Comments on: NYTimes Notable 100

By: Danielle

Danielle — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:50:11 +0000

I read On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan and was blown away. The story was incredibly moving and messed me up for days. I can’t recommend it highly enough. If you don’t read anything else from the NY Times Notable list, read On Chesil Beach (it’s a short read and the last 10 pages are a wonder and heartbreaking). It’s the best thing I’ve read in 2007.

By: Ann Bruce

Ann Bruce — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 02:42:33 +0000

If I had compiled such a list back at the end of 2005, Black Ice would have been at the top of it. But this year, Ice Storm would not be.

There were some character inconsistencies that bothered me (mainly with Isobel), but the writing kept me moving right along.

I know Stuart has written another book in “The Committee” series (Reno’s book is next), but I hope she stops there because I’m ready for something new from her.

By: Janine

Janine — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:37:58 +0000

Doesn't AAR provide a similar list already?

AAR provides a list (culled from a poll of its readership) of the Top 100 romances of all time. That's very different from an annual list of the best books of the year based on the editors' (or in the case being proposed, the bloggers') opinions. It'd be fun to try to put a "Notable Books" list together, I think.

But if they don't, I really want Anne Stuart to show up on the DA list. She's one of my favorite comfort read authors. I had some problems with ICE STORM, but I still devoured it in one sitting.

If I had compiled such a list back at the end of 2005, Black Ice would have been at the top of it. But this year, Ice Storm would not be. It might be on Robin's though -- I think she liked it better than I did.

By: Ann Bruce

Ann Bruce — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:42:43 +0000

Maybe you should do a Dear Author 100 most notable books of the year. Or just ten/twenty if 100 is too many.

Doesn’t AAR provide a similar list already?

But if they don’t, I really want Anne Stuart to show up on the DA list. She’s one of my favorite comfort read authors. I had some problems with ICE STORM, but I still devoured it in one sitting.

By: Jill Myles

Jill Myles — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:16:23 +0000

I read none of them either. I complained to someone else that we need a GenreSlut list.

Maybe you should do a Dear Author 100 most notable books of the year. Or just ten/twenty if 100 is too many.

By: RfP

RfP — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:56:02 +0000

Of the fiction, I disliked the Tom Perrotta (Abstinence Teacher) and the Rebecca Curtis (Twenty Grand: And Other Tales of Love and Money).
I’m enjoying the Junot DÃaz (Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao).
Two of the short story collections and the Michael Chabon (Yiddish Policemen’s Union) are on my to-read pile.
I doubt I’ll ever read another Philip Roth or Don DeLillo.

I rarely read books the first year they’re out. Two or three years from now I’ll probably have read a few more from this list. Unless others catch my eye first…

By: Ann Bruce

Ann Bruce — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:26:38 +0000

Does it count if I listened to the audio version of HP7 while walking to and from work?

I guess my trashy reading tastes just don’t jibe with the NYT. But I saw a title that might help at the next cocktail reception *snort*: HOW TO TALK ABOUT BOOKS YOU HAVEN'T READ by Pierre Bayard.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:20:02 +0000

I haven’t read any of the books on the list either. *shrugs* I read what I like, aparantly, that’s not “notable” ;)

By: jmc

jmc — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:06:15 +0000

I’ve read one fiction book and one nonfiction book that made the list…plus the last Harry Potter. I guess that makes me poorly read. *shrug*
Imperial Life in the Emerald City was very good, if frustrating because of its subject. And I thought that The Reluctant Fundamentalist wasted beautiful prose on the whiney tale of a disenchanted ex-pat Pakistani in America pre- and post 9/11. The narrator’s style and the ambiguous ending were the best parts of the book.

By: Jia

Jia — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:52:38 +0000

The only book I’ve read on that list is the last Harry Potter.

By: Sarah McCarty

Sarah McCarty — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:42:32 +0000

Well, shoot. Neither have I. Maybe I should pick up a copy of How to Talk About a Book You’ve Never read? ;-)