Top Ten Words or Topics that Instantly Make Me Buy or Pick Up a Book

04.30.2013

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez / @ZaraAlexis

Every reader has a preference as to how he/she chooses a book to either read or buy. Book lovers can be quite particular. Sometimes it’s a specific genre, author, topic, or cover. Sometimes it’s due to someone’s recommendation or the strength of the publisher’s marketing. Whatever it is, it’s always a joy to add another book to a book lover’s collection.

Here are my top ten words or topics that instantly make me buy or pick up a book:

1. A book that takes place in another cultural setting other than Canada or a book that is heavily embedded or focused on a different culture other than my own.

While I haven’t had much opportunity to travel worldwide, I’m fascinated with the similarities and differences between other cultures and my own. I love being able to experience the uniqueness of a culture through its language, food, geography, religion, and day-to-day practices and interactions found not only in life, but also in the stories told beautifully in books. Some examples of books that I’ve been drawn to because of its rich examples of culture are:

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2. A book that expresses the struggles and tensions found in attempting to live out a reverent, authentic, religious and/or spiritual life.

Just as cultures are diverse, so are there a myriad of religions that express a reverent, authentic spirituality. As a Christian, I’m interested in reading stories about the struggles and tensions found in trying to live out an authentic faith in a mainly, secular world. Some books that I’ve been drawn to that express these kinds of stories are:

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3. A book that expresses the political or social oppression of a country, people, religion, or sex—and through its story, emancipates not only the thoughts and preconceptions of its readers, but also its characters.

As a post-graduate of Women’s Studies and Minorities in Canadian Society, I’ve always been interested in the stories of marginalized peoples and the injustices they face. One way to identify these injustices as well as identify with those who experience them is to read about them in literature. Here are a few examples of books that have specifically stereotyped and oppressed its women characters, but also emancipate them as well as the preconceptions of its readers:

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4. An apocalyptic book that is just as creative as it is well-written and instructive.

Apocalyptic books are wise stories that warn us against living irresponsibly and immorally against the values we hold to be significant as a society. They are also wonderfully creative and instructive. Here are two excellent, apocalyptic novels that could very easily become a reality, should we not heed its message of environmental sustainability, corporate power, and questions of morality surrounding genetic manipulation, to name a few:

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5. A book that resists and expands the definitions of love. A great love story.

What book reader doesn’t love a love story? I easily fall in love with books not only filled with passion, but stories that resist and expand on the definitions of love. They don’t necessarily have to be controversial, but I certainly prefer them to be rich, authentic, non-superficial, and stretch our thinking and ideas about love. Some examples of love stories that express this that I’ve been drawn to are:

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6. Short stories.

It’s never quantity as much as it is quality. Short stories tend to be undervalued by many readers, which is unfortunate because short stories can be just as rich, if not richer than its longer counterpart novels that span 400 to 500 pages. Sometimes less is more and I applaud writers who can craft a great short story. It isn’t easy to do. A collection of well-written short stories is always high on my list. Here are some examples of short story collections that I love:

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7.  A book that is highly creative and imaginative that it not only stretches our way of thinking, but it’s either classified as fantasy or a science-fiction novel.

Have you ever read a book that makes you think, “How did the author come up with that? WOW!” Well, those are the kinds of books that usually end up on my shelves. Here are some examples of books that are highly creative and imaginative:

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8. Paranormal Young Adult book.

No, I’m not a young adult. But, say the words, “vampire” and “book” in the same sentence and something in me just lurches forward in excitement. Or how about “fae?” Fine, I confess: I read the entire Twilight series in five days. And I know who Julie Kagawa is, even if I’m over the age of 30.  If it isn’t a normal, it’s most likely interesting, right? There’s something wonderful about fantasy, mystical powers, and those inevitable cliff hangers. Though, I haven’t read a lot of paranormal young adult books, they certainly find themselves magically on my shelves. Here are a few examples of paranormal young adult books that I just had to pick up and buy:

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9. Poetry.

For me, poetry is a deep image that resonates an equally deep truth. It’s a lyrical or beautiful expression in any stylistic form that attempts to capture what is withheld or unknown—and then becomes known in a startling moment. It’s a dialogue of absence and otherness, a sort of secret map that is intrinsically powerful in its ability to connect us through language, image, and understanding. For me, poetry is a subtle epiphany that resonates in a real and true way to its reader. Here are some of the best poetry books that I’ve read and am privileged to own:

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10. Publisher, author, or cover.

