Topsham Tales: January 2013

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

New York Times Best Sellers for January

January 6: Fiction and Nonfiction
January 13: Fiction and Nonfiction
January 20: Fiction and Nonfiction
January 27: Fiction and Nonfiction

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Helen's Top 5 of 2012

1. New York by Edward Rutherfurd

2. The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice

3. The Yard by Alex Grecian

4. The Unholy by Heather Graham

5. Cold Vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

1. The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern
I couldn’t read this fast enough! When I was finished, it became the book by which I judged every other book I read throughout the rest of the year. If you haven’t read it, read it! It’s amazing!

2. Dead End in Norvelt – Jack Gantos
The well-deserved winner of last year’s Newbury Medal. For an extra treat, listen to the audiobook, read by Mr. Jack Gantos himself!

3. Dragons Love Tacos – by Adam Rubin
Dragons love tacos and parties, but not salsa! Seriously, any book that can use a line like “Pantloads of tacos” is a winner. I laughed through this entire book, then cornered anyone else I could find and made them read it as well.

4. The Man Who Ate Everything – Jeffrey Steingarten
A series of essays about food, one of the most notable being dedicated entirely to ketchup. Who knew ketchup was so fascinating?!

5. House of Leaves – Mark Z. Danielewski
Definitely the strangest book I’ve ever read. Beware: it may make you afraid of your house…

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Linda's Top 5 of 2012

1^st Place - House of Silk – Anthony Horowitz

Brilliant! is the one word description I would give to Anthony Horowitz’s House of Silk. The characters came to life through Mr. Horowitz’s pen; and his descriptions of the life of the privileged, lavish and indulgent, juxtaposed against the desperation of the poor and the orphaned provided the perfect setting; all wrapped up in the dirt and fog of a raw English winter. I was there with Sherlock Holmes and Watson in Victorian London. But it wasn’t only the weather that chilled me to the bone. The subject was so shocking to Watson that he ordered the manuscript not to be published for 100 years. With two very different murders to investigate the plot is deliciously complex. While some answers seemed obvious, others took me by surprise. This mystery was fulfilling on every level. The writing was beautiful, the descriptions vivid, and the puzzle engaging right to the end. Written as a reflection by Dr. Watson, some years after the death of Sherlock Holmes, the characters were completely true to the originals. It’s no wonder that this was the first Sherlock Holmes novel written by another author to receive the authorization of the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate.

2^nd Place The Brutal Telling – Louise Penny

Once again Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache makes my top 5 list. Armand is a rare breed indeed – relentless in his search for truth; yet honest, noble, intelligent and kind. The complex storyline, lovable characters, and delightful setting for these mysteries make them irresistible!

3^rd Place - A Cold Treachery – Charles Todd

This Inspector Ian Rutledge case kept me guessing right up to the end. The mother-son writing team offers a great study in human nature along with an engrossing mystery.

Honorable mention - Believing the Lie – Elizabeth George

The latest in the Inspector Thomas Lynley series will not disappoint his followers as Thomas steps in again to discreetly puzzle out what really happened in the boathouse late that night. Surely it was just an unfortunate accident.

Bloodline – Felix Francis

I am happy to say that Felix Francis has filled the shoes of his late father, jockey and mystery writer, Dick Francis. Without missing a beat, this story provides the excitement and intrigue of the British Horse Racing world that the elder Francis provided. It’s like a quick and enjoyable romp among old friends.