11 Books Recommended by Krista Kaer
And just like that, Estonian summer is over. It was hot and sunny yesterday; today, it’s raining and it feels like autumn. How fortunate then, that I’ve just received a reading list from Krista Kaer, the book lover extraordinaire. For my non-Estonian readers: Mrs Kaer is one of the most respected publishers and translators in Estonia. Many of my favourite books, from Wilde to Le Guin to Harry Potter stories, exist in Estonian thanks to her.
I was incredibly lucky to have her speak at my blog event a while back, and she has shared with me the list of books she talked about, with a couple of bonus items added. As I’ve had so many people asking for this list, I’m posting it here for everybody’s benefit. That’s your autumn sorted.
1. Angela Carter “The Bloody Chamber”
2. Ursula K. Le Guin “The Left Hand of Darkness”
3. Kazuo Ishiguro “The Buried Giant”
4. David Mitchell “The Bone Clocks”
5. Michel Faber “The Book of Strange New Things”
6. Tan Twan Eng “The Garden of Evening Mists”
7. Helen Oyeyemi “Mr Fox”
8. A. S. Byatt “Ragnarok”
9. Jonathan Franzen “Purity”
10. William Boyd “Sweet Caress”
11. Claire North “The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August”
Quite a few of these have already been translated into Estonian and as they come recommended by Krista Kaer, you don’t have to worry about the quality. Happy reading.
PS I should probably also report at some point, how I did with my summer reading list…
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Thanks for sharing Anniki, brilliant list. Angela Carter is an incredible writer, her “Night at the circus” is still unbeatable.
On a side note, Ishiguro writes lyrics for the wonderful jazz singer Stacey Kent, and the combination is nothing short of magic. Her voice and phrasing are enchanting, and Ishiguro’s touch makes her songs a real treat. Check her music 🙂
I’m on the case with the rest of the list…
I must admit I read “Night at the Circus” such a long time ago that I don’t remember much. But I do remember it being very good. Off to check out Stacy Kent 🙂
I was mending books this morning at our library, and Mr Fox crossed my path. The beautiful portrait of Helen Oyeyemi caused me to read the rest of the jacket, and it sounds like just the right amount of quirky to satisfy my idea of a good read, so I set it aside to take home. Now it is lunch and I am reading your blog…….how’s that for a coincidence!
It’s fate! One of my friends who has excellent taste in books read Mr Fox recently and liked it a lot, so I’ve got a good feeling about this one.
Books, and a list. Two of my favorite things! Thank-you! I’ve only read 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 so I’m happy to add the rest to my list! I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of Jane Urquhart’s newest: “The Night Stages.” She is one of my favorite authors, or maybe even my favorite of all. Her writing is quiet, contemplative, introspective and demonstrates a ferocious empathy that I find incredibly inspiring.
Holly, the breadth and depth of your reading continue to amaze me. I have only read No 2 so far and now I of course have to check out Urquhart as well. Do you have a favourite by her?
Well, just imagine if you were my age how many more books you would have read! 😉 Plus I’m single, my son is 31 and not needy in the least, and for the first time in my life I am not a caregiver for a loved one. In other words, I have plenty of time now to read.
The first Urquhart I read was “Away” and I’ve been captivated ever since. So perhaps that’s where you could start as well.
Well, I know some other people who are single and with no/grown-up children and they don’t read nearly as much… In any case, “Away” goes on the list. Thank you!
Such a wonderful post and timing couldn’t be better.I just bought my first Kindle Paperwhite so I badly need all the book lists in the world right now. 🙂
Congratulations on your Kindle! I’ve always adored paper books and I don’t think this will ever change, but I love the way Kindle fascilitates reading. The speed of ordering a book, the ability to carry hundreds of works with you, the option to read in the dark (when the light would wake your boyfriend or your newborn) – it’s just wonderful. And as a huge Krista Kaer fan girl, I’m confident that this list is a good place to start.