My youngest brother gave me this book for Christmas 1999. It was a haunting book. At once brooding, and scary, the book is funny. It demands close attention and reflection. You'll encounter the madness that can develop from a too-fertile imagination, as well as the deep detail that can spring from fantasy baseball.
Pulp fiction, Hollywood style. Mr. Crichton is the author of Jurassic Park, Congo, and Rising Sun, all books that became big Hollywood productions. You could almost see the trailers leap from the scenes of this book. There are terrific details on the construction of airplanes, as well as a straightforward plot, with a twist.
This non-fiction book discusses the nature of reading, and how it is affected by the electronic age. There are comparisons of the reading experience between electronic books and books-on-tape. For readers who ever wonder how books can take them away, this is worth the time to read.
My first Oprah book, I bought this for my wife on a lark. She read it in one sitting. I read it in a few days. A fast-paced book about a tragic airplane crash, and how it affected the pilot's wife. Nice twists and turns.
I didn't see the movie, but after the Pilot's Wife, I wanted to read another woman author. Terry McMillan's big book about African-American women and their issues and problems was very funny, serious, and sad. It has great characters, and great scenes.
This corporate profile was eye-opening, and answers the question "How did Intel become such a dominant force in the chip-making industry?" Who are its competitors? And who is Andy Groove? Lots of detail on how Mr. Groove fashioned this company out of his disciplined vision. Plenty of war stories, and "hallway conversations". Good stuff for those curious about an important computer company.
My wife and I are soccer fans, and I had read a brief review about this book in an English soccer magazine. I can't think of a better soccer book that captures the essence of how soccer can bind a town and a nation. Mr. McGinniss serves as an ardent fan, an aloof writer, and a keen observer on Italy, and her passion of this great sport. Ciao, ciao, ciao!
This book had wondeful images, and wonderful prose on the disenchantments of life. Mr. Steinbeck's reputation as a literary figure is served very well by this book. Temptation, greed, and the possibility of redemption are themes that run through this book.
A story about a sick psychiatrist, and how her emotions get the best of her in helping a patient. The twist: her patient happens to be in an affair with the psychiatrist's husband. The ugly side of jealously and envy are played out in this harsh exploration. Reminded me of Damage, by Josephine Hart.
A light and airy book about life in Provence, France. Since Jenn and I visited Paris, France in 2000, the book ignited notions of living there, and of learning the language. Lots of great food described here, and a lifestyle that is quite enviable. The French are fairly captured by Mr. Mayle in their familiar poses.
Pulp fiction, Clancy style. A mad hacker is on the loose, and the prototypical protagonists duke it out on the Net in a virtual reality that isn't quite here yet. Typical fare, but sometimes that's what's called for.
This literary book may remind people of Slackers, the movie which is composed of scenes, each loosely connected to the previous scene. The overarching character in this Proulx masterpiece is an accordian, and the crimes committed are those of the heart and mind. Proulx's talent for painting rich characters is in full display here.
A novel about a shy man who finds solace and himself by moving to a small shipping town in Maine. The setting reminded of David Guterson's Snow Falling on Cedars. Again, rich characters are drawn up in this book that features knots, unrequited love, and big boats.
As a big fan of golf, I couldn't help but be drawn to this wistful tale of redemption, which featured real life golfers in a fantastical U.S. Open tournament. The life lesson is pretty clear here, and the miracle is not what you'd expect. Short story, nicely done.
Mr. Postman's critical essays on the television, and the resulting demise of the critical thinking dovetails The Gutenberg Elegies. Postman's book urges us to see beyond the glow of our television sets. With 2001 here, it's not clear to me if anyone has taken him up on this.
This play features "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more". A war play, the version that I read gave me some more insight into the underlying issues behind Henry V's rise. I read this book aloud many nights, feeling the prose trip over my tongue. My one "good" book of the year.
This book is destined to become a classic. It describes a golfer who was wrongfully accused of a heinous crime, and as a result, his golfing talent must remain unseen. Nevertheless, he finds a way to play just below the watchful eyes of the authorities. An interpid law student discovers this player through the left-over files of the great Bobby Jones, and the ensuing detective story has a wondeful Capra-esque twist.
Probably the singular best book I read in the year. This long, melancholy, mystery about a cabal of Greek students features murder, lofty ideals, and running from the law. Ms. Tartt vividly reminds us of the angst of being a college student, especially one without roots or ties to the affluent life. There are great images painted in this book. The twisted experiments by these young students are perfectly rendered.
More pulp fiction, this time Turow style. He brought us Presumed Innocent, which is a good novel and a good movie. This book features ambiguities that face enforcers of the law. Lawyers, cops, and bankers are prominently featured in this well-paced novel. The twists and comeuppance at the end are satisfying.
I read a long essay in Harpers by Mr. Meyer, who lamented openly about the risky business of being an executive. This book is a longer treatment of that essay. While the book starts with the immediate issues about being laid off, Mr. Meyer proceeds to rail against the corporate structure, and the capricious economy that laid his career to waste. He gives biting testimony to the hard-core world of recruiters, and their corresponding lieutenants in human resources. Marvelous book, perfect for these recessionary times.
An inspiring book, full of life's lessons from the deathbed of Mr. Albom's mentor, Morrie. At a wedding I attended, a passage from this book made its way into the ceremony. More than once I found myself weeping silently at its strong messages of faith, values, and endurance.
Possibly the best non-fiction that I read in 2000, this masterpiece of writing pits three non-conservatives (a land developer, a miner, and a dam engineer) with a leader of the conservation movement. The writing displays all relevant arguments for the reader, and at the same time transports to the reader to the wondeful settings of these conflicts. There are wonderful characterizations, and the book's scope and effort is a joy to behold. McPhee is one of prominent writers of this country, and this book a wonderful representation of his talent.
Jane Smiley's 1000 Acres blew me away when I first read it. This is an earlier book, and it's a more straightforward mystery. Smiley's style is present, however, and the way she shapes her characters and their relationships makes them unforgettable. Great fiction.
A book about Digital Electronic Corporation, better known as DEC. Since this is a local company to me (and recently bought out by Compaq), this book is very appropriate reading. A computer giant of the 80s, DEC was dominated the high-tech headlines in the same way as Apple, IBM, Intel, and Microsoft. The book reveals much about Ken Olsen, DEC's enigmatic leader. The documented practices of DEC were unique, and at the same time contributed to its downfall. The book is old, and ends on a high-note in the early 1990s.
A super book to finish the year. Mr. Sedaris is a regular on NPR. His biting, sarcastic, sardonic reflections on life in this book make it fantastically funny. I was laughing hard at his many observations. The book chronicles his time in France, which was timely for me. I can't think of a better characterization for learning and speaking French as this book. Well worth it!