Books of Note 2010

A short list of the books that made an impression this year.

First is the list of books I was truly excited about reading and was just really disappointed. They are written by some very excellent writers, but I was just not convinced they lived up to all the hype.

Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart :

I read an excerpt of this story in the New Yorker as part of their 20 under 40 series. I was instantly intrigued by the bumbling love story set in a sarcastic futuristic world. I’ve seen Shteyngart a couple of times and it’s obvious that the man is a clown, this shines through in his writing. The futuristic world is a tongue and cheek commentary on our obsession with technology. The main character Lenny Abramov is an awkward middle aged man trying desperately to stay current but unable to let go of his roots. He falls in love with a Korean American girl called Eunice Park, who is too young for him and who treats him like a charity case. I read the excerpt and loved the writing, it easily transported me into the mind of poor Lenny. When I got the book, I couldn’t wait to see how it all unfolded. Sadly it never took off for me. The story begins very slowly and I got halfway through it before I just gave up. It may be a testament to Shteyngart’s ability as a writer that he crafted such a hopeless failure as a protagonist. I cringed through most of what I read and felt a little skeeved out by Lenny.

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen:

This was one of the most hyped books of they year. It keeps getting referred to as the next great American novel. Franzen was featured on the cover of Time magazine as the greatest living writer. This book was even picked for the Oprah book club (insert eye-roll). The New Yorker ran part of the book in one of its issues, which I read and loved, I couldn’t wait to finally get my hands on it and read it. It’s good, really good, very well written, a realistic depiction of a modern-day family. The problem for me was, it just wasn’t special. There was no surprise in this book, the characters were realistic but stiff and self-indulgent. It wasn’t even fun reading it, apart from admiring the craft of the sentences I labored through to the end of this book to be able to form my own opinion of the most talked about book of 2010. Overrated.

A Visit from the Good Square by Jennifer Egan:

As every year draws to a close there is a stream of top 10 lists, I usually zero in on the book ones. This one by Jennifer Egan has been almost universally included on those lists. Now I didn’t get to the end of this book, frankly I didn’t even get halfway through but I am perplexed by all of adulation. I agree that Egan has a keen ability to inhabit and convince you of a characters voice. This story is a collection of short stories all from different characters who are linked to one man in the music business; family members, colleagues, etc. I just couldn’t find myself caring about any of the people she was writing about. The writing just felt so distant for me. I like to feel like I’m in the characters head, that I’m on a journey of introspection.

Now for the books that I lost sleep over, wowed me, and took me by surprise.

Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower:

This powerful little short story debut has probably been my most talked about book this year. I went back and forth a lot on whether or not to recommend this. Not everyone likes literary fiction, or short stories. The writing is absolutely superb. I inadvertently put my life on hold for a day because I couldn’t  get enough of stuff like this:

The loveliness of the day was enough to knock you down. Swallows rioted above the calm green lid of the lake. Birch trees gleamed like filaments among the dark evergreens. No planes disturbed the sky. I felt dead to it, though I did take a kind of comfort that all of this beauty was out here, persisting like mad, whether you hearkened to it or not.

Hands down my favorite read of the year.

The Hunger Games Trilogy (Hunger Games, Catching Fire & Mockingjay):

I only read YA if it comes highly recommended. So many of it is just really bad. This rec came from a bookish kindred spirit who I can’t stop thanking for introducing me to it. It has all of the elements needed to sweep a reader away into a different world. Violence, love, characters you care about, struggling in a well crafted world. This is the type of series that will have you putting up “shhh, I’m reading” signs. I think I actually shushed one of my roommates while reading this :/

The Collected Stories of Richard Yates by Richard Yates:

This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for a couple of years now. I used to consider myself the type of person that only read novels so short story collections usually went to the bottom of the reading pile. The world of short stories was opened up to me this year and so many of the writers I fell in love with mentioned their ardent admiration for Richard Yates’ short stories. I’ve been a fan of Yates for a while, The Easter Parade is one of my favorite books so I was more than happy to delve into his short story collection. Richard Yates is a treasure, his writing is heartbreakingly excellent. A little 12 page story can absolutely punish you with a vivid glimpse into a characters life. It’s not for everyone, there are few (if any) happy endings. His stories are of people trying with all their might to get by and just not being able to catch a break, of putting on a brave face, of relishing the small victories even amidst tragic defeat. Even with all its bleakness, I found a lot of hope and a lot to admire in this great collection.

