Todd Stewart's Picks for Kojo's Winter Reading List 2008

Fiction

Sway by Zachary LazarSway by Zachary Lazar
An anti-romantic take on the 60s. Lazar interweaves the stories of the early Rolling Stones (mostly Brian Jones), the experimental filmmaker Kenneth Anger, and Bobby Beausoleil (who was involved with Charles Manson). 

Indignation by Philip RothIndignation by Philip Roth
What starts out seeming a typical coming-of-age story set at the time of the Korean War takes on darker hues with a surprising twist midway through. Roth shows how even the smallest actions can have large consequences. An anti-romantic take on the 50s.

World Made by Hand by James Howard KunstlerWorld Made by Hand by James Howard Kunstler
There were a number of post-apocalyptic novels published in the past year; World Made by Hand was the most hopeful. The story takes place in upstate New York as a small town tries to rebuild in the wake of the collapse of the world economy.

Peace by Richard BauschPeace by Richard Bausch
A short, concentrated morality tale that takes place during WW II. One miserable winter's night in Italy, three soldiers are sent on a reconnaissance mission up a mountain. What they encounter will cause them to question the uses and misuses of violence, and the need for mercy in a civilized world. A book to be read in one sitting.

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, translated by Richard PevearThe Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, translated by Richard Pevear
I hadn't read this since high school, and it was fun to sink into its story again, though 30 years on certain themes loom larger--the swashbuckling takes a backseat to the tragedy of Lady DeWinter and the loss of innocence of D'Artagnan.

Roseanna (A Martin Beck Police Mystery)Roseanna, The Man Who Went Up in Smoke, and The Man on the Balcony by Maj Sjowall and Per Waloo
Vintage is slowly (too slowly) republishing the Martin Beck mysteries, a series of ten novels originally published in the 1960s and 70s by the Swedish husband/wife team Maj Sjowall and Per Waloo. I've read the first three and they are great fun--in a dour, Swedish sort of way.

Nonfiction

Traffic-Why We Drive the Way We DoTraffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us) by Tom Vanderbilt
Traffic is as fascinating a topic as the weather, especially in the Washington area. Vanderbilt writes with great verve, and wears his prodigious research lightly.

Like a Rolling Stone-The Strange Life of a Tribute Band Like a Rolling Stone: The Strange Life of a Tribute Band by Steven Kurutz
Kurutz primarily follows the Stones tribute band Sticky Fingers as they travel everywhere from frat houses to Atlantic City to Europe. A quirky, offbeat story about a little-known rock 'n' roll subculture.

Breakdowns-Portrait of the Artist as a YoungBreakdowns: Portrait of the Artist as a Young %@*#! by Art Spiegelman
This is two books in one: A graphic (in both senses of the word) autobiography and a republication of Breakdowns, Spiegelman's long out-of-print comics collection from 1978. A fascinating look at the beginnings of one of our finest graphic artists.

Washington Burning by Les StandifordWashington Burning by Les Standiford
An absorbing look at the beginnings of Washington, D.C. A story that has been told before, but Standiford's book is a lively retelling, focusing on Pierre L'Enfant. An excellent book for local history buffs.

 

God's Crucible-Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215 by David Levering Lewis
A book for the serious history reader from the award-winning author of the 2-volume biography of W.E.B. Dubois. A remarkable look at Islamic Spain and the birth of Europe.

Please call 301-779-9300 to order by phone or place a book on hold. You can also send an email to toddstewartATvertigo-booksDOTcom. Thank you.