Sammath Naur
Mythopoeic Society of Hawaii

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Suggestions for 2010

Mythopoeic suggestions

• Katie recommends A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin for Sammath
  • Comments: Well my epic review just got deleted by the awesomeness of the internet here...Anyhow, a quick warning: this is Book One in a series that is currently not completed. There are four books out, with another three expected, one to come out (hopefully) next year. That said, this series has quickly rocketed to the top of my favorites. The story is told through the POV of different characters, many connected in some way.
• Vanessa nominates Lavinia by Ursula K. Leguin
  • Comments: A story set in ancient times and the founding or Rome. based on a minor charactre in Virgil's Aeneid. Superb writing,
  • LeGuin's website which has reviews of the book and also an audio of Ursula LeGuin reading an excerpt from the book.
• Ed nominates The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
  • Comments: A real page turner. Lots to discuss
• Burt nominates Kafka on the Shore by Kazuo Ishiguro
  • Comments: This is the second best book I've read all year (out of 18). It's superbly written, set in an altered world with a fantastically different perspective and characters.
• Steve nominates The Magicians by Lev Grossman
  • Comments: I'm about a quarter of the way through, and it's a fun, easy read with some clever passages. I got it from Borders (hardback) with a coupon, and there are 10 copies in Oahu libraries. Here are 2 links to reviews:
    • Amazon
    • NPR
• Joy nominates Ghosts by Noel Hynd
  • About the book
  • Comments: I read this book years ago and it was memorable--scary and enjoyable. It' a great ghost story and murder mystery rolled into one
• Burt recently suggested Scary Faries by Stephen Goldsberry
• Vanessa nominates Anathem by Neal Stephenson
  • About the book
  • Comments: Yep, it's thick, but it sucks you in and goes quickly.
    One of the most different SF books I've read in a while.
• Tolkein possibilities
  • Hobbit suggested by Lin at the last meeting
  • LOTR
  • Ed nominates The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun
    • Comments: Poems written by Tolkien based on the Icelandic Elder Edda. Historic background on Norse mythology. Edited by Christopher Tolkien.
  • Ed recommends The Children of Hurin
    • Comments: One of the tails from the first age of Middle Earth. Biblical in tone. Edited by Christopher Tolkien

Non-Mytho Suggestions

• Joy nominates Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl
  • About the book
  • Comments: If you like costumes, food and a bit of real world observations from Reichl, written humorously and sometimes with bittersweet observation, this is the book to read! I've gone on to read Ruth Reichl's other books but this one was the first and I love it best.
• Burt recommends A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
  • Comments: This was a classic I always wanted to read and when I did it turned out to be the best book I've read this year. I also have it in audio which I can loan out.
• Ed recommends The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
  • Comments: The rise of an Indian "slumdog" to entrepreneur. Very funny. Lots of characters from both The "darkness" and the "light" halfs of Indian society. Reflects on the modern world economic competition.