The Man with the Wooden Hat by Jane Gardam:

I also discovered some modern day British writers. This one was my favorite of the bunch. I read this short series out of order so if you pick it up, read Old Filth first. It’s a story about a marriage. The pacing of British literature is so different from the frenetic pace of American literature, I found this very enjoyable. It portrays the elements of growing in love with someone; the convincing of oneself, the turning a blind eye, the carefully weighed resignation but also the comfort and steadiness of it. I still haven’t read Old Filth but is definitely on the reading list for 2010.

I know I resolved to read 100 books this year, I only got to 89. So the goal rolls into 2011, and hopefully I’ll figure out a better way to keep track of what I’m reading and review anything worth mentioning in a timely manner. Happy reading in the new year.

Happy Birthday Audrey

photo courtesy of Jon Shuler's iphone

I cry every time someone I know has a baby; they are the mingled tears of overabounding joy and anguished horror. Everything about the birth process makes me wince in phantom pain; mornings with your head in the toilet, swollen feet, fatigue all culminating to expulsion of a bulbous 8lb human from your lady parts or alternatively having your belly slashed to lift said baby out, racks me with leg quaking fear. How do women survive this? How can everyone be so unconcerned about a procedure with so much gore? I tell people that I’m praying for the safe delivery of their child, what I don’t tell them is that I am also praying for their survival.

 My best friend just had her first kid, a beautiful baby girl. Her husband kept me updated with a smattering of informational texts during the 19 hour delivery period. I waited up in eager anticipation of the newborn picture text. Eventually I just had to head to bed, but woke up with a picture of my newest love in the world Audrey Mae Shuler. Getting that photo and the subsequent family shots reminded me that even with all the terrifying elements that come with bringing life into the world, it’s all worth it when they finally make it out to greet us.

Recent Reads

I am shamefully behind on my book reviews. Here’s a quick recap of the books I’ve finished recently. I want to start with a series that I devoured:

YA fiction historically hasn’t been my go to book genre. Reading this series has made me give YA a second look. It was recommended by a trusted bookworm friend so I gave it a chance and I was quickly swept up in the story. If you liked Harry Potter, or like YA at all you should definitely check this series out.

I admire an economical writer. This a super short read that packs a lot of punch. If you get breathless at an immaculate sentence (like I do), check this one out.

I read this in one sitting at a local bookstore. It’s in textbook format, more picture heavy than text heavy. It was very funny and hysterical just like the show. Would I buy this? No, but it would be a fun gift for someone who is into political satire.

Shteyngart’s, Lenny was just too much of a creeper for me. The older man falling for the younger girl as he tries to clasp onto his youth is a pretty typical story in literary fiction. Lenny, the main character is just so desperate and icky, I would often cringe reading it. It is very well written, maybe too well written I had to take a shower after deciding that I would take a break from the book.

My new favorite term is “defensive pessimism”.

“The ‘defensive pessimist’ looks at everything and thinks [that] this is going to be a disaster,” he explains to Fresh Air‘s Terry Gross. “They lower their expectations … and they go through all of the negative capacities and the negative capabilities of a given event. You imagine the worst-case scenario you can and you go through it step by step, and you dismantle those things and you manage your anxiety about it.”

Rakoff is the quintessential defensive pessimist, and I love him for it. The stories are sardonic but generally surprise you with some feel good sentiment. I’ve found that Rakoff’s stories are much better listened to than read. There is something unique to his narration that adds more weight to the stories. If you like David Sedaris, you’ll like David Rakoff.

My favorite Rakoff review: “Like a whore with a heart of gold, David Rakoff says all the nasty things we want to hear and then reveals that, actually, it’s all about love.” -Ira Glass

Those are the books that stuck out most recently.  So far I’m at 72 books; I’m pretty confident I’ll hit the 100 book goal by the end of the year.

