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Brooks, Geraldine. Year of
Wonders. Viking, 2001.
This historical novel recounts what happened when a plague ravages the English
village of Eyam and what actions the people undertook to keep the pestilence
from spreading.
Carey, Peter. True History of
the Kelly Gang. Knopf, 2001.
A thoroughly researched portrayal of the legendary Australian outlaw and folk
hero of the late nineteenth century, Ned Kelly. Kelly tells the story in
an ungrammatical and unpunctuated prose style which Carey so effectively employs
in this powerful narrative. Carey received his second Booker Prize for this
novel.
Dai, Sijie. Balzac and the
Little Chinese Seamstress. Knopf, 2001.
At the height of the Chinese Cultural Revolution two young men are sent to a
remote mountain village to be “re-educated.” Discovering a suitcase full
of forbidden European novels, the two friends are captivated by the stories and
use them to entertain the villagers and “educate” a beautiful seamstress.
A delightful and enchanting novella.
Dew, Robb Forman. The
Evidence Against Her. Little, Brown, 2001.
A generational saga of two families in a small Ohio town whose lives intersect
in unexpected ways.
Franzen, Jonathan. The
Corrections. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2001.
A contemporary American family whose relationships are in emotional disarray is
the focus of this prize-winning work.
Gordimer, Nadine. The
Pickup. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2001.
A roadside meeting between a South African woman and an illegal immigrant
transforms both their lives. A compelling novel that depicts how living in a
different culture leads, surprisingly, to spiritual fulfillment.
Gavell, Amy Ladd. I Cannot
Tell a Lie Exactly. Random, 2001.
“The Rotifer,” one of the stories in this wonderful collection, was included
in John Updike’s The Best American Short Stories of the Century. Gavell
died in 1957 and it is only now that all of her stories have been published.
Humphreys, Helen.
Afterimage. Metropolitan Books, 2001.
The Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron inspired this imaginative work
that delves into the lives of Cameron, her husband and the Irish servant who
profoundly affects each of them. A reproduction of one of Cameron’s
photographs is on the cover of this intriguing story.
Keegan, Claire. Antarctica.
Atlantic Monthly Press, 2001.
A very promising debut by this Irish author. The locales in this collection are
diverse--ranging from Ireland to to the American South. The stories are
forceful, direct, and unsentimental.
Marius, Richard. An Affair of
Honor. Knopf, 2001.
A double murder in a small Tennessee town in the 1950s begins a chain of events
that have far-reaching consequences. A well-plotted and gripping legal
drama.
Munro, Alice. Hateship,
Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage. Knopf, 2001.
An oustanding collection of nine stories both simple and complex with
unexpected plot twists that display the Canadian writer’s artistry.
O’Connor, Joseph, Editor.
Yeats Is Dead. Knopf, 2001.
Fifteen linked stories by Irish writers--beginning with Roddy Doyle and
concluding with Frank McCourt--deal with solving the mystery of a missing James
Joyce manuscript and puzzling murder.
Russo, Richard. Empire
Falls. Knopf, 2001.
With his usual style and expertise, Russo explores the realities of life in a
small town in Maine in this very satisfying and enjoyable novel.
Schlink, Bernard. Flights of
Love. Pantheon Books, 2001.
The author of The Reader returns with seven psychologically centered
stories about characters who face difficult moral choices in a variety of
situations. Schlink’s prose is unembellished and elegant.
Sebald, W. G. Austerlitz.
Random. 2001.
Raised by Welsh parents during World War II, Jacques Austerlitz is told nothing
about his true identity. It is only as an adult that he learns of his Jewish
heritage and he sets out to reconstruct the past. An exceptional literary novel
of great pathos and beauty.
Seiffert, Rachel. The Dark
Room. Pantheon Books, 2001.
This first novel tells of the experiences of three ordinary Germans from the
Nazi era to the present day. In the first story, a handicapped young
photographer is witness to episodes of Nazi violence and yet remains a loyal
follower. The next story is of children and their harrowing journey to reach
their grandmother’s home. The final narrative deals with an attempt by a
teacher to discover the truth about his grandfather’s wartime deeds.
Spence, Gerry. Half-Moon and
Empty Stars. Scribner, 2001.
The celebrated trial lawyer’s first novel is a compelling story of the injustice
directed toward Native Americans in our society. A completely engrossing novel
that is a poignant love story as well as a legal thriller. Spence’s
well-defined characters are not easily forgotten.
Tyler, Anne. Back When We
Were Grownups. Knopf, 2001.
For those accustomed to Tyler’s plots and characters, this leisurely
family-centered novel is an entertaining and satisfying read.
Wilentz, Amy. Martyrs’
Crossing. Simon & Schuster, 2001.
A timely and grippping novel of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that begins
with an incident at an Israeli checkpoint. Believable characters and realistic
dialogue are the strengths of this accomplished first novel.
Ansay, A. Manette. Limbo: A
Memoir. Morrow, 2001.
The successful author began her career when an incapacitating illness thwarted
her plans to become a concert pianist. Ansay writes with conviction and
honesty.
Bragg, Rick. Ava’s Man.
Knopf, 2001.
In All Over But the Shoutin’ Bragg writes beautifully of the hardships
and struggles of his childhood in the South. His maternal grandfather Charlie
is the lively subject of this richly detailed story.
Carroll, James. Constantine’s
Sword. Houghton Mifflin, 2001.
The former Roman Catholic priest meticulously traces the history of the Church
and its attitudes toward and treatment of the Jews.
Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel
and Dimed. Metropolitan Books, 2001.
In 1998 Ehrenreich traveled across America to see for herself the struggles of
the working poor trying to live on minimum wages. A valuable and
illuminating work.
Habegger, Alfred. My Wars Are
Laid Away in Books. Random, 2001.
A convincing and enjoyable treatment of the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson.
Hassler, Jon. Good
People. Loyola Press, 2001.
Goodness is the theme of this lighthearted and delightful book by the popular
novelist. Hassler explores the nature of goodness by recalling the people who
have enriched his life and inspired his novels.
Lewis, R. W. B. Dante. Lipper-Viking, 2001.
A succinct perspective on Dante’s life and works.
McCullough, David. John
Adams. Simon & Schuster, 2001.
An extraordinary and impressive biography that fully engages the reader.
Nouwen, Henri. Finding My Way
Home. Crossroad Publishers, 2001.
Eloquent and inspirational essays that deal with different aspects of
spirituality.
Ryan, Terry. The Prize Winner
of Defiance, Ohio. Simon & Schuster, 2001.
A resourceful and talented homemaker enters jingle-writing contests and is
wildly successful.
03/02 TD
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.
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