Fiction_L Archives Best of 1999 Dates: 11/18/99,10:51 AM  through  12/27/99,6:30 PM  (44 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2009-current     2007-2008     1996-2006    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to November 1999 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: "Karen A.K. Keller" <kkeller@tln.lib.mi.us>
REC'D: 11/18/99, 10:51 AM

Too soon to start the "Best Fiction of 1999"? Our library is planning on
doing a best of the year/millennium at the end of December and I sure
wouldn't mind getting a jump on this. Can we start posting our choices
for best (adult) fiction written in '99?

Karen Keller
Brighton (MI) District Library

FROM: "ROBIN BEERBOWER" <rbeerbower@OPENGOVT.OPEN.ORG>
REC'D: 11/18/99, 12:31 PM

I think it would be great and will start getting together my favorites.
Karen, would you be willing to compile the list for Fiction_L (it is a
little time-consuming!)?

Robin Beerbower
Salem (OR) Public Library
rbeerbower@open.org

>>> "Karen A.K. Keller" <kkeller@tln.lib.mi.us> 11/18/99 08:51am >>>
Too soon to start the "Best Fiction of 1999"? Our library is planning on
doing a best of the year/millennium at the end of December and I sure
wouldn't mind getting a jump on this. Can we start posting our choices
for best (adult) fiction written in '99?

Karen Keller
Brighton (MI) District Library

FROM: "Maryann Bakken" <Mabakken@linc.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 11/18/99, 1:08 PM

My vote is for Lauren Belfer's City of Light. Besides providing some
interesting history, the story is a real page turner. Well written too.

Mary Ann Bakken
St. Charles (IL) Public Library

FROM: "Lisa Price" <lprice@MtLaurel.Lib.NJ.US>
REC'D: 11/18/99, 1:15 PM

Well, my favorite for books published - and actually read! - this year is
definitely Eugenie Melnyk's "My Darling Elia" . I also loved Bag of Bones,
but I think it was actually published last year.
Lisa Price
Mount Laurel (NJ) Library
All opinions are entirely my own.

Karen A.K. Keller wrote:

> Too soon to start the "Best Fiction of 1999"? Our library is planning on
> doing a best of the year/millennium at the end of December and I sure
> wouldn't mind getting a jump on this. Can we start posting our choices
> for best (adult) fiction written in '99?
>
> Karen Keller
> Brighton (MI) District Library

FROM: "Marsha Valance " <Mvalan@mpl.org>
REC'D: 11/18/99, 2:12 PM

Here are my best mysteries for 1999--have to mull over the rest.
Burke, James Lee. Heartwood.

Crombie, Deborah. Kissed a Sad Goodbye.

Dickinson, Peter. Some Deaths Before Dying: a Novel

Dubois, Brendan. Shattered Shell.

Hill, Reginald. Arms and the Women.

Katzenbach, John. Hart's War.

King, Laurie. O Jerusalem: a Mary Russell Novel

Lehane, Dennis. Prayers for Rain.

Leonard, Elmore. Be Cool.

Robinson, Peter. In a Dry Season.

Marsha J. Valance
Regional Librarian
Wisconsin Regional Library f/t Blind & Physically Handicapped
813 West Wells Street
Milwaukee, Wi 53233-1436
Phone: 414/286-3010
FAX: 414/286-3102
Email: <mvalan@mpl.org>

"That All May Read"

FROM: "Karen A.K. Keller" <kkeller@tln.lib.mi.us>
REC'D: 11/18/99, 2:18 PM

On Thu, 18 Nov 1999, ROBIN BEERBOWER wrote:

> Karen, would you be willing to compile the list for Fiction_L (it is a
> little time-consuming!)?
>
Since I started this I will compile.

Karen Keller
Brighton (MI) District Library

FROM: "Kathy Loucks" <KLOUCKS@cml.lib.oh.us>
REC'D: 11/18/99, 4:11 PM

I nominate STARDUST by Neil Gaiman and O JERUSALEM by Laurie King.

FROM: "Deborah T. Walsh" <dwalsh@dupagels.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 11/19/99, 1:25 PM

These are the books I most enjoyed reading in 1999:

The late Mr. Shakespeare by Robert Nye
Wild, inventive romp that chronicles the events of the
life of William Shakespeare as seen through the eyes of
one of his favorite (and now quite elderly) "boy"
actors. Nye weaves fact and speculation with a deft
hand to create a wonderful broth of Shakespeareana.

Hadrian's Walls by Robert Draper
A stunning, disturbing study of the American prison
system that pits a morally bankrupt warden against his
childhood friend, an escaped and subsequently pardoned
prison inmate. Interesting characters, inspired plot,
a great read. It's at the top of my "book discussion
for 2000" list.

