More Top 10 lists from Shelf Awareness folk... (see here and here for more).
Top 10 Books of 2010: Shannon McKenna Schmidt, contributing writer
5th Avenue, 5 A.M.:
Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman by
Sam Wasson (Harper). This is the dramatic story of the creation of the iconic
film, which almost didn't make it to the screen, and a fascinating slice of social
and cultural history--like how Holly Golightly became
a pre-feminist role model.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race by Jon Stewart (Grand Central). A necessity for inspiring laughs in between episodes of The Daily Show.
Kissing Kilimanjaro: Leaving It All on Top of Africa by Daniel Dorr (Mountaineers Books). Be careful what you say on a first date. In this engaging and colorful travelogue, self-professed "ordinary guy" Daniel Dorr recalls his journey from a coffee shop in California to the top of Africa's highest peak.
My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud'Homme (Anchor, 2009). An endearing romance, vivid depictions of life in Paris, and luscious descriptions of food and wine make this a marvelous story. But the most appealing aspect is Julia Child's enthusiastic sense of adventure. It was the perfect book to read before setting out on a multi-year, cross-country road trip (a highlight: seeing Julia's kitchen at the National Museum of American History).
One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (Voice). Nine people of varying ages and backgrounds are trapped in an Indian consulate office after an earthquake in an unnamed American city. A sort of modern-day version of The Canterbury Tales, they take turns sharing stories of one amazing thing that happened in their lives. Delivered in beautiful prose and a nail-biting storyline is the provocative idea that people are not always who they seem to be. Nearly a year later, I'm still thinking about aspects of this novel.
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach (W.W. Norton). Roach is an entertaining, intrepid guide as she reveals everything you want to know about the day-to-day realities of space travel and life without gravity--and some things you don't.
Pearl Buck in China: Journey to the Good Earth by Hilary Spurling (Simon & Schuster). Pearl Buck's journey to writing The Good Earth was a long, tumultuous one, unfolded in this fascinating chronicle of how she was influenced--personally and professionally--by a time and place: rural China in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Reading Matters: Five Centuries of Discovering Books by Margaret Willes (Yale University Press). An insightful and delightful journey through the history of book buying and selling. Intriguing historical facts and anecdotes--including a look inside famed diarist Samuel Pepys's vast personal library complete with trendsetting, custom-made bookshelves--make it an addictive read for book lovers.
Something Missing by Matthew Dicks (Broadway, 2009). In this fun, clever mystery, the "bad guy" is actually a good guy. An endearing thief with a conscience (and obsessive-compulsive disorder), Martin Railsback steals only items that will go unnoticed and even plays guardian angel to the homeowners he burglarizes.
Tomorrow River by Lesley Kagen (Dutton). Kagen's third novel is as wonderful as her first two. In rural Virginia during the summer of 1968, brave, resourceful 11-year-old Shenandoah Carmody has a mission: to find out why her mother disappeared a year ago. Tomorrow River is great storytelling--heartbreak, hope, sisters, secrets, suspense, and an atmospheric Southern setting.
Top 10 Books of 2010: Robin Lenz, managing editor
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (Crown). What more can I say about this book, which has received universal praise? Skloot's stunning debut tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor, black Virginia woman who died in 1951 of cancer at the age of 30. It's also the fascinating tale of what became of her cells, taken without permission and developed into an incredibly useful lab strain known as HeLa--used to develop countless valuable medical breakthroughs, while Lacks's family remained impoverished. A detective story, a science story, a human story.
The Nobodies Album
by Carolyn Parkhurst (Doubleday) This one's also my nominee for book that
deserved more attention this year. On the surface it's a murder mystery.
It's also about the relationship between novelist Octavia Frost and her
estranged son, rock star Milo. And it's about how stories come to be, and how
they're written and re-written. Octavia is working on her eighth novel, a
series of revisions of her previous books, when she learns Milo is suspected of
murdering his fiancée. The details of their pasts and the "alternate
endings" are revealed as Olivia attempts to help Milo, revising their own
family history along the way.
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach (Norton). In witty, anecdote-filled prose, Roach tackles a serious subject: the challenges of space travel. If you've ever wondered how astronauts use the latrine in zero-G, you'll find out here. And so much more: fascinating psychological, physical, emotional and technical details, illuminated by Roach's entertaining curiosity.
Faithful Place by Tana French (Viking). Detective Frank Mackey thought he'd escaped from his dysfunctional family and Dublin's hardscrabble Faithful Place. But 22 years later, he's drawn back when an old suitcase is discovered in an abandoned house. It belonged to the girl Frank had expected to elope with. So she didn't dump him--but what did happen to her? Every belief Frank has based his life on is upended as truths are slowly revealed. Edgar Award-winner French's third book, like her others, is unforgettable.
