As he does every year, President Obama was kind enough to end the year with a list of his favorite books. Here's what he had to say about the list:
"During my presidency, I started a tradition of sharing my reading lists and playlists. It was a nice way to reflect on the works that resonated with me and lift up authors and artists from around the world. With some extra time on my hands this year to catch up, I wanted to share the books and music that I enjoyed most. From songs that got me moving to stories that inspired me, here's my 2017 list — I hope you enjoy it and have a happy and healthy New Year."
Click here to see the 12 books on the list]]>There are a lot of good children's books. And sometimes it seems like ALL of them were written by Cynthia Rylant. The 8 books below — The Poppleton Books — are about a kind and portly pig and his gentle everyday adventures in small-town America.
My son started to love them when he was about 2.5 years old but they'll be popular with your kids through the age at which they're reading to themselves. Try just one and I promise your family will quickly want to read all eight.
Click here to see the 8 books on the list]]>My father read these books as child evacuee of England during World War II and subsequently had me read as part of my growing up with him on Alaska's St. Lawrence Island. Having read all of these long past my bedtime by the light of the hall bulb that crept in my doorway I definitely deem them flashlight worthy.
(Editor's note: For those parents who are ready for more of a psychological adventure, please consider Stephanie's well-reviewed memoir Bluff Island Rescue Service.)
Click here to see the 7 books on the list]]>One day, sitting by a canal in Venice just off the lagoon, reading a novel that happened to be set there, I watched the sun gradually sink over the horizon. As I turned back to my book I read words that described the exact scenes I was experiencing: the mellifluous colours, the lengthening shadows, the keening tones of the swallows, all reflected back to me via the prose in my book.
It was having so many senses stimulated – visually I could flip from the page to the view; I could smell the garlic as the restaurants began to cook the evening food – and the cooking descriptions simultaneously wafted off the pages as the characters settled down to eat. I could hear the canal water lapping in front of me as the location in the novel moved from the Grand Canal into one of the minor canals.
It was a perfect experience that I never forgot. To bring that experience to you, I'm pleased to pull together my favorite (mostly) novels set in – and of course evocative of – Venice.
Several years ago I decided to write about the early part of my life and started reading some books that deal with our memories and how they affect us in later years. As I encountered each title — some for the first time, some that I was revisiting and re-discovering — I grew more and more convinced that there are underlying emotions that are universal, however different the individual narratives may be.
Click here to see the 8 books on the list]]>Judging by the number of people visiting public art galleries – the figures are increasing year-on-year according to government stats – I’ve decided there must be an appetite for novels delving into the art business. I’ve compiled a list of 10 novels ranging from historical fiction and thrillers through to more philosophical writings. Some are successful in their authentic portrayal of artists-at-work while others deal with the murky world of art dealing and forgery.
Click here to see the 10 books on the list]]>Monster stories are like roller coasters – as long as you know they’re safe, it’s fun to scare yourself just a little bit. Here are some of my favorite monster picture books to read aloud for library story times. Each book stars scary-silly monsters treated a bit tongue-in-cheek, and each features superb illustrations and a delightful twist at the end.
Click here to see the 7 books on the list]]>As the title of my new book makes clear, I spent seven seasons in the Tuscan city of Siena, learning the remarkable ways of its ancient, proud, and very clannish people, whose neighborhoods—called contrade—are like very small sovereign states (and often equally combative). But my travels to and from Siena also brought me through many other Italian cities, equally singular, and increased my appetite to understand them all... a lifetime's work, certainly, but hey, what a lifetime! Here are some of the books I've found the most insightful—and delightful.
Click here to see the 8 books on the list]]>Novels with fractured narratives were once considered experimental and edgy but today they've become mainstream. Our complicated and increasingly uncertain lives seem to be mirrored by the fragmented structure of these often challenging novels. We’re obliged to work a little harder but the rewards can be greater. Here are some of my favourites:
Click here to see the 9 books on the list]]>As much as I have enjoyed a few novels over the years, I must confess that I find real people more interesting than made up people. Most of my reading since I left school and was able to freely choose has been confined to biographies, autobiographies and books of essays. Here are some of my favorite favorites:
Click here to see the 8 books on the list]]>This list includes a collection of tween romances that are delightful reads for any middle school student (ages 10-14). They combine humorous stories, princess' adventures and school stories to stir the imagination. These compelling novels will have your reader up all night reading under the covers!
Click here to see the 10 books on the list]]>This is a list of Coming-of-Age novels that rocked my world, altered my course and expanded my consciousness. By no means a definitive list — more a personal debt of gratitude to books that set me dreaming with eyes wide open and an insatiable hunger, finally, at last, for... something more. Like some big blowhorn going off, at the end of each of these books I felt the ears of my ears open and heeded a clarion call to action — to save myself.
Click here to see the 10 books on the list]]>Can't tell a Duchess from a dustman? A banger from a biscuit? With the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton saturating daily news reels, The King's Speech taking multiple top honors at the Academy Awards, and London preparing to be the world's center stage for the 2012 Olympics, it's time to make the land across the pond your cup of tea. Read this list, and when you hear "The British are coming!" you'll know you're ready.
Click here to see the 8 books on the list]]>Young Adult literature has come a long way in the past fifty years, from a concept to a genre. To track GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender/transsexual) literature as a sub-genre was quite hard for a long time, because — aside from a few notable exceptions like I'll Get There: It Better be Worth the Trip by John Donovan and Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden — there were not many novels that prominently featured GLBT characters until the last decade. And that's why this booklist exists, to highlight some delightful titles for those who are interested in GLBT issues or may be searching for a character struggling through adolescence just like you do/did.