Yes, yes. Scold me. Sometimes I simply pick up a book because I trust its publisher, respect its author, or simply adore the aesthetic of its cover design. It makes for a light-hearted and spontaneous way to choose a book. Not always the wisest, but sometimes the most fun. Here are examples of publishers that I trust, authors I respect, and book covers that I had to add to my personal collection:

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What compels you to pick up and buy a book?

From the above list, are there any there that you and I share in common?

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Top 10 Authors on My Auto-Buy List

02.26.2013

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez / @ZaraAlexis

As readers we all have our personal preferences.

You read one book by one author that you’ve never had the privilege of reading before and you fall in love with his or her ability to write beautifully and still tell a compelling story. And then you dabble into another title work by the same author just to see if they can pull it off again—and much to your delighted surprise, they not only meet your expectations, but go beyond them—and that’s it, you’re hooked. You go, read, and purchase almost every title by the same author because he or she has gained your trust.

After your personal library is built on a steady foundation of authors you readily enjoy reading, you commit yourself as a starstruck admirer, a loyal reader and fan of that particular author’s works because in your mind, you’ve already been touched by the talent of this literary guru that speaks to you both in a personal and universal way.

Does this sound familiar to you? Do you have authors that you know won’t disappoint your literary taste buds? Authors that you’re willing to spend 85% of your book budget for? Authors you’re willing to stand in line for to meet, and greet, and possibly get an autograph or photo?

I have a few authors that I return to often in full trust of their literary giftedness and depth as storytellers. Others that I love for their fantastic imagination or wonderful art of honesty that reflects a true image of who we are, both in dialogue and compulsion. Others I love because their wit and take on the world simply makes me laugh from my gut.

Here are my top 10 authors on my auto-buy (and auto-love) list:

 

1. Margaret Atwood / Elizabeth Hay

  

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2. Joseph Boyden

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3. Jhumpa Lahiri

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4. Khaled Hosseini

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5. Damon Galgut

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6. Mark Strand

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7. Don Delillo

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8. Johanna Skibsrud

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9. G. Willow Wilson

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10. Barbara Gowdy

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For those of you who may not be familiar with these authors, I highly recommend them. Pick up any one of their books and I can almost guarantee you won’t be disappointed. Their writing is clean, clear, and exquisitely told. These are wonderful storytellers and poets capable of creating characters that will move you, stories that will compel you, expose controversies that will call you to action and rethink your presumptions, and ultimately showcase truths that reflect the deepest and sometimes simplest parts of the human condition.

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Thanks to The Broke and the Bookish blog for hosting this popular, weekly meme.

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Who of these writers are you familiar with?

Who of these writers have you not yet read, but would like to?

Who’s on your Top 10 Authors Auto-Buy List?

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Top 20 Bookish Memories

02.06.2013

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez / @ZaraAlexis

1. Winning my very first short story prize.

When I was seven-years-old, I wrote a three-page short story about a boy who was accidentally locked in the basement. I submitted it to my teacher as a writing assignment for English and was surprised to be asked to read it aloud in front of my class and then received a First Place prize for it. It was a wonderful affirmation of my joy in writing and reading and my first experience in reading in front of an “audience,” even if they were only a group of my seven-year-old peers.

2. Getting accepted into the Creative Writing Program at York University.

I lived at the Vanier Residence for my first two years of study at York University in the Creative Writing Program. Photo from: http://www.yorku.ca

The best Creative Writing Program in the country is known to be the program at the University of British Columbia (UBC). The next best program is the Creative Writing Program at York University. Since I received a York University Entrance Scholarship and was living in the GTA at the time, attending York University in Toronto made a lot of sense. It was a relief and privilege to finally receive my acceptance letter to the Creative Writing Program at York after I submitted my writing portfolio—an achievement that gave me a great sense of pride and fulfilment.

3. Seeing my work in print when published for the first time.

(c) “The Worm” by Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez. All rights reserved. (c) Photo by Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez. All rights reserved.

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It’s quite an experience to see your work, which began as a simple idea, become a draft and then again into perhaps a number of drafts after many revisions, finally come off press and in print. When if first happened to me, I was filled with pride and disbelief.