A Mortal Bane by Roberta Gellis
Known for her historical romance fiction, Gellis
switches gears here with a mystery set in "Ellis
Peters' territory" - twelfth century England. The
detective is a brothel madam, and, as implausible as it
seems, the romance element of the book works nicely
with the mystery element. Magdalene De Batarde is no
Benedictine monk, but readers will love her warmth and
wit. First in what one must presume is planned as a
series.


Debbie Walsh
Geneva Public Library District
Geneva, IL
dwalsh@dupagels.lib.il.us

FROM: "Madeline Guzman" <mguzman@capaccess.org>
REC'D: 11/19/99, 3:49 PM

My vote goes to:

The Oxygen Man by Steve Yarbrough
(pbulished in 1999)


Madeline

Madeline T. Guzman SqueakyChu@hotmail.com
Rockville, Maryland mguzman@capaccess.org
<A HREF="http://www.strictlyconcrete.com">http://www.strictlyconcrete.com</A> strictly@erols.com

FROM: "Rhonda Jessup" <rjessup@whitbylibrary.on.ca>
REC'D: 11/22/99, 9:40 AM

A Prayer for the Dying by Stewart O'Nan gets my vote. A stunning novel
of a diptheria epidemic in a small town after the Civil War. O'Nan's
use of the second person narrative puts thee reader right in the story
and it's not really a place you want to be. Devastating.

Rhonda Jessup
Acting Chief Librarian/
Coordinator of Children's & Adult Services
Whitby Public Library
Whitby, Ontario, Canada

FROM: "ROBIN BEERBOWER" <rbeerbower@OPENGOVT.OPEN.ORG>
REC'D: 11/23/99, 1:14 PM

Strout, Elizabeth - AMY AND ISABELLE - A terrific novel about a mother and
daughter set in a small mill town in the 1970s.

Burke, Jan - BONES
Blanchard, Alice - DARKNESS PEERING
Both of these were fantastic mysteries with good twists at the end.

Card, Orson Scott - ENCHANTMENT - A retelling of the fairy tale Sleeping
Beauty but with a modern twist. I would have never read this if a patron
hadn't insisted on it and I was glad I did.

Simon, Alvah - NORTH TO THE NIGHT - A nonfiction account of a man and his
cat (and wife part of the time) who took a boat to the Arctic with the idea
of wintering in the frozen sea. Even though I didn't find what he did
admirable, it was still a fascinating story.

West, Michael Lee - CONSUMING PASSIONS - I food-obsessed autobiography with
great sounding recipes (try the Better-Than-Sex Cake!).

Robin Beerbower
Salem (OR) Public Library
rbeerbower@open.org

FROM: "ROBIN BEERBOWER" <RBEERBOWER@OPENGOVT.OPEN.ORG>
REC'D: 11/23/99, 3:09 PM

Ijust read my post as it appeared on Fiction_L realized it sounds a little
funny! What I *meant* to say was that his wife was with him part of the
time, not that the cat was his wife part of the time. :-)

Robin Beerbower

>Simon, Alvah - NORTH TO THE NIGHT - A nonfiction account of a man and his
cat (and wife part of the time) who took a boat to the Arctic with the idea
of wintering in the frozen sea. Even though I didn't find what he did
admirable, it was still a fascinating story.

FROM: "Stacey Cisneros" <scisnero@bal.alibrary.com>
REC'D: 11/23/99, 4:24 PM

Ahab's Wife, by Sena Jeter Naslund. A big, engrossing book about an
independent young woman who lives an unconventional life in the early
1800s. She leaves her home at a lighthouse keeper's house and goes to sea
on a whaling ship, and along the way also marries Captain Ahab. Elegantly
written.

City of Light, by Lauren Belfer. Set in up-and-coming turn-of-the-century
Buffalo, this is the story of a girls' school headmistress who has a secret
in her past. It's an historical novel with a couple of big mysteries at
its core.

The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, by Melissa Banks. A series of
connected stories about a young editor in New York, as she experiences all
kinds of trouble in her love life.

Prayers for Rain, by Dennis Lehane. The latest in the stunning hardboiled
mystery series featuring Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro. A case
involving a stalker seems to be easily wrapped up, but then spirals out of
control.

Stacey Cisneros, Librarian
Barrington Area Library
505 N. Northwest Highway
Barrington, IL 60010
Phone: 847/382-1300
FAX: 847/382-1261
scisnero@bal.alibrary.com
The views expressed represent my personal opinion and not necessarily the
opinion of the Barrington Area Library.

----------
From: ROBIN BEERBOWER[SMTP:rbeerbower@OPENGOVT.OPEN.ORG]
Reply To: fiction_l@maillist.nslsilus.org
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 1999 1:34 PM
To: fiction_l@maillist.nslsilus.org
Subject: Best of 1999

Strout, Elizabeth - AMY AND ISABELLE - A terrific novel about a mother and
daughter set in a small mill town in the 1970s.

