The 2006 List: Top Picks

­The Glass Castle
By Jeannette Walls. This emerged as the “must read” for the summer. An autobiography published in March of 2005 that is now out in paperback. Three of you raved about it. Now I can’t swing a cat without hitting someone who’s read and loved this book. It’s supposed to be like Angela’s Ashes, but set in America. “So touching, sweet, sad and hilariously funny. Page one and you are hooked. You MUST read it!” I already bought and started it and agree that it’s immediately engaging.

The History of Love
By Nicole Krauss also got three votes. It’s out in paperback, too. Not much commentary from you all, but there are lots of reviews on Amazon.

Alexander McCall Smith series
I was surprised at how many mentioned this series. I read The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and have kind of idly assumed that the rest might not be as good. From the comments it seems the subsequent books could be worth checking out. One of you all said, “The latest installment (Blue Shoes and Happiness) was on the bestseller list earlier this year, but you need to read them in order. This book is more about the characters and the land and the move away from the ‘old ways’ than about mysteries. The characters really grow on you.” My mother-in-law also enjoyed 44 Scotland Street by Smith.