Maria's Favorite Books from 2010

Cancer is a pretty scary word, and an even scarier diagnosis.  David Servan-Schreiber presents evidence on a cellular level to support his theory that “all of us have cancer cells in our bodies, but not all us will develop cancer.”  He presents  evidence to support this theory in a logical and accessible manner. I loved the hopeful and proactive advice he offers to those living with the fear of cancer.  --Andrea

It is the rare author who can craft ordinary words into extraordinary sentences to build an entire book of exquisite verbal beauty. Bruce Machart does just that in The Wake of Forgiveness, telling the sometimes heart-wrenching story of the four Skala brothers in a harsh early-1900s Texas landscape. The unexpected twists and turns of this family’s struggles are vividly portrayed from the youngest brother’s point of view, seen through the filter of guilt his family has laid on him for ‘killing his mother’ who died giving birth to him. --Chris

While the subject matter of Room may seem difficult, ultimately Emma Donoghue’s novel is a redemptive story that offers a fascinating perspective into the mind of a young child, five-year-old Jack.  This book is intriguing, powerful, and memorable.  Mystery fans will respond to the suspenseful nature of the story, and all readers will appreciate its masterful portrayal of a mother and son’s quest for meaning.--Pat

If you read only one account of the Vietnam War, this should be it.  This is a coming-of-age tale that that will make you understand the day-to-day realities of the young men who fought in Southeast Asia—fighting against not just the “enemy,” but racism, prejudices at home, and the elements.  While not an anti-war book, Matterhorn underscores the heartbreaking futility of the soldiers’ experience in a way that has forever changed me. --Jeanne