One of my favourite things about the end of the year is the "Best Of" lists that spring up in the media.
Although I read book, music and movie reviews throughout the year, it is always fascinating to see what reviewers think when they have a full 12 months to consider.
Sometimes I agree with the list, and sometimes I wonder if the reviewer and I read the same book or saw the same movie!
The best part of lists, however, is that they direct me to new books that I might not have considered.
In no particular order, here are some of the books that have made it from a Best Of list to my reading list:
? Silver Sparrow, by Tayari Jones. James Witherspoon is a man with many secrets to hide and two daughters he is determined to keep apart.
? Tides of War, by Stella Tillyard. This sweeping debut novel tells a story of war and its effects on the men in battle and the women left behind.
? Killing the Cranes: A Reporter's Journey through Three Decades of War in Afghanistan, by Edward Girardet. Part travelogue and part history, Girardet's experience in Afghanistan will help you understand the history of the area, the people who live there, and why foreign military intervention has not been successful.
? One Hundred Names for Love, by Diane Ackerman. In this memoir, Ackerman and her husband, writer Paul West, struggle to deal with the devastating effects of his stroke.
? A Death in Summer, by Benjamin Black. Set in 1950s Dublin, this tale of dour pathologist Quirke is not your ordinary mystery. Black is the pseudonym of Booker-award winner John Banville.
? The Food of Morocco, by Paula Wolfert. What better way to spend a cold West Coast night than enjoying photos, recipes and stories of warm and spicy Morocco.
All of these titles are owned by the New Westminster Library and, if out, can be reserved. Happy reading!
editorial@royalcityrecord.com
