lamb and Maya Angelou are out with their latest offerings and the fads of the year Swedish mysteries and vampire fiction. What new books are on your holiday wish list? What might you be giving to that special someone this year? Guests
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Your blurb for the program pushes ephemera — popular flashes in the pan. Perhaps the best gifts are those that last the longest — Complete or Selected Poems of otherwise unfamiliar authors, anthologies of foreign literature — and look to the enduring books of the small, independent presses — like (I confess) my own Zephyr Press (zephyrpress,org).
Hello! Here are the books discussed during today's edition of The Exchange that aren't on Dan and Michael's booklists. Feel free to share your own recommendations by posting a comment below.
While discussing political books, Dan mentioned The Defining Moment by Jonathan Alter - a book, he said, "you cannot [currently] find because the publisher was caught flat-footed" by its popularity. Michael added that interest in the book picked up after Barack Obama was heard to be reading it.
Dan and Michael both noted books involving animals were popular this year. They mentioned several, including Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter; Alex and Me by Irene Pepperberg; Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien; the Marley the dog books by John Grogan and The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery.
Mary in Tamworth recommended Alphabet Juice by Roy Blount Jr. as "a fun book you can thumb around in and find little nonsense or little gems of wit." Dan and Michael both gave Blount's work high marks.
Mary Jane in Wilmot suggested Christmas Farm by Mary Lyn Ray and Barry Root, which she described as "peaceful," "gorgeous" and "intergenerational."
Among local authors, Dan mentioned Fritz Wetherbee and Brendan DuBois as local authors who sell well during the holiday season.
Jonathan e-mailed to suggest Catamount: A North Country Thriller by Rick Davidson as a good local read.
Kim wrote in to suggest Hannah's Dream by Diane Hammond; she said the book caused her to cry "tears of joy."
Michael mentioned that Stephanie Meyer's Twilight books have led to a lot of other vampire-themed novels.
Robert in Manchester called to recommend a book originally written in French: The Innocent Victim by Adelard Lambert and Margaret S. Langford. Robert said Lambert founded a library in Manchester.
Amanda in Manchester recommended Gregory Maguire's What-the-dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy.
Tara in Henniker called to plug her new book, co-written with a man of Penobscot heritage. It's called Muskrat Stew, Tales of a Penobscot Life.
Laura mentioned that she's reading The Old American by Ernest Hebert as a good historical tome.
Jen e-mailed to say Howard Frank Mosher's On Kingdom Mountain was "the best ever."
Linda in Concord suggested The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett, saying it's a "fun, quick little read" especially for "Anglophiles." Dan said that The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery and Alison Anderson is a good choice to read after The Uncommon Reader.
Claudia wrote to ask what to read next after Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals. Dan suggested several books from his recommended list; Laura suggested Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson, and Dan added Looking for Lincoln by Philip B. Kunhardt III, Peter W. Kunhardt, and Peter W. Kunhardt Jr.
Lynne in Meredith suggested The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski, saying that a couple she knew read the book on their honeymoon.
Another listener wrote in to suggest The Art of Racing in the Rain Garth Stein as "a tale of love, tragedy, mystery and redemption."
Among books about the economy, Michael added Panic! The Story of Modern Financial Insanity by Michael Lewis to his recommended booklist, and also mentioned Lewis's Liar's Poker.
Dan suggested two last picks: The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti and Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese.
Thanks for joining us on the air! You can keep the conversation going right here on NHPR.org.
I’m so glad you mentioned “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”. I absolutely love it! The second book is even better --- I haven’t read the last book yet.
I highly recommend Henning Mankell and Åsa Larsson, two Swedish authors that write good mysteries.
Just wanted to check on the Maya Angelou reference. What novel has she written? Her new biography is Letter to my Daughter, but I don't know of a novel.
I know that Toni Morrison has written Mercy, was there confusion on the two?
I second the comment about Catamount, as I have read it and it is hard to put down. The characters are well developed and you want to read further to see what happens to them. I have lost sleep because of this book.
