I found out this morning that participating in Armchair BEA requires daily posts! This is not usual for me, so apologies to everyone for the two posts today. I shall try to make this post suitably awesome to make up for the inconvenience, but that is a lot of pressure!
Today's topic is Best Books of 2012. Oh, good heavens. So many good books! I don't know how to choose between them. So I shall just choose three that I haven't seen reviewed much elsewhere on blogosphere:
This is a very hard category because I have read some fantastic graphic novels this year so far. I am cheating in a way because my review hasn't posted yet, but JUST YOU WAIT. It's coming this week. The book is about this really gorgeous girl who invents amazing things in her sleep because she is that good at science. It is also super colorful and the panels are full of witty jokes if you pay attention, and the cast of characters has people of all age ranges and cultures and sexes, which I greatly appreciate. Girl Genius is also available to read fully online, and I recommend that you do so, stat.
All, non-fiction can be just as fascinating as fiction can be, and Laurie Thatcher Ulrich proves that in this book. She takes a really bare bones diary kept by this woman in late 18th century Maine and brings the whole world to life, using it to draw conclusions about networks, trade systems, SCANDAL (like an old man marrying a woman younger than his youngest daughter and having even more children- oh, yeah), and the rates of premarital sex in the early American republic. So many fun facts!
I loved this book so much, and it is available for FREE online at Project Gutenberg. If you enjoy happiness, you will like this book. The narrator is a budding feminist before the first world war, but she's also slightly ditzy and hijinks ensue. Nothing like early 20th century hijinks, if you ask me.
Bab reminds me of Betsy Tacy with ditziness. Will have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteI think Bab may be for a bit of an older crowd than Betsy Tacy, but she is awesome. I particularly loved her inventive spelling.
DeleteI love all your recommendations!! I've only read the Ballard book -- the other two I haven't read but are on my TBR! Fabu recs (very worth the daily post, your effort wasn't in vain! ;))
ReplyDeleteHaha, I'm glad to know that :-) And I'm happy to hear that you have Girl Genius and Bab on your TBR pile - can't wait to see what you have to say about them!
DeleteWell, I haven't read them, but they looks really good, I have to check them!!
ReplyDeleteDo it!
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ReplyDeleteI love the way you divided these up!
ReplyDeleteYou love it so much you said it twice :-)
DeleteI feel kind of thankful to be behind on my 2012 because there are so many books I've never heard of, haha. Great picks!
ReplyDeleteYes, there are SO MANY awesome books in the world. Sometimes overwhelming, but usually very invigorating.
DeleteI definitely need to read more Graphic Novels so I'm totally going to look out for Girl Genius (or, you know, read it online because that seems easier!)
ReplyDeleteI approve of this plan. It's a fantastic series.
DeleteI'm definitely going to have to read Bab!
ReplyDeleteYES! I think that is the Rineheart that you need.
DeleteI'm not a big rule-follower, so won't be posting daily. It's fun when others manage to do it, though! I have Bab on my Kindle for vacation times this summer.
ReplyDeleteHaha, well I love a girl who can break the rules ;-) I can't wait to hear what you think of Bab. Go on vacation soon ;-)
DeleteGirl Genius looks like it would be right up my alley!
ReplyDeleteHappy ABEA!
It's so good- I hope you find it as fun as I did.
DeleteThanks for letting us know Girl Genius is available online! If you loved it, I know I will too. A Midwife's Tale sounds excellent!
ReplyDeleteThey are both awesome in totally different ways, but peripherally similar because they highlight amazing women. Bab, too, actually!
DeleteDoes Bab talk all in single syllable words, like the title? ;-)
ReplyDeleteNo, but she does talk in capitals, like when she refers to the Other Sex. :-D
DeleteFirst time I've seen a graphic novel in their list! Will check it out. :) Dropping by from the Armchair BEA!
ReplyDelete-Len of Musings of a Reader Happy
Thanks for visiting, Len! I do think it's only small portion of blogosphere that reads graphic novels, which is sad. I don't read nearly as many as other people do, but I do like finding ones with interesting premises or titles, like Girl Genius :-)
DeleteA Midwife's Tale sounds very interesting!
ReplyDeleteIt is, it is!
DeleteWhy aren't people named Bab anymore...oh, because it is a silly name. Right! Also I totally want to read that Midwife's Tale thing. Because 18TH CENTURY MAINE HOW COULD THAT BE BAD.
ReplyDeleteIt's true. Especially with rural Maine gossip and drama. Fantabulous.
DeleteIt was a pleasant surprise to see a new post from you this morning, don't apologise! I downloaded Bab and formatted it for my reader, hope to get to it soon. And I like the idea of a gorgeous geeky girl in our otherwise stereotypical world, look forward to reading your review.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right! Now that I think about it, beauty and brains often don't mix in our culture, which is sad because it happens all the time in real life!
DeleteGreat picks. I hadn't heard of these books but I'd like to pick them up now. Thanks for the post! :)
ReplyDeleteNew to your blog!
Stephanie @ Stepping Out of the Page
A Midwives Tale sounds fascinating! Rats, I already have a towering stack of TBR. :)
ReplyDeleteUlrich is a wonderful historian. i read another of her books years ago and actually have this in my tbr believe it or not. i should read it for my next nonfiction!
ReplyDeleteGirl Genius and A Midwife's Tale both sound awesome. I love the cover of Girl Genius too. Thanks for sharing!
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