Quick Look Books: Powerhouse Books (September 2018)

I have a friend who, without fail, asks me “So, what have you been reading lately?” every time I see him.

Despite the fact that I’m a book blogger, I usually draw a blank when someone asks me for literary recommendations out of the blue. I’m always reading something, but I can’t always recall the title of my current read off the top of my head. (Meanwhile, I remember the name of my best friend’s sophomore year math teacher quite easily. Go figure.)

To avoid freezing up when asked for a book rec, I’ve started stockpiling a list of what I like to call  “Powerhouse Books.” These are the novels that completely blew me away. Knocked my socks off. Left a deep impression upon me and are forever at the forefront of my book memory, no matter how ambushed I am by a conversational query.

These books stand apart from so many others I’ve read, either because of their content or their writing style, or, most likely, a magnificent combination of both. These are the ones that I wish I had written myself.

So. If you’re ever in a book recommendation bind, feel free to pull from my list below. Oh, and if you haven’t read these books yet — you should!

1. We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. A friend loaned this book to me, and about 10 pages in, I threw it on the bed and called her to ask why the heck she told me to read it. She agreed that the first pages of the book are not the best, but that the rest of the story was very worth slogging through the initial set-up. I hemmed and hawed, but she was so persistent that I eventually gave in and kept reading. And, my friend was right: It was so worth it. This book is one of the most gut-wrenching, poignant, and shocking books I have ever read. I truly feel you can only read it once; the ending is powerful as hell, and once you know, you know. Everything changes. This book shook me to my very core. I can’t say much more about it because it would give too much away, and you have to let the story unfold as you read it. But, trust me when I tell you, even if you feel like calling it quits early on, keep reading. It’s worth it. 

2. Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides. It’s extremely original, very witty, and, yes, a little unsettling. But, that’s not surprising; anyone who’s read or watched Eugenides’ more mainstream The Virgin Suicides knows that this author embraces the darker side of the human spirit. The family stories woven through Middlesex are incredibly complex and fascinating, both emotionally and physically. This book tackles some very controversial issues, so it may not be to everyone’s tastes. It was definitely outside the scope of what I usually read, and I was glad for the change. I felt like I read “literature” as I read this book. It’s something that only an amazing and gifted writer could create, something that scholars and literature professors will discuss in their classrooms for decades to come. This is the Great American Novel that everyone wants to write, hopes to write, but most likely never will. 

3. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. I grabbed this one from a pile of freebies at a Book Expo America conference. I laugh when I think back on it because I had no idea what I was picking up at the time; I was just in the “get free books!” mode and taking whatever wasn’t nailed down. Little did I know I had a budding international bestseller by a debut author in my hands. This charming, hilarious, and endearing novel grabs you from the very beginning. Protagonist Don Tillman’s fastidious ways and literal misunderstandings of so many cultural norms, most notably those related to human interaction, make for a thoroughly entertaining story. I clearly remember laughing out loud on a crowded commuter train as I read this book, much to many commuters’ chagrin. But I just couldn’t smother my laughter; it was that funny.  This book is a real good time and a real good story with heart. There is also a sequel called The Rosie Effect, but you should definitely read these books in order. 

4. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (translated by Henning Koch). Oh, Ove. *smiles fondly* I think everyone knows a bit of an Ove. This book will make you see that irascible yet quietly vulnerable person in a different light. Parvaneh will make you think, too; how can we all aspire to be more like Parvaneh? Because we should. This book is simply beautiful, in the most inspiring, heartbreaking, and uplifting ways. Read it. Just read it. And, don’t be put off by the fact that this is a translated work. Despite the fact that it was originally written in Swedish, this translation proves just how evocative the English language can be.

5. Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld. I guess this one’s a bit of a cheat since I’ve already praised Sittenfeld’s modern re-telling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice on this blog. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t include it in this list. Eligible is the best version of Pride and Prejudice since Pride and Prejudice. I was completely amazed and enthralled with how Sittenfeld revamped the classic story to fit within a modern context. She created contemporary counterparts for all the 18th century cultural norms (balls, dating, etiquette, etc.) in a way that makes complete sense, from the modernized relationships between characters to the types of lives they lead. Sittenfeld also took the liberty of making some small but entertaining, and (I feel) well-placed changes to the original plotline that actually enhance the story. Sittenfeld’s wry wit, her keen insight into personalities, and her fluid writing style pair perfectly with Austen’s original work — especially since Sittenfeld pays homage to the authentic text as much as possible. As with the original work, I can see myself reading Eligible over and over again for years to come.

Have you read any of these Powerhouse Books? I would love to see your comments below!