HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: “It’s a keeper!” That’s what we often say about a book we love, right? But the wonderfully talented Claire Booth (more about her, and her terrific book, below) handles those favorites a different way. To her, the best books are meant to be shared. So Claire might say “It’s a giver!”
Claire’s Shares
By Claire Booth
I love books. As a writer, how could I not? So I own a few …
But there are some titles that you won’t find on my shelves for long – the ones I love the most. Books that I buy only to give away because they are that good. They are:
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, by Agatha Christie It’s a Hercule Poirot mystery. And I’ll bet you all have read it. But for people who haven’t, and especially those who haven’t read any Christie at all, I will force this book on them (respectfully, of course, while refraining from saying, “Are you kidding me?!”). It’s a masterpiece – and it’s important to know she did it long before certain au courant trends entered the marketplace.
The Poet, by Michael Connelly It seems that everyone has their own favorite of Connelly’s books, and this is mine. It has a reporter protagonist! I won’t go into why I love this book so much, because that would give away the ending. But I will give you a copy. And once you open it, you won’t be able to put it down until you’re done.
Shogun, by James Clavell I know – this one isn’t crime fiction. But it is one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read. An English sailor washes up on a beach in Japan in the year 1600. At that time, Japan was a closed society, and foreigners were extremely rare. Eventually, he becomes an advisor to a feudal lord. There’s war, intrigue, love, treachery, and everything else you could ask for in a book. If you say, “No, no, I don’t really like historical fiction,” or “Sweeping epics aren’t really my thing,” then I will nod politely and stuff Shogun in your purse when you aren’t looking.
The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco I usually don’t have this many copies on hand, but I’ve been holed up finishing my next book, so haven’t had many opportunities lately to give them away. This is an absolutely astonishing book. A mystery set in an Italian abbey in 1327, it eventually tallies seven deaths and an intricate puzzle that comes together perfectly at the end. Eco’s detective is the Franciscan friar Brother William of Baskerville. Which leads me to my next one …
Any Sherlock Holmes book or story. Although I don’t need to give these away as much anymore. These days, a lot more people have read Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective. (Which I’m sure has nothing to do with Benedict Cumberbatch. Nothing at all.) But if you haven’t, and I find out about it, you’ll soon be the owner of The Sherlock Holmes Reader or something similar.
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, by Marc Weissbluth, MD This one is obviously for a specific demographic. But trust me, if that’s you, this book is a life-saver. A friend who had a baby a few years before I did sent it to me. I could barely open the package in my cotton-brained, leaden-fingered, when-was-the-last-time-I-slept-for-more-than-two-hours stupor. Now I give it to every new parent I know.
And lastly, there’s a little missive called On Writing. I meet a lot of writers who are just starting out, or struggling to put together their first novel. I give them this. You all know why. So readers, what books do you love so much that you set them free?
HANK: Oh, SO many! I have a stash of the Edward Eager mysteries that I give to every kid who shows even the slightest interest. Even some who don’t. And I’ve given many copies of Winter’s Tale, by Mark Helprin. And yes, On Writing, too. And I am about to start giving Reacher Said Nothing by Andy Martin. Have you read that? A wonderful book…on writing.
How about you, femmes and friends?
Claire Booth spent more than a decade as a daily newspaper reporter, much of it covering crimes so convoluted and strange they seemed more like fiction than reality. Eventually, she had enough of the real world and decided to write novels instead. Her Sheriff Hank Worth mystery series takes place in Branson, Missouri, where small-town Ozark politics and big-city country music tourism clash in, yes, strange and convoluted ways. Find her at www.clairebooth.com.
The Branson Beauty, an old showboat, has inexplicably crashed on the waters of the Ozark mountain lake it’s been plying for decades. Hank Worth is still settling into his new job as county sheriff, and when he responds to the emergency call, he knows he’s in for a long winter’s day of ferrying more than one hundred passengers to shore. But he doesn’t expect to find the body of a high school track star locked inside the Captain’s private dining room. Now he must navigate small town politics as he tries to figure out who killed the talented local girl.
Books are so important to me that I want to share them with other friends or family members so we can talk about them. I gave a used copy of The World According to Garp (John Irving) to my brother. He ended up buying it in hardback for himself and 10 other friends. I loved I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb. I passed my copy around to 2 of my brothers and several friends. One of my brothers told me he wished there was a sequel so he could be sure that Dominick was okay. I have shared Dorothy Gilman's The Tight Rope Walker and all of Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody mysteries. I've also shared Charlaine's Dead Until Dark several times and had to replace my copy with a used one.
Posted by: Ellie Enos | July 18, 2016 at 11:11 PM
I'm shy about thrusting books on people . . . what if my taste is not theirs. But I have given away a copy or two of Emma Bull's War for the Oaks and Charlaine's Dead Until Dark.
Posted by: Donna Andrews | July 19, 2016 at 06:28 AM
Ellie, it sounds like you are exactly like me! And isn't it the most wonderful feeling when you hit a bullseye - like you did with Garp?