Burke, Jan - BONES
Blanchard, Alice - DARKNESS PEERING
Both of these were fantastic mysteries with good twists at the end.

Card, Orson Scott - ENCHANTMENT - A retelling of the fairy tale Sleeping
Beauty but with a modern twist. I would have never read this if a patron
hadn't insisted on it and I was glad I did.

Simon, Alvah - NORTH TO THE NIGHT - A nonfiction account of a man and his
cat (and wife part of the time) who took a boat to the Arctic with the idea
of wintering in the frozen sea. Even though I didn't find what he did
admirable, it was still a fascinating story.

West, Michael Lee - CONSUMING PASSIONS - I food-obsessed autobiography with
great sounding recipes (try the Better-Than-Sex Cake!).

Robin Beerbower
Salem (OR) Public Library
rbeerbower@open.org

FROM: "Vicki Nesting" <vnestin@bellsouth.net>
REC'D: 11/23/99, 6:46 PM

It seems early to be compiling our "best of 1999" already. Nevertheless,
here are my favorites of the books I've read so far this year (in no
particular order):

Jennie Siler--Easy Money (A dark and gritty mystery from a stunning new
talent.)

Nancy E. Turner--These is My Words (I read this one based on
recommendations from other fiction-lers and have, in turn have
recommended it to other friends.)

Jodi Picoult--Keeping Faith (A child with no religious background begins
to communicate with God after her parents' divorce. A fascinating
exploration of the nature of God, faith, and human nature.)

Walter Mosley--Walkin' the Dog (Sequel to, or continuation of, Mosley's
powerful Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned -- one of my favorites
from last year.)

Dennis Lehane--Prayers for Rain (I read the whole series this year and
with each book I am blown away by his depth and intensity.)

James Lee Burke--Heartwood (I wasn't that impressed with Cimarron Rose,
but I think Billy Bob is growing on me.)

Sara Paretsky--Hard Time (Welcome back, V.I. Warshawski!)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vicki Nesting, Circulation Librarian
West Bank Regional Library
Jefferson Parish, Louisiana
vnestin@bellsouth.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FROM: "Karen A.K. Keller" <kkeller@tln.lib.mi.us>
REC'D: 11/24/99, 8:12 AM

On Tue, 23 Nov 1999, ROBIN BEERBOWER wrote:

> Simon, Alvah - NORTH TO THE NIGHT - A nonfiction account of a man and his
>
> West, Michael Lee - CONSUMING PASSIONS - I food-obsessed autobiography with
>
For the record... I'm compiling best *fiction* of '99. Perhaps if, this
fiction list is interested, a separate "discussion" and list making of
non-fiction can be started?


Karen Keller
Brighton (MI) District Library

FROM: "Penny Stevens" <kmrrss@ix.netcom.com>
REC'D: 11/24/99, 9:54 AM

Remember Me by Laura Hendrie

FROM: "Cynthia Baskin" <cbaskin@erols.com>
REC'D: 11/24/99, 11:39 AM

The year's not over, but here's my top reads (fiction) to this point:

Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
While I Was Gone by Sue Miller
The Ladies Man by Elinor Lipman

One other older top novel I read in 1999 is We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce
Carol Oates

And here's my top nonfiction reads to this point:

Edith's Story by Edith Velmans
Food and Whine by Jennifer Moses


Cynthia Baskin

FROM: "Connie Regan" <cregan@cooklib.org>
REC'D: 11/27/99, 9:52 AM

Some of my favorites for '99--

Evensong by Gail Godwin

Caught in the Light by Robert Goddard (always fascinating convoluted plots)

The Pleasing Hour by Lily King (American au pair in France)

**Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland (traces the ownership of a Vermeer
painting)
(my top vote)

One more vote for Prayers for Rain by Lehane, City of Light by Belfour and
Remember Me by Hendrie.

(It's not too early to start compiling this list but if I read one more
great book in December I'll have to vote again)

Connie Regan
Cook Memorial Library
Libertyville, Il 60048
.

FROM: "Sarah Herlache" <sherlach@glenpub.lib.az.us>
REC'D: 11/29/99, 1:35 PM

> My favorite novel of 1999 is definitely These is My Words by Nancy Turner.

Sarah Herlache
Glendale Public Library Foothills Branch
Glendale, Arizona

FROM: "Karen A.K. Keller" <kkeller@tln.lib.mi.us>
REC'D: 11/29/99, 7:17 PM

On Sat, 27 Nov 1999, Connie Regan wrote:

> (It's not too early to start compiling this list but if I read one more
> great book in December I'll have to vote again)
>
I did start this somewhat early but I'm willing to compile til nearly the
end of December. My book discussion is scheduled for 12/27 and I'd like
to get my handouts done several days before that so, at least til the
third week of December and we should have given '99 a good chance to show
itself (and cast our votes).

