Tuesday, November 07, 2006

BOOKS: The 100 Best Books of the Year

Can you smell the holidays and the new year just around the corner? If you can't smell 'em, another solid clue is all the "best of the year" lists that are starting to crop up everywhere, including this one.

That's right, it's Publishers Weekly's 100 Best Books of the Year. Now, I know as well as anyone that it's nigh impossible to even hear about one of these lists without being bowled over by the need to tally one's own score. You should find me easy to beat, what with my resounding count of ONE BOOK and all. What the hell have I been doing all year? I thought I'd been reading good stuff, but it seems that all my fine books have transmogrified into Huey, Dewey and Louie comics, for all the credit they're doing me.

Fortunately, Sam has saved me from utter disgrace. If it weren't for him, I never would have read the one book that made PW's list. And while it was okay, to my mind it doesn't hold a candle to Owen's Marshmallow Chick. I like Lilly, but she's a bit bossy for my taste. Owen, on the other hand? He's a simple mouse with a taste for candy -- in other words, my kind of fella.

I visited PW's "Talkback" forum, hoping for a lively (and by "lively" I mean "opinionated and snarky") debate, and I was sadly disappointed. We're just going to have to do our best over here.

[via Bookslut]

18 comments:

Carol Blymire said...

I'm 0 for 100. Maybe I need to have kids so I can at least read some of them. I actually own the Julia Child/Alex Prud'homme book. I just haven't read it yet. So maybe I scored a 0.5 instead of a full-on ZERO. Ugh.

Anonymous said...

You can tell that list is BS because the TWoP book isn't on it, hello.

Tammy said...

Exactly, Tara! And I think you meant to say the TWoP book, didn't you?

Pamela said...

I read book reviews for the Richard Ford and Cormac McCarthy books. Does that count for anything?

Anonymous said...

Hello! Came here via Heather's blog.

I haven't even heard of most of these books, let alone read them. Two of the books have been among my favorite reads of the year, though: Fun Home and Mayflower.

Anonymous said...

I haven't read any either!

Anonymous said...

I've got one (Valley of Silence) but yeah, haven't even heard of a ton of them. But yes, the lack of TWoP book solidifies the uselessness of this list.

Anonymous said...

PW is mostly for those who sell books, not for those who read them. Crap list.

Anonymous said...

I'll admit that I have no idea how the publishing world works ... but can you have a 100 Best list if the year isn't over? Are no new books published between now and 12/31? I'm so confused.

Anonymous said...

"Are no new books published between now and 12/31? I'm so confused."

No best new books.

Veronica said...

I've got a big fat zero, too, but who has the money to run out and buy new hardbacks anyway? Lists like these totally miss out on the moment of joy when, after two or three years of desiring after a book, you finally find it used and in great condition for a sweet $4.00. It's impossible to score well on these "best books of the year" lists unless you've got the money to spend on them (also, who has the time to read all these new books when there are so many great old ones out there?).

Anonymous said...

I like the fact that thet included many different genres in the list. Usually those things are very lit-centered and would never include such things as sci-fi, comics or children's books.

Because of that, I don't feel too bad about my score (1: Omnivore's Dilemna) because I only read from the general "fiction" and "non-fiction" sections, maybe an occasional mystery. Hmm, maybe I should should feel bed about that.

Anonymous said...

I've read one - the Nora Roberts. Who would've though reading her would ever mean I'd get to tick something off on a "best of" list?

Anita said...

Well, you are exactly 1 book ahead of me on this list.

Although it might have behooved me to read YOU; A guide to waist management.

Matthew E said...

That's another big zero for me. Although there were a few on there that I want to read--does that count?

Anonymous said...

One, and that's only because I'm a children's bookseller and it has a lovely cover. However, I do agree with that one - Fly By Night was one of the best books I've read this year. Absolutely FANTASTIC. Read it? I suppose? Although that's cheating for me, really, because it only came out in paperback here this year, it was hb the year before and therefore I'm disqualified. Good night!

jennifer said...

Perhaps "Editor's Choice" or "Our Favorite Books" would have been a more apt moniker for this list. Sassy Sundry is correct when she notes that Publisher's Weekly is for those who sell books.

I love snark as much as the next but it does seem rather petty to take potshots at a trade rag, which is intended to help booksellers sell books.

Anonymous said...

I've read one - Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish. But I've heard of a lot of 'em. It helps being a librarian and getting to read Kirkus for work. I wish they'd included a young adult section. They aren't children!