ALA's Notable Books

The Notable Books Council of the American Library Association recently released its list of outstanding books for 2008.

Since 1944, the goal of the Notable Books Council has been to make available to the nation's readers a list of 25 very good, very readable, and at times very important fiction, nonfiction and poetry books for the adult reader. (From the Notable Books Council press release)

Fiction
Away by Amy Bloom
Five Skies by Ron Carlson
The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon
An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England by Brock Clarke
Finn: A Novel by John Clinch
The Ministry of Special Cases by Nathan Englander
The Five-Forty-Five to Cannes by Tess Uriza Holthe
Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
Complete Stories by David Malouf
Out Stealing Horses by Per Pettersen
Cheating at Canasta by William Trevor

Nonfiction
The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman
The Canon by Natalie Angier
Super Crunchers by Ian Ayres
When a Crocodile Eats the Sun by Peter Godwin
How Doctors Think by Jerome Groopman
Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations by Georgina Howell
Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
Oil on the Brain by Lisa Margonelli
The World Without Us by Alan Weisman

Poetry
A New Hunger by Laure-Anne Bosselaar
In a Prominent Bar in Secaucus by X.J. Kennedy

The Kite Runner Podcast

Listen to author Khaled Hosseini read from his international bestseller The Kite Runner.

NPR Book Tour

NPR Book Tour is a weekly presentation of "leading contemporary authors of both fiction and nonfiction as they read from, and discuss, their current work". This week Sue Miller reads from her new book The Senator's Wife.

Spotlight on Michael Pollan

Michael Pollan's books are thoughtful examinations of the interaction of science and culture. His latest books The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food discuss trends in American agriculture and the impact they have on our daily lives. Written in a clear, engaging style, Pollan's work is sure to enlighten and entertain.

Michael Pollan Bibliography:

A Place of My Own: The Education of an Amateur Builder
The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
Second Nature: A Gardener's Education
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto


For more information on Michael Pollan visit his website and try these author interviews.

National Book Critics Circle Awards

The National Book Critics Circle Awards have been announced. Awards are presented for the finest books and reviews published in English during the past year. Here is the list of the 2007 finalists. For a listing of previous winners and finalists click here.

The winners will be announced March 6, 2008.

Books into Film

Check out some of these books that were made into recent movies:



Atonement by Ian McEwan
Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose
Beowulf
Charlie Wilson's War by George Crile
Evening by Susan Minot
I am Legend by Richard Matheson
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
A Mighty Heart by Marianne Pearl
Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner
Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Fairy Tales for Adults

Who says fairy tales are just for kids? Try some of these fairy tales for adults:



Wicked, Son of a Witch, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, Lost, Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire

Neverwhere, Stardust, Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly