We asked Tenney Lapham neighbors to help us with our first column of the New Year by submitting their nominees for Best Reads of 2002. As we suspected, we have a wonderful, eclectic and serious collection of readers in our neighborhood. We hope you can use the list below to jump-start your 2003 Reading List.

Sarah Halbach (7^th Grader) was the first to respond. She suggests Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells. Sarah said she was looking for something to read and was first attracted by the colorful cover. She said she truly enjoyed the inside as well.

Gay Davidson-Zielske suggests The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Gay wrote that “nothing could be more emblematic of the American plight—then (1920s) and now.” She opines that blind, soul-less materialism will do us in if we do not mend our rapacious ways. Gay, a poet herself, says that Fitzgerald was a secret poet. Gay thinks everyone is (or should be) a poet.

Madeline Kasper (8^th grader) chose A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. Madeline said this is her favorite book and feels that the movie is worth watching also.

We were not sure of the number of responses we would receive from our book solicitation. Bracing for a huge response, we reserved the right to select from the books provided and politely asked neighbors not to take it personally if we did not choose their selections.

Anna Park threatened physical violence if we did not print hers, so here it is. Anna said that The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd contains rich, complex characters. She enjoyed the intellectual and insightful writing and believes the author made a true representation of one corner of the South free of the stereotypical Bubbas and belles.

Dan Sage offered The Hours by Michael Cunningham. Dan said the book is engaging and well constructed. It is a gloss on Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, though not derivative. The book weaves back and forth among the stories of three women—Virginia Woolf as she writes her novel; Mrs. Brown, a post WWII housewife; and a contemporary character who has been dubbed “Mrs. Dalloway” by her closest friend. Dan recommends reading the book BEFORE seeing the movie if it is not too late.

Bob Shaw wrote that ever since he read Notes from the Century Before years ago he eagerly awaits for Edward Hoagland’s new works. Hoagland’s latest book Compass Points: How I Lived is a memoir ranging from Hoagland’s joining the circus in his teens to his gradual loss of sight.

Molly Tomony offered Interpreter of Maladies, a short-story collection by Jhumpa Lahiri. Molly said the stories are “absolutely delicious.” Lahiri is an Indian author, and the book is rich in culture, ritual and food references.

“This book is historically fascinating,” said Liz Green about the novel This Side of Brightness by Colum McCann. Liz said the book contains lyrically, hauntingly beautiful writing. It is a heartbreaking story(ies) about New York City from an immigrant point of view.

Jean Dunn’s pick for the year 2002 is Coming Home to Eat: The Pleasures and Politics of Local Foods by Gary Paul Nabhan. Jean said the author shares a year of striving to eat only foods produced within 250 miles of his Arizona home. She feels that in today’s society we are more distant from our food and how it is produced. Jean found the book thought provoking.

Ann Rulseh picked her book because liking it came as a complete surprise. Nobody’s Fool by Richard Russo was a selection for her neighborhood coed book group. It is over 500 pages and written by a male author Ann had never heard of. She loved the rich, complex characters. The depiction of life in small town, upstate New York rang true. The author used tenderness, humor and honesty to tell a story of a ne’re-do-well aging man whom the reader couldn’t help but love.

Thanks to all of the above readers who contributed to our column. Happy New Year!

- Jean Dunn and Ann Rulseh

Return to Winter 2003 Table of Contents