Brian C’s Book Forecast for 2011

2011 is well under way, and I for one think it’s gonna be great. I’m a sucker for the beginning of a new year. I make resolutions, take inventory of my accomplishments, acknowledge and forget my shortcomings, and then I start looking forward to all the great books I’ll be reading over the next twelve months. It’s a great time, and I’m blessed, thanks to advanced readers from incredible publisher rep’s, to get a little head start on my 2011 reading. I’ve compiled a short list of what has caught my eye so far. I should be clear that, with the exception of Open City: A Novel, Galore, and The Tiger’s Wife I haven’t read any of these books, this is simply a list of anticipation. My Pavlovian juices are flowing even thinking about them. Here are some of the titles I’ll be looking forward to in 2011:

Swamplandia!, by Karen Russell: I loved Ken Burns’ series on the National Parks. I knew I would, because I’ve always been fascinated by Yellowstone and in awe of Yosemite, but what I didn’t expect was to be blown away by the Everglades. Russell’s book takes place in Florida, that odd place where insects rule and sweat flows. I can’t wait to travel back there, I haven’t visited since I finished Peter Matthiessen’s Shadow Country, and I’m looking forward to getting back. From what I hear, Russell will be a wonderful, funny, intelligent, and very weird guide.

Open City: A Novel, by Teju Cole: First fiction is like bacon to a bookseller. We love it more than we should. I know I haven’t read Proust, and I should, but these new authors keep getting in the way with their bold choices and youthful charm. Cole’s first novel follows around my newest friend Julius as he manages New York streets and struggles with the stress that our nation of immigrants puts on newer members.

Enough About Love, by Herve Le Tellier: I love the Oulipo. Other than L.A.N.G.U.A.G.E. poets, the Oulipo is contemporary literatures greatest gift to postierity. Herve, a mathematician at heart, has been a member of the Oulipo since 1992, and he brings that background in math into all of his experiments in fiction, but, like his buddy Jacques Roubaud, he’s really just writing love stories. I love everything about this book—especially the press that’s taking a chance in selling ‘experimental literature’ to an American audience.

The Tiger’s Wife, by Tea Obreht: The most talked about book of the young year, The Tiger’s Wife not only lives up to the hype, it surpasses it. I’m in love with Obreht in a way that makes my wife a little uncomfortable. Set in the former Yugoslavia, the book explores war, innocence, family, and more than a little European folktale magic. This will be the best book of 2011, and you’ll get a chance to meet her at BookPeople, on March 15th.

The Art of Asking Your Boss For a Raise, by Georges Perec: So, I’ve already told you about my love for the Oulipo, so I won’t bore you by restating my affections. Perec is a mythical figure in 20th century literature. You’ll hear these odd stories about some guy who wrote an entire novel without E’s. That guy is our good friend Georges. I don’t know much about this new book, but I know it will be interesting, and I know it’ll require an opinion, and inspire debate. What more do you want?

Galore, by Michael Crummey: The Other Press picked this book up from Canada, and I’m so glad they did. Can I just pause a moment to thank The Other Press for all they do. I feel like they’re a company that searches the globe for books specifically for me. You get to read them too, but they’re, at heart, really meant for me. I love New Directions, adore the Dalkey Archive, and am falling hard for Melville House, but The Other Press just gets me in the way old movies and tacos get me. I’ll read anything they publish. Now, back to Mr. Crummey’s Modern folktale about a young man who comes into a small fishing community after living in the belly of a whale, it’s as crazy as it sounds, but feels like a strange story your grandmother might tell you. It’s perplexing and strange, but remains cozy. I can’t wait to sell you this book.

To Do: A Book of Alphabets and Birthdays, by Gertrude Stein: This is a children’s story by Gertrude Stein. Oh. My. Goodness. My cup runneth over. Nuff said.

The Storm at the Door, Stefan Merrill Block: My publisher rep told me that this book reminds her of Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates. A bold statement, but in the past her bold proclamations have proven to be right.

More Beer, Jakob Arjouni: Melville House publishes an international crime series. It’s really cool. I’m not a big mystery guy, if you need a mystery bookseller, come by and see our resident genius, Scott. But I do like to read about five to ten crime novels a year, and Arjouni’s Kismet was one of my favorites from last year. More Beer continues the storyline of Turkish detective Kemal Kayankaya. He’s still trying hard to stay away from the trouble that keeps trying harder to find him, and his rough exterior fails to mask his heart of gold. He’s tough, smart, violent, and wonderfully funny. You’ll love him.

This is a short list, but it’s a list of titles that I’m really looking forward to seeing in our store. 2011 is going to be the best year ever, and these books are going to be here to make sure that happens.

–Brian Contine