you are here: home > find books/music/movies >staff recommends >recommended books 1998
|
|
|
|
|
Appelfeld, Aharon. The
Iron Tracks. Schocken Books, 1998.
The Israeli novelist's brilliant narrative of a Holocaust survivor who for forty
years has traveled a fixed route by train in search of the man responsible for this
parents' death in a concentration camp. A subdued and powerful novel.
Banks, Russell. Cloudsplitter.
HarperCollins, 1998.
John Brown, the radical abolitionist is vividly portrayed in this powerful historical
work. Told from the point of view of Owen, one of Brown's sons, we witness how Brown
evolved from being an anti-slavery agitator to a fierce abolitionist to ultimately a
mythic figure in our history.
Barrett, Andrea. The
Voyage of the Narwhal. Norton, 1998.
An exciting and richly detailed account of an expedition to the Arctic in the mid 1800s.
The voyage of the Narwhal becomes a journey of self discovery for the crew in ways they
never imagined.
Barry, Sebastian. The
Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty. Viking, 1998.
Poet and playwright Barry shines a new light on the Irish troubles of this century in this
exquisitely written story of exile and dislocation endured by Eneas. Quite innocently, he
made the mistake of joining the Royal Irish Constabulary and was judged as being disloyal
to the cause of those who wanted Ireland free of British rule.
Boyle, T. Coraghessan. Riven
Rock. Viking, 1998.
A clever mix of fact and literary invention is utilized by Boyle as he desribes the
peculiar relationship of Stanley McCormick and his wife Katherine Dexter. Stanley spent
more than half his life locked up in Riven Rock, the family estate in California, after
being diagnosed as a schizophrenic and a threat to any woman he encountered, especially
Katherine.
Brookner, Anita. Visitors.
Random House, 1998.
An unexpected wedding in the family jolts a widow out of her solitary life. Elegant
writing and keen perceptions about people combine to make this one of Brookner's finest
novels.
Connelly, Joe. Bringing
Out the Dead. Knopf, 1998.
The author worked for ten years as a New York paramedic and brings his knowledge and
insight into this very competent first novel that realistically portrays what happens when
emergency personnel answer a call.
Cunningham, Michael. The
Hours. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1998.
In this dazzling and ingenious novel Cunningham shows no fear of Virginia Woolf's
fictional creation or literary style. Three stories unfold: Virginia Woolf in 1923 as she
is working on Mrs. Dalloway; A California housewife in 1945 who is absorbed in reading
this novel; and a contemporary woman in New York nicknamed Mrs. Dalloway. These
three intertwined stories come together brilliantly in the conclusion.
Danticat, Edwidge. The
Farming of Bones. Soho Press, 1998.
An emotionally charged novel that recalls the massacre of Haitian immigrants in 1937 in
the Dominican Republic during the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. This is the
Haitian-born writer's second novel.
Gordimer, Nadine. The
House Gun. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1998.
The Nobel prize winner in literature in 1991 again writes of the consequences of a violent
society in this story of a white South African couple whose son is accused of murder.
Grenier, Roger. Another
November. University of Nebraska Press, 1998.
French writer and literary critic's stunning novella tells the story of a group of friends
in France whose lives are forever changed during the years of German occupation.
Hamilton, Jane. The
Short History of a Prince. Random House, 1998.
A thoughtful and richly varied family drama that covers a period of twenty-five years in
the life of Walter McCloud, who at age fifteen dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer. A
realistic portrayal of family relationships.
Johnson, Charles. The
Dreamer. Scribner, 1998.
The racial turbulence of the Civil Rights era is the background for this fictionalized and
intimate portrait of Martin Luther King during the last two years of his life-- including
the Chicago riots of 1966.
Kingsolver, Barbara. The
Poisonwood Bible. HarperFlamingo, 1998.
A self-righteous evangelical Baptist minister takes his wife and four daughters to a
village in the Belgian Congo in 1959, a time of political and social unrest. This intense
and powerful novel of thecollision of cultures is Kingsolver's finest and award-worthy
achievement. (King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild is an excellent account of the
colonization and exploitation of the Congo.)
Llywelyn, Morgan. 1916:
A Novel of the Irish Rebellion. Forge, 1998.
An Irish historian, Llywelyn has achieved a compelling narrative of the events leading up
to the Easter Rising and its aftermath in the fight for independence from Britain.
McDermott, Alice. Charming
Billy. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1998.
Family and friends gather at a neighborhood bar to discuss the life and tragic death of
the much-loved Billy Lynch. One by one the impact of Billy on individual lives is
revealedin this poignant story of an Irish-American community in Brooklyn. A winner of the
1998 National Book Award for fiction.
McEwan, Ian. Enduring
Love. Nan A. Talese, 1998.
An innocent exchange of glances between two men at the site of a freak balloon accident is
the catalyst in this somber tale of stalking and obsession.
Mantel, Hilary. The
Giant, O'Brien. Henry Holt, 1998.
Two completely different protagonists dominate this bizzare novel based loosely on
historical fact. In 1782, an Irish man of huge proportions and given to storytelling and
mythic tales seeks his livelihood in London by being put on exhibit. In contrast is the
pragmatic John Hunter who is obssessed with dissection and medical experimentation.
Moore, Brian. The
Magician's Wife. Dutton, 1998.
A novel of political intrigue in the 1800s about an attempt by the French to complete
their conquest of Algeria by sending a magician there to trick and deceive the Algerians
and prevent a holy war. Moore's indicment of French imperialism will certainly cement his
unpopularity in France.
