|
You read. You voted. And the winners of this year's Golden Galoshes are: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle and Three Cups of Tea!
We asked the winning books to make a statement about how it feels to receive this coveted award, but they were speechless. So on their behalf, we'd like to thank all of the many readers who responded — and above all, who read more than one book last year, thus defying the statistics.
And if you're looking for still more great reading, you can't go wrong by perusing the following list and checking out one, four, 20, or all of the names therein.
1.
 "The best novel I've read in a long, long, long, long time...a literary feast of a book." Oprah Winfrey
2.
 Moving to a small, dreary town is enough to cause angst in any teen, but for Isabella Swan, angst is only the beginning. Soon she's falling in love with Edward, the quintessential dark, handsome guy, who just happens to be a vampire. This is the perfect pleasure read for the dusky days of fall. This series (the sequel is New Moon) will give you goose bumps. Recommended by Alexis, Powells.com
3.
 Well, first, I am a sucker for any book set at the circus. But throw in the massive talent that Sara Gruen has and then tell me a love story? Far from the cliché book club pick, Water for Elephants will be read for your next club meeting and then you'll sneak time away to reread it. The highest praise that I can give this book is that I have never loaned it to anyone and can't even imagine giving it away. It's a keeper. Recommended by Danielle, Powells.com
4.
 Perfect for book groups, a charming series of letters make up this short novel set in post-WWII Europe. The correspondents, drawn together by their love of books and affection for each other, collectively tell a moving tale of endurance and friendship in the shadow of war. Recommended by Danielle, Powells.com
5.
 "The Book Thief will be appreciated for Mr. Zusak's audacity....It will be widely read and admired because it tells a story in which books become treasures. And because there's no arguing with a sentiment like that." Janet Maslin, The New York Times
6.
 Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world." Mortenson and Relin's Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time is a powerful contribution to that arsenal. If there is truth to Albert Camus' prediction that the purpose of a writer is to "keep civilization from destroying itself," then Mortenson's tenacious, heroic efforts and Relin's mastery of journalistic narrative give us an inspiring example of that ideal in spellbinding words and spectacular humanitarian efforts. Recommended by Mimi, Powell's City of Books
7.
 Darkly funny and at times heartbreaking, The Brief Wondrous Life is about Díaz's unlikely hero (an obese Dominican Trekkie terrified of dying a virgin) with a rich narrative voice that compels sympathy over pity as the inner workings of both Oscar and his native Dominican Republic are laid bare.
Recommended by Ann J., Powells.com
8.
 "His tale of survival and the miracle of goodness only adds to McCarthy's stature as a living master. It's gripping, frightening and, ultimately, beautiful. It might very well be the best book of the year, period." San Francisco Chronicle
9.
 The finest novel of our young century, 2666 is an epic masterpiece that solidifies Bolaño's reputation as a literary genius. It's an entire world unto itself, one — not unlike our own — filled with horror, neglect, depravity, brilliance, and beauty.
Recommended by Jeremy, Powells.com
10.
 A grieving father receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him to meet in the Oregon wilderness where his daughter was brutally murdered. What he learns there is transforming readers around the world.
11.
 Hailed by critics across the globe, showered with awards, Out Stealing Horses is a book that true lovers of the written word will hold close to their hearts. With its captivating prose and characters who burrow under your skin and refuse to come out, Per Petterson's haunting, elegiac novel is so good, you'll want to buy multiple copies so you can always have one for yourself, no matter how many friends want to borrow it (and they will!). Recommended by Hank, Powells.com
12.
 Read it in hardcover. Honest. You're surfing the website of an independent bookseller in Portland, Oregon — undoubtedly, you care about books, and likely you appreciate discovering the best ones before the masses catch on. Do yourself the favor of reading Lauren Groff's debut before the buzz and eventual bestseller status obscure how remarkable a literary achievement it truly is. By the time you finish, you'll add Templeton, New York, to the map of contemporary northeast literature, alongside hamlets made famous by such luminaries as John Irving and Richard Russo. Here's one strong, early favorite for the 2008 Book Sense Fiction of the Year Award. Recommended by Dave, Powells.com
13.
 "Walls's journalistic bare-bones style makes for a chilling, wrenching, incredible testimony of childhood neglect. A pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps, thoroughly American story." Kirkus Reviews
14.
 In The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, corporate intrigue, subtle psychology, explosive content, and a sensational heroine make for a high-caliber novel. Recommended by Adrienne, Powells.com
15.
 Give me a mystery (one that is structured around an antiquarian book, no less!), a historical setting, and an exquisite writer like Geraldine Brooks, and I am suddenly avoiding daily rituals like sleep and food. Nothing could deter me from turning the pages of this fabulous, beautifully written book. Recommended by Lorraine, Powells.com
16.