4. Seeing my son learn how to read for the first time.

My son, Michael—the Book Worm (like Mommy). (c) Photo by Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez. All rights reserved.

I remember the first time the meaning of words in print were finally revealed to me and the feeling I had when I finally understood what it meant to be able to read. When I witnessed my son read his first words off the page out loud, I was extremely proud to see him pass such an important milestone and nostalgic of my own memories of reading as a child. The picture above is a picture of Michael already eight-years-old and able to read chapter books!

5. Meeting Barbara Gowdy in person, having a conversation with her, and a glass of red wine.

Barbara Gowdy

One of my professors for the Prose Fiction Workshop course I took as part of my studies in the Creative Writing Program at York was published poet and author, Christopher Dewdney, who also happened to be the long-term partner of author, Barbara Gowdy. Barbara Gowdy also just happens to be one of my favourite authors! Because of her connection with my professor, I was able to meet her personally during her reading of her new book at that time, White Bone, with a special introduction from Christopher Dewdney. She gave me writing advice while we both sipped red wine. It’s one of my all-time favourite bookish memories.

6. Being asked to join Random House of Canada’s Blogging Team.

Random House logo at front reception. (c) Photo by Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez. All rights reserved.

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When I was asked to officially join the Blogging Team for the prestigious and largest publishing company in Canada, Random House of Canada, I was absolutely thrilled. They have always published an excellent quality of literary fiction, which is my preferred genre, and their books have published many of my own favourite Canadian authors such as Margaret Atwood, Leonard Cohen, M.G. Vassanji, etc. Reviewing books for Random House of Canada continues to give me great joy and privilege!

7. Becoming an editorial assistant for the literary journal, Existere.

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When I was accepted as an editorial assistant for the literary journal, Existere, I was extremely excited to be able to work alongside peers of the same creative interests. My experience there taught me to sharpen my critical and editorial eye and have a first-hand peek at the publishing world. Not to mention, I was able to make great friends who also happened to passionate about reading and creative writing.

8. Reading my poetry for a Poetry Night reading at the Grad Lounge.

The Grad Lounge Bill. I was first up that night! (c) Photo by Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez. All rights reserved.

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Writers tend to be introverts. Who else could tolerate hours of writing in solitude? So, when I was slotted to read one of my poems for Poetry Night at the Grad Lounge, it was not only an honour, it was a nerve-wrecking experience. I’m naturally a shy and introverted person, but to be able to share my work with others in this type of venue meant getting up and reading my work out loud…in front of an audience…live! While I was perhaps self-conscious of that fact, I read through my poem with ease (since it was of course, so familiar), and was elated to receive a good response from the audience. When I left the stage, the bartender actually complimented me on my work, “That was a really good poem, good job!” While it made me blush, it helped to reaffirm my motivation to continue writing.

9. Attending my very first Canadian Book Expo.

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When I worked as an editorial assistant for a small publishing house, UCPH, a few of us were granted the opportunity to attend the Canadian Book Expo event in Toronto. It’s an event that hosts Canadian publishers an opportunity to showcase their publications and their authors by providing members of the publishing and book world with free copies of books, ARCs, galleys, and book signings. For a book lover like myself amongst the many hundreds of people who attended that particular weekend, The Book Expo was a forum to be able to completely immerse myself in book mania. Both my husband (who was a book buyer at the time) and I attended, which made it even more meaningful.

10. Attending the Random House Blog Fest and meeting Erica Ehm and authors Ami McKay, Erin Morgenstern, and Paula Mclain all in one day.

Authors: Paula Mclain, Erin Morgenstern, Ami McKay at Random House Blog Fest, Feb. 2012. (c) Photo by Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez. All rights reserved.

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Me and Erica Ehm. Random House Blog Fest, Feb. 2012. (c) Photo Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez. All rights reserved.

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As a book addict and potential author worshipper, to be able to attend an elite event such as The Random House Blog Fest in February 2012 meant that I was privileged enough to meet not one favourite author, but three! I was not only able to meet them, but I was able to chat, take photos, and receive personally signed books! What more could a bibliotaphe ask for? Not to mention, I was surprised to also meet Erica Ehm, the former V-Jay of Muchmusic, who I had watched religiously as a teenager!

11. Receiving a personal tweet from Margaret Atwood.

Margaret Atwood

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As most of my readers know, Margaret Atwood is not only a Canadian literary icon, but one of my favourite authors. I had written a review on her book, Cat’s Eye, and published on my blog as well as shared it online on Twitter. Margaret Atwood actually read my review and tweeted me personally in response!

