The BookReport

Chris is Reading: Home

One of my favorite novelists, Toni Morrison, returns with the breathtaking and brief Home (Knopf). Frank Money is a Korean War veteran, just returned to the ever-racist U.S., hospitalized for unspoken atrocities that have scarred him both physically and mentally.

Defeated, angry, and lost, he is shocked out of his stupor by his need to save his younger sister, who is gravely ill after being medically abused by the doctor she works for. Frank must get to her in time, and must take her back to the small Georgia town where they grew up together. Frank has always hated his hometown, but it is a journey he must take, to save his sister and himself.

Morrison’s novel is, as usual, beautifully written, and Frank’s journey, full of childhood memories and flashes of the war’s brutalities, is a journey of redemption. Home is the U.S. Home is Georgia. But ultimately, Home is family. Home is love. Home is memory.

— Chris Avena

Chris is Reading: In One Person

John Irving has always grappled with issues of sexual identity, but in his powerful and potently political new novel, In One Person (Simon & Schuster), Irving wrestles with these themes and pins them to the floor. This is his most moving, passionate, and heartfelt novel since A Prayer for Owen Meany.

Irving introduces us to Billy, a self-considered bisexual, as well as the family, friends, and lovers who orbit him. Billy’s story is all at once a story of unrequited love, sexual fluidity, lifelong bonds, and absent caretakers; a story of how you discover who you are by who you love, and how to take comfort from and be comfortable with that choice.

Billy’s journey is emotionally harrowing, but also filled with contagious humor. Irving again does what he does best: his characters are “characters,” but always ring true and touch your heart.

In One Person is a celebration of Billy’s triumph — from curious and confused adolescent, turning to literature for clues to his own mysteries (the gorgeous and groundbreaking Giovanni’s Room among many), to grown man living through the AIDS scourge — knowing himself, being himself, and realizing that he need not apologize for any of it. Irving’s portrait of the AIDS Decade is the most compelling and personal depiction of the disease’s ruthlessness, its diabolical insouciance, and the horrible pinball effect of its path.

In One Person is quintessential Irving: bold and brave, and in the same breath, beautifully pugilistic. Irving dares you to consider Billy’s life and not be both moved and outraged. It is surely one of the most important books of the year.

— Chris Avena

Chris is Reading: New Cookbooks

What are the holidays without a cookbook round-up?  With new offerings from Lidia, Mario, Jacques, and my beloved Cook’s Illustrated, there’s a bounty for your favorite menu-maker.

Lidia Bastianich is back in her kitchen with Lidia’s Italy in America (Knopf), more than 175 recipes from Italian American centers throughout the country.  From Baltimore Crab Cakes to Chicago’s Deep-Dish Pizza, New Orleans Muffuletta sandwich to New York’s Neopolitan Pizza, Lidia’s found the best this country has to offer.  My favorite recipe reveals the secrets behind the time-honored Rainbow Cookies.

 

 

Mario Batali gathers “simple family meals” in Molto Batali (Ecco), a celebration of his favorite seasonal recipes for family festivities.  Arranged by month, these mouth-watering meals include Escarole Soup (perfect for a chilly day), Nectarine and Black Pepper Cheesecake (just think about it!), Fettucine with Peas and Pancetta, and Braised Chicken with Sweet Onions and Parmigiano (mmm...”braised” anything.)

 

 

I’m thrilled watching Jacques Pepin in action, and Essential Pepin (Houghton Mifflin) collects more than 700 of his all-time favorite recipes (and includes a DVD of searchable cooking techniques). Roast Turkey with Mushroom Stuffing, Mussels Gratine, Grilled Steak with Lemon-Thyme Butter, Leeks in Bechamel Gratin, Iced Grand Marnier Souffle — imagine what the other 695 recipes are like! This is a must for every cook’s library.

 

 

Move over Joy of Cooking, How to Cook Everything, and Fannie Farmer...a new cookbook bible has been born. Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook (America’s Test Kitchen) has collected over 2,000 tried and tested recipes from 20 years of my favorite cooking magazine.  Whether you’re a neophyte or seasoned chef, these fabulous recipes will quickly enter your kitchen lexicon. Open to any page, and you’ll find the best recipe that the wonderful chefs at America’s Test Kitchen could foolproof — Country-Style Potato-Leek Soup, Turkey Tetrazzini, Chicken Saltimbocca, Steak Frites, Classic Frittata, and hundreds more, all presented with the unique Cook’s Illustrated style.

