I've already recommended a few books for "The List." Elizabeth Strout's "The Burgess Boys" is the story of a young Maine man whose hate crime causes ripples throughout his family. Herman Koch's "The Dinner" is another story of a family affected by a heinous criminal act. Even though I'm just about 2/3 of the way through it, Colm McCann's "Transatlantic" deserves a recommendation. This novel centers around Ireland and spans more than 100 years - from a visit by freed slave Frederick Douglass to the efforts of Maine Senator George Mitchell to negotiate peace in Northern Ireland. And, it looks like Claire Messud's "The Woman Upstairs" is on it way to a recommendation. A lonely middle-aged teacher becomes overly attached to a family living in her building. This looks like it's heading for a disasterous ending - stay tuned.
In the meantime, it's back to reading (after one more game of Papa Pear Saga). What you can do is check out the Maine Readers' Choice Award at www.mainereaderschoiceaward.org.
