Dear Librarian Friends,
I have been in Library Marketing at Random House for the past three years and have been lucky to get to read many fabulous books during my time here. My last day with this wonderful department has approached and it is very bittersweet as I have loved working with these great people, traveling to shows, talking to all of you, and sharing my love of books with people who love them just as much as I do. So here are my top picks (alpha by author, of course) of all of the great books I’ve read in the time I’ve worked at Random House. Of course, as you all know, selecting these books was difficult as I have read so many that I have loved. And I am leaving out quite a few! Please feel free to share your thoughts on these books, your own lists, or what you are reading right now. As the end of the year approaches, tell us your top picks of 2010! Of course, one can always use good suggestions – especially with holiday travel coming up!
The Millenium Series (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest): I am so happy I worked at this great company during the exciting time of Steig Larsson’s publication. I was slow to jump on this bandwagon but I read all three of these books this summer and could not put them down. I should have listened to you all from the beginning as you encouraged me in the ALA booth to read them. I’m so glad I finally did! Amazing!
Pretty is What Changes by Jessica Queller: This one was an incredibly powerful read that kept me thinking long after I closed the book’s pages. Difficult in subject, it is the author’s memoir of losing her mother to cancer and then deciding to be tested for the breast cancer gene herself. I recommended it to every woman I know and handed it along to several friends. I will definitely never forget this one.
Sweeping Up Glass by Carolyn Wall: Read my post about this book here and my Staff Pick review here! ‘Nuff said.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese: I will never forget attending the REFORMA conference with Dave and watching his reactions as he read this book. It inspired me to pick it up myself. I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr. Verghese at the ALA Midwinter 2009 in Denver. Definitely a perk of the job! This book was a department favorite and for good reason. Very well written, the book begins with a set of twins borne in Ethiopia out of a union between a surgeon and a nun. Who wouldn’t want to read on?!
Thank you all so much for all of your comments, suggestions, questions and pleasantries. I will miss Random House and the community of librarians I have met while I’ve been here. But I’m not going far so you just might see me around at the next conference.
All the best,
Marie