@zaraalexis: Aw… thank you. But for all who are jealous: trade you 10 years, make it 20, and you can have some “it.”

— Margaret E. Atwood (@MargaretAtwood) December 11, 2011

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12. Receiving my very first book for review from a publisher—and it was signed!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. My signed copy! (c) Photo by Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez. All rights reserved.

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The first book I received for review was The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I not only thoroughly enjoyed reading the novel, I was so happy to have coveted a copy that was personally signed by the author. Imagine my surprise, when I was able to meet her later in person at the Random House Blog Fest later that year!

13. Receiving news that other publishers would like me to review a book(s) for them on a regular basis.

Slowly, but surely, other publishers came through in deciding to put me on their book blogging distribution list. It certainly is flattering to be asked to review books for more than one publisher on a regular basis. It’s also a great opportunity and privilege to work with creative people in the industry who, though don’t pay me monetarily for my reviews, pay me in kind with free books and collegial, working relationships.

A special thanks goes out to the Trisha at House of Anansi, Corey at Goose Lane Editions, Emily at Constable & Robinson, and Anneliese at Simon & Schuster!

14. Creating my book blog, The Bibliotaphe Closet

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When I created my book blog, The Bibliotaphe Closet, for the very first time, the achievement of learning how to publish a posting in itself was rewarding. Prior to The Bibliotaphe Closet, I was completely unfamiliar with the blogosphere and the working of WordPress. It was wonderful to create a forum to advocate literacy, share my thoughts about books I’ve read, and to be a part of an online reading community—all with my personal branding!

While many of those who don’t blog merely consider blogging as a “nice, little (and perhaps useless) hobby,” book bloggers themselves know the amount of time and effort it takes to create — and maintain a book blog.

I am happy to see The Bibliotaphe Closet survive and pass its first year bloggoversary. The Bibliotaphe Closet is now a-year-and-two-months old!

15. Receiving a personal tweet or blog comment from Eugenia Kim, Benjamin Wood, and Scott Fotheringham in response to my reviews of their books.

I had written a review of Eugenia Kim’s novel, The Calligrapher’s Daughter. It was an absolute pleasure to discover she had read my review and left a comment to thank me personally for my work. She was the first author who contacted me in response to a review I had written and it made me realize that, yes, authors do indeed read the reviews book bloggers write and appreciate the thought and work put into them.

Since then, I have received personal tweets and comments from authors like Benjamin Wood for his novel, The Bellwether Revivals, and Scott Fotheringham for his novel, The Rest Is Silence.

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@zaraalexis So pleased you connected so strongly with the book, Zara. Thanks for the thoughtful review.

— Benjamin Wood (@bwoodauthor) March 22, 2012

Hey! Thanks @zaraalexis for the review in your blog. Glad you liked it.

— Scott Fotheringham (@SFotheringham) May 1, 2012

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16. Winning and receiving a personally signed copy of Haruki Murakami’s limited edition novel, 1Q84, by winning the Haruki Murakami Writing Contest.

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. (c) Photo by Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez. All rights reserved.

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My signed copy of 1Q84. Limited edition. (c) Photo by Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez. All rights reserved.

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It’s one thing to receive a free book from winning a giveaway contest; it’s quite another thing to win a free book that happens to also be signed in a limited edition because you’ve won a writing contest! One of the most treasured books in my entire book collection is Haruki Murakami’s signed novel, 1Q84 because of how I received it and, of course, the opportunity I have to own it personally, and the pleasure I have to read it someday.

17. Chatting with Esi Edugyan, author of Half-Blood Blues, online.

Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan.

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Esi Edugyan. From: http://www.esiedugyan.com/images/author.jpg

The novel Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan won the Scotiabank Giller Prize in 2012. It took Esi Edugyan eight years to write her debut novel and the time was well spent since its debut not only put her on the longlist and shortlist of the $50,000 Giller Prize, but actually won her the Big Kahuna!

To chat with her live online was a pleasure. Here’s a portion of that conversation I had with Esi Edugyan through the CBC Book Club Chat event on January 27, 2012:

As an award-winning writer and a friend in the craft, what’s the best advice you can give to aspiring writers out there (okay, by this, I mean: me)?

by you 3:41 PM

My advice to aspiring writers is first, to read everything, and secondly, to keep going. When the rejections are pouring in, keep going. If you’re advised to stop, keep going.

by Esi Edugyan 3:42 PM

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18. Buying my very first book from my school Book Fair.

