The Rad Librarian

12/20/2010 (10:58 am)

2010 Top Ten

Filed under: Uncategorized ::

I always wait until closer to the end of December to make my list, but once I got my third complaint from friends who want to order books for the holidays to post it already, so here we go:

Listen to This- Alex Ross

My outstanding non-fiction pick of the year.  Ross places music in the center of culture, and gives equal importance to so called classical music as well as pop.  His writing style is open and thoughtful.  I particularly like the chapters on Radiohead and the Marlboro summer institute. 

Listen To This 3

The Black Minutes- Martín Solares

A poetic mystery about a fictional port town in northern Mexico where a local reporter is found murdered.  The detective who is not supposed to solve the case begins to unravel a 20 year old conspiracy which related to the present crime.   State corruption is a big part of the story like in most Paco Ignacio Taibo II’s work. 

The Black Minutes

White Cat (Curse Workers, book 1)- Holly Black

The last Young Adult book I read this year, and one of the best.  Cassel comes from a long line of curse workers with the power to steal memories, your luck, or your life.  He is trying to forget he killed his best friend Lila three years ago- or did he?  Great character development- a shock ending- teens and adults will love the start of a new series by Black.

Curse Workers #01: White Cat Cover

Under Heaven- Guy Gavrial Kay

My favorite audio book of the year.  Placed in a land similar to 8th century Tang Dynasty China, this historical fantasy has great world building.  Shen Tai is giving an enormous gift of 250 Sardian horses for spending years honoring the dead after a great battle.  If he is to live for long, he much engage in court politics, as well as understand his new place in society.  Kay’s portrayal of women as complex and powerful under the constraints of the times adds to the depth of caring for many of the characters.

Under Heaven Cover

The Imperfectionists- Tom Rachman

Character studies based around the history of a fictional international newspaper based in Rome over 50 years is the perfect backdrop to glimpse the interior lives of the protagonists.  More than a few chapters give deep insights into what motivates people into different action.  This will be a classic.

For the Win- Cory Doctorow

When I tell people that 9 out of the 20 largest economies in the world are virtual, they just don’t believe me.  “But it’s just fake gold/whuffies/tokens right?”  People buy and sell and speculate on these games with real money.  Put it this way.  World of Warcraft’s economy is worth more than  either Portugal’s or Poland’s.  Which leads to a great young adult novel about the workers who make their living in these games and their global effort to organize their labor.  Doctorow creates a believable, fast paced adventure novel across many countries with important economic lessons.  Just the relationship between the IWW and the IWWWW  is worth the price of the novel.  Teens and adults will like this in equal measures.

Ilustrado- Miguel Syjuco

Winner of the Man Asian Literary prize as an unpublished manuscript, this is a dazzling debut about the Philippines and its search for identity; both personal and political.  The multiple voice used to tell the narrative were complex and played off each other in a lovely ruminating way. 

Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives- David Eagleman

Just like the title suggests- these are 40 short stories of possible afterlives.  Eagleman, a nueroscientist who studies brains and consciousness, has created a very thought provoking collection.  My wife and I took turns reading the tales out loud to each other which sparked great conversation.  Simply lovely.

Asterios Polyp- David mazzucchelli

This is an awesome graphic novel about a paper architect (one who looks great on paper, but never gets things built) and his quest for meaning.  The art enhanced the narrative in insightful ways, highlighting what graphic novels can add to narrative. 

I Shall Wear Midnight- Terry Pratchett

Crivens! It’s with a heavy heart that Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching YA series is finished.  This has a darker tone than the other three, but is still a masterclass in thoughtful engaging storytelling.  Tiffany was 9 when the series started and now at 15 can come into her own being the witch for her community that gets things done when there is no one else who can.  When his Discworld series is all over, I’m going to cry myself to sleep.