Karen Keller
Brighton (MI) District Library

FROM: "Tracey Morsek" <tmorsek@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 11/29/99, 8:20 PM

Looking over the books I've read, I discovered that
most of the titles I enjoyed were published in 1998! I
guess I'll never get over that guilt of reading a new
book before patrons have quit reserving it!
Nonetheless, I did squeeze in a few '99 titles that
struck me as "Best of" material:

KING; A STREET STORY by John Berger

TIMBUKTU by Paul Auster
Did 1999 go to the dogs or what? Both of these
novels are narrated by dogs "owned" by homeless
people. Both had some important things to say...and
both moved me.

CITY OF LIGHT by Lauren Belfer
Memorable characters, secrets in the past, and
Niagra Falls. What more could one ask?


Tracey Morsek
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: <A HREF="http://shopping.yahoo.com">http://shopping.yahoo.com</A>

FROM: "Madeline Guzman" <mguzman@capaccess.org>
REC'D: 11/29/99, 9:11 PM

The Oxygen Man by Stve Yarbrough

Madeline T. Guzman SqueakyChu@hotmail.com
Rockville, Maryland mguzman@capaccess.org
<A HREF="http://www.strictlyconcrete.com">http://www.strictlyconcrete.com</A> strictly@erols.com

FROM: "Madeline Guzman" <mguzman@capaccess.org>
REC'D: 11/29/99, 10:47 PM

Make that *Steve* Yarbrough.

> The Oxygen Man by Stve Yarbrough


Madeline T. Guzman SqueakyChu@hotmail.com
Rockville, Maryland mguzman@capaccess.org
<A HREF="http://www.strictlyconcrete.com">http://www.strictlyconcrete.com</A> strictly@erols.com

FROM: "Ann Theis" <Theisa@co.chesterfield.va.us>
REC'D: 12/1/99, 1:17 PM

I'm still working on my best of '99 lists to send in to y'all and I'm
enjoying reading others selections. I've posted the PW and NYTBR
Notable selections on several of the Overbooked hot lists, for those who
may be interested.
<A HREF="http://www.overbooked.org/hotfic99.html">http://www.overbooked.org/hotfic99.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.overbooked.org/hotmyst991.html">http://www.overbooked.org/hotmyst991.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.overbooked.org/hotmyst992.html">http://www.overbooked.org/hotmyst992.html</A>

FROM: "Nancy Eggert" <neggert@chipublib.org>
REC'D: 12/1/99, 8:51 AM

Choices for best fiction of '99 include:

Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende
The hours by Michael Cunningham
The mammy by Brendan O'Carroll (this is a scream -- sort of like "Angela's
Ashes" meets "The Barrytown Trilogy")


Nancy Eggert
Northtown Branch
Chicago Public Library

FROM: "Nora M. Armstrong" <narmstro@clsn1269.cumberland.lib.nc.us>
REC'D: 12/1/99, 9:35 AM

I second the vote for "The Mammy" - unforgettable, hilarious, and
poignant. Isn't this part of a series?

Nora Armstrong
Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center
Fayetteville, NC
(910)483-7878, FAX (910)486-6661
narmstro@cumberland.lib.nc.us

FROM: "Ann Theis" <Theisa@co.chesterfield.va.us>
REC'D: 12/1/99, 1:17 PM

I'm still working on my best of '99 lists to send in to y'all and I'm
enjoying reading others selections. I've posted the PW and NYTBR
Notable selections on several of the Overbooked hot lists, for those who
may be interested.
<A HREF="http://www.overbooked.org/hotfic99.html">http://www.overbooked.org/hotfic99.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.overbooked.org/hotmyst991.html">http://www.overbooked.org/hotmyst991.html</A>
<A HREF="http://www.overbooked.org/hotmyst992.html">http://www.overbooked.org/hotmyst992.html</A>

FROM: "Ricki Nordmeyer" <nordr@nslsilus.ORG>
REC'D: 12/2/99, 10:02 AM

Ann, what a wonderful site. I'm linking to it on our homepage. It is one
you could browse for days...as if we have the time. Thanks for sharing it
with all of us.

Ricki Nordmeyer

At 02:24 PM 12/01/1999 -0500, Ann Theis wrote:
>I'm still working on my best of '99 lists to send in to y'all and I'm
>enjoying reading others selections. I've posted the PW and NYTBR
>Notable selections on several of the Overbooked hot lists, for those who
>may be interested.
><A HREF="http://www.overbooked.org/hotfic99.html">http://www.overbooked.org/hotfic99.html</A>
><A HREF="http://www.overbooked.org/hotmyst991.html">http://www.overbooked.org/hotmyst991.html</A>
><A HREF="http://www.overbooked.org/hotmyst992.html">http://www.overbooked.org/hotmyst992.html</A>
>
>
>
Ricki Nordmeyer Reader's Advisory Specialist
Skokie Public Library
(847) 673-7774 x 2177
nordr@skokie.lib.il.us
<A HREF="http://www.skokie.lib.il.us">http://www.skokie.lib.il.us</A>

Opinions expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of
the Board of the Skokie Public Library.

