Kodachrome Gypsy Book Club - Best Reads of 2012

Another year gone by. As always, I spent a significant portion of it reading. Here are my favorites from 2012:

Steve Jobs (Isaacson). Hubby would not stop talking about how fantastic this book was and urging me to read it. I was initially reluctant, insisting that I had no interest in joining a bunch of Apple fan-boys to worship at the altar of a megalomaniac in a mock turtleneck. Turns out, I was misguided. Although it is an authorized biography, the book does not deify Jobs. In fact, much of it focuses on his flaws and idiosyncrasies--including his "reality distortion field"--and how these both contributed to and constrained his success at Apple. Most interestingly, Isaacson frequently contrasts Apple's (and Jobs's) hippy, counter-cultural self-image with its rigid and at times cutthroat business practices. Isaacson portrays Jobs as a highly compelling figure and a true visionary, but probably not someone you'd want to hang out with.

The Handmaid's Tale (Atwood). Written in 1986, this novel depicts a dystopian future where feminists and Christian fundamentalists unite to establish a bizarre and repressive social order, reminiscent of 1984. Offred, the protagonist, is a handmaid, the unfortunate object of the male-dominated establishment's brutal repopulation policies. Chilling, original, and thought-provoking.

NW (Smith). I am a big fan of Zadie Smith and devoured her other novels, White Teeth and On Beauty. NW does not disappoint. It is quintessential Smith, featuring the vivid characters, snappy dialogue, class conflict, and multiculturalism she's known for. NW weaves together vignettes of four residents in gritty northwest London, including former schoolmates Natalie and Leah, who grew up together in public housing but have drifted apart in adulthood. A complex narrative with a surprising, heartbreaking finale.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers (Boo). A work of narrative non-fiction that feels like a novel, Behind the Beautiful Forevers is the result of three years of on-the-ground reporting from Annawadi, a slum near the Mumbai airport, and poignantly recounts the residents' poverty, relationships, and aspirations for a better life. Elegantly written, the book paints the slum residents as complicated individuals, at points evoking pity, contempt, disgust, or amusement in the reader.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Foer). The story of nine-year-old Oskar Schell's quest for closure following his father's death in the 9/11 attacks in New York City. Oskar is a quirky, precocious, solitary kid who joins forces with an elderly shut-in to track down the lock that fits a key he discovered in his father's closet. The layered plot addresses the pain of loss through a variety of lenses, including war, terrorism, childhood, and relationships.

Kodachrome Gyspy Book Club - Best Reads of 2011

It's already March and I am finally getting around to posting my favorite books from 2011. Fortunately, these are worth the wait. Interestingly, all happen to be non-fiction this year. I really am getting old.

Cleopatra: A Life (Schiff). A captivating account of one of history's most legendary figures that debunks many of the myths surrounding Cleopatra's life. She was not, for instance, a beautiful, gold-digging temptress. She herself was the richest person in the world and was probably not a great beauty (the only authentic portrait of Cleopatra is from the gold coinage that was in circulation during her reign). She was a shrewd negotiator, political operator, and military strategist who controlled currencies, suppressed insurrections, forged alliances and defied her adversaries. Excellent writing and detailed research makes for a fascinating read. Cleopatra certainly earned her chops as my childhood heroine by the time I finished this book!

Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef (Hamilton). Wonderfully well-written personal history by Gabrielle Hamilton, chef/owner of Prune in NYC and recipient of the 2011 James Beard award for best chef in NYC. Hamilton is certainly a reluctant chef, having no formal training and even leaving the culinary world to pursue a creative writing degree, only to eventually return. She has strong ideas about everything from food to family to sexuality and her intense passion comes through in her writing. Some of the best moments in this book are when Hamilton describes the essence of nourishment.

My Korean Deli: Risking it all for a Convenience Store (Howe). Another first-person narrative, this time about a man from Plymouth, MA who marries into a Korean family. In between his day job as a literary editor at The Paris Review, Ben and his corporate lawyer wife buy a convenience store in Brooklyn for his mother-in-law to run. The double-decker culture clash (Ben vs. his Korean in-laws; the family vs. the convenience store clientele) makes for some amusing anecdotes. Inspiring reading for anyone who feels overextended.

