Jamie's Picks
This book is the literary equivalent of cilantro - people either love it or hate it. I think it's just about the funniest novel ever written.
My girls and I absolutely adore this book about an (allegedly) unremarkable mermaid whose curiosity allows her to uncover the mystery of a shoe while learning something about herself.
This was the first great book I read in 2013. Following Fukushima and the tsunami, a Hello Kitty lunchbox holding a Japanese girl's diary washes ashore on an island off the coast of British Columbia and is found by a writer named Ruth. Thus begins this magical, heart-breaking, funny, wise, wonderful, amazing story.
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This stunningly written and delightfully vulgar novel follows Egon Loesser through the 1930's as he follows Adele Hitler (no relation) around the globe, hoping she will eventually go to bed with him. With each new character more outrageous than the last, this book -- while not for everyone -- is an absolute romp.
An epic, multi-generational saga of Texas that combines the authenticity and heart of McMurtry with the brutal realism of McCarthy. A truly incredible reading experience that kept reading late into the night.
A fantastic thriller set in Venice and featuring Italian Police, U.S. Military, the Mafia, CIA/NATO conspiracies from the Yugoslavian civil war, female catholic priests, and a shadowy online virtual Venice that is an exact replica of the city. This addictive thriller has two stong female protagonists and is the first book in a trilogy. I can't wait for the second.
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Castle Glower is a magical castle that can build new rooms and move hallways whenever it gets bored -- which is often on a Tuesday. Princess Celie has been busy mapping the castle (which isn't easy when it's always changing), but when her parents, the King and Queen disappear, it's up to her and her siblings to find their parents, protect the kingdom, and save the castle!
This debut Swedish novel tells the story of Allan Karlsson who can’t think of a worse place to celebrate his 100th birthday than his nursing home. So he puts on his ‘pee slippers’ and exits via his window, accidentally steals a suitcase full of cash from a drug dealer, and ends up on a cross-country dash chased by gangsters and the police, while picking up accomplices and an elephant! This narrative is interrupted by his backstory: a Forrest Gumpian life filled with adventure that often placed him in pivotal moments of history. He saved General Franco’s life, spent time in Stalin’s Gulag after insulting him at a dinner, and crossed the Himalayas twice among many other exploits. Easily the most delightful book I've read all year. A wonderful story that cosntantly amuses - perfect for anybody who needs a lift or a quirky read.