D.G. Martin – Books for holiday reading

“Have you forgotten about the Christmas book suggestions that you make every year?”

When somebody asked me this question the other day, I had to admit that, yes, I forgot.

I usually mix my suggestions about North Carolina books with information about North Carolina Bookwatch, the UNC-TV program that I have hosted for the past 10 years and am finishing up at the end of this season.

Last month, as we wound up taping the last episodes for this season, I forgot about you – and the Christmas books.

That oversight is a shame, because the final programs of this year’s season present a nice variety of interesting and very good books that might just be perfect gifts for some folks on your list.

First let me tell you about a very young author who gained national attention and praise a few years ago. Marisha Pessl, who grew up in Asheville, had her first book, “Special Topics in Calamity Physics,” named by the New York Times as one of the five top books of fiction for 2006. I loved this combination murder mystery and coming of age novel.

After years of trying, we were able to persuade her to come back to North Carolina for a Bookwatch interview, thanks to the great help of Lenoir-Rhyne University, where the interview was recorded. (You can see that program on UNC-TV at 5 p.m. Dec. 13.)

One of North Carolina’s most distinguished historians, Wake Forest professor Paul Escott, challenges our widely shared view of President Abraham Lincoln as the Great Emancipator. The new book’s provocative title commands attention – “‘What Shall We Do with the Negro?’ Lincoln, White Racism, and Civil War America.” Escott writes about the prejudicial racial attitudes of his day and the degree to which Lincoln shared them as they discussed the question of how to deal with enslaved African Americans when they became free. (Dec. 20.)

At last there is a new book by one of North Carolina’s favorite authors. Jill McCorkle’s book of short stories features the bad choices and dead ends of her characters, who “tend to have ex-husbands and wives, estranged family members and relationships they’d rather forget.”

But they seem to never lose hope. North Carolinians will recognize their neighbors, their family, and themselves as McCorkle’s characters confront their life challenges. (Dec. 27)

Western Carolina University professor Ron Rash’s latest novel, “Serena,” established him as one of America’s leading authors. For instance, New York Times book reviewer Janet Maslin named “Serena” one of her 10 Favorite Books of 2008.

It is a mammoth novel set in the lumber camps of the North Carolina mountains, full of compelling villains and unlikely heroes. It is a perfect read for the long winter evenings. (Jan. 3)

UNC Chapel Hill basketball coach Roy Williams’s ability to teach, inspire and motivate his teams is admired throughout our state – even by those North Carolinians who cheer for other teams.

There are many North Carolinians who don’t care a whiff about sports who are proud of the favorable attention that has come to the state from that success. But what motivates Roy Williams, what inspires him, and who were his teachers? He speaks to those questions in his book, “Hard Work: A Life on and Off the Court.” His story is a compelling one, one of poverty, broken family, and disappointments. It could be fiction.

Think Charles Dickens and you will not be surprised that with hard work, hope, and the generous help of many wonderful teachers, coaches, spouse, and other angels, the hero finds happy success. Carolina basketball fans will love it. So will anybody else who loves a good story with a happy ending. (Jan. 10)



D.G. Martin is hosting his final season of UNC-TV’s North Carolina Bookwatch, which airs at 5 p.m. Sundays. His blog and prior programs can be viewed at www.unctv.org/ncbookwatch.

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