geekyBecause every group is essentially a sociological tide pool, shifting slightly whenever the tide comes in but still cross-contaminating itself at a remarkable rate, we also tend to have a somewhat distorted view of "everybody." I bet if you polled a sample size of, say, the readership of this journal, you'd discover that Rosemary and Rue was one of the best-known books of 2009. Why? Because I wrote it, and talk about it constantly, and you read this journal, hence exposing you to it on a constant basis. I'm a literary pathogen!
On a more localized scale, we loan books to our friends, talk books up to our friends, and constantly infect each other with our literary passions. In the last year, I have caused my friends to read I Am Not a Serial Killer, Mr. Shivers, A Madness of Angels, the complete works of Kelley Armstrong, The Mermaid's Madness, The Enchantment Emporium, and Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded. These aren't the only good books I've read in the last year; they're just the ones new enough to still be available, and to have excited me with their sudden existence.
So here is today's challenge: Infect us with books we may not have heard of, but which are so damn AWESOME that it verges on a crime that more people don't know about them. Go for out-of-print things (that's why libraries and used bookstores exist), or the first books in series that started eight years ago. Bring enlightenment to the heathen, in the form of literary smallpox.
I'll start with five of my favorites, books I honestly think everyone should read (whether you enjoy them is up to you):
Hellspark, by Janet Kagen.
Mermaid's Song, by Alida Van Gorres.
Emergence, by David Palmer.
The Strange Adventures of Rangergirl, by Tim Pratt.
Paper Moon, by Joe David Brown.
Authors, feel free to pimp your own work here; just get the word out, and let's see what we're not reading!
May 22 2010, 18:06:01 UTC 7 years ago
Teen
Mayra Lazara Dole "down to the bone" is the hands down best teen lesbian story I've ever read and my favorite book I read in 2009. - Excellent story about a Latina lesbian trying to deal with being a lesbian, a girlfriend whose family is trying to make her straight, and her own family’s reaction to it. Laura is a really interesting character – even when she’s snapping at the friends who stand by her or struggling to make herself something she’s not, she’s very sympathetic and still vibrant with personality. I love her, and her best friend Soli, and the way family isn’t just blood, it’s chosen. I really want to read more by this author.
Tanita S. Davis "A La Carte" - Great book threaded through with really interesting recipes. About a teen, Lainey, who wants to be a tv chef because there aren’t enough black chefs or vegetarian chefs. Her relationship with her mother is complicated and the boy she loves twists her up. She struggles with her weight and her hair and finding balance in her life and finding ways to achieve her goals and it is really, truly incredible, the family love and complications. Her relationship with her grandmother in particular is wonderful, and the way they share recipes really quite touching.
Kelly Parra "Invisible Touch" - I love this book so, so much. The main character, Kara, is fantastic, flawed and friendly and funny and absolutely amazing. I love the fantasy aspect of it, with her visions and the way she tries to solve them and help people, and the romance is amazing.
Adult
Alice Henderson "Voracious" - Creepy, delicious horror in the woods story with a kick ass female protagonist who isn’t just a victim or a villain but an awesome, layered women.
May 22 2010, 18:51:37 UTC 7 years ago
May 26 2010, 15:54:43 UTC 7 years ago