FROM: "Nancy Crabbe" <ncrabbe@ci.santa-clara.ca.us>
REC'D: 12/2/99, 11:49 AM

Seems like I did a lot of reading from prior years (ie, catching up) this year, but here are my favorites that were actually published in '99.

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni -- Sister of my heart (not at all like Mistress of Spices, and maybe not as strong; but good writing and story)

Sue Miller -- While I was gone

Arturo Perez-Reverte -- The fencing master (This guy is extremely versatile. I heard him speak in person this year -- his first American tour -- and he is definitely not a formula kind of writer.)

Elizabeth Berg -- Until the real thing comes along

Elizabeth Strout -- Amy and Isabelle

Salman Rushdie -- The ground beneath her feet (kind of overwhelming in its way, but I was fascinated the whole time; maybe I'm just easily amused)

Ian McEwan -- Amsterdam


Nancy Crabbe
Collection Management Coordinator (new job since 11/1)
Santa Clara City Library
ncrabbe@ci.santa-clara.ca.us
(408) 615-2903

FROM: <Ellice.Engdahl@galegroup.com>
REC'D: 12/9/99, 9:48 AM

I'm usually reading at least a year or two behind, but of the '99 titles I
read this year, there were a couple I particularly enjoyed, both of which
are nonfiction:

Why We Buy by Paco Underhill
This has already been mentioned a couple of times, but I enjoyed it so much
I thought I'd mention it again. It really makes for fascinating reading.

Blizzard of One: Poems by Mark Strand
I thought these poems managed to navigate the fine line between
intellectual and emotional poetry without becoming too much one or the
other.

As far as the best fiction goes, my colleague Deb Kirby suggested Black
Notice by Patricia Cornwell.


Ellice Engdahl, Contributing Editor
What Do I Read Next?

"The views, opinions, and judgments expressed in this message are solely
those of the author. The message contents have not been reviewed or
approved by the Gale Group."

FROM: <APL_AMANDAB@hlc.actx.edu>
REC'D: 12/9/99, 12:17 PM

I'd like to add another nonfiction title to the Best of 99 list:

The Parrot's Lament and Other Tales of Animal Intrigue, Intelligence, and
Ingenuity by Eugene Linden

I'm not finished with it yet, but the book is by a noted journalist who has
written about animal intelligence before. His account is by no means
sentimental, and he remains relatively objective. I've always believed that
animals are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. READ this book--
the account he relates about the escape artist orangutan who nonchalantly
appropriated some fried chicken and orange juice from the cooler of a terrified
tourist is a scream!

Amanda Barrera
Amarillo Public Library

FROM: "Diane Krall" <kralld@nspl.lib.in.us>
REC'D: 12/10/99, 10:00 AM

One to add that hasn't been mentioned yet:
Burning Road by Ann Benson
The sequel to The Plaque Tales, this book also has chapters that alternate between the 1300s and the year 2007. Excellent characters and great storylines in both centurys. I believe she's planning a third book as well.

Nan Sherman
Noblesville Southeastern Public Library
Noblesville, IN

FROM: "Ann Boles" <aboles@yavapaicold.lib.az.us>
REC'D: 12/13/99, 12:29 PM

I hope it's not too late to add my 1999 favorites.

I just finished My Darling Elia by Eugenie Melnyk. It is a holocaust
novel, so sometimes it has descriptions that are difficult to read, but I
really liked the story.

Plainsong by Kent Haruf-- I liked this enough that I've gone back and
started reading his first book, The Tie That Binds, which I like so far,
and I have his second book waiting when I finish that one.

I also really liked Eddie's Bastard by William Kowalski, East of the
Mountains by David Guterson, and Prayers for Rain by Dennis LeHane.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ann M. Boles
Yavapai County Library District
172 E. Merritt, Ste. E
Prescott, AZ 86301
520-771-3191
aboles@yavapaicold.lib.az.us
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FROM: "Barry Trott" <btrott@mail.wrl.org>
REC'D: 12/13/99, 1:13 PM

My favorites thus far:

Fiction:
An Equal Music -- Vikram Seth
The Colony of Unrequited Dreams -- Wayne Johnston
O, Jerusalem -- Laurie R. King
Mountatin Time -- Ivan Doig
Jem (and Sam) -- Ferdinand Mount

Nonfiction:
Narcissus Leaves the Pool -- Joseph Epstein
Galileo's Daughter -- Dava Sobel
Waiting for Aphrodite -- Sue Hubbell
Readings -- Sven Birkerts
The Moral Compass of the American Lawyer -- Richard Zitrin

