As promised yesterday, we have updated our big fat compilation list of “best books of 2009” lists–now merging over 20 sources–for two “consensus” top 10s: Fiction1. Wolf Hall, By Hilary Mantel (8)2. A Gate at the Stairs, By Lorrie Moore (7)3. Lark and Termite, By Jayne Anne Phillips (6)– In Other Rooms, Other Wonders, By Daniyal Mueenuddin (6)5. The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis, By Lydia Davis (5)6. Love and Summer, By William Trevor (4)– The Anthologist, By Nicholson Baker– Await Your Reply, By Dan Chaon– Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi, By Geoff Dyer– Too Much Happiness, by Alice […]
Awards
Now We Have Best of the Decade Lists, Starting with EW's Unusual Mix
Entertainment Weekly’s list of 10 best books of the decade includes 3 Oprah picks and a book from this year that has not made any of the nearly 20 “best of” lists we’ve been aggregating: 1. The Road, Cormac McCarthy (2006) 2. Say You’re One of Them, Uwem Akpan (2008) 3. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Michael Chabon (2000)4. On Beauty, Zadie Smith (2005) 5. Zeitoun, Dave Eggers (2009) 6. The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen (2001) 7. Fun Home, Alison Bechdel (2006) 8. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (2000) 9. Case Histories: A Novel, Kate […]
People: Fensterman Promoted Up and Away from BEA; Downer Fired; Raven Awards for Filman and Mystery Lovers Bookshop; and Much More
BEA show manager Lance Fensterman has done such a good job with Reed’s fast-growing comics and pop culture shows that he has been promoted to group vice president and will focus exclusively on the company’s pop culture business. With no replacement for BEA in place yet, Fensterman “will remain on BEA through the transition.” Fensterman’s boss–and one-time BEA show manager herself–Courtney Muller has also been promoted, now a senior vice president. Muller’s portfolio of shows continues to include oversight of BEA.Release After yesterday’s announcement from Random House in the US, a separate announcement noted that Kristin Cochrane will move up […]
Amazon Breakthrough Contest Adds YA Category, Reduces Advances
For the third year, Penguin Group is joining Amazon in their Breakthrough Novel Award contest–which will now add a second prize for young adult fiction. The contest, which starts January 25, will also now be open to novels that have been previously self-published (to not penalize all those existing CreateSpace customers). Alas in a less heralded change the promised advance to the winners has gotten smaller: originally promising a $25,000 advance, this new contest’s two winners are assured $15,000 advances each. (Sales of the three contest-related books published so far by Penguin imprints–Bill Loehfelm’s FRESH KILLS; BAD THINGS HAPPEN by […]
Ferris Tops January 2010 Indie Next List
The Unnamed: A Novel by Joshua Ferris (Little, Brown, $24.99, 9780316034012)Remarkable Creatures: A Novel by Tracy Chevalier (Dutton, $26.95, 9780525951452)Alice I Have Been: A Novel by Melanie Benjamin (Delacorte, $25, 9780385344135)The First Rule: A Joe Pike Novel by Robert Crais (Putnam, $26.95, 9780399156137)Thereby Hangs a Tail: A Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn (Atria, $25, 9781416585855)The Breach by Patrick Lee (Harper, $7.99 paper, 9780061584459)The Red Door: An Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery by Charles Todd (Morrow, $24.99, 9780061726163)Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert (Viking, $26.95, 9780670021659)Shades of Grey: A Novel by Jasper Fforde (Viking, $25.95, 9780670019632)Bloodroot […]
NYT Book Review's Top 10, Plus CSM Fiction Picks and Amazon's Consensus Mash-Up
Take three Michiko Kakutani picks, two Janet Maslin favorites (Richard Holmes made PW’s top 10 as well), and none from Dwight Garner’s list (or the National Book Awards, or Amazon’s 10 Best, or…) and you have the NYT Book Review’s ten best of the year: FictionBOTH WAYS IS THE ONLY WAY I WANT IT, By Maile MeloyCHRONIC CITY, By Jonathan LethemA GATE AT THE STAIRS, By Lorrie Moore [K]HALF BROKE HORSES: A True-Life Novel, By Jeannette WallsA SHORT HISTORY OF WOMEN, By Kate Walbert NonfictionTHE AGE OF WONDER: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science, By […]