Kat Kiefer-Newman

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, By Christopher Moore.
This is a really thoughtful satire that I believe non-Christians and Christians both will love. It's the story of Jesus's best childhood friend and how they grow up together. It also answers the questions about those "lost years" of Christ' life! Very provocative. I'm not a huge fan of absurdest lit but Moore's smart writing could change my mind.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory McGuire.
I was amazed at the intricacies McGuire's storytelling. He mirrors the movie version of The Wizard of Oz so perfectly, but with a twist - he's telling the story from the Wicked Witch's perspective. This is a must-read for any fantasy fan.

The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde.
This was my introduction to Fforde. I've since recommended this book to so many people, and those who read it always thank me. If you like really smart, really rollicking, absurdest novels, with charismatic villains and flawed (but oh-so-real) heroes, then this is the novel for you. Beware, though, he keeps writing sequels, so you may never stop reading!

American Gods, by Neil Gaimon.
I was new to Gaimon, not being one of The Sandman cult. I'm so glad I picked up this book! There's a lot to read out there, but this is really intelligent satire, biting wit, and excellent all-around storytelling. I updated my Amazon Wishlist to include everything by Gaimon, I was so enthralled. Widdershins, by Charles de Lint.
De Lint has been writing for a few forevers and I was apparently asleep at the proverbial wheel! But I'm wide awake now and am so very glad I found this novel. I plan to go back and read the earlier ones as soon as I can. Th writing is inclusive and smart; as a reader I felt a part of the story instantly. I cared about these characters. And even though this story referenced previous stories, he was light in his touch about it, so that I didn't feel like I'd missed anything (although it did fire me to go read those earlier works, which is as it should be, non?!)

The Probable Future, by Alice Hoffman.
Since I stumbled over this book it's been on my all-time top 5 list. Hoffman is a master storyteller, weaving magic and fantasy in and out of real-life stories. I was dumb, I didn't realize that the original author of Practical Magic had written The Probable Future until after I'd read it. I should have guessed!

And now for something a little different...
Midnight in the Garden of good and evil, by John Berendt.
That Berendt link takes you to a bio of the author that opens with a quote where Berendt says he likes crazy people. Me to, they're so much more interesting than sane people. I loved this non-fiction book because I felt like I was sitting or walking with Berendt as he encountered all of these crazy people and told their amazing stories. And, hey, there's some magic in it, so this isn't so different from my other choices! HAH!

The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson.
I don't know exactly why this book is still at the top of everyone's list...but it is. I don't know why I include it here with my literary (oh-so-pretentious) choices as great reads....but I do. Perhaps it's Larson's wonderful writing style? Or maybe it's the choices he makes in his work? He blends events that really had no actual, factual bearing on each other in a socio-anthropological way, but he does it with really ready and easy writing. You just have to read it yourself and see what I mean!

Under the Banner of Heaven, by John Krakuaer.
I'll probably get flack for including this on my list, but, fuck it, it's my list! HAH! I liked how Krakuaer interviewed people to get that really nice storyteller aspect going as a backdrop, and then he wove events together like a pro. It's just compelling "true crime" blended with American history. I couldn't put it down. I won't be using it in my American Religions class, though!

Recent Reads:
The World of Myth, by David Adams Leeming

Women Writing Culture, edited by Elizabeth Hirsh

The Implied Spider, by Wendy Doniger O'Flarity

Off with Her Head, by Wendy Diniger O'Flarity

Hell's and Holy Ghosts by David Miller!