Barry

*******************************************************************************
Barry Trott 7770 Croaker Rd.
Readers' Advisory Librarian Williamsburg VA 23188
Williamsburg Regional Library Phone: 757-259-4050 or
btrott@mail.wrl.org 757-259-7720
*******************************************************************************

FROM: "Mary Zajac" <mzajac@nileslibrary.org>
REC'D: 12/13/99, 3:03 PM

My favorites of 1999:
(in alphabetical order)
Barnes, Julian. ENGLAND, ENGLAND.
Blake, Michelle. THE TENTMAKER.
Brown, Carrie. LAMB IN LOVE.
Doyle, Roddy. A STAR CALLED HENRY.
Hendrie, Laura. REMEMBER ME.
Henderson, Lauren. BLACK RUBBER DRESS.
Kennedy, A.L. ORIGINAL BLISS.
Mina, Denise. GARNETHILL.
(and my favorite or the favorites) Warner, Alan. THE SOPRANOS.

What I didn't get to, but really want to read:

Johnston, Wayne. THE UNREQUITED COLONY.
Kingsolver, Barbara. THE POSIONWOOD BIBLE.
Lee, Chang-rae. A GESTURE LIFE.
Rushdie, Salman. THE GROUND BENEATH HER FEET.

among others...

Mary Zajac
Niles Public Library District
Niles, Illinois

FROM: "Barb Gigot" <dazzle39@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 12/14/99, 10:09 AM

In 1999 I discovered five new authors,which I had not previously
read. Its always such a kick to make such a discovery...they were
Stuart Wood (Worst Fears Realized, Orchid Beach...etc)
Jennifer Crusie (Crazy for You , etc)
Kathy Reichs (Death Du Jour, Deja Dead)
Wes Demott (Vapors)
James Patterson (Pop Goes the Weasel, When the Wind Blows)

Just my opinion.....


>From: Ann Boles <aboles@yavapaicold.lib.az.us>
>Reply-To: fiction_l@maillist.nslsilus.org
>To: fiction_l@maillist.nslsilus.org
>Subject: My 1999 favorites
>Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 11:29:14 -0700
>
>I hope it's not too late to add my 1999 favorites.
>
>I just finished My Darling Elia by Eugenie Melnyk. It is a holocaust
>novel, so sometimes it has descriptions that are difficult to read, but I
>really liked the story.
>
>Plainsong by Kent Haruf-- I liked this enough that I've gone back and
>started reading his first book, The Tie That Binds, which I like so far,
>and I have his second book waiting when I finish that one.
>
>I also really liked Eddie's Bastard by William Kowalski, East of the
>Mountains by David Guterson, and Prayers for Rain by Dennis LeHane.
>
>
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>Ann M. Boles
>Yavapai County Library District
>172 E. Merritt, Ste. E
>Prescott, AZ 86301
>520-771-3191
>aboles@yavapaicold.lib.az.us
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>

FROM: "Kathryn Shaw" <kshaw@brantford.library.on.ca>
REC'D: 12/14/99, 3:52 PM

My favourite book of 1999 is 'In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner' by
Elizabeth George.

Kathryn Shaw
Brantford Public Library

FROM: <PARKERK@charleston.lib.sc.us>
REC'D: 12/15/99, 8:38 AM

My favorite book this years was _Confessions of an ugly Stepsister_ by Gregory
Maguire.

Kathleen Parker
St Andrews Regional Library

FROM: "Kathy Irwin" <irwinkathy@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 12/15/99, 9:16 AM

I'll chime in to say I also enjoyed Elizabeth George's newest book, 'In
Pursuit of the Proper Sinner'. Since the "maker of the list" is keeping
track of how many times a book is voted for, I'd also like to cast my vote
for Ahab's Wife.
Kathy Irwin
Comerica Library
Kathy_M_Irwin@comerica.com

>From: Kathryn Shaw <kshaw@brantford.library.on.ca>
>Reply-To: fiction_l@maillist.nslsilus.org
>To: "fiction_l@maillist.nslsilus.org" <fiction_l@maillist.nslsilus.org>
>Subject: Best Book of '99
>Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 16:58:55 -0500
>
>My favourite book of 1999 is 'In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner' by
>Elizabeth George.
>
>Kathryn Shaw
>Brantford Public Library
>
>

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>

FROM: "Paula Davino" <pdavino@kentnet.dtcc.edu>
REC'D: 12/15/99, 6:07 PM

The Ladies' Man by Elinor Lipman
Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross
As It Is In Heaven by Niall Williams

I strongly second:

Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank
Midnight Champagne by A. Manette Ansay

Best books I read this year that were written prior to 1999:

The Ghost of Hannah Mendes by Naomi Ragen
The Train Home by Susan Richard Shreve

Books on my TBR shelf that I hope to get to soon:

Ahab's Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund
Aunt Dimity's Christmas by Nancy Atherton
The Master of All Desires by Judith Merkle Riley

I'm sorry that I did not include annotations. I would never get this
posted if I had to write them. My New Year's Resolution will be to write
an annotation after reading a book that I know will surely make my best of
2000 list.