My original copy of “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White that I bought as a child from my school Book Fair. (c) Photo by Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez. All rights reserved.

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My first inscribed signature at eight-years-old. (c) Photo by Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez. All rights reserved.

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I didn’t get allowance as a child so I had no means of buying myself a copy of any book at my school Book Fair. I did, however, convince my mom and dad to give me money so that I could place an order through Scholastic Inc. I remember wanting only one book at that time: Charlotte’s Web by E.B.White.

When the book arrived at school and my name was called so I could pick it up from the library’s Book Fair, I was so happy. When I received it, I simply stared at it in awe. My very first purchased book! I remember inscribing my name inside the front cover just to make it official. While it’s a little tattered, I still own the original copy I bought as a child.

19. Listening to Gordon Korman read in my school auditorium when I was eight-years-old.

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Aside from reading books by Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, I also read a lot of books written by Gordon Korman when I was a kid. When I heard the news that my school was hosting a special reading by him in the school auditorium, I was starstruck. I couldn’t believe the person who had written all the books that I spent all my time reading at that time would be in my school gymnasium! Though I didn’t have a camera to capture this moment, this bookish memory has stayed with me for a very long time—it would have to—I was only eight.

20. The times I have cried in response to being deeply moved while reading a wonderful book.

There is nothing more wonderful than being deeply moved by a story you’ve read. While I’ve enjoyed reading many different kinds of novels, there are those that I remember that have simply moved me to tears, or rage, or both! And those are the best books and bookish memories one can have—how books and their stories make such an emotional impact on one’s life.

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Thanks to the Broke and the Bookish blog for providing and hosting this weekly meme!

How many wonderful bookish memories can you recall?

Which books have you read that moved you to tears? Or rage? Or both?

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Top 10 Bookish Resolutions for 2013

01.09.2013

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez / @ZaraAlexis

1. Complete reading and reviews of books on my TBR list from 2012—even if they’re stale-dated.

2. Refrain from accepting any more unsolicited book review requests until I’ve completed reviews on my 2012 TBR list.

3. When publishers offer me new releases to review, downsize and limit the number of books I request to read per month.

4. Integrate and provide more author interviews on my blog.

5. Integrate and provide more film and movie critiques on my blog.

6. Expand the genre of books I read and review on my blog to include more YA, poetry, historical fiction, and memoirs.

7. Attend more book events especially those hosted by Chapters-Indigo and those located closer to home.

8. Continue to pre-plan and schedule posts in advance of publication.

9. Include authors’ birthdays and publishers’ special anniversaries on blog calendar.

10. Take a much deserved break from blogging as necessary.

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Of my list of resolutions above, which ones are also on your list?

What resolutions do you have on your list that didn’t make it onto mine?

In what ways do you keep yourself on track and accountable to your goals throughout the year?

Is there anything more you’d like to suggest and see on my blog for 2013?

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Top 10 Tuesday: Top 20 Books to Get You in the Halloween Spirit

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Top 10 Tuesday:

Top 20 Books to Get You in the Halloween Spirit

10.23.2012

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez / @ZaraAlexis

1. Dracula Books

  

  

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 2. Books about Witches

  

  

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3. Books about Ghosts

  

  

4. Books about Zombies

  

  

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5. Books about Werewolves

  

  

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What’s your favourite spooky character?

Vampires,  witches, ghosts, zombies, or werewolves?

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Top 10 Tuesday: Poets

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Top 10 Tuesday:

Poets

10.16.2012

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez / @ZaraAlexis

The poem is a visceral narrative. Its lines carry the art of lyricism, cadence, and pause. It’s a narrative that holds an inherent, rhythmic thrum. It can be richly decadent in language or sharp as a match, both ruthless in its hunt to seep into the recesses of our psyche and the broad stroke of our social condition. Or it can be as momentous and ordinary as a raindrop. Poetry is the subtlety that screams in its secret language, “look and behold.” It’s the genre of trickery. Of honesty. Of inevitable dichotomy. It’s the stuff of gold.

And these are the poets with an incredible gift:

1. Mark Strand

Mark Strand. Photo by Nancy Crampton.

