A note: none of the great books I read in 2009 actually came out in 2009 but that’s just because I’m always reading old stuff. One of my resolutions for 2010 is to read more current stuff.

Notable Books I Read in 2009

The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood

I think this was maybe my favorite of any book that I read this year. I hadn’t read any Isherwood before picking this up, but I fell in love on the first page. This book follows the adventures of a group of expatriates living in Berlin right as the Nazis are taking control of Germany. There’s a lot of joy in these stories despite the terrifying political backdrop against which they take place. It’s a (gay) classic for a reason. Read it, folks. Or read it again if you already have.

The Skating Rink by Roberto Bolaño

Anyone who knows me knows about my love for all things Bolaño. For those who aren’t familiar with him, he’s a Chilean author who passed away in 2003. FSG and New Directions are in the process of translating his work into English. It’s pretty astonishing how great it all is. The Skating Rink is a little noir novel that takes place in a town called Z. It’s a good place to start for those who are ambivalent about diving into his larger works like 2666 or The Savage Detectives. You can find one of my favorite short stories by him here.

The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

I never thought I’d read this book. Why? Because I always thought I would hate it. But what I found instead was a really depressing story about the impossibilities of romantic love. And then end? Super depressing as well, which I like. I don’t have anything against happy endings, but there will always be a special place in my heart for novels (or films) that end on a bit of a bummer. I should get that checked out.

Atmospheric Disturbances by Rivka Galchen

This book operates on a very simple premise: a man’s wife walks into the house and he is suddenly sure it is not actually her but an imposter. The rest of the novel moves like one of those awful dreams where it’s impossible to save yourself from danger no matter how hard you try. A beautiful first novel, one I found myself recommending a lot this year.

Our Lady of the Flowers by Jean Genet

This was actually recommended to me by a friend. My things-to-read list is usually so long that I find it difficult to squeeze in recommendations, but this is one that I actually went out and bought. And I’m glad I did. The book is the rambling, romantic, and surreal story of an imprisoned homosexual who spends his time telling and retelling the story of his life and the lives of his fellow inmates (and intimates). It’s hard to tell where reality ends and hallucination begins. The book’s greatest feat is that when you’ve finished, you feel as if Genet has pinned down the meaning of love and all its disorienting contradictions.

So there they are. Go read ‘em all. Or buy them as Christmas gifts. Books are good, ya?

Another 2010 resolution I have is to update my blog a bit more, so keep an eye out in the coming weeks for my top 10 records of 2009.

Happy reading!

Nick

Check this out. OUT Magazine has named me one of this year’s OUT 100. It’s a huge honor, and big thanks to editor Aaron Hicklin for including me in this list of talented individuals.

I’m hard at work on book #2. I said to someone recently that it’s not so much a sequel to The Vast Fields of Ordinary as much as its b-side. I think that’s the description I’m going to stick with. The story once again takes place in Cedarville, Iowa, but this time there will be a new cast of characters…although expect to see a few folks from the first book to pop up here and there. A little Decora Whitman anyone?

More soon, ya’ll. And as always, thanks for reading.

Nick

On Thursday, September 10th, I’ll be reading at The KGB Bar as part of the Behind the Book Reading Series. I’ll be reading with the marvelous Stacey D’Erasmo. The whole thing kicks off at 7pm. The KGB Bar is located at 85 East Fourth Street in Manhattan’s East Village.

Also, you can listen to an interview I did on NPR’s with Here & Now’s Robin Young.

And if you haven’t already be sure to visit me on Facebook and become a fan.

Back to work on the second novel….

Nick

The Vast Fields of Ordinary is officially available in stores and online! I’ll be doing a few events around New York City, and you should all come out if you have the chance.

On Thursday, May 28, I’ll be reading and signing books at The Corner Bookstore. It’s at 1313 Madison Avenue at 93rd Street on the Upper East Side. The staff there has been kind enough to throw me a release party. It all begins at 6 p.m., and rumor has it there will be free cheese! Oh, and there will also be books for sale. If you haven’t purchased the book yet, support an independent bookstore by buying your copy there.

There’s also another shindig at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, at Book Court in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. The store is located at 163 Court Street between Pacific and Dean. Book Court is another great independent bookstore, so again, if you haven’t purchased a book yet, wait and get one there.