Posted by: Claire Booth | July 19, 2016 at 06:32 AM
Donna, I was shy at first, too. I think you'd be pretty good at guessing what people would like. Go for it. (And I think I need to start stockpiling Dead Until Dark to give away!)
Posted by: Claire Booth | July 19, 2016 at 06:35 AM
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. Jumper by Stephen Gould which by the way is the first book in a series which is wonderful. And I have also given away Dead Until Dark a number of times
Posted by: Susan Neace | July 19, 2016 at 06:53 AM
I love to give away "Sunshine" by Robin McKinley, "The Rook" by Daniel O'Malley, and anything by Seanan McGuire/Mira Grant. Also Karin Slaughter's "Cop Town." Margaret Maron's "Long Upon the Land" is also a great gift.
Posted by: Charlaine Harris | July 19, 2016 at 07:06 AM
At one point, I had three copies of Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond series (all six volumes!), one for keeping, two for lending out. (As a poor graduate student, I couldn't exactly buy giving copies of a six-volume set. Although, as it happens, two of the sets turned out to be giving copies, since I never got them back.) I've also happily bought "giving copies" of Helprin's Winter Tale; Robertson Davies's Deptford Trilogy; and John Crowley's Little, Big. But my own copies stay with me, in case I want to read them all over again, and read them *now*.
Posted by: M. Rups | July 19, 2016 at 08:38 AM
p.s. -- Thanks for the recommendations, Claire Booth. I've taken notes ... (^_^)
Posted by: M. Rups | July 19, 2016 at 08:39 AM
Susan, I'll have to check out the Stephen Gould book!
Posted by: Claire Booth | July 19, 2016 at 08:45 AM
Charlaine, Sunshine has been on my TBR list for a while. I need to get to it! And I completely agree with Margaret Maron's Long Upon the Land. (I'm going to miss Deborah Knott!)
Posted by: Claire Booth | July 19, 2016 at 08:50 AM
M. Rups, keeping copies for yourself is smart! I've certainly had that feeling of needing to read one of my favorites right *now*.
Posted by: Claire Booth | July 19, 2016 at 08:51 AM
Oh, good grief. My phone would not let me post to Femmes today--WHY? Anyway--hi all, and so happy you;re all chatting.
M. Rups, so happy to have a comrade for Winters Tale. Isn't it amazing?
Posted by: Hank Phillippi Ryan | July 19, 2016 at 09:58 AM
Ellie, GARP is so life-changing! Agreed.
And how could I forget: THE STAND!
Posted by: Hank Phillippi Ryan | July 19, 2016 at 09:59 AM
The Poet is my favorite Connelly book too! I loved that book. I admit I'm a keeper of books, but love your idea to be a giver! I'm so glad I read this post.
Posted by: Ruth McCarty | July 19, 2016 at 02:21 PM
Welcome, Claire, and what a good idea. I share your love of most of those books and still remember a line from THE POET, when the man who's had the heart transplant says he's now on a "pill leash." For anyone who's had a life-threatening illness that requires maintenance medication, that is so true.
Posted by: Elaine Viets | July 19, 2016 at 03:42 PM
Thanks, Claire and Hank. I love Margaret Maron and have replaced my copy of The Bootlegger's Daughter several times. I think I need to start with the first book in a series. Long Upon the Land has a deeper meaning if you have followed the previous 19 books. I enjoy this blog for the humor and writing, but the number of books I have discovered from the femmes is amazing. I have read all the Mira Grant novels although that isn't something I would have checked out on my own. It's like the recipe for layered salad with peas, cheese, bacon, etc. I had read the recipe and thought it bizarre. One day I tasted it at a potluck and found that combination very pleasing to my palate.
Posted by: Ellie Enos | July 19, 2016 at 04:11 PM
Ruth, I think you and I would get along fabulously! What other books are your favorites?
Posted by: Claire Booth | July 19, 2016 at 05:17 PM
Elaine, it's amazing how certain lines stick with us, isn't it? Such good writing!
Posted by: Claire Booth | July 19, 2016 at 05:19 PM
Ellie, that is a great comparison with recipes. That hadn't occurred to me at all, but you're so right! If someone convinces me to try a dish I otherwise might not have and I like it - just like discovering a new author!
Posted by: Claire Booth | July 19, 2016 at 05:21 PM
I have chosen some specific authors to share, including Elaine Viets and Jean Carnahan. Even more important than specific writers is the IDEA of sharing books. My great-nieces and nephews have become accustomed to receiving books. The most reluctant reader came around with Harry Potter books, and was most appreciative of the latest Lemony Snicket book one year, especially when he discovered a crisp green "bookmark" on the year of his age. A tradition was born.
Posted by: Storyteller Mary | July 19, 2016 at 05:45 PM
Back from my library speech--and still floating. It's such a joy to be in the company of so many readers!
And here on Femmes, too.
Long may we share books! And YAY Claire! DId you see the fabulous wonderful rave review of THE BRANSON BEAUTY on Criminal Element today? It's out of the ballpark great! YAY! And so pleased to introduce you to the Femmes today. xoxo
Posted by: Hank Phillippi Ryan | July 19, 2016 at 07:51 PM