I’ve come to the end of the novels I’ve reviewed here this year from the bestsellers of 1959, 1949, 1939, 1929, 1919, and 1909. It’s time to reflect on what’s the best reading today from the bestseller lists of those years.
From 1959, I choose Robert Ruark’s Poor No More as the best of list of [...]
Archive for the ‘1939 Bestselling Novels’ Category
My top pics from books reviewed this year
Posted in 1939 Bestselling Novels, 1959 Bestselling Novels, My Top Pics on November 11, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Doctors Lock Horns in Service of Science
Posted in 1939 Bestselling Novels, Medical, Religious, Romance, tagged China, Lloyd C. Douglas, Medical research, scientists on July 8, 2009 | Comments Off
No one would mistake Lloyd C. Douglas’ Disputed Passage for literature, but the plot and characters are far above the pot boiler level.
Kitty Foyle is smart, sassy realist
Posted in 1939 Bestselling Novels, Coming of age, Fictional memoir, Romance on July 8, 2009 | Comments Off
You’ll like Kitty Foyle, laugh at her wry, self-protective wisecracks, and wish her love.
The Nazarene Is Bizarre
Posted in 1939 Bestselling Novels, Historical, Religious, tagged Catholics, crucifixion, first century AD, Nicodemus, Scholem Asch, Warsaw on July 1, 2009 | Comments Off
Sholem Asch’s The Nazarene is a bizarre retelling of the story of Jesus of Nazareth by two first century characters whose souls are transmigrated to 1930s Warsaw.
A novel that moves slower than Congress
Posted in 1939 Bestselling Novels, Historical, tagged American History, American Revolution, democracy, Elizabeth Page, politics, Thomas Jefferson, Tidewater, Virginia on June 24, 2009 | Comments Off
In The Tree of Liberty, Elizabeth Page uses the family of Matthew Howard as a lens through which to view American history from 1754 through 1806.
Second year for Yearling
Posted in 1938 Bestselling Novels, 1939 Bestselling Novels, Juvenile/Youth, My Top Pics on June 23, 2009 | Comments Off
In seventh place on the 1939 bestseller list was The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, which had occupied first place honors the previous year.
You will find my review of The Yearling listed among the 1938 bestsellers. I won’t repeat it here.
Instead tomorrow, I’ll review the #8 novel on the 1939 list, Elizabeth Page’s The Tree [...]
Escape Is Impossible to Put Down
Posted in 1939 Bestselling Novels, Adventure, My Top Pics, Psychological novel, Suspense, War on June 10, 2009 | Comments Off
In the opening scene of Escape, a doctor tells actress Emmy Ritter she’ll be able to walk in a week.
“Just in time for my execution,” she replies.
Ethel Vance hooked me with that line, and she didn’t let go until I’d read the rest of her novel that evening.
Authorities refuse to allow Emmy’s son, Mark, [...]
Wickford Point Punctures Literary Windbags
Posted in 1939 Bestselling Novels, Humor, tagged literature, New England poets, romance Transcendentalists, satire on June 3, 2009 | 1 Comment »
John P. Marquand’s Wickford Point is marvelously funny — something between Cold Comfort Farm and The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs. But it’s also sweetly sad.
Vintage novel lays sentiment on thick
Posted in 1939 Bestselling Novels, 1940 Bestselling Novels, tagged California, Depression, Dust Bowl, John Steinbeck, migrants, Oklahoma, working poor on May 27, 2009 | Comments Off
Substitute Hispanics for Oakies and much of The Grapes of Wrath will sound contemporary. The story remains gripping today because the search for a better life is timeless.
Two ‘38 top books held over on 1939 list
Posted in 1938 Bestselling Novels, 1939 Bestselling Novels, Asides on May 24, 2009 | Comments Off
On the 1939 bestseller list are two titles that were in the top 10 the previous year as well.
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier held third place in 1939, up from fourth place on the 1938 bestseller list. The tale of the romantic lass who finds herself playing second fiddle to her husband’s late wife in [...]