Hope you all can make it!

Nick

David Levithan has kindly invited me to read at the Teen Author Reading night he curates at the Jefferson Market Branch of the New York Public Library. The reading begins at 6 pm and will also feature Cecil Castelucci, Susane Colasanti, Sarah Cross, Jenny Han, Nina Malkin, Emma McLaughlin and Nikki Wheir, and Kieran Scott.

Stop by! Not only will you hear some great authors, but we can bounce up and down and squeal about how excited we are for my book to come out the next day!

Nick

Nick

“Trapped in a suburban wasteland the summer before his first year in college, closeted indie loser Dade Hamilton is stuck in the middle of his parents’ disintegrating marriage and wastes his time pining after his girlfriend-ed hook-up–buddy Pablo. That is, until he spots dreamy, drug-dealing Alex Kincaid at a party, and the summer explodes into a lusty haze of blazing romance, pot smoke and danger. Burd breathes new life into the old coming-out formula with a blast of 21st-century testosterone-injected anger, heaps of longing and insecurity and even some violence. His carefully drawn characterizations and raw tone make the drama of Dade’s life feel urgent and very real. The allure of the illicit, decay and regret are only a few of the irresistibly dangerous themes woven into the mix, and readers will watch in rapt fascination and dread as Alex draws a willing Dade into his dark world. The results of their pairing aren’t exactly pretty, but they’re honest. One of the best in a new generation of LGBTQ novels, it can stand alongside Peter Cameron’s and Brian Sloan’s.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Somewhere between My So-Called Life and Twin Peaks…bright and concise, a beautiful blur. Dade is a teenage spaceship, sewn to the sky.” – FLAUNT

“Burd addresses the themes of family, unrequited love, bullying, and sexuality in a fresh and believable manner. His use of language is beautiful; his words paint clear pictures of Dade’s deep and complex psyche….The Vast Fields of Ordinary is a refreshingly honest, sometimes funny, and often tender novel.” – School Library Journal (starred review)

“Burd is a terrific writer with a special gift for creating teenage characters who are vital, plausible, and always engaging…a new talent to watch.” – Booklist (starred review)

“Nick Burd reaps a bounty from The Vast Fields of Ordinary.” – Vanity Fair

“In the same way that Sarah Dessen allows readers to lose themselves in the ordinary, Burd takes a familiar plot—boy struggles with his sexuality, then meets a love interest who changes everything—and makes it fresh…Burd is an author to watch.” – Publishers Weekly

“The Vast Fields of Ordinary is a wonderfully engaging and satisfying book about all kinds of growing: growing up, growing together, growing apart. Dade Hamilton and his family and friends (and enemies) are all vividly and complexly imagined and realized, and I loved spending time with them. Nick Burd’s extremely accomplished and beautifully detailed prose reanimates the usually moribund American suburban wasteland; like an alchemist, he finds the wonder in the ordinary.” – Peter Cameron, author of Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You

“Nick Burd’s The Vast Fields of Ordinary is bold. Engaging. Heartbreaking. A book worthy of attention.” – Ellen Hopkins, New York Times bestselling author of Crank

“Nick Burd’s debut novel unfolds like the summer vacation it chronicles: in the beginning the vista seems limitless, but as the pages turn and the days pass the plot thickens and the end comes way before you’re ready to put it down. This is a mysterious, funny, wise, generous story, and its main character is someone you need to know, and you’ll never forget.” – Dale Peck, author of Martin and John and Sprout

“Who can resist a kid who survives his senior year of high school despite having been given the nickname “Vagisil”? Not I… Dade Hamilton’s coming-of-age tale with a Midwest twist is devastatingly real…but it’s also funny, touching, and ultimately quite hopeful.” – T Cooper, author of Lipshitz Six, or Two Angry Blondes

This is the blog portion of the site. I’m just getting settled, but I promise to start posting soon. It’ll mostly just be news about the book and maybe a random record/film/book review or two, but I promise it will be completely awesome and the highlight of your daily internet surfing.

I also wanted to mention that this site was designed by Adam Penly, and the photograph was taken by Eric Luc. Eric also took my author photo and is one of the most talented photographers around. Big ups to both of these awesome guys for lending their time and talent to my site.

More soon!

Nick