Bossypants (Fey). Uproariously funny autobiography by Tina Fey, star of TV's 30 Rock. Fey tells the story of how she got her start in show business and offers other hilarious thoughts on life. I also loved her insider's take on other stars like Amy Poehler, Alec Baldwin, and unnamed, high-maintenance hosts of SNL over the years. Her insights on how funny women are perceived in the entertainment industry were particularly thought-provoking.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) (Kaling). Somewhat similar to Bossypants, in that the book is hilarious and the author is a female comedy writer on a hit TV show, this time Mindy Kaling from The Office. But this book is more of a collection of essays about a variety of topics, as opposed to a true autobiography. Kaling is very relatable and this is a fun, honest, self-deprecating take on working in comedy, romance, friendship, childhood, and other concerns.

Kodachrome Gypsy Book Club - Best Reads of 2010

At the end of 2010, I realized that I did not keep up my usual reading pace this year. Another casualty of my new job, along with the significant segment of my wardrobe that I cannot currently button. But here are a few noteworthy selections from the past year:

The Help (Stockett) - This fictional account of black housemaids and their white employers takes place in Alabama during 1960s, but seems like it could be a century earlier. The dialogue evokes the black women's voices and manner of speaking--for which the white author has been criticized. Very thought-provoking with interesting insights into race relations, along with a compelling plot and excellent character development.

Little Bee (Cleave) - The story of a Nigerian refugee who comes to Britain and inserts herself into the troubled lives of a married couple she met on a beach in her homeland. Lots of plot twists and turns.

Half-Broke Horses (Walls) - I didn't like it as much as Walls' earlier book, The Glass Castle, but this is another non-fiction account of her unusual but endearing family. Tells the story of her grandmother--a strong-willed woman ahead of her time--coming of age in the American West. Features Walls' signature evocative writing and irresistible characters.

How Did You Get This Number (Crosley) - Another collection of essays by Sloane Crosley (I Was Told There'd Be Cake). These pick up where the last book left off, reflecting on life as a late-20-something, including musings on self-discovery, failed romances, and the transition to adulthood. A delightful travel read (this time in Paris).

Kodachrome Gypsy Book Club - Best Reads of 2009

I read a lot, and I love discussing books. Until recently, I thought I would be the perfect candidate for a book club. Wrong. One of my 2009 self-discoveries was that I am, in fact, a book club delinquent. I joined a book club in January and attended about half of the monthly meetings; of the meetings I did attend, I had read the entire book about half of the time. Turns out, I feel smothered by the book club framework. I don't like being forced to read books that don't particularly interest me, and I am very picky. As someone who has low-grade anxiety attacks upon entering Barnes & Noble and realizing that I only have one measly lifetime to read all the books I want to, there's no sense in wasting time on uninspiring books. I still love getting book recommendations, but I guess I am more of a lone wolf where the club comes in. Here are a few of the best books I read this year (none were book club selections):

A Fine Balance (Mistry) - Historical fiction from 1970s India during Indira Gandhi's state of emergency. Tells the tale of two villagers who train as tailors and move to the city to try and improve their lives. Very intense and moving--basic plot is that the little guy can't get a break. Probably one of the best books I've ever read.

I Was Told There'd Be Cake (Crosley) - A series of humorous essays by a 20-something woman living in New York City. I took this on my honeymoon and it was perfect travel reading because you can pick it up whenever you have a moment and get a good chuckle.

White Tiger (Adiga) - Another work of Indian fiction, set in modern-day India. A compelling story of a driver who kills his master that touches upon many of the tensions in Indian society--old vs. new, rural vs. urban, rich vs. poor, east vs. west. Reminded me of Wright's Native Son because you really do sympathize with the protagonist, despite being fully aware of his heinous crime.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog (Barbery) - Originally published in French, this is one of the most unusual books I've ever read. It is a philosophical social satire that plays on the reader's sense of what people "should" be. Definitely got me thinking.

Under the Banner of Heaven (Krakauer) - Non-fiction account of radical breakaway Mormon sects in the American West. Also provides a lot of background on mainstream Mormon faith. Excellent writing and chilling subject matter.