Top 10 new books for fall
The Christian Science Monitor |
Aug 17, 2011
Is there anything good about the end of summer? Yes -- the arrival of fall books! For those who can't wait another moment, here are the Top 10 fall book picks from Amazon editors. It's looking like a stellar line-up of autumn reads. #10 "The Marriage Plot," by Jeffrey Eugenides Can a new novel from Jeffrey Eugenides really measure up to "The Virgin Suicides” and "Middlesex"? Apparently so. Here comes The Marriage Plot, a novel built on a post-college love triangle and an examination of the "marriage plot" – the true love resolution found in English novels. Eugenides constructs an epic love story that works in this age of pre-nups, divorces, and sexual equality. #9 "The Magician King," by Lev Grossman A follow-up to "The Magicians," Grossman's runaway hit of 2009, The Magician King is a grown-up tale for adult "Harry Potter" fans. Quentin and Julia are now the king and queen of Fillory, a magical kingdom, but a spell of boredom and thirst for adventure backfires and suddenly the two are dumped back in the real world with Quentin's parents. The duo must use every magical trick in the book to escape the doldrums of real life in this epic fantasy novel. #8 "The Art of Fielding," by Chad Harbach In the grand tradition of small-town sports novels, The Art of Fielding tells the story of a college baseball star, and how his career fluctuations effect those closest to him."The Art of Fielding" is a novel of ambition, commitment, and relationships. It will open your eyes to the role that sports play in our lives even as it warms your heart. #7 "11/22/63," by Stephen King Most often Stephen King kills off people in his novels. However, in 11/22/63, King's protagonist, Jake, travels back in time to try to prevent a murder – the assassination of JFK. Built around a mountain of heartwrenching suspense and an intricate plot that hinges on time travel, "11/22/63" is a surprisingly touching and engrossing novel riddled with nostalgia for a simpler time. #6 "Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World," by Michael Lewis In Boomerangbestselling author Michael Lewis ("The Blind Side," "Moneyball") examines the credit bubbles that burst around the world between 2002 and 2008. In simple but entertaining terms, Lewis explains why the global recession happened, and then turns the lens on the American economic meltdown. He puts our debt crisis in clear perspective, which makes this book a must-read. #5 "The Night Circus," by Erin Morgenstern The Night Circusis likely to be one of the most talked-about novels of the season. It tells the story of Le Cirque de Reves, a spectacle that arrives in the middle of the evening – amid a flurry of black and white tents – and is open only at night. The circus features two rival magicians, Celia and Marco, raise to duel each other to the death to claim victory on the stage. But when these two fall in love, something magical – and dark – begins to take shape at the night circus. #4 "1Q84," by Haruki Murakami From acclaimed Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami ("Kafka on the Shore," "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle") comes 1Q84,intended as an to George Orwell's classic "1984." "1Q84" is a puzzling tapestry woven together from the lives of an eccentric cast of leading characters, including a female assassin and a down-on-his luck novelist. A haunting and magnificent masterpiece, "1Q84" is the kind of book readers won't be able to stop thinking about. #3 "Inheritance," by Christopher Paolini Inheritance is the final book of the wildly popular "Inheritance Cycle" by wunderkind Christopher Paolini. In this thrilling conclusion, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, take the fate of their world into their own hands. The evil king, Galbatorix, must be defeated and justice returned to the realm, but can the young dragonrider handle the pressure? That remains to be seen. #2 "Reamde," by Neal Stephenson Bestselling author Neal Stephenson has what is sure to be another winning book in Reamde. A science fiction novel with a thrilling espionage twist, Reamde tells the story of a wealthy tech entrepreneur who ends up in the middle of his own online fantasy war game. Full of twists and turns, this novel is sure to delight Stephenson's fans and new readers as well. #1 "The Submission," by Amy Waldman In The Submission, novelist Amy Waldman takes us to the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, as a jury convenes to reveal the identity of the anonymous winner of a design contest for a memorial for the victims. The architect turns out to a be Muslim, sparking a conflict that rages across the nation and forces Americans to question their perspectives on grief, art, Islam, and forgiveness.
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