— Chris Avena

Chris is Reading: Nonfiction Highlights of the Season

Rome: A Cultural, Visual, and Personal History, by Robert Hughes (Knopf). Hughes is one of our greatest art and cultural historians, and Rome is a fascinating, illuminating, and epic account of the city that Hughes clearly worships. With his usually abrupt and no-nonsense style, Hughes tracks the city’s social, political, and cultural histories, as well as his own personal affair with her, detailing how she’s been hopelessly besmirched by crass tourism. Insightful and revelatory, Rome is the perfect marriage of author and subject.

 

Philip Galanes writes the “Social Q’s” advice column every week for the New York Times Sunday Styles section, and his graceful irreverence has earned him a legion of fans.  His new book, Social Q’s (Simon & Schuster), is the perfect stocking stuffer!  Funny and fair-minded, Social Q’s addresses the everyday quandaries that folks stumble over.  Faux-pas, weddings, relationships, work, play, love, and line-cutters are all addressed and resolved, Galanes-style.  You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll just be thankful you can turn to Philip to sort things out.

— Chris Avena

Chris is Reading: Sense of an Ending & Out of Oz

The Hampton holiday season is once again upon us, and we’d like to remind all of our far-flung and not-so-flung friends about our great new website, bookhampton.com, where your gift-shopping couldn’t be easier! You’ll feel like you're standing in one of our cozy stores: the same great selection, the same passionate recommendations, even the same gift-wrapping if you need it.  And don’t forget: you can get all of your eBooks on our site as well! Happy Shopping!

New novels from some of our best writers will make great gifts: Stephen King's masterful new novel 11/22/63 was reviewed here earlier this month.  

Julian Barnes has just won the Man/Booker Prize this year for his insightful new novel, The Sense of an Ending (Knopf). Again, time is an essential character in this tale of a man looking back on his youth, examining his loves and friendships, and trying to justify the actions of his younger self. Barnes deftly examines our tendency to remember ourselves in the very best light, and how emotionally dangerous this self-denial can be. Time, it turns out, can re-open old wounds instead of healing them.

 

Gregory Maguire’s The Wicked Years (beginning with Wicked in 1995) have thrilled and challenged readers, and Out of Oz (HarperCollins) is his enthralling finale in the series. Any reader who has followed the adventures of Dorothy, Elphaba, Glinda, Lirr, and Brr, will eagerly absorb the story of Rain, Elphaba’s granddaughter, as she takes up her grandmother’s broom to try and save a war-torn Oz from complete upheaval. Full of Maguire’s unyielding wit and crackerjack characters, Out of Oz is a heartfelt denouement.

Next up: The season's nonfiction highlights. Stay tuned!

— Chris Avena

Chris is Reading: 11/22/63

Stephen King, who I consistently consider the Dickens of his time, returns with his masterful new novel, 11/22/63 (Scribner). As usual, King's premise is ingenious: Jake, a schoolteacher in a quiet Maine town is approached by a dying man with a secret--a time portal located in his diner.  Can Jake travel back to 1958 and finish the job the dying man cannot? Can he prevent the assassination of JFK? So begins a relentless journey through decades, and a thought-provoking study of history, regret, chance, destiny, and the cruelty of time.

"Time is obdurate," King keeps reminding us, and we need to consider how every choice we make reverberates, creating ripples that flutter like a butterfly's wings. Ultimately, 11/22/63 is a passionate love story, the tale of two people from different eras and places who are determined to fight the indifference of time, only to discover that love itself, is timeless.

— Chris Avena

From Avena's List: Three Authors, Four Novels

Another East End summer has come to a whirlwind close (thanks, Irene!). As we look forward to a meteorologically calmer Fall, please remember that BookHampton is not just a summer fling.  We’re here year-round for your reading pleasure. Stay in touch by visiting our newly refurbished website — we’ll continue to give you great recommendations for all the readers in your life.  AND, we’re now selling eBooks for most of your devices. For more information, visit us at www.bookhampton.com.

We’ve got some great suggestions for autum reading: books to raise hairs, soothe souls, revise harried summer minds, and warm chilly bellies. I’ve just voraciously consumed two wonderful novels: The Magicians and its just-released sequel The Magician King (Penguin USA) by Time magazine book critic Lev Grossman.

Grossman has created a remarkable cast of characters who journey from our reality to a land called Fillory. Quentin, our hero, is accepted to a college of magic that exists in upstate New York, where he and his friends learn all they need to know to become magicians.  Fillory was just a wonderful place in Quentins favorite childhood books...but he soon discovers that it actually exists, and terrible evil has taken hold there. It is up to Quentin and his friends to use all their powers to save Fillory. These amazing books are for adult fans of Harry Potter...they’re creepy, scary, sexy, and oh-so-much fun.

