‘Pin Picks: Third Watch

Today’s pick is going out to our very own commenter fictitious, who, in addition to offering up her taste in literature for scrutiny, has asked me to help her draw attention to the Boston Hairpin Book Club. Doesn’t that sound delightful? Now, onwards!

1. Favorite Novel: Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier — Hm, okay! Great. Gothiccccccky, yay. Twisty, good emotional payoff, ominous characters. Everyone loves Rebecca! Or, rather, everyone HATES Rebecca! Because she was (spoilers if you are living in 1937 and somehow have internet access) a horrible person. I hear you, lady.

2. Favorite Nonfiction: A Year of Living Biblically, A.J. Jacobs — Indeedy. See, I actually love reading stunt nonfiction. No joke. If someone decides they want to have sex with all the same people that Philip Roth has had sex with, and writes a book about showing up at Claire Bloom’s house to get the party started, I want to read that book. Or write it. CALL ME, ANDREW WYLIE. So I get where you’re coming from here.

3. Favorite Audiobook: The Night Watch, by Terry Pratchett — I’m going to go ahead and include our commenter’s own description, because how could it be improved upon?

“No one ever doubts Terry Pratchett’s ability to create a full world of humor, fantasy, and quirky characters. But it’s in audio form that the Discworld novels truly shine, especially when read by Stephen Briggs (narrator of novels 25 and up in the series). Briggs’ gives the villain a haunting laugh, scaring and thrilling me so much that I once stopped in the street to focus all my attention on the murderous Carcer’s approach. Oh yeah, and the book itself features time travel and a very Les Mis-esque barricade-in-the-street type of revolution, so it’s the perfect storm of awesome.”

Indeed. Now, since these favorites are in different categories, I feel as though I should offer you, fictitious, at least a fiction and a non-fiction choice. Does that seem right? Fair? This is a special thing, this second recommendation. It’s like when Louis CK gives his one daughter that mango on a stick, and the other one is all, what about me, and he says to suck it up, and then eventually gives her one of those chocolate calcium chews. What I’m saying, I guess, is if you want two books too, go have a calcium chew instead.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Shirley Jackson — Right? At this moment, half of you are saying “oh, Nicole, that’s perfect,” and the other half of you DO NOT KNOW ABOUT SHIRLEY JACKSON. There is no third option. Any Shirley Jackson is perfect here, really. But since Rebecca is very HOUSE MEMORIES GLOOM INTRIGUE FAUX-SUPERNATURAL, you should totally go with We Have Always Lived In The Castle.

Candyfreak: A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America, Steve Almond — I have read this one many, many times. You don’t even need to like candy! I’m not a big candy person, honestly. Except for chocolate-covered almonds. Love those. But Almond (hee) is…well, he has problems. I would say he has serious candy-related problems, and you will enjoy his spiritual voyage on the way to greater self-awareness. You’ll meet chocolate engineers and tour factories and hear about Almond’s own stash of candy (somewhere between three to seven pounds of which is in his house at any given time) and people who collect rare/antique candy (ew) and UGH, it’s just…great. Except, he hates coconut, and describes it as having the consistency of “chewed fingernails,” and now I can’t eat Mounds bars anymore. Which is funny, because I have bitten my nails my entire life with great relish.

Have fun! And, of course, if you like audiobooks, consult this list.