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It was a great year of new books, re-discovered books, and books we meant to get to last year but didn't. The end of the year is nearly here and before we look forward, we'll take a look back. LAist Editors share their favorite book they read this year:
Who: Zach Behrens, Editor
What: The Four-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris
Why: Inspiring words on how to improve workflow, automate tasks, and get more shit done. It's especially exciting to look at what Ferriss teaches here when relating it to a city government and how it can improve services on a lean budget for the people.
Who: Lindsay Willam-Ross, Co-Editor
What: The United States of Arugula by David Kamp
Why: Satisfied my "foodie" craving for words about how the way we eat has been changed by things like celebrity chefs, farmer's markets, food on television, ingredient sources, globalization, gourmet grocery stores, and dining out as an art form. Fascinating & delicious!
Who: Carolyn Kellogg, Editor-at-Large
What: The Keep by Jennifer Egan
Why: The two threads weave together with ruminations on power and betrayal and ghosts and guilt. And dark, dark caves.
Who: Sloane Berrent, Lifestyle Editor
What: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Why: Great storytelling and description of her travels for a year through Italy, India and Indonesia.
Who: Adam Rose, Sports Editor
What: I Am America...And You Can Too! by Stephen Colbert
Why: I highly recommend the audiobook for any mind-numbing road trip.
Who: Callie Miller, Books Editor
What: Remainder by Tom McCarthy
Why: A fascinating tale of a man who becomes obsessed with re-creating, down to the most minute detail, elaborate events that have just happened to him. A hilarious, yet creepy lesson of a control-freak gone mad.
Who: Elise Thompson, Special Projects Editor
What: Let's Spend the Night Together by Pamela des Barres
Why: Everything you ever wanted to know and a few things you wish you didn't about backstage and the sex lives of rock stars. (Read Elise's interview with Pamela.)
Who: Anti, Subculture Editor
What: L.A. Rex by Will Beall
Why: Read Anti's review
Who: Kemp Powers, Neighborhood Project Editor
What: Evil Paradises by Mike Davis and Daniel Bertrand Monk
Why: While the quality and consistency in this anthology varies piece to piece, it was still one of the more interesting reads of the year for this urban planning geek.
Who: Bobby Solomon, Art + Design Editor
What: The Push Man & Other Stories by Yoshihiro Tatsumi
Why: Provides an interesting look at Japan in the 60's. Even though the book is manga, you still get a sense of the paranoia the Japanese people felt as they struggled with the great changes their country was experiencing.
Who: Andy Sternberg, News Editor
What: The Replacements: All Over But the Shouting by Jim Walsh
Why: Very well-informed and well-written oral history of one of my all-time favorite bands. Best rock band bio I've read since Hammer of the Gods. At times I really felt on location, like a frustrated adolescent in early '80s Minneapolis.
Who: Josh Tate, Film Editor
What: Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik
Why: Dragon-fu meets Patrick O'Brian meets historical fiction of the Napoleonic era...will be Peter Jackson's next massive film franchise in 5 years.
Who: Carrie Meathrell, Food Editor
What: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
Why: It made me cry & Dominicans are so hot right now.
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If you like Push Man, make sure to check out Abandon the Old in Tokyo, the second in the series. It's even bleaker that Push Man, if that's possible.
This is a good list from some really good editors.
Colbert's I AM AMERICA and EAT PRAY LOVE are both currently available for free on
http://www.2swap.com - a new book swapping website where our motto is "free your books, the rest will follow."
This is a good list from some really good editors.
Colbert's I AM AMERICA and EAT PRAY LOVE are both currently available for free on
http://www.2swap.com
a new book swapping website where our motto is "free your books, the rest will follow."
YES i love junot diaz!!!!!!
drown is also great
Yes - Drown was amazing and so was his first novel.
If you liked this list, just WAIT until we post the massive list of all the LAist writers. It's excellent! Look for it on Monday!
Callie I heart this graphic sooooo much. Awesome stuff on the list that I'm glad to be hearing about too, from my fellow Eds and staffers.