Mariah's Top 5 of 2012

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…

Top 5 of 2012!

All this month the staff of TPL will be posting their top 5 picks of 2012. These will be books and movies that they read/watched in 2012. Keep checking on the blog for more top picks and check out the display in the library.

Emma’s Top 5 Picks of 2012
 

1.      Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson – Darkly hysterical, this memoir will provide plenty of belly-laughs, if your stomach is strong enough. 

2.    The Fifty Year Sword by Mark Z.  Danielewski – This novella started life as a live shadow play for Halloween. At the heart of this experimental text is a good old-fashioned ghost story.

3.      The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides – Another strong novel from Pulitzer-winner, Eugenides, about life after college for three students.

4.      Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake – The sequel to one of last year’s favorites, Anna Dressed in Blood. Cas decides that he wants to get his ghost of a girlfriend, Anna, back…from hell.

5.      Somewhere Beneath Those Waves by Sarah Monette – An unusual and haunting collection of short stories from fantasy writer, Monette.