Moran, Thomas. The
World I Made for Her. Riverhead Books, 1998.
A profoundly moving novel inspired in part by the author'sown near death experience after
contracting chicken pox. James Blatchley is in intensive care unable to eat, breathe, or
talk, but is sustained by the power of his imagination.An unforgettable reading
experience.
Moseley, Walter. Always
Outnumbered, Always Outgunned. W.W. Norton, 1998.
Socrates Fortlow, released after twenty-seven years inprison, returns to his Watts
neighborhood and has a positive impact on the community.
Pressfield, Steve. Gates
of Fire. Doubleday, 1998.
A very fine historical novel of the epic battle at Thermopylae as a survivor testifies to
the courage and comradeship of the Spartan warriors who held off an overwhelming force of
invading Persians in 480 B.C
Ridgway, Keith. The
Long Falling. Houghton Mifflin, 1998.
A compelling first novel of a woman in rural Ireland who kills her abusive husband and
flees to Dublin to seek the support and comfort of her son's love.
Two-Rivers, E. Donald. Survivor's
Medicine. University of Oklahoma Press, 1998.
The Indian poet and playwright draws upon his childhood experiences on an Ojibawa
reservation in this collection of stories.
Tyler, Anne. A
Patchwork Planet. Knopf, 1998.
Anne Tyler's novels usually deal with quirky people who have messed up their lives in one
way or another. Baranaby Gaitlin fits this category as one who does not measure up to
family expectations, and at age 30 feels he is a failure. A delightful story about
ordinary people.
Updike, John. Bech
at Bay. Knopf, 1998.
The further stunts and adventures of Henry Bech. Like the other Bech books the emphasis is
on satire and caricatures--this time Bech wreaks revenge on those who have criticized his
writings.
Wolfe, Tom. A
Man in Full. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1998.
A 700 page plus opus that demonstrates Wolfe's superb ability at descriptive detail. This
time Wolfe's focus is on Atlanta and the imperiled Charles Croker, a real estate mogul who
has built one too many skyscrapers and is on the brink of financial ruin.
Ball, Edward. Slaves
in the Family. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1998.
A family reunion in South Carolina leads this author to a journey of discovery ino his
family's slave-holding past. Winner of the National Book Award for nonfiction.
Berg, A. Scott. Lindbergh.
Putnam, 1998.
A comprehensive and stellar biography of the paradoxical and fascinating life of the man
wo became America's hero after his trans-Atlantic solo flight in 1927.
Chernow, Ron, Titan:
The life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. Random House, 1998.
A detailed and balanced biography of the legendary tycoon.
Dickey, Christopher. Summer
of Deliverance: A Memoir of Father and Son. Simon and Schuster, 1998.
A compelling memoir of the painful relationship between Christopher and his father the
poet James Dickey whose drinking problems worsened following the commercial success of his
novel Deliverance.
Fadiman, Anne. Ex
Libris. Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
Delightful and personal essays about the delights of reading, book collecting, and the
part that books have played in her life.
Gaines, Steven. Philistines
at the Hedgerow. Little, Brown, 1998.
How the East Hamptons evolved from farmland to the to the celebrity infested community it
is today.
Hochschild, Adam. King
Leopold's Ghost. Houghton Mifflin, 1998.
The Belgium King's colonizing of the Congo was marked by slave labor, torture, and mass
murder. A horrifying tale of greed, hypocrisy, and exploitation.
Klemperer, Victor.
I Will Bear Witness. Random House, l998.
This is the first volume of the diary Klemperer kept detailing what everyday life was life
in Nazi Germany as a Jew married to a Christian.
Kotlowitz, Alex. The
Other Side of the River. Doubleday, 1998.
How the mysterious death of a teenager in 1991 brought to light the economic and cultural
disparity between the Michigan towns of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor. Winner of the 1998
Heartland Prize.
Lindbergh, Reeve. Under
a Wing. Simon & Schuster, 1998.
The youngest of the Lindbergh children provides an intimate account of growing up in the
extraordinary Lindbergh family.
Mahoney, Rosemary. A
Likely Story. Doubleday, 1998.
From the perspective of twenty years, Mahoney recalls her summer in the employ of Lillian
Hellman. As an aspiring writer and admirer of Hellman, she thought this would be an
idyllic job, but their relationship proved to be stormy one.
Nasar, Sylvia. A
Beautiful Mind: A Biography of John Forbes Nash, Jr. Simon &
Schuster, 1998.
The astounding story of this mathematical genius who was diagnosed as a schizophrenic and
institutionalized. Years later, he made an amazing recovery and in 1994 received the Nobel
Prize in economics.
Norris, Kathleen. Amazing
Grace. Riverhead Books, 1998.
Norris writes forthrightly about words and phrases in religious terminology that have
troubled her and provides her distinctive spiritual insights into her vocabulary of faith.
Suskind, Ron. A
Hope in the Unseen. Broadway Books, 1998.
How a student from one of the worst schools in Washington, D.C. made it to Brown
University.
Winchester, Simon. The
Professor and the Madman. HarperCollins, 1998.
The fascinating story of the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary and the
contribution made by W. C. Minor, an American doctor confined to an asylum and his kinship
with James Murray, the editor of the OED.
Copyright 2001, (written, graphic and pictorial material) Highland Park Public Library, Highland Park, Illinois. Permission for reproduction of any material included on this website must be obtained from the Library.
E-mail comments or corrections to hpplweb@nsls.info