I like the fact that the book takes place in northern NH and is by a NH native. It also weaves a Native American subplot throughout the book.
If you ever think you have had a bad day, you will realize that it is nothing compared to what these characters go through.
A must read
Loved this book!! The suspense, the vivid descriptions of the countryside, the interesting characters --- I really enjoyed this book. If you know New Hampshire, you'll really identify with the mentality and the scenes of the area: if you don't know this region - you will want to go there! Fascinating story with depth !
READ THIS ONE!!!
It is said that writers should write about what they know and love. Rick Davidson has clearly done this with his thriller set in northern New Hampshire. The opening chapters set the scene, develop characters - both North Country 'characters' and tourists - and evoke the atmosphere of rural New England. Slowly, the threat of the catamount is revealed - and the tension mounts. Once the action really gets going, the pace is relentless and the story takes many twists and turns. But Catamount is not just a thrilling story told so well it is unputdownable. On a deeper level, it questions the relationship between humankind and nature. The back matter says the author is working on a second novel. Can't wait!
I think the book that Tara of Henniker spoke of was called something like "Muskrat Stew".
You are correct - the full title is Muskrat Stew, Tales of a Penobscot Life by Fred Ranco as told to Tara Marvel.
Kate Braestrup's "Here If You Need Me".
A must read, written by a chaplain with the Maine Search and Rescue Service.
Here are some great non-fiction adventure stories:
In the Heart of the Sea - Nathaniel Philbrick (the true story that inspired Moby Dick)
In the Land of White Death – Valarian Albanov (a survival story of a ship frozen in Arctic ice around the turn of the 20th century)
The Exploration of the Colorado River and its Canyons – John Wesley Powell
Undaunted Courage – Stephen Ambrose (a great Lewis & Clark Expedition telling focused on Meriwether Lewis and Thomas Jefferson)
The Discoverers – Daniel Boorstin (an extensive book on most of the significant discoveries in human history)
Just wanted to throw some Meredith NH recommendations out...
For the horror fan, Scott Sigler's Infected is out in paperback.
For the adult Twilight fan, there is a gorgeous new edition of Robin McKinley's Sunshine.
New young adult editions of a fantasy series, Poison Study and Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder.
A new author, Marsha Mehran has two books out, fabulous novels: "Pomegranate Soup" and "Rosewater and Soda Bread"
With the popularity of the show, the Dexter series by Lindsey is very fun.
Great new South American mystery by Guillermo Martinez, Book of Murder.
Billionaire's Vinegar by Wallace is a fun wine story and Traffic by Vanderbilt makes you rethink driving.
Long Way Gone by Beah is a great book to read, and is available in a special edition audio, for the same price as a paperback.
Laura Lippman's new stories, Hardly Knew Her, is a staff favorite.
Appreciate Laura's Annual Book Show every year. Thanks for utilizing the expertise of the staff of indie bookshops. We had several customers stop in to inquire or purchase the books mentioned on the show.
I expect that Dewey will be a big seller this year- all kitty owner's will want a copy!
Vermont mystery writer Archer Mayor's books are a perennial big seller in New England - the new one, Catch, has both Vermont and Maine settings.
Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay is now available in trade paperback, about the roundup of Jews in Paris in 1942. For those who loved Suite Francaise.
Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--And How It Can Renew America should be of interest this holiday season because of Braack Obama's interest in the environment.
Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling - due to be released on Dec 4th- a Harry Potter supplement by Rowling, with Scholastic donating teh net proceeds of the book to children's charities. Without all the bells and whistles of the regular HP books and only $12.99 so it won't break the family piggy bank to pick one up.
We have several books this season coming out by Vermont landscape architects. Dan Snow has a new book, Listening to Stone: Hardy Structures, Perilous Journeys and other tangles with Nature. Gordon Hayward's newest book, Art and the Gardener: Fine Painting as Inspiration for Garden Design is an interesting comaprison of the two disciplines. Great books for gardeners looking for inspiration during our long New England winters.
Great show, really enjoy it every day.