Is there anything better on a cold winter's day than curling up in bed with a warm blanket, a purring cat and good book? As the current temperature here in Saint Paul hovers around -5 degrees — and that's actually up six degrees from this morning — I have a strong urge to close my laptop and open up a book instead.
However, I promised myself I'd get a blog post up today, so instead of reading books, I'm writing about them. Here is a list of my favorite books of 2012.
(Note: Like my previous post on movies, this list does not pertain solely to books that were published in 2012. Rather, it is a list of the best books I read this year, regardless of when they were published.)
10. "The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs. In this nonfiction book, Jacobs (who is agnostic) attempts to spend an entire year following the Bible as literally as possible. He grows out his hair, changes the way he dresses and eats, vows to stop working on Sundays (which includes not using the Internet), takes up the harp, and even tries his hand at animal sacrifice and stoning adulterers. The book does not lead to any great spiritual revelations, but it does provide a thought-provoking look at the dangers, benefits and absurdities of trying to adhere to the "rules" set forth in the best-selling book of all time.
9. "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)" by Mindy Kaling. In this memoir-ish book of essays, actress and writer Kaling provides humorous insight into her nerdy childhood, rise to fame (or least moderate fame), time spent working on "The Office," love of pop culture, and more. This book probably won't change your life (if it does, then you probably need to read more), but it will make you laugh. And yes, it led to me add Mindy Kaling to the list of female celebrities who I want to be friends with in real life. (Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Emma Stone are also on this list. I'll share it with you another time.)
8. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Here's the thing about the Hunger Games trilogy: These books are not light-hearted teen garbage. They are violent and far more political than your 13-year-old cousin likely understands (or than the film versions will be able to adequately convey). Yes, there is a love triangle like in that other popular teen trilogy, but it is not the central focus of the story. All three "Hunger Games" books are intelligent, suspenseful and, at times, quite bleak. Don't let the fact that they were written for teens scare you away.
7. "Born Round" by Frank Bruni. In this memoir, Bruni, a former restaurant critic for the New York Times, chronicles his lifelong struggle with weight and his love of food. You wouldn't think such subject matter would be all that interesting, but Bruni's top-notch writing (I laughed! I cried!) and his brutal honesty made this one of my favorite books of the year.
6. "Let the Right One In" by John Ajvide Lindqvist. What is it about Sweden that breeds excellent mystery writers? Is it the long, cold winters? Is there some sort of magic in the Ikea furniture? In any case, this is an incredibly gripping, disturbing and intriguing novel about a lonely, bullied boy who befriends the weird girl who moves in next door (and who just happens to be a blood-thirsty vampire). Be warned, despite the vampire theme, this supremely gory book is a far, far cry from the "Twilight" series.
5. "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" by John Berendt. This book about death, wealth and secrets in the city of Savannah, Ga., showcases true-crime writing at its best. The main focus is on a wealthy antiques dealer accused of murdering his young, hot-headed employee in the 1980s, but Berendt makes the book far more interesting by weaving in multiple stories involving numerous other eccentric characters living in Savannah.
4. "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith. I can't believe I waited so long to read this famous coming-of-age novel (first published in 1943) about a girl growing up poor in a Brooklyn tenement just after the turn of the century. It's easy to see why this book has endured for so long and is still included on so many high school reading lists – the simplistic writing is smart and frank, and the themes of poverty, education, family and perseverance are timeless.
3. "Room" by Emma Donoghue. This clever, suspenseful novel is told from the point of view of five-year-old Jack, a boy who has been held in captivity with his kidnapped mother (the boy's father is the kidnapper) for his entire life. The boy has never been outside the confines of his room or met anyone aside from his resourceful, deeply depressed mother. The difficult and claustrophobic lives the pair lead are heartbreaking — even after their situation seemingly takes a turn for the better — but this was one book that was hard to put down.
2. "Just Kids" by Patti Smith. Rocker/poet/artist Patti Smith chronicles her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in this touching memoir that captures the romantic wonder of New York City in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Smith, arguably one of the coolest women of all time, lets down her guard to allow readers to feel all the joy and anxiety of being a struggling artist in a time and place bursting at the seams with struggling artists. But most of all, this book is a beautiful, tender ode to an enduring friendship.
1. "Behind the Beautiful Forevers" by Katherine Boo. I bought this book after reading a glowing review in Entertainment Weekly in which the reviewer stated that "Right now [this] book is sitting on my shelf making all the other books feel stupid." The review went on to predicate — accurately — that "Behind the Beautiful Forevers" will win a bunch of awards. Once you read it, you will understand why Boo swept most of the nonfiction-writing prizes in 2012. Boo tells the story of a few selected residents living in a slum just outside the glittery promise of Mumbai, India's new airport, and their difficult struggle to climb out of poverty. The tales of corruption, class warfare and cruelty are infuriating, but Boo's expert reporting makes this a fascinating read.
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