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2. Tomas Transtromer

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3. David Harsent

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4. Margaret Atwood

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5. Anne Michaels

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6. Dionne Brand

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7. Raymond Carver

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8. Kevin Irie

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9. Beth Anne Fennelly

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10. Elisabeth Harvor

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Who are your favourite poets?

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Top Ten Tuesday: Older Books We Shouldn’t Forget

 

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Top Ten Tuesday:

Older Books We Shouldn’t Forget

10.02.2012

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez / @ZaraAlexis

Because I didn’t want to chisel the list down to only 10, I created two separate lists—one for children and one for adults—and while I tried to keep the adult list small—I just couldn’t!

Children’s Books We Shouldn’t Forget

1. Han Christian Andersen’s Fairytales

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2. The Velveteen Rabbit

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3. The Little Engine that Could

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4. Love You Forever

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5. The Little Prince

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6. The Secret Garden

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7. The Black Stallion

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8. White Fang

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9. The Trumpet and the Swan

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10. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

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Older Books We Shouldn’t Forget

1. The Holy Bible

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2. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

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3. The Republic by Plato

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4. Odyssey by Homer

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5. Tristan & Iseult by Joseph Bedier

Tristan and Iseault

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6.  The Sufferings of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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7. Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

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8. Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe

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9. Clarissa by Samuel Ruchardson

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10. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

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11. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

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12. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

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13. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

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14. The Lord of the Flies by William Golding

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15. Obasan by Joy Kogawa

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16. White Noise by Don Delillo

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17.. Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger

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18.  The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles

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19. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce

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20. 1984 by George Orwell

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21. Lolita by Vladimir Nabkov

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22. On the Road by Jack Kerouac

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23. Catch-22 by Jospeh Heller

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24. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

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25. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

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26. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia-Marquez

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27. The Godfather by Mario Puzzo

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28..The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass

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29. The Naked Lunch by William Borroughs

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30. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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31. Surfacing by Margaret Atwood

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32. Sula by Toni Morrison

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33. Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice

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34. Delta of Venus by Anais Nin

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35. Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

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36. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

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37. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

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38. The Lover by Marguerite Duras

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39. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

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40. Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson

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41. By Grand Central Station, I Sat Down and Wept by Elizabeth Smart

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42. The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie

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43. The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

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44. Beautiful Losers by Leonard Cohen

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45. The Road by Cormac McCarthy

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46. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

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47. Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

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48. Sexing the Cherry by Jeanette Winterson

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49. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

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50. Billy the Kid by Michael Ondaatje

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51. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

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52. Generation X by Douglas Coupland

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53. The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields

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54. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth

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55. Cinnamon Gardens by  Shyam Selvadurai

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56. Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh

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57. The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx

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58. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

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59. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

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60. Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels

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61. Underworld by Don Delillo

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62. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

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63. The Hours by Michael Cunningham

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64. The Body Artist by Don Delillo

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65. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

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What older books do you think we shouldn’t forget?

Out of this list above, which book is your favourite?

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Top 10 Tuesday: Top 10 Bookish People I Would Love to Meet!

 

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Top 10 Tuesday

Top 10 Bookish People I Would Love to Meet!

09.18.2012

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez / @ZaraAlexis

1. Inventors of the Pen

• L.E. Waterman - inventor of the first fountain pen in 1884
• Lazio Biro- inventor of the first ballpoint pen in 1938

2. William Shakespeare

Personally thank him for creating beautiful tragedies and for holding a 50,000 word vocabulary with a special knowledge in metrical verse. And then ask him to also please write translations of his work so that I don’t have to struggle as much as I did in highschool and university trying to decipher his plays!

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3. Jane Austen

I’d gush about how much I love her book, Pride and Prejudice as well as reveal to her how many times it’s been re-made into other books, plays, movies, and parodies just to see her reaction. I would also implore her to elope with Thomas Langlois Lefroy at all costs regardless of feared poverty. What is a life without love?

Jane Austen. From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1342795/Jane-Austen-Elizabeth-I-Ten-greatest-British-women.html

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4. Sylvia Plath

I would ask to see her unpublished poetry and then convince her she shouldn’t feel over-shadowed by Ted Hughe’s work; that her work is indeed worthy of praise and will be highly acclaimed all over the world. I would also try to convince her to leave Ted Hughes on account of his roaming eye and various acts of adultery. Then I would introduce her to Cipralex and beg her to stay away from ovens.