Tom Perotta is one of the best writers of our current generation, and his new book, The Leftovers, is brilliant, funny, and daring. On October 14th, most of the citizens of Mappleton and the World inexplicably vanish. Was it the Rapture? The remaining people of Mappleton are trying to cope; Kevin Garvey, the new mayor, has to deal with the dissolution of his town and his family. How to cope with such craziness? such loss? Perotta is a master of human relationships, and once again has written an incredibly moving and poignant novel.

 

 

Culture geeks of all ages will be thrilled with Ernest Cline’s debut novel Ready Player One. Its title alone will excite readers of a certain age, conjuring days spent playing Pac-Man and listening to Pat Benatar. In the not-so-distant future, reality is ugly, and the OASIS is the place to be.  Wade Watts, like millions of others, spends most of his days inside this virtual world, gaming and puzzling his way in search of a massive fortune, following clues base on its creator’s love of late 20th century pop culture.  Ready Player One is a wild thrill-ride, fast-paced, and funny....a buoyant homage to nerd-dom.

From Avena's List: My Father's Daughter

The must-have cookbook of this summer is Gwyneth Paltrow’s My Father’s Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family and Togetherness (Grand Central). Paltrow is a true foodie, and learned about the power of preparing food for your loved ones at her father’s elbow. Once she had children of her own, she learned to make smarter food choices for her family, and this mouth-watering collection is that fruit borne.

Filled with amazing recipes (accompanied by gorgeous photos), Paltrow's collection is so easy and user-friendly that you’ll be adding these dishes to your culinary repertoire. (Make the Seafood Paella immediately!)

Gwyneth Paltrow will be doing an event in our East Hampton store in the month of August, with the date to be determined. Check the extensive events calendar on our website, or call 324-4939 for details.

— Chris Avena

 

From Avena's List: Earth & Half Empty

This month, we’re blessed with two hilarious new books: Earth: The Book by Jon Stewart and the folks at The Daily Show (Grand Central), and Half Empty by the brilliantly sardonic David Rakoff (Doubleday). 

Stewart and staff have compiled a terrifically sarcastic history lesson that covers all things “Earth”ly.  Any ET will get everything they need to know about our culture, history, live, calamities, and relationships. Pay attention — there’ll be a test on this.

David Rakoff’s favorite tenet is "expect the worst and you’ll never be disappointed," and in this collection of dourly witty essays, he pokes fun (with a big, sharp stick) at our overly-inspired culture. Whilst skewering, Rakoff will have you laughing and crying, and ultimately gleefully joining him on his path to Negativity. The burst on the book’s jacket says it all — ”WARNING! No Inspirational Life Lessons Will Be Found In These Pages."

— Chris Avena

Earth and Half Empty are available at bookhampton.com

From Avena's List: Through a Dog's Eyes

There's a fascinating new book for dog lovers: Through a Dog’s Eyes by Jennifer Arnold (Spiegel & Grau).  Arnold is the founder and executive director of Canine Assistants, a service-dog school, and the subject of a recent PBS special.

Through a Dog's Eyes posits the wonderful idea that humans cannot begin to understand canine behavior until they attempt to view the world through a dog’s eyes. Once you experience the world the way your dog does, you’ll have a better grasp on their behavior.  Arnold has a truly unique understanding of dogs’ intelligence, emotion, and capabilities, and her successful training methods are based on teaching dogs to make choices rather than obeying commands.  This is a book that will change your relationship with your beloved four-legged companions.

— Chris Avena

Through a Dog's Eyes is available at bookhampton.com.

From Avena's List: By Nightfall

Michael Cunningham, the award-winning author of The Hours, brings us another lovely novel, By Nightfall (Farrar, Straus & Giroux). This is a beautifully written story of a New York Couple, both involved with the arts, whose lives are upended by the arrival of the wife's wayward brother.

Questions of art, beauty, faithfulness, and love arise as the husband finds himself enraptured by the brother's presence. Cunningham's language is always stunning, and this new novel is a revelatory depiction of the blurry lines between love and sexuality.

– Chris Avena

By Nightfall is available at bookhampton.com.

From Avena's List: The Thousand

Kevin Guilfoile's debut novel, Cast of Shadows, received great acclaim for its page-turning thrills. His new book, The Thousand (Knopf), is even better. Its brilliant protagonist finds herself ensnared in the nefarious doings of a secret society – The Thousand, a group descended from the original disciples of Pythagoras – as she desperately tries to find her father's killer. Like Dan Brown at his best, Guilfoile cleverly combines history, mathematics, philosophy, art, music, and science into one of this season's most riveting rides.

– Chris Avena

The Thousand and Cast of Shadows are available at bookhampton.com.