Coffee – I just can’t quit you

At the height of my addiction I drank three saucer sized cups a day. I would languish over that morning cup. The smell of it before the first sip was tantamount to God breathing life into Adam, animating the inanimate. A cup before leaving for work then another once I got into the office, by 10am every cell was buzzing with caffeine. I crashed around lunch and hurried for my next fix around 3 internally berating myself for bowing to temptation.

This had been my routine for months. I refrained on weekends and noticed I would get debilitating headaches. Two months ago I decided to quit. I would not be conquered by a cup of crushed bean water. The first weeks were excruciating. I would walk past Starbucks looking in the windows with longing, like an ex-girlfriend driving by to catch a glimpse of an old flame. I was ostensibly a zombie, a slow moving caricature of a person, dead on the inside.

I was done with coffee for a solid month. Then a month of friends coming into town and itineraries run over with late night shenanigans, inevitably led me back to my coffee guzzling ways. Here I am buzzing away, waiting for the afternoon crash. Most days I can quell coffee’s siren song but I really thought I could stop and never look back. Turns out the sweet promise a cup of coffee holds is just too good to quit.

Damn you coffee.

Take a Seat

My author crush, Wells Tower sat next to me today at a reading. I like to get to things early and sit at the front of the class. Front row seating at readings for some of the more obscure writers I enjoy, tend to remain vacant until right before a reading starts, which was the case for this evening.

In comes Mr. Tower strolling in casually looking for somewhere to sit. Two seats to my left are empty and he asks politely motioning toward the empty seats “Is anyone sitting here?” I could’ve been cool in this moment. I could have nodded my head and said “I don’t think so” acted casual like he was any old Joe off the street, but I have never been cool a day in my life. I knew exactly who he was (the future father of my uber-literate children) and motioned to the chair next to me presenting it like some prize and overeagerly saying “Oh, yes, yeah you can sit here, this seat isn’t taken” (because you don’t know it yet but I love you and sometimes I read your stories and I just weep because they are so good so really it’s fate that you’re sitting next to me because you will be mine Wells Tower you will be mine). He sits next to me and I feel like I’ve just won the Nobel Prize. My friend nudges me because she too knows how fortuitous this situation is. I want to nudge back but am afraid I might scare away my author friend on my left. I spent most of the evening holding my breathe and stiffly shifting in my seat.

His reading was of course wonderful. It brought me back to the quiet hours between the pages of his book Everything Ravaged Everything Burned practically drooling over those finely crafted sentences. I felt the same not wanting it to end feeling.

No, I didn’t talk to him. What do you say to someone who has made your heart stop by reading one of his short stories. “I’m such a big fan Mr. Tower” sounds so stupid and doesn’t even begin to describe the overwhelming gratitude I feel. I’m sure the fangirl way I internally fawn all over someone who can command words would just make everyone involved feel awkward and cringe. Don’t worry I didn’t do anything weird like lightly press my shoulder against his.

Here’s a sampling of some of his work:

Love in the Ruins – Outside Magazine

The Landlord – The New Yorker

My parallel universe

I was back in California for the first time since officially moving to New York. After being in New York for 8 months or so and feeling as if I was finally where I belonged it was strange to be back in California and seemingly resuming where I had left off. There is so much comfort in “knowing”…sitting at home watching the U.S. Open with my dad felt normal, going to the movies w/ my brother also normal, happy hour w/ the gang, playing with the god kids, lunch w/ co-workers, wedding festivities w/ the Cal Poly folks all of it felt normal because it was my life. It felt like I had two lives running parallel to one another, my life in New York was on pause. I realized that if I wanted to I could just pick up where I left off, like my life in New York never even existed.

The missing link for me in New York is community. I have a few friends here who I spend the majority of my free time with running around trying to snatch up all of the things the city has to offer. Being back in California made me realize how much I miss having groups of friends and routine. I miss Friday afternoon happy hours with the Nikkei crew, seeing my godson on random weeknight dinners w/ Krista & Jared, trying new things w/ Elaine, large birthday dinners w/ the SLO folks and hanging out with my family.

On the flip side though I realized on the plane ride back to New York why I had chosen this life. I have a job with a company that I love, that challenges and excites me. I get my fill of events with authors, musicians, thinkers that I admire and respect. The New York you see in movies and TV is my backyard, is my everyday. I moved here because I wasn’t ready to settle down, I wasn’t really ready for a routine. I wanted to seize back my life and make it what I wanted and not just let it happen to me.