Sylvia Plath. From: http://www.counter-currents.com/2010/11/sylvia-plath-stasis-in-darkness/

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5. Michael Ondaatje

I would ask Michael which genre he prefers writing: prose fiction or poetry? And then I would try to convince him that in love, age is inconsequential—and then I would ask him to marry me.

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6. Jhumpa Lahiri

I would ask Jhumpa Lahiri if she feels a tension, dichotomy, or a displacement in her culture, being both from India and England. And then I would be more than happy to sit, be in her presence, and gawk at both her beauty and talent.

Jhumpa Lahiri, writing goddess of “Namesake,” “Unaccustomed Earth,” and “Interpreter of Maladies.”

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7. Mark Strand

I would ask Mark Strand what inspires him and what his writing process is. I would love to know how he begins a poem and what topic or issue in society most moves him. I’d also love to know who his favourite poet is.

Mark Strand

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8. Margaret Atwood

I would love to meet Margaret Atwood in her early years before she became an “iconic Canadian writer” and ask her what her fondest memories are of living in the bush. Then I’d ask for tips for natural remedies, crafts, and DIY projects—and if she knows how to make bird calls and which one would be her favourite.

Margaret Atwood

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9. Dr. Seuss

I’d want to personally thank him for creating highly imaginative books with great rhyme that I loved as a child. Then I would love to know which is his personal favourite children’s book and then ask him if he wouldn’t mind making a caricature of me with a funny poem!

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10. Shiloh from The Dovekeepers

I’d confide in her that she’s one of my favourite literary heroines and would ask her if she could also make a copy of her book of healing and “spells!”

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What would you say and do if you met any of the above bookish people?

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Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books That Make You Think. 09.11.2012

Top 10 Tuesday

Top 10 Things That Make You Think (About the World, People, Life…)

09.11.2012

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez / @ZaraAlexis

1. The Holy Bible

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2. The Secular Grail by Christopher Dewdney

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Christopher Dewdney regards the modern world with fresh eyes. A collection of prose and thoughts on western culture, The Secular Grail investigates the nature of contemporary reality. Writing on everything from sexual variations to rock videos, memory and dreams to Eternal Return, this is a guidebook to the incredible changes the human race is undergoing. - From Chapters-Indigo

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3. The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

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In a world driven by shadowy, corrupt corporations and the uncontrolled development of new, gene-spliced life forms, a man-made pandemic occurs, obliterating human life. Two people find they have unexpectedly survived: Ren, a young dancer locked inside the high-end sex club Scales and Tails (the cleanest dirty girls in town), and Toby, solitary and determined, who has barricaded herself inside a luxurious spa, watching and waiting. The women have to decide on their next move – they can’t stay hidden forever.  But is anyone else out there? – From Chapters-Indigo

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4. Blizzard of One: Poems by Mark Strand

BLIZZARD OF ONE by Mark Strand. Pulitzer Prize winner.

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Strand”s poems occupy a place that exists between abstraction and the sensuous particulars of experience. It is a place created by a voice that moves with unerring ease between the commonplace and the sublime. The poems are filled with “the weather of leavetaking,” but they are also unexpectedly funny. The erasure of self and the depredations of time are seen as sources of sorrow, but also as grounds for celebration. This is one of the difficult truths these poems dramatize with stoicism and wit. The winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, Blizzard of One is an extraordinary book–the summation of the work of a lifetime by one of our very few true masters of the art of poetry. – From Chapters-Indigo

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5. Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

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On the eve of World War I, an all-female society is discovered somewhere in the distant reaches of the earth by three male explorers who are now forced to re-examine their assumptions about women”s roles in society. – From Chapters-Indigo

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6. Night by Elie Wiesel

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Elie Wiesel”s masterpiece, a candid, horrific, and deeply poignant autobiographical account of his survival as a teenager in the Nazi death camps. This new translation by Marion Wiesel, Elie”s wife and frequent translator, presents this seminal memoir in the language and spirit truest to the author”s original intent. And in a substantive new preface, Elie reflects on the enduring importance of Night and his lifelong, passionate dedication to ensuring that the world never forgets man”s capacity for inhumanity to man.
“”"Night” offers much more than a litany of the daily terrors, everyday perversions, and rampant sadism at Auschwitz and Buchenwald; it also eloquently addresses many of the philosophical as well as personal questions implicit in any serious consideration of what the Holocaust was, what it meant, and what its legacy is and will be. – From Chapters-Indigo

7. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

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Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank”s remarkable diary has since become a world classic-a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit. In 1942, with Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, they and another family lived cloistered in the “Secret Annex” of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death. In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and amusing, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short. – From Chapters-Indigo

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8. Say You’re One of Them by Uwem Akpan

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Each story in this jubilantly acclaimed collection pays testament to the wisdom and resilience of children, even in the face of the most agonizing circumstances.