Click here to see the 8 books on the list]]>Most people seem to be in a box. We work in cubicle like boxes and we are always told to think "outside the box." Heck, we are even buried in boxes. So if you're like me and don't like being in a box, then the books on this list are for you. Reading them might not get you out of the box, but they are sure to give you a peek outside.
Click here to see the 10 books on the list]]>I used to have a box filled with letters. Letters from my mom when I was at camp. Notes from my best friend scribbled during geography. Cards from an ex-boyfriend when I was a camp counselor. I tossed the box during one of my many moves and will always wish I hadn't, becuase letters tell the story long after memories fade.
Click here to see the 7 books on the list]]>My list is comprised of books that explore race relations in America from days of slavery to the modern era. Most deal with the complex relationship between African Americans and White Americans, with the exception of one title that focuses on Japanese Americans struggling to be seen as simply Americans.
Our nation's history of dealing with racial/religious/cultural differences is a subject of much interest to me, as evidenced not only by this reading list but also in my own writing, most notably my novel Patches of Grey. I initially thought that the list was going to end up dominated by black male authors, so was surprised and pleased to find that I managed to strike a balance not only between black and white writers, but also male and female.
From the days of enforced servitude where the nature of a one sided power struggle was characterized by evil and blatant cruelty, to contemporary times where much has changed for the better yet problematic attitudes persist on all sides, the issues addressed by such literature are not simplistic. My goal with this list is to present a broad range of perspectives rather than one dominated by a particular outlook.
Click here to see the 11 books on the list]]>This is my first list for Flashlight Worthy-- great old Caldecott Award Winners. The site already has a list of the newer winners -- from 1990 on. But 1940 to 1988 holds some of my absolute favorite titles that I hope, no matter how old they grow, will never be forgotten.
Even though each has the similarity of being Caldecott Winners, beyond that they're all quite unique. They have widely differing illustration styles and completely different types of stories. Some are about children, one is about ducks, one about a house, some about families working together, discovering together, or just having fun together. I hope you enjoy my list. :-)
Click here to see the 7 books on the list]]>I wanted to share a list of books that have helped me overcome what I consider to be the lowest point of my life.
It was not at all intentional that I seek refuge in the Japanese and Chinese characters of these novels, however one book lead to another and within a year and a half , not only was I healed but I was convinced I had to have been a Geisha in my past life!
Each of these remarkable stories are beautiful, fragile, vivid, captivating and just like a kimono — they soon became "a thing to wear" for me, as I learned from the women in these novels that with self discipline, control and patience — I, too could rise above the darkness and see the light of life again. More importantly, I learned the importance of relationships between people, those we cherish, those we take for granted and those we overestimate the value of.
Click here to see the 7 books on the list]]>I call them "bathtub books." I'd grab a cigar, a ceramic cup of wine, a pen for Marginalia, and I'd take the precious few mystical, magical books that prodded me to wake up psychically into a warm bath. Again and again, I found myself refilling the tub over and over because I couldn't tear myself away. The water would go cold, but I'd read on. My fingers and toes would prune, but my soul would sing.
My bathtub books are a hungry bunch. They devour cynicism, pessimism, misanthropy, Nihilism. I consider them Mythopoetic. That is to say, they all use, in some way, allegories or archetypes to express greater truths.
Here they are. Jump in! The water's warm... at first.
Click here to see the 7 books on the list]]>As a timeless topic, many a writer have tried their pens at conjuring up tales that tug at our heartstrings. More often then not, these novels give us the opportunity to sit back and contemplate on what is truly important; there is a very sustained sense of reflection in all the flashlight-worthy books of this particular genre. The best books often deal with a character's self-realization or discovering their true purpose amid seemingly insurmountable odds.
Click here to see the 7 books on the list]]>Our world is peopled with individuals with differences. Those who do not live with these challenges often do not understand them, and are sometimes uncomfortable in the presence of those who do have them. This list is a sample of some excellent and inspiring (mostly) contemporary fiction and nonfiction titles for children and young adults on this important topic. Adults will also find these books to be worthwhile reading, and will want to share them with the young people in their lives.
Click here to see the 10 books on the list]]>Every year the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association nominates a handful of books for the Dilys Award — an award given to the new mystery titles which member booksellers most enjoyed selling.
Unfortunately, mysteries aren't my thing. I don't think I've read one in over a decade. So I turn to you, Flashlight Worthy Readers, to submit your descriptions of what makes the below books so great. Take a look at the list below and for the books you've read, take a moment to submit your descriptions in the provided submission boxes.
What should you say? A few sentences about the plot is great. Adding why it's such a great book is even better. Have at it!
Click here to see the 6 books on the list]]>It's a ritual repeated every weekend in cities and towns across the country: as Saturday morning dawns, antique hunters converge upon yard sales, antique malls, flea markets, and swap meets. These tenacious folks scrutinize every piece of old furniture they can find, pulling out drawers, turning things upside down. They are not beyond crawling on the ground. The following books offer an overview of what these people are looking for. Developing an eye for antiques takes years of practice, but a little book smarts goes a long way.
Click here to see the 9 books on the list]]>In his day, Anthony Trollope was one of the most popular and prolific Victorian novelists, producing 47 novels and numerous essays and short stories. He is not as well known as many of his contemporaries and I will always be grateful to the friend who suggested him to me. His novels are my literary comfort food. The following will introduce you to his profound understanding of the timeless themes of money, politics and romance.
Click here to see the 5 books on the list]]>