 "As we come around to being more mindful of our carbon footprint, being more thoughtful about the fuel we use as consumers, food is a natural place to begin," Kingsolver explained a week before publication. "Food is the rare moral arena in which the choice that's best for the world and best for your community is also the best on your table."
Recommended by Dave, Powells.com
17.
 Never mind the sophomore slump — this book devours that cliché. As well as illuminating the rich history and familial culture behind war-torn Afghanistan, A Thousand Splendid Suns is filled with authentic relationships and characters that are absolutely haunting. Recommended by Danielle, Powells.com
18.
 Unaccustomed Earth is in many ways a deeply and authentically sad book. I would not advise reading the stories too quickly; they will each haunt you for days afterward (and, unusually in a collection like this, they are all equally strong). But Lahiri's prose is worth it; her work is masterful, confident, and timeless, and this gorgeously written collection of stories is her strongest fiction yet. Recommended by Jill, Powells.com
19.
 Lamb travels well beyond his earlier work and embodies in his fiction myth, psychology, family history stretching back many generations, and the questions of faith that lie at the heart of everyday life. The result is an extraordinary tour de force, at once a meditation on the human condition and an unflinching yet compassionate evocation of character.
20.
 "A probing, thoughtful title with a free and easy style, this work seamlessly blends history and travel for a very enjoyable read. Highly recommended." Library Journal
21.
 I can't remember a more highly anticipated book that doesn't begin with "Harry Potter and the...." Far from just a young adult horror book, this last volume in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga is an old-fashioned romance of the highest order, with legions of fans ages 8 to 80. Don't let another dawn break without Breaking Dawn. Or join in the fun and start with the first book, Twilight. It will engulf you; I dare you to attempt to get any other tasks done once you've started the series. Recommended by Danielle, Powells.com
22.
 Humanity now, perhaps more than in any previous time, has an opportunity to create a new, saner, more loving world. In very practical terms, Tolle leads readers into this new consciousness to learn to live and breathe freely.
23.
 In 1989, Follett astonished the literary world with The Pillars of the Earth, a sweeping epic novel set in 12th-century England that centers on the building of a cathedral, and the hundreds of lives it affects. This sequel takes place in the same town of Kingsbridge, two centuries later.
24.
 Brooks expands the small-scale premise of Shaun of the Dead, so there's humor here, to be sure; but make no mistake — this is a horror book. If you liked 28 Days Later and George Romero's Dead trilogy, you'll eat this book up like a zombie eats a slow runner. Recommended by Clyde, Powells.com
25.
 "Inspired by her grandparents' love story in which the grandmother outlived her husband by nearly three decades, Niffenegger has invented Henry and Clare, and their unique and complicated love story involving the ability to live in the past and future in an unpredictable parallel. Delightful, imaginative, with an unforgettable conclusion." Recommended by Donna Kane, Powells.com
26.
 "In The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini gives us a vivid and engaging story that reminds us how long his people have been struggling to triumph over the forces of violence — forces that continue to threaten them even today." New York Times
27.
 I'm grateful I let the canine narrator Enzo into my life. His story of life with his people had me in love by page five and in tears by page 10. It's a heartwarming, emotional reading experience. Recommended by Kathi, Powells.com
28.
 A spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of 12th-century England, this is Ken Follet's historical masterpiece.
29.
 At times stern, at other times patient, at times perceptive, at other times in sad denial, Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher, deplores the changes in her little town of Crosby, Maine, and in the world at large, but she doesn’t always recognize the changes in those around her: a lounge musician haunted by a past romance; a former student who has lost the will to live; Olive’s own adult child, who feels tyrannized by her irrational sensitivities; and her husband, Henry, who finds his loyalty to his marriage both a blessing and a curse.
30.
 "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." These simple words go to the heart of Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, the well-considered answers he provides to the questions posed in the bestselling The Omnivore's Dilemma.
31.
 How much of an impact can an animal have? How many lives can one cat touch? How is it possible for an abandoned kitten to transform a small library, save a classic American town, and eventually become famous around the world? You can't even begin to answer those questions until you hear the charming story of Dewey Readmore Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer, Iowa.
32.
 In a world where mathematical philosophers live isolated like monks, the appearance of an orbiting alien spaceship — which has a geometric proof displayed on its side — prompts a convocation wherein differing groups of math monks search their philosophies for explanations. Add in quantum mechanics, particularly explorations of the many-worlds interpretation, and you have the formula (or should I say algorithm?) for a rich brew of ideas. Recommended by Doug B., Powells.com
33.
 Always a delight, never a disappointment, David Sedaris has come out with his finest offering yet. He has a deft touch, moving between sarcasm and sadness or, in this collection, between redneck babysitters and quitting smoking. Recommended by Beth, Powells.com
34.