A family living in a makeshift shanty in urban Kenya scurries to find gifts of any kind for the impending Christmas holiday. A Rwandan girl relates her family”s struggles to maintain a facade of normalcy amid unspeakable acts. A young brother and sister cope with their uncle”s attempt to sell them into slavery. Aboard a bus filled with refugees-a microcosm of today”s Africa-a Muslim boy summons his faith to bear a treacherous ride across Nigeria. Through the eyes of childhood friends the emotional toll of religious conflict in Ethiopia becomes viscerally clear.  - From Chapters-Indigo

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9. I Am Forbidden by Anouk Markovits

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The extraordinary story of a sister who believes and a sister who rebels, set inside the most insular Hasidic sect, the Satmar.

Spanning four generations, from pre-World War II Transylvania, to 1960s Paris, to contemporary New York, Markovits” masterful novel shows what happens when unwavering love and unyielding law clash–a rabbi will save himself while his followers perish; a Gentile maid will be commanded to give up the boy she rescued because he is not of her faith; two devoted sisters will be forced apart when one begins to question their religion”s ancient doctrine. One sister embraces and finds comfort in the constraints of the world she”s always known, while the other knows she will suffocate in a life without intellectual freedom. Separated by the rules of their community, the two sisters are brought together again when a family secret threatens to make pariahs of them all. Dark, powerful, and utterly compelling, I Am Forbidden takes us deep inside the minds of those who leave their restrictive environments, and deep into the souls of those who struggle to stay. - From Chapters-Indigo

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10. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

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The year is 1984. Aomame is riding in a taxi on the expressway, in a hurry to carry out an assignment. Her work is not the kind that can be discussed in public. When they get tied up in traffic, the taxi driver suggests a bizarre ”proposal” to her. Having no other choice she agrees, but as a result of her actions she starts to feel as though she is gradually becoming detached from the real world. She has been on a top secret mission, and her next job leads her to encounter the superhuman founder of a religious cult. Meanwhile, Tengo is leading a nondescript life but wishes to become a writer. He inadvertently becomes involved in a strange disturbance that develops over a literary prize. While Aomame and Tengo impact on each other in various ways, at times by accident and at times intentionally, they come closer and closer to meeting. Eventually the two of them notice that they are indispensable to each other. Is it possible for them to ever meet in the real world? – From Chapters-Indigo

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What are the top 10 books you’ve read that make you really think?

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Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favourite Books I’ve Read During the Lifespan of My Blog. 08.21.2012

Top Ten Favorite Books I’ve Read During the Lifespan of My Blog

08.21.2012

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez / @ZaraAlexis 

This Top Ten list was quite difficult to downsize considering the number of books I’ve read in the last eight months and the number of books that I’ve loved. But because this list is limited to only 10, I had to scratch my head, bite my lips, and fret a little before coming up with these titles.

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1. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

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2. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

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3. Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia-Marquez

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4. Alone in the Classroom by Elizabeth Hay

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5. The Glass Boys by Nicole Lundrigan

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6. I Am Forbidden by Anouk Markovits

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7. This Will Be Difficult to Explain and Other Stories by Johanna Skibsrud

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8. Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan

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9. The Rest Is Silence by Scott Fotheringham

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10. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

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Whew! It makes me proud to think of all the gifted writers and their equally diligent publishers who bring these books to the limelight. These are only 10 of the great books I’ve read so far during the lifespan of my blog, The Bibliotaphe’s Closet. I don’t doubt that the list will grow quite naturally with wonderful books being written and published, not only in Canada and the United States, but around the world!

All this excitement makes me want to return to my comfy couch, put my feet up,  sip a hot cup of coffee, and read!

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How do you judge and decide whether a book is considered a “great read?”

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Zara Alexis