Happy Holidays!!

Paula Davino
Assistant Director
Dover Public Library
Dover, Delaware
pdavino@kentnet.dtcc.edu

FROM: "Kaite Mediatore" <mediatok@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 12/16/99, 9:00 AM

The books I read this year that I thought were the
best were:

Booked to Die and Bookman's Wake both by John Dunning
(wish he'd write another)
Past the Bleachers by Chris Bohjalian
(real tearjerker)
Holes by Louis Sachar
(a good read aloud book for middle schoolers)
Handyman by Carolyn See
(exquisite)
Imani All Mine by Connie Porter
(get an understanding of why some teen girls WANT to
have children)
Ramona's World by Beverly Cleary
(it's Ramona, what more could a person want?)
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
(it's Harry, ditto above)
Final Detail by Harlan Coben
(I'm saving myself for Myron. He's funny, cute and
LIKES his parents)

Guilty Pleasure reading for 1999
The Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton
Anything by Nora Roberts
Mistral's Daughers by Judith Krantz
Foolscap by Michael Malone

Kaite Mediatore

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FROM: "Brenda O'Brien" <obrienb@sls.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 12/21/99, 9:56 AM

Trying to come up with my picks for best novels of 1999, I found out how
useful keeping a reading log can be. I have kept one for a few years now,
but not for a good chunk of this year. I know I must have read some
excellent books, but can't think of any that aren't in my log. That said,
these are some books I really enjoyed and thought were well written:


The Journal of Mrs. Pepys: Portrait of a Marriage, by Sara George.
A first novel, about Elizabeth, the wife of diarist Samuel Pepys.
Fascinating, as I had recently listened to excerpts from Samuel's
diary on audiotape. I thought the London setting was vividly drawn. This
is another novel for the plague booklist, too.

Murder with Peacocks, by Donna Andrews.
A first mystery, that's just plain fun. The characters are very
appealing. Meg goes home for the summer to be maid of honor at three
weddings, and anything that can go wrong does. Then, of course, there is
the occasional murder to solve.

Kissed a Sad Goodbye, by Deborah Crombie.
A fine mystery in an excellent British police procedural series.

Thirteenth Night, by Alan Gordon.
A debut medieval mystery, featuring Feste, a member of the Fool's Guild.

Gravity, by Tess Gerritsen.
A page-turning biomedical thriller, set in the near future on the
international space station.

And finally, an illustrated biography that reads like fiction:
Ernest and Ethel, by Raymond Briggs.
The illustrated story of the marriage of the author's parents, set in
London from the late 20's to the early 70's.


Brenda O'Brien
Woodridge Public Library
obrienb@sls.lib.il.us

FROM: "Kathryn Shaw" <kshaw@brantford.library.on.ca>
REC'D: 12/22/99, 2:16 PM

I have already sent in one of my favourite books of this year but I just
remembered another that I must include. It is In a Dry Season by Peter
Robinson.

Following the discussion on Ficiton-L about keeping track on one's
reading in a journal, I decided that I must do so. Hopefully, I won't
forget about my favourites when we do our Best of 2000 list!

Kathryn Shaw
Brantford Public Library

FROM: "Karen A.K. Keller" <kkeller@tln.lib.mi.us>
REC'D: 12/27/99, 6:30 PM

Our library's "best of" book discussion was this evening so I compiled the
list from this mail list's suggestions for a handout-- even though we're
still four days away from the end of the year. I will amend if there are
others who still have to get their suggestions in. This list is *long*.
I've included a short subject heading for each title and number of votes a
title received (if more than one).


Best Fiction of 1999 Selected by members of the Fiction-L Mail List
Compiled by Karen Keller, Brighton (MI) District Library

