Jun
10
Books We Want to Read (and one we don’t)
June 10, 2010 | Leave a Comment
I’ve been looking around for some good book lists and book clubs to share. I think this club, and its book list, is the most compelling, and it’s short enough to be doable this summer. In fact, I am thinking of joining up, something I have never actually considered doing before (hey, I have a three-year-old, so sue me.) Check it out – More details here.
The First Four Books For the Rumpus Book Club
(Stephen Elliott is the author of seven books, including the memoir The Adderall Diaries, the novel Happy Baby, and the erotica collection My Girlfriend Comes To The City and Beats Me Up. He is the editor of The Rumpus.)
June: Citrus County by John Brandon, McSweeneys. Publishers Weekly has already raved that John Brandon’s “dry wit, dark imagination, and surprisingly big heart combine to reveal a Florida that, despite (or because of) being more Ted Bundy than Disney World, is absolutely worth visiting.â€
July: The Surf Guru by Doug Dorst, Riverhead. The Surf Guru is an outstanding story collection. Dorst is also kind of a McSweeney’s author with several of the stories here previously published in McSweeney’s Quarterly.
August: Richard Yates by Tao Lin, Melville House. This is Tao Lin’s second novel. He is also the author of the fantastic novella Shoplifting From American Apparel as well as story collections and a book of poetry.
September: All Is Forgotten, Nothing Is Lost by Lan Samantha Chang. Lan Samantha Chang is the head of the Iowa Writer’s Workshop and her new novel is rumored to be based on a famous professor. Here’s the official description: “At the renowned writing school in Bonneville, every student is simultaneously terrified of and attracted to the charismatic and mysterious poet and professor Miranda Sturgis, whose high standards for art are both intimidating and inspiring. As two students, Roman and Bernard, strive to win her admiration, the lines between mentorship, friendship, and love are blurred.â€
For more info on both The Rumpus (excellent, excellent culture site) and their book club, please click here.
P.S. There are plenty of books that we really do not want to read, possibly including this one, the most depressing book ever (is there an award for this category somewhere? I did a quick search and it doesn’t seem so…):
“All the lonely people…where do they all come from?…” Smith’s 300-plus recipes rarely take more than a half hour to prepare, and often less than that. Advanced models of microwaves can now brown, saute and roast, as well as boil and steam, for a range of recipes that experienced cooks will appreciate. Neophytes will be helped by the thorough instructions on such basics as soft-boiling eggs. Smith’s practical bent is further evidenced by her tips for using leftover raw ingredientsthere’s an entire chapter on preserves, relishes and sauces.” (from The Southern Food & Beverage Museum website)