I miss my family and friends in California a lot. It hurts a little when I think about all of the stuff I’m missing. I’m glad I’ll have these type of visits but it’s the New York life for me for the foreseeable future.

Oh the places we’ll go..

I love having visitors. Being fairly new to New York I relish the opportunity to explore the city like a tourist. I recently had two of my good friends Megan & Katy come to stay for a bit. It was glorious good fun, lots of delicious food, long life affirming conversations and raucous laughter. We discovered new places together and savored some of the staples they look forward to enjoying when here. Here are a few of the highlights:

One last delicious bite

Luke’s Lobster : I actually discovered this place when my siblings were in town but I offered it up as a suggestion for potential lunch places to visit. They give a generous portion of lobster on a buttery roll. I don’t like lobster with too many fixins so the simplicity of these lobster rolls were right up my alley. The girls visited more than once which gives me the impression they liked it too.

St. Dymphnas: We had a hankering for some calamari while wandering St. Marks. This bar was a delightful surprise. An unassuming bright little bar. It felt like an italian place, but turns out it was an Irish bar. Cheeriest Irish bar I’ve ever been to. The girls and I had calamari, a cheese plate & beer lots and lots of beer.

Rebar: The magical land of Brooklyn is starting to grow on me. Finding places like rebar is one of the reasons. It had an inconspicuous entrance I figured it was just going to be another cramped NY restaurant but once the doors open you soon realize it’s bigger on the inside (like the Tardis!). The decor could best be described as log cabin resort. Beautiful iron gate doors act as a partition between the bar & restaurant. The tables are huge as if one big mighty tree was felled and fashioned into a dining table for the whole forest. The space is lit by a charming array of rustic chandeliers & lone low watt lightbulbs. The food was good! A bit pricey but delicious the polenta dish was a real stand out. A fun place to meet a bigger group.

Hester Street Fair: The name makes it sound much bigger than it actually is but what it lacks in size it makes up for  in charm. Situated in a little pocket between volleyball & tennis courts (don’t worry there are fences to keep the stray balls from flying toward your face) the fair houses a modest collection of artisans & food vendors. You can literally walk the whole fair in 2 min. We enjoyed sampling the food vendors (Luke’s Lobster is there!) and I managed to find a delicate little necklace just as I was losing hope in finding the perfect gift for a friend.

Serenity - the main ingredient Dragon Tears

Angel’s Share: The perfect place to take someone you want to impress. The bar is located behind an unmarked door in a busy yakatori restaurant. It’s usually pretty packed on the weekends but since we visited on a Wednesday early in the evening we managed to score a table in the back room. It is a classy places with dark wood, white gloved servers & $14 special cocktails made by mixologists.

Joe Shanghai: Soup Dumplings! This place is virtually on every “must eat” list when visitors roll through town. Two tidbits of advice: 1) The dumplings are a meal unless you want a ton of leftovers. For the average party of 3, 2 orders of the Dumplings (1 pork & 1 crab) and an appetizer or 2 (scallion pancakes & green beans are my favorite) are more than enough to satisfy. 2) If you’ve never had these type of dumplings first, watch the people around you and copy their technique otherwise prepare to have the inside of your mouth scalded by an explosion of soup. This place is popular and no frills so be prepared for a long wait and to share a table.

Momofuku Noodle Bar: David Chang is a rockstar of the NY culinary scene. He has a string of Momofuku restaurants around town varying in theme & exclusivity. We like to come here for the Ramen & Pork Buns. My perfect bowl of Ramen hinges on two criteria; the pork & the broth. The ramen here hits the pork portion of that criteria out of the park. Which is also why the pork buns are a winner. We didn’t go to the milk bar (which is a block over) but Momofuku also has excellent cookies which rival my beloved Levain cookies.

My list of places to take people is slowly growing. I try to take visitors to a combination of sure fire hits and new places we can test together. If you ever decide to head out to NY for a visit, I have a handy google map with markers for all of the places I’ve enjoyed.

View Larger Map

Looking forward to your visit!