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Jan
08
BTT: The Best of 2008
2009 at 10am Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
After missing the last couple weeks of BTT (I spent Christmas and New Year’s Day being lazy and avoiding contact with the outside world), it’s nice to be back. This week’s topic:
It’s a week or two later than you’d expect, and it may be almost a trite question, but … what were your favorite books from 2008?
(It’s an oldie but a goodie question for a reason, after all … because, who can’t use good book suggestions from time to time?)
Oh, there are so many ways to answer this question. This year, there were books I loved, books I couldn’t stop talking about, books I’m still thinking about months later. This is such a subjective question, and, at least for me, it’s impossible to pin down just 1 or 2 “best ofs.”
My 2008 Reading Wrap-Up highlighted 19 of my favorites from new fiction, backlist fiction, nonfiction, and memoirs. And it was tough narrowing it down that much! So, I’m going to try something different and create a few book awards for my 2008 reading. (Each cover is linked to my original review.)
Most Intense Read: 
Andrew Davidson’s debut novel was breathtaking, captivating, and everything else I want a great book to be. As my friend Wendy said, “It was totally hardcore, and I loved it.” The stories within the story were beautifully crafted, and the ambiguous ending left all the right questions unanswered.
Best Book About Books: 
Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows have created characters whose passion for books is real and tangible. They get that reading really good books ruins you for reading bad ones, and they capture the power of literature to bring people together with a beautiful and poignant story. This is a light, enjoyable read, but it is by no means fluffy. Hands down, this is also my best handsell book of the year.
Runner up: 
The “I think I’m in love with your words” Award : 
Every time I try to talk about this book, or any of Jhumpa Lahiri’s writing, I dissolve into an incoherent, inarticulate, babbling Book Lady. Lahiri’s language is elegant and understated, and it elicits deep feelings of longing and quiet despair. She is realistic without being depressing, and her work always leaves me wanting more. If there’s any author on whom I have a literary crush, it is quite possibly Ms. Lahiri.
Best Character-Driven & Most Realistic Relationships: 
When I read Joshua Henkin’s new novel, I was blown away by how real the characters were. This book has repeatedly been called “quiet,” and I think that is a perfect description. The characters lead normal lives that most readers will relate to easily. Because I met my husband in college and had experiences very similar to some of the characters’ experiences in the book, I often had that feeling of “how did he know that this happened to me?” This is a story and a group of characters that are universally appealing and quietly powerful.
The “Oh my God, that’s so true!” Award: 
Part social commentary, part call to action, and 100% relevant, this is one of those books that should be required reading for life. Not a week goes by that I don’t have some social interaction that reminds me of why we hate us and what we can do to make things better. Meyer’s book is funny, insightful, and totally spot-on. Read about why I hate us here and here.
Biggest Tear-Jerker: 
I laughed my way through the first two-thirds of this book and then bawled my eyes out through the rest. Grogan’s memoir of a refreshingly normal life touches poignantly on issues of faith and family and gives readers pause to reflect on the people and experiences that make us who we are.
The “This is so funny, I almost peed in my pants” Award: 
I’m sure by now you’re all tired of hearing me rave about this book, but I’m going to do it one last time. Hancock’s memoir of growing up the daughter of a Southern Baptist minister is hilarious and relatable whether you’re Southern and religious or not. Her great anecdotes about family (especially about the time her younger sister pooped in a diner as an expression of her disdain for their dinner companions) and life in the church (yep, the little old church ladies are real, and they’re a force to be reckoned with) are simply fantastic and make this one of my favorite books to recommend, particularly for book groups.
Well, there you have it. The first possibly annual definitely less-than-official Book Lady Book Awards. Ask me tomorrow, and some of the answers may be different. What did I miss out on this year? Share your favorite (or five!) below and help me add to the already teetering TBR pile.
No related posts.
Cool way of doing the post! Loved your thoughts!
2008 Top reads
2008 review post
I knew you’d have a great list. I’m writing down the ones I haven’t read.
I love your category names. I agree about the Guernsey book and Matrimony. I have a copy of The Longest Trip Home waiting for me, and I will have to read Gargoyle. it’s on others lists too. I’m really enjoying reading everyone’s answers.
Hi!
Haven’t read any of the books on your list, but will have to add them to my TBR list! Have a great week!
Sherrie
Interesting reads!!
My post is up
The Best
I really need to read The Gargoyle. And Unaccustomed Earth. I’m ashamed to say how long I’ve had both of them!
I grew up Baptist too and have Trespassers on my shelf. Can’t wait to dig in! Oh, and I gave you an award on my blog (I nearly left it off…yikes!!)
Now that a bookseller is recommending Why We Hate Us, I’m in!
I have posted my selections for 2008 on New Year’s Eve.
Best New Fiction 2008
The Future of Love, Shirley Abbott
Letter from Point Clear, Dennis McFarland
Finding Nouf, Zoë Ferraris
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
The Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth Stein
Best Backlist Fiction
The Birds Fall Down, Rebecca West
The Uncommon Reader, Alan Bennett
A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, Marina Lewycka
The Dreyfus Affair, Peter Lefcourt
Kansas in August, Patrick Gale
Congratulations on surpassing 40,000 hits yesterday! I enjoy your blog greatly! Pardon my ignorance, but what is a “handsell book?” Thanks.
Love your list and the way you presented it. Very nice.
I will definitely check out Gargoyle.
Robin
Kathy, that’s actually a pretty good question. In bookselling, “handselling” is what you’re doing when you’re talking to customers and trying to suggest books to them in addition to the ones they’ve come in looking for…kind of an “if you liked that, then you’ll also like this” situation, or if the person has come in not knowing what they’re looking for. You talk about their preferences, other things they like, then you make recommendations and give them the book…sold from your hands into theirs.
The Guernsey book is great for handselling because it has something for almost every kind of reader. But for the sake of another example, if you told me that you liked Augusten Burroughs, I might recommend David Sedaris; or if you liked The Color Purple, I’d recommend something by Toni Morrison.
Handselling is where bookselling becomes more of an art, a skill to be honed.
Some of my favorites made your list too. I have a couple other of your recommendations and am making notes about the ones I don’t have.