AUTHOR TITLE NOTES Votes
Allende, Isabel Daughter of fortune California--History--1846-1850
Andrews, Donna Murder, with peacocks Weddings
Andrews, Russell Gideon Authors, American
Ansay, A. Manette Midnight champagne Family violence 2
Auster, Paul Timbuktu Dogs
Baker, Larry Flamingo rising Family--Florida
Bank, Melissa The girls' guide to hunting and fishing 4
US--Social life & customs--20th cent
Barnes, Julian England, England Tourist trade--England
Belfer, Lauren City of light 1901 Pan-Am Expo-Buffalo 4
Benson, Ann The burning road Disease (sequel to Plague Tales)
Berger, John King: a street story Dogs
Blake, Michelle The tentmaker Mystery
Blanchard, Alice Darkness peering Police--Maine
Breznik, Melitta Night duty Fathers and daughters
Brown, Carrie Lamb in love Middle aged persons--England
Burke, James Lee Heartwood Texas
Burke, Jan Bones Mystery
Card, Orson Scott Enchantment Sci Fi/Fantasy 2
Coben, Harlan The final detail Sports agents--United States
Cornwell, Patricia Black notice Mystery
Crichton, Michael Timeline Time; Adventure stories
Crombie, Deborah Kissed a sad goodbye Mystery 2
Crusie, Jennifer Crazy for you Man-woman relationships
DeMott, Wes Vapors Aerospace engineers
Dickinson, Peter Some deaths before dying Mystery
Doig, Ivan Mountain time Aged--family relationships
Doyle, Roddy A star called Henry Young men, Ireland
Draper, Robert Hadrian's walls Prisons--Texas
Dubois, Brendan The shattered shell Mystery
Dubus, Andre House of sand and fog Iranian Americans
Fesperman, Dan Lie in the dark Murder--Bosnia & Hercegonia
Gaiman, Neil Stardust Fantasy
Gellis, Roberta A mortal bane Mystery--12th century England
George, Elizabeth In pursuit of the proper sinner Police--England 2
George, Sara The journal of Mrs. Pepys London (England) History--17th cent
Gerritsen, Tess Gravity NASA (U.S.)
Goddard, Robert Caught in the light Mystery
Godwin, Gail Evensong Episcopal church--clergy
Gordon, Alan Thirteenth night: a medieval mystery Fools and jesters
Guterson, David East of the mountains Suicidal behavior surgeons
Hambly, Barbara Dragonshadow Sci Fi/Fantasy
Hannah, Kristin On mystic lake Mailbu 2
Harris, Joanne Chocolat Lent
Haruf, Kent Plainsong High school teachers--Colorado
Henderson, Lauren Black rubber dress Mystery
Hendrie, Laura Remember me Indian women--New Mexico 3
Hill, Reginald Arms and the women: an elliad Mystery
Hoffman, Alice Local girls US--Social life & customs--20th cent
Johnston, Wayne The colony of unrequited dreams Newfoundland--history
Katzenbach, John Hart's war WW 1939-45, Prisoners
Kennedy, A.L. Original bliss Man-woman relationships
King, Laurie O Jerusalem Mystery 3
King, Lily The pleasing hour Au pairs--France, Paris
Kowalski, William Eddie's bastard Grandparents as parents
Lehane, Dennis Prayers for rain Mystery 5
Leonard, Elmore Be cool Gangsters--California
Lipman, Elinor The ladies' man Single women 2
Maguire, Gregory Confessions of an ugly stepsister Stepchildren--Holland--17th century
Melnyk, Eugenie My darling Elia Treblinka concentration camp 2
Miller, Sue While I was gone Marriage
Mina, Denise Garnethill Mystery
Mosely, Walter Walkin' the dog Afro-American men--Los Angeles
Mount, Ferdinand Jem (and Sam) Britain--History, Stuarts 1603-1714
Naslund, Sena Jeter Ahab's wife, or, The star-gazer Captain Ahab 2
Nye, Robert The late Mr. Shakespeare William Shakespeare
O'Carroll, Brendan The mammy Fatherless family--Ireland 2
O'Nan, Stewart A prayer for the dying Diphtheria--Wisconsin
Paretsky, Sara Hard time Mystery
Patterson, James Pop goes the weasel Detectives
Picoult, Jodi Keeping faith Mother and child
Porter, Connie Rose Imani all mine Afro-Americans--New York--Buffalo
Reichert, Mickey Z. Spirit fox Sci Fi/Fantasy
Reichs, Kathleen Death du jour Mystery
Rice, Luanne Cloud nine Air pilots--Maine
Riley, Judith Merkle The master of all desires Catherine de Medici, Queen
Robinson, Peter In a dry season Police-England-Yorkshire-Murder 2
Ross, Ann B. Miss Julia speaks her mind Widows
See, Carolyn The handyman Artists--California
Seth, Vikram An equal music Musicians 2
Siler, Jenny Easy money Vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975
Smith, Martin Cruz Havana Bay Havana, Cuba 2
Stephenson, Neal Cryptonomicon WW 1939-45, Cryptography
Strout, Elizabeth Amy and Isabelle Mothers and daughters 2
Trollope, Joanna Other people's children Modern family life
Vreeland, Susan Girl in hyacinth blue Vermeer, Johannes--1632-1675
Warner, Alan The Sopranos Sex, drugs
Williams, Niall As it is in heaven Women musicians
Woods, Stuart Worst fears realized Detective and mystery
Yarbrough, Steve The oxygen man Broken homes--Mississippi 2


Karen Keller
Brighton (MI) District Library

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