The publishing industry stayed afloat this year by designing and selling books for e-reader; those devices jumped from novelty items to the mainstream. Brick and mortar booksellers had a rougher time. Biblio behemoth Borders closed stores across the country. Closer to home, RiverRun Books in Portsmouth nearly closed its doors, but was saved by a swarm of Locavestors. The indie bookstore is one place where unsung gems can shine. We’re ticking through some of the year’s books that didn’t have big names, big budgets, and big promoters to sell them. Michele Filgate is writer and critic, and events coordinator at McNally Jackson books in New York City. Jodi Paloni is a writer who lives in Marlboro, Vermont. She works at Everyone's Books in Brattleboro, Vermont, Jason Boog is blogger and editor of the publishing website Galley Cat.
Jason’s Recommendations
Pym by Mat Johnson (Novel)
Incognito by David Eagleman (Non-Fiction)
Missing of the Sommeby Geoff Dyer (Memoir)
Revolution: the Year I Fell in Love and Went to Join the Warby Deb Olin Unferth (Memoir)
Curfew by Jesse Ball (Novel)
Michele’s Recommendations
If You Knew Then What I Know Nowby Ryan Van Meter (Essay/ Memoir)
Habibi by Craig Thompson (Graphic Novel)
There But For Theby Ali Smith (Novel)
The Isle of Bloodby Rick Yancey (Young Adult)
Zone One by Colson Whitehead (Novel)
Stone Arabiaby Dana Spiotta (Novel)
A Visit From The Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
Zazen by Vanessa Veselka (Novel)
Widow by Michelle Latiolais (Short Stories)
The Long Goodbye by Meghan O'Rourke (Memoir)
The Illuminationby Kevin Brockmeier (Novel)
Say Her Name by Francisco Goldman (Novel)
The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore by Benjamin Hale (Novel)
Jodi’s Recommendations
Volt by Alan Heathcock (Novel )
You Know When the Men are Goneby Siobahn Fallon (Memoirs/Essays)
World Enough and Time: On Creativity and Slowing Down by Christian McEwen (Essay)
Grandpa Green by Lane Smith (Graphic Novel for all Ages)
The Conference of Birds by Peter Sis (Graphic Novel)
The Farmer's Cookbook: A Back to Basics Guide by Marie Lawrence (Cook Book )
