Sophy Burnham: Recommended Reads of 2011

Sophy Burnham is an award-winning playwright, novelist, and non-fiction writer. Her latest book is “The Art of Intuition: Cultivating Your Inner Wisdom.” Three of her books have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list as well as other bestseller lists. Her works have been translated into 22 languages.

Her recommended reads of 2011 are:

“Three Bags Full” by Leonie Swan. A murder told by a flock of sheep, whose shepherd has suddenly died. The sheep must determine why and what has happened, and it is hilarious!

“Bartleby the Scrivener” and “Benito Cereno” by Melville.  These are actually two long short stories or two novellas. Brilliant!

“King Lear” by William Shakespeare. How many times have I read this? It gets better with every reading and every passing year of my life.

“Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter” by Tom Franklin. The crooked letter of course is an “S” and this modern story of two boys will break your heart.

“Children of Men” by P. D. James, now in her 90s and still writing!!

“Small Island” by Andrea Levy. A Jamaican couple come to London right after WW II, and discover prejudice, difficulty, triumph and love. The voice in this novel, with its lilting Jamaican English, is rare, exquisite, superb. I gulped this book.

“Little Bee” by Chris Cleave. A Nigerian refugee sneaks into England illegally and now she must find a way to survive. Again, the voice of the narrator, Little Bee, is so unusual, the use of language so distinctive and delightful that you can’t put this book down.