The Decade in Books

Want to find out more about the hottest books and most fabulous authors of the past 10 years, check out the Guardian's "Decade in Books." I found some new gems to add to my reading list:-) Let me know what you think.

Herta Mueller will NOT be Overshadowed

Of course Obama's Noble Peace Prize win took over the entire media universe and more or less blocked out the sun last week. But Herta Mueller will NOT be Overshadowed!!This Romanian-born German author was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in literature on October 8th. She received particular praise from the Nobel Committee on her work which, "with the concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose, depicts the landscape of the dispossessed."

Quick history lesson - In 1982, Mueller published her first collection of short stories about the difficulties of living in a small village, like the one where she was raised. Although her book was censored by Romanian authorities, an uncensored version was released in Germany and garnered critical acclaim for the then young Mueller. 19 books later, she's still rocking!

Yay Herta!! Yay for chicas who buck the system to create work that is worthy of such an honor.

I've only read excerpts from some of her books, but I'm adding her to my reading list. As soon as I finish Jhumpa Lahiri's Unaccustomed Earth, I'm picking up Mueller's most recent work - The Appointment.


PS - Do you know the past winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature (1901 and 2008)?

Rock Stars of the Contemporary Poetry World

To steal a page from the Intel playbook - "Your rock stars aren't like our rock stars" :-) Ours are of the nerdy, thoughtful, intellectual kind who have a way with words and energy that jumps off the page!

Enjoy the Poetry Foundations latest list of poetry best sellers.


Contemporary Best Sellers: Week of August 2, 2009

1 Evidence by Mary Oliver (Beacon Press)
2 Slamming Open the Door by Kathleen Sheeder Bonanno (Alice James Books)
3 Red Bird (paperback) by Mary Oliver (Beacon Press)
4 The Shadow of Sirius by W. S. Merwin (Copper Canyon Press)
5 New and Selected Poems: Volume Two (paperback) by Mary Oliver (Beacon Press)
6 Why I Wake Early by Mary Oliver (Beacon Press)
7 Thirst (paperback) by Mary Oliver (Beacon Press)
8 Endpoint and Other Poems by John Updike (Knopf)
9 The Trouble with Poetry and Other Poems (paperback) by Billy Collins (Random House)
10 Ballistics by Billy Collins (Random House)

Check out the full list