For those who have not yet finished their holiday shopping and/or have not yet discovered the Favorites tab at the top right of my website, here are some of my Favorites for 2017.
Not all on this list will appeal to your great-aunt, your teenage grandchild, or your boss, so please take a look at the review, especially the last paragraph, for a few cautionary signs before you purchase a book you do not know. (Mike McCormack’s celebrated SOLAR BONES, for example, is a book I loved, once I got used to the style, but other readers might be less enchanted.) The books at the beginning of the list, identified by a brief description, might be more fun for someone you do not know well.
Most fun to read: Lawrence Block, Editor: IN SUNLIGHT AND IN SHADOW: Stories Inspired by the Paintings of Edward Hopper
Most delightful new edition of a classic mystery novel: Junichiro Tanizaki–DEVILS IN DAYLIGHT
Favorite short story collection: Penelope Lively–THE PURPLE SWAMP HEN
Mo
st surprising: Hiromi Kawakami–THE NAKANO THRIFT SHOP
Most exciting debut novels: Karl Geary–MONTPELIER PARADE and Ian Bassingthwaighte–LIVE FROM CAIRO
Non-Fiction: Douglas Preston–THE LOST CITY OF THE MONKEY GODS
Most interesting experimental novels: Mike McCormack–SOLAR BONES and N. J. Campbell–FOUND AUDIO
Favorite Literary Fiction:
(tie) Karl Geary–MONTPELIER PARADE
(tie) Mike McCormack–SOLAR BONES
Julie Lekstrom Himes–MIKHAIL AND MARGARITA
Sebastian Barry–DAYS WITHOUT END
Salman Rushdie–THE GOLDEN HOUSE
Josephi
ne Rowe–A LOVING, FAITHFUL ANIMAL
Hendrik Groen–THE SECRET DIARY OF HENDRIK GROEN, 83 1/4 YEARS OLD
