2008 Book/Author Ideas

book review resources

• one-minute book reviews (good, brief resource for books)

Possible Books discussed at July/August Denton Reads Meetings.

Frontrunners:

• Ender's Game (suggested by Kimberly Wells) "In a future where mankind has barely survived two invasions by the "buggers", an insectoid alien race, the world's most talented children, including the extraordinary Ender Wiggin, are taken into "Battle School" at a very young age to supply commanders for the expected Third Invasion." (from the Wikipedia article on this book)
  • This is my first choice for Denton Reads. I love that it would be a great youth tie-in, and its short length would make it appealing to a lot of people, I think. Also, the author name is such a huge draw, it's very exciting--I can already think of 20+ friends outside of Denton that would probably attend the Author Lecture for this book. It's a thought-provoking book without being inaccessible. (Starr Hoffman)
• Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
• Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy (suggested by adowney@library.unt.edu)
  • This book looks really interesting, but I think we ought to save it for a future year--I think we really, really need a fiction book this year. (Starr Hoffman)
  • It looks like an interesting title to keep in mind (maybe as a tie in book for another theme) but it looks as though the author is deceased.  (Kimberly Wells)
• The Gravedigger's Daughter by Joyce Carol Oates (suggested by Kimberly.Wells@cityofdenton.com)
  • Article in EW about Joyce Carol Oates and the personal story in Gravedigger's Daughter
• Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas (suggested by dkearley@dentonisd.org) In times of turmoil, it may not be easy to recognize a real American - or a real hero. When the Japanese arrive at the internment camp at the old Tallgrass Ranch in Colorado in 1942, thirteen-year-old Rennie Stroud and her family are not the only local folks suspicious of the newcomers. Soon Rennie's life is turned upside down as she discovers the darkest and best parts of the human heart right in her own home.
  • This is my second-favorite book for Denton Reads. It sounds interesting to a number of age groups, and to men as well as women (my husband sounded quite interested in this one). I like that there would be great educational/historical tie-ins with this book, too. (Starr Hoffman

Other Possible Titles:

• Four Spirits by Sena Jeter Naslund
• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen 
  • I haven't found any appearences that she has made. Nothing is listed on her website (Kimberly Wells)
• Black Girl, White Girl by Joyce Carol Oates
• The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar 
• The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
  • More about Michael Chabon from Martha Edmundson)
• The Road by Cormac McCarthy (suggested by Stacey.Irish-Keffer@cityofdenton.com)
• In the Woods by Tana French (suggested by Stacey.Irish-Keffer@cityofdenton.com)
• The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (suggested by Stacey.Irish-Keffer@cityofdenton.com
• The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (suggested by Stacey.Irish-Keffer@cityofdenton.com
• Wish You Well by David Baldacci (suggested by Martha.Edmundson@cityofdenton.com)
• Winter's Child by Margaret Maron (suggested by dkearley@dentonisd.org) Summary: Judge Deborah Knott and sheriff's deputy Dwight Bryant are just setting into their new marriage, when Dwight receives an urgent phone call. His young son's mother - Dwight's ex-wife - has disappeared. Dwight rushes to the boy's side to search for answers, but all he finds are more questions. Had his ex been in trouble? Is his son now in danger? A stunning mystery filled with memorable characters.
• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (suggested by LRamin@library.unt.edu)