Jill1. The Master by Colm Tóibín Reading The Master was an unexpected pleasure. I was not particularly attached to Henry James (though this novel has provoked a renewed interest), nor am I often fond of historical or biographical fiction. The Master surpasses such stereotypes. Tóibín's depiction of James is a nuanced, emotional portrait of an almost unknowable figure — the artist in a life more imagined than lived. Tóibín's pacing and prose are exquisite; his novel is a graceful, thoughtful meditation on writing and philosophy, as well as an astute exercise in psychology. Its resonance has continued all year long.
Gerry1. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell While it was hard to narrow down my list to just five"best of" picks, I didn't have to think twice about what would be my favorite book of the year. In Cloud Atlas Mitchell again uses the format of connecting short stories with recurring motifs into a larger, almost epic narrative that spans the globe and centuries of human history. Filled with wonderful characters, effortless shifts in style, and more imagination than you can shake a stick at, Cloud Atlas will be a tough book for its author to top. Personally, I cannot wait to see him try.
Farley1. The Plot against America by Philip Roth I have very little to add to the praise that has already been heaped on The Plot against America. That most esteemed critic, Harold Bloom, has already called it a wise and fascinating book. Why do you need my opinion? Still, with a new Roth novel hitting the shelves every year, it's impossible to keep up. Readers must be asking themselves, why read this one? The answer is that Philip Roth's twenty-seventh book is different from anything he's published before.
Doug1. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke I know you shouldn't recommend books that you are only halfway through, but this is such a lush tapestry of a book I can't resist. Like a moist, rich chocolate torte, Strange and Norrell is the sort of book you ration out to avoid finishing it too soon. If you need more convincing, Neil Gaiman calls it "unquestionably the finest English novel of the fantastic written in the last seventy years."
Carla M.1. Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke Since I found Funke's work two years ago, she has become one of my favorite children's fantasy writers. Her award-winning debut novel (in