What You See in the Dark by Manuel Munoz (2011)

Fascinating, spare novel that tells the story of a few inhabitants of Bakersfield, California, from a young singer, her handsome boyfriend, and his hotel owning mother to the Actress and the Director, who are scouting locations for a new film. The film is clearly Psycho, and the story of the singer, her beau and his mother has some interesting parallels to that film. Quiet, melancholy and deliberately written.  From the Director's musing:

"The Americans were always good at dying, but not death. Good at plot, but not fatalism. Good at cowboys shot down from the backs of horses, but not the finality of writhing in the dust. Good at the cars roaring lustily into each other as if no one were in them, but not the full horror of a boy hurtling into the rigidity of the steering column. Good at the beautiful Radcliffe heroine succumbing to cancer in her bed, but not the ugly business of the night nurse wiping her clean at two in the morning. What they didn't know is that you take the little glimmer of the truth of death when you see it, and then have the nerve to give it light."

The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown (2011)

Lovely novel about three sisters, daughters of a Shakespearean scholar, who return to their home to nurse their mother through a bout with cancer. Great characterizations and complex relationships, but what makes this book truly unique is the narration, which a blending of the voices of all three sisters.  Tricky, but it works.  I also love the strong focus on the love of reading--so many charming asides about reading and I've never read a book where so many characters actually spend time reading. Plus, the family constantly peppers their conversations with Shakespearean quotes. Very charming.  Great quote:

"We were never organized readers who would see a book through to its end in any sort of logical order. We weave in and out of words like tourists on a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. Put a book down in the kitchen to go to the bathroom and you might return to find it gone, replaced by another of equal interest. We are indiscriminate."

Grand Opening by Jon Hassler (1987)

This is a lovely, character-rich depiction of small-town life during World War II. A family pursues their dream of moving to a small town in Minnesota to open a grocery store.  Wonderful characters and relationships, and challenging situations.  Complicated and lovely.  For me, Hassler is the male Maeve Binchy, with wonderfully written 'good' characters and just as well-drawn 'bad' characters, who ultimately end up with some comeuppance for their sins.

Remember Me by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen (2006)

Subtitled: A Lively Tour of the New American Way of Death.  Time writer Cullen explores some of the stranger customs emerging around death, including modern mummification, green burials, and even making diamonds out of your loved ones' cremains. Well written, and includes lovely sidebars about each person's life and death (inspired by Vows in the NYT, according to the author). Reminded me in the best way of Susan Orlean.

Dangerously Funny by David Bianculli (2009)

Subtitled: The Uncensored Story of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Fascinating inside look at the television show that only lasted three years, but had a huge impact on television and comedy. Plus, an interesting look at the culture of the late sixties as viewed through the prism of television, and what wasn't being said on television. The Smothers Brothers themselves are interesting characters, as are the amazing cast that made up their writing and acting teams.  Only a few of the sketches they refer to are available on Youtube.  I hope they're not lost to the ages.

Getting Rid of Matthew by Jane Fallon (2007)

Unexpectedly charming novel about a woman whose married beau leaves his wife for her and she finds out that's not what she wants after all. She hatches a complicated plan to get him off of her hands which includes making up a new persona to befriend his wife and convince her to take him back.  Surprisingly good character development, this novel successfully avoids many of the cliches in chick lit. Very enjoyable!

Life Sucks by Jessica Abel, Gabe Soria and Warren Pleece (2008)

Great graphic novel about unenthusiastic vampire Dave, who works at a convenience store and falls in love with a goth girl. Very much like The Last Man in its humor and charm. Crying out to be made into a movie. I'd love to have seen John Cusack (years ago) play Dave, Matthew McCononaughy play Wes and Jeff Bridges play Merle. Maybe Tony Shalhoub as Radu?  Very witty and fun.

Just Kids by Patti Smith (2010)

Fascinating, beautifully written memoir about Smith's life in New York City in the 1960s and 1970s and her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe, as well as her discovering her artistic passion. Beautifully evocative of New York City in that time period--one of the best books about New York I've ever read.   Photographs and artistic illustrations are sprinkled throughout the book like little treasures. Lovely reminiscences including one about a moment with a bunch of legendary people but how she couldn't recognize it because she was too young and self-involved. Love her encounter with Salvador Dali, as well as her complex relationship with Sam Shepherd (aka Slim Shadow). And did I mention the writing?

"The Chelsea was like a doll's house in the Twilight Zone, with a hundred rooms, each a small universe. I wandered the halls seeking its spirits, dead or alive. My adventures were mildly mischievous, tapping open a door slightly ajar and getting a glimpse of Virgil Thomson's grand piano, or loitering before the nameplate of Arthur C. Clarke, hoping he might suddenly emerge....I loved this place, its shabby elegance, and the history it held so possessively....So many had written, conversed, and convulsed in these Victorian dollhouse rooms. So many skirts had swished these worn marble stairs. So many transient souls had espoused, made a mark, and succumbed here. I sniffed our their spirits as I silently scurried from floor to floor, longing for discourse with a gone possession of smoking caterpillars."

Audrey's Door by Sarah Langan (2009)

Excellent haunted house story set on the Upper West Side of New York City. It's a hidden gem--a quality trade paperback hidden in the pages of a mass market paperback.  Good, complex characterization (the ex-fiance and shrewish boss are not painted as black and white bad guys), as well as an unusual, complicated backstory (chaotic naturalism!) and many scenes that just cry out to be filmed.  This is a great fit for fans of the contemporary gothic of Gillian Flynn.

The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai (2011)

I loved, loved, loved this novel about a children's librarian who gets mixed up in the life of one of her favorite young patrons as he runs away from an unhappy home life.  I loved this for the charming, quietly hilarious writing; the excellent characterizations; and her unbelievable insight into the true, realistic life and mind of a modern librarian. So many delightful literary allusions and references, but none of it gets in the way of a truly compelling story. This is an easy sell to librarians, but hopefully loved by others as well!  How can you not love a book with these introductory words: 

"These are the settings and main characters. We are nestled into our beanbags: let us begin. (Where's Papa going with that ax?" said Fern.)"

More quotes I love:

"[Loraine Best, the head librarian] came downstairs some Fridays just to smile and nod at the mothers as they dropped them off, as if she had some hand in Chapter Book Hour. As if her reading three minutes of Green Eggs and Ham wouldn't make half the children cry and the others raise their hands to ask if she was a good witch or a bad witch."

And of course: 

"..and there were at least three stacks of books I personally loathed but held onto just in case someone asked me to loan them ....I'd hate to have to say that I knew the perfect book, but I'd just given it away. Not that people often asked. But once in a while my landlord, Tim, or his partner, Lenny, would invite themselves in to peruse the stacks and ask the world's best question: 'Hey, what do you think I should read?'  It was nice to be prepared." 

A little librarian fun:

"Once a year all the librarians in the county wedged themselves into high heels, tried to pull the cat hair off their sweaters with masking tape, and smeared their lips with an awful tomato red that had gone stale in its tube, all to convince the benefit set of the greater Hannibal region that libraries do better with chairs and books and money."

(See also chapter 8 for "If You Give a Librarian a Closet.")

"I am the mortal at the end of this story. I am the monster at the end of this book. I'm left here alone to figure it all out, and I can't quite. How do I catalogue it all? What sticker do I put on the spine? Ian once suggested that in addition to the mystery stickers and the sci-fi and animal ones, there should be special stickers for books with happy endings, books with sad endings, books that will trick you into reading the next in the series."