A Dozen of 2008’s Best Books

Alfred & Emily
By Doris Lessing
In this intriguing blend of novel and memoir, Doris Lessing combines aspects of her parents true lives in World War I England with an imagined world in which their paths took very different turns. Also, on this list of bests should be Ms. Lessing’s Stories.

A Mercy
By Toni Morrison
While not always a convincing narrative, A Mercy is still a complex and powerful fable set in colonial America. Ms. Morrison once again shows that she is one of America’s finest writers.

Between the Deep Blue Sea and Me
By Lurline McGregor
How does heritage impact one’s life? This is the primary question behind Lurline McGregor’s debut novel. Responsibilities to past, present and future are explored in the absorbing Between the Deep Blue Sea and Me.

Breath
By Tim Winton
Seemingly a novel about surfing, Breath is a haunting coming-of-age story. Tim Winton blends his talent for beautiful prose with a tale of youthful fervor and fear – and learning to live with both.

A Case of Exploding Mangos
By Mohammed Hanif
In this extremely timely satirical novel, Mohammed Hanif uses his biting wit to illuminate the complex events of modern-day Pakistan (and, yes Virginia, it is funny).

Daphne
By Justine Picardie
Okay, I’m a geek, but I loved this story of Daphne du Maurier and her obsession with the Brontës (especially Brontë brother Bramwell). Daphne sucked me in with its twisting tale within a tale storyline.

God and Gold
By Walter Russel Mead
In this compelling look at the spread of a common English-speaking culture, God and Gold argues that the United States is the logical successor of Great Britain’s empire building. While the connections are sometimes a little murky (or missing), Mead rationalizes the rise of the Anglo-Americans.

The Irregulars
By Jennet Conant
The Irregulars is a fascinating telling of kids book author Roald Dahl’s life before Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach when he lived the clandestine life of a spy. Perhaps not the most historically relevant story, it is nonetheless entertaining.

The Northern Clemency
By Philip Hensher
Booker Prize finalist Philip Hensher has a way with language that shines through in this well told tale of English family life. The Northern Clemency combines an impressive ability to animate both characters and settings with a skilled comic timing to craft an immensely satisfying narrative.

Not Quite What I was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure
By Rachel Fershleiser
Compiled from submissions to SMITH magazine, which asked readers to send in six-word memoirs. From “most successful accomplishments based on spite” to “found true love, married someone else,” these snippets give fleeting insights into how people see themselves and those around them. Too bad, I can’t write a six-word synopsis.

Unaccustomed Earth
By Jhumpa Lahiri
Jhumpa Lahiri’s Unaccustomed Earth is a stunning collection of stories. Ms. Lahiri hauntingly illuminates both the ties that bind families together and the rituals that doom them to isolation. Her masterful portrayal of cultural and generational chasms provides a definite “must read.”

The Wordy Shipmates
By Sarah Vowell
Another nod to my inner geek, Sarah Vowell’s The Wordy Shipmates makes the list of top books of 2008. An amusing concoction of pilgrim history and pop culture, The Wordy Shipmates definitely entertains.