Fiction Nation 2010 Holiday Gift Guide
Welcome to Fiction Nation with smart reviews for modern readers on SXMBR. It's the fourth annual Fiction Nation Holiday Gift Guide, and I think it's worth mentioning when I began doing this, there was no such thing as an ebook reader. No Kindles, no Nooks, no one reading on their phone. I got a glimpse into the new world a few days ago when an airline attendant asked my seatmate to turn off his book for takeoff. So it's a new world of content, and sitting down with a book has never been easier or more accessible to more people. I wouldn't write off the written word just yet. Who knows, maybe four years from now we'll be downloading novels directly onto our eyeballs. That would certainly save on shelf space!
But we still have to make it through this holiday season, and I'll keep saying it — there's no better gift than a book. It's easy to wrap, it's easy to ship, it's always appreciated. Here are some of my favorites from this past year. I know someone you know will love powering these books up.
I've been charmed, delighted and amazed by the work of Jasper Fforde for years, and talking about his newest series, Shades of Grey, just made my crush a little bigger. He is not only a brilliant fantasist but a perfectly charming Brit.
In July, I spoke with Anne Perry, the wildly successful mystery writer best known for Victorian era whodunnits. In her latest, The Sheen on the Silk, the mystery takes place in a decadent world of intrigue and opulence, 12th century Byzantium.
Sometimes I get to talk with a new and not widely known author, and sometimes, I simply fall in love. That was the case with Canadian author Alan Bradley's 11 year old sleuth, Flavia de Luce (The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag). Flavia is a neat mixture of Harriet the Spy, Mrs Marple, and a mad scientist. Her adventures solving crimes in her small post war English village were poignant and completely charming.
It's a real pleasure to watch a talented and deserving author get the acclaim they deserve, and that has been the case with Southwest Florida native Kristy Kiernan. From her first novel, Catching Genius, to her latest, Between Friends, she gracefully navigates the changing tides of friendship and loyalty. Plus she keeps offering me oysters and beer.
I want to thank all the authors I spoke with this year. I am incredibly lucky (I read for a living) and they make my job, already the best in the world — even better. I also want to thank my web goddess Amy, who keeps things looking stylish.
Have a great holiday and keep powering up those books!
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