Salvation City by Sigrid Nunez (Riverhead). Among the slew of post-apocalyptic books I read this year, Nunez's quiet recounting stands out. Cole Vining, teenage son of urban liberal atheists, is orphaned by a flu pandemic that kills millions worldwide. He's adopted by a charismatic fundamentalist preacher and his wife, who raise him in midwestern Salvation City. As Cole comes of age, he's trying to figure out his place in this new world, with its new values. Gripping and all too plausible, this book sent me running for a flu shot.
Country Driving: A Journey Through China from Farm to Factory by Peter Hessler (HarperCollins). In this travelogue/memoir/econ lesson, Hessler begins with an epic road trip across China, following the Great Wall, then he lives for a while in a mountain village. The final section focuses on a small factory town. Through the everyday lives of individuals, Hessler gives us a fascinating portrait of an ancient country hurtling into the 21st century, informed by his trademark wit and insight.
Zero History by William Gibson (Putnam). Characters we met in the earlier Pattern Recognition and Spook Country (including former rock singer Hollis Henry) return as Gibson explores our consumer culture's obsession with things--in this case, a brand of denim clothing called Gabriel Hounds. This isn't science fiction, it's a thriller, and though the stakes may not seem meaningful, Gibson's stylish tale kept me entertained, and made me look at everyday objects with a new eye.
Kraken by China Mieville (Del Rey). In this surreal, living London, a humongous giant squid is stolen from a museum. As he seeks to recover the kidnapped mollusk, curator Billy Harrow finds himself involved with cults, demons, gangsters, magic. Though it's a bit overstuffed, Mieville's latest is a captivating, messy blend of horror and humor.
Blackout and All Clear by Connie Willis (Bantam Spectra). In this two-volume novel (unfortunately, published months apart), three researchers are sent from Oxford in 2060 to World War II London. There's not much science in this science fiction; just trust that time travel works the way Willis says it does. Willis's tale is really about everyday people caught up in the drama and terror of the war. From details of architecture, medical care and department stores in the 1940s to the ways people coped with shortages and entertained themselves in shelters during bombings, it's clear that Willis has done her research, and she manages to convey all this mundane information in a style that's moving and, ultimately, suspenseful.
Our Kind of Traitor by John le Carré (Viking). Le Carré's latest is a change from his Cold War novels; it literally begins in a sunnier place: Antigua, where a vacationing British couple meets a Russian money-launderer over a game of tennis. Dima asks them to deliver a message for him, and soon they find themselves caught between the Russian mob and the British MI6. Plenty of villains, sharp pacing and great dialogue make this timely expose of international banking one of le Carré's best.
Top 10 Books of 2010: Amber Elbon, newsletter/web producer
The Walking Dead (Paperbacks #1-10) by Robert Kirkman, illustrated by Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn (Image Comics). I'm not the type who usually reads books about zombies, much less recommends them. But ever since a comic book shop owner handed me the first issue of The Walking Dead as a freebie, I've been heading back to the store regularly for more issues. Rich with complex characters and situations, full of gasp-inducing plot twists, it's no wonder AMC chose to make a TV series based on these graphic novels.
Purge by Sofi
Oksanen (Black Cat). A captivating book about two women with dark secrets and
an underlying connection. Set in Soviet-occupied Estonia, this story introduced
me to a land I knew next to nothing about. Oksanen skillfully weaves histories
together to form a rich, complex novel.
Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay (St. Martin's) It is easy to forget sometimes that World War II is not so long ago or so far away. This story reminds us how close those events are to all of us. An American in Paris uncovers a secret from war time that hits close to her heart and home, beginning a journey of discovery and healing. The ending of this book is particularly satisfying.
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick (Algonquin). When Ralph Truitt placed an ad for "a reliable wife" in the newspaper, he likely wasn't expecting love, but he probably wasn't expecting to marry a woman who would slowly poison him either. Alas, he got a bit of both. A fascinating book that completely surprised me.
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender (Doubleday). For young Rose, food and her family are never the same after she discovers that she can taste emotions. Her mystical palate provides her with insight into the inner lives of others, which she must make sense of as she grows into adulthood. A charming concept and earnest coming-of-age tale.
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic) I read all three shortly after Mockingjay came out, and for anyone new to the series, I recommend planning on reading them together. They are thoroughly entertaining and guaranteed to win you "cool" points with teenagers.
The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard with Ariane Conrad (Free Press). The message that society must end the glorification of consumerism and growth for its own sake is increasingly prevalent. Unfortunately much of it is received as nothing but liberal fearmongering. Leonard mixes her facts with first-hand accounts and line-drawn illustrations to deliver her message in a friendly and enlightening way, without finger-pointing at the reader.
Salvation City by Sigrid Nunez (Riverhead). This coming-of-age story is complicated by an international flu pandemic that orphans the protagonist. Suddenly placed in an evangelical Christian home after being raised by atheist parents hostile toward religion, Cole must make sense of the changes to his life, family and the world, while struggling to find his place in it.