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META
TSR Listmania! Favourite Books of 2007, Part 7
Posted 16 December, 2007 in Favourite Books of 2007 |
Sunday’s list features Sarah Williams, a former editor in the Canadian publishing industry, who inexplicably left all that glamour behind to pursue a Ph.D. in London, England. If you’re an armchair traveller, you can read Sarah’s blog, Something Slant, and become horribly jealous.
Sarah Williams:
I found it a sparse year for good new books. But off the top of my head:
Let Me In, by Mario Testino (Taschen, 2007). Not since Photographs: Annie Leibovitz 1970-1990 has there been such a spectacularly good celebrity photography book. Sexy, explosive pop culture. In the year Brangelina dominated the news and Britney lost her shit, celebrity culture has never been so relevant.
The Pain and the Itch, by Bruce Norris (Nick Hern Books 2007). Had its U.K. premiere this summer at the Royal Court — even more of a leading theatrical presence since Dominic Cooke became artistic director this year. One of the best depictions of the aspirations and hypocrisies of the middle class that I’ve ever read. And having an entire play centered around a mysteriously gnawed avocado is beyond brilliant.
After Dark, by Haruki Murakami (Harvill Secker, 2007). Not the best of his last few novels, but any new Murakami translation is cause for celebration. His novels are seeming to become darker with each passing year, which makes me salivate for the next one. This one was prostitues, pimps, and a comatose girl caught in a surreal bedroom fitted with a flickering television screen that seems to contain an alternate world. What possibly could be next?
To the Wedding, by John Berger (Bloomsbury, 1995). One of the only books I reread each and every year. It’s the book that makes me realize why I read in the first place and the book I wish I had written. Sweeping themes of post-Cold War sensibilities portrayed in a simple story of various family members travelling to celebrate one particular wedding. The tragedy of the situation is indicated at the beginning of the story and yet is somehow miraculously transcended by Berger into joy and celebration. Magical.
***
Still got a few of these on tap, you lucky, lucky people. I’ll post them over the next few days. For the complete collection, click on the category link Favourite Books of 2007.