 "Thank God, in these hard times, for a cheerful, ghoulish, gory book like this....[A] grand mystery, with plenty of misdeeds and overwrought coincidences, as well as quotes from Scots ballads, old nursery rhymes and the classics, so you can feel edified while being creeped out..." Carolyn See, The Washington Post Book World
35.
 When you start a novel with your protagonist selecting any book they want from a place called the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, you're going to get a bookseller's attention. Ruiz Zafon's novel works on so many levels for me. As a story, it resonates emotionally, with strong characters that I always looked forward to returning to. On another level, it makes me want to visit Barcelona, where much of the book is set. This one's a keeper! Recommended by Mike H., Powells.com
36.
 Outlander by Gil Adamson is a wondrous vacation for your mind. With its eccentric characters and luminous prose, this novel is a romping escapade of big fun. Recommended by Adrienne, Powells.com
37.
 Neil Gaiman has once again created a world filled with both dark humor and adventure. Nobody Owens, orphaned as an infant, is raised by the ghosts, ghouls, and werewolves of a graveyard. Exciting and oddly touching! Recommended by Rachael, Powells.com
38.
 After Mystic River, it's no surprise that Lehane is capable of writing a brilliant historical novel. This unforgettable tale is populated with absorbing characters and incidents that are so astonishing you'll swear they're fiction — until you look them up. Recommended by Bolton, Powells.com
39.
 Like Diana Gabaldon, Andrew Davidson immerses you in a different reality and takes you on a roller-coaster ride. This is an unusual story about the power of love to transcend physical limitations and to transform ugliness into beauty. It's all in the eyes of the beholder, as we are often told. This book makes you believe that simple truth. Recommended by Miriam, Powells.com
40.
 To be honest, I could not finish this book. It made me too angry. These are the stories about our country you don't want to know. Naomi Klein has cast a spotlight on the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface of the American dream. The Shock Doctrine makes it hard to ignore the tragedy that results from the ruthless logic of maximizing profit at the expense of the people. Recommended by Orin, Powells.com
41.
Home by Marilynne Robinson
 Set in the same time and place as Gilead, Marilynne Robinson's new masterpiece is at once profoundly sad and hopeful. Home explores identity, fate, family, and love. The whole time reading the book, I had this Robert Frost quote in my head: "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in."
Recommended by Beth, Powells.com
42.
 A living legend who leaps fearlessly across genre boundaries, Ursula Le Guin offers one of her very best novels to date in this retelling of Virgil's The Aeneid, told from a perspective that very often got lost in even the most compelling Greek myths: the female's. Far more than a feminist parable, Lavinia is a herculean feat of storytelling that will entertain readers no matter their sex. Recommended by Bolton, Powells.com
43.
 "It takes great courage to write a novel about historical people, and in particular to give voice to someone as mythic as Frank Lloyd Wright. This beautifully written novel about Mamah Cheney and Frank Lloyd Wright's love affair is vivid and intelligent, unsentimental and compassionate." Jane Hamilton
44.
 In a crowded courtroom in Mississippi, a jury returns a shocking verdict against a chemical company accused of dumping toxic waste into a small town’s water supply, causing the worst “cancer cluster” in history. The company appeals to the Mississippi Supreme Court, whose nine justices will one day either approve the verdict or reverse it.
45.
 In this profoundly affecting memoir from the internationally renowned author of The Caged Virgin, Ayaan Hirsi Ali tells her astonishing life story, from her traditional Muslim childhood in Somalia, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya, to her intellectual awakening and activism in the Netherlands, and her current life under armed guard in the West.
46.
 A remarkable first novel, ingeniously written in the form of a letter to the Chinese premier soon to visit India, Adiga's dark yet witty debut brings to Western readers the tense drama of a developing country and a character caught up in corruption and class struggle.
Recommended by Michal, Powells.com
47.
 Destined for widespread popularity and quite possibly a little controversy, this post-apocalyptic tale about teenagers who fight to the death to help feed their families is so riveting and heartbreaking, I ceased all essential functions until I finished it. Recommended by David H., Powells.com
48.
 With an elegant sweetness and a pitch-perfect sense of western life reminiscent of Annie Dillard, Gloss's breakout novel is a remarkable story about the connections between people and animals and how they touch one another in the most unexpected and profound ways.
49.
 I disappeared into A Mercy like no novel in ages. Morrison's 17th-century panorama builds upon vivid scenes and characters until what emerges is nothing less than the forecast of America — both its ills and dreams.
Recommended by Dave, Powells.com
50.
 "Obama argues with himself on almost every page of this lively autobiographical conversation....Obama is candid about racism and poverty and corruption, in Chicago and in Kenya. Yet he does find community and authenticity..." Hazel Rochman, Booklist
| 
Don't Miss
