Baby Got Books

My Favorites Books of 2007 etc.

This list includes the top 10 favorites of the books that I have actually read this year (that were released in or around 2007). I won’t presume that these are the definitive best books of 2007, because that’s just ridiculous. You can check out the universe of titles that were in contention on my Shelfari shelf, which at this point includes almost all of the books that I’ve read in 2007. There are one or two that I just can’t get up on that virtual shelf for some reason. It is making me a little crazy.

In no particular order (links go to my reviews):

The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
Consumption by Kevin Patterson
What is the What by Dave Eggers
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England by Brock Clarke
Jamestown by Matthew Sharpe
The Ministry of Special Cases by Nathan Englander
Lost City Radio by Daniel Alarcón
Dead Boys by Richard Lange
The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
Bonus 11th Book: Let the Northen Lights Erase Your Name by Vendela Vida

See my 10 favorites in all of their graphical glory here.

Platinum Level Special Commendation Honorees Of Merit: There are two books that were very special to me this year that may not be to you, unless you happen share my background/experience:

James Lee Burke’s Tin Roof Blow Down – The book may have the worst cover of the year, but it is the definitive post-Katrina novel of New Orleans and south Louisiana. Amazing.
Ken Well’s Crawfish Mountain. A friend of mine is reading the book now, and she said, “Wow. This book is like a love letter to you.” Yes, it is.

Favorite Cover:

Biggest Disappointment: The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño (It is on just about everyone’s “best of” list this year. (Stay tuned later in the week for my review wherein I’ll explain why I am taking the role of the Russian Judge on this one.)

Top 5 books that I’m adding to my reading list based on reading other year-end lists:

Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson
Like You’d Understand, Anway by Jim Shepard
Zeroville by Steve Ericson
Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson
Remainder by Tom McCarthy

Next week I’ll throw up my year-end music picks.

Books, To Checkout | Tim | December 12, 2007 9:21 am

5 Comments

By david, December 12, 2007 @ 8:03 pm

We have similar tastes, several of these novels will show up on my list in the coming week.
By ragdoll, December 24, 2007 @ 12:47 pm

Yay! I am so glad that “Consumption” is on your list of year-end favs, just like it is on mine! And yay to how much you loved the cover.

And just like Kerry Clare’s there’s only a couple of books that overlap my list to yours — the Vendela Vida, of course, and Consumption.

I’ve got “What is the What” on my TBR pile for next year, and also the Junot Díaz, which I’ve been seeing on all kinds of top 10 lists.

God, I love a good list.
By ragdoll, December 24, 2007 @ 12:48 pm

Oh, and “Out Stealing Horses” is my #1 favourite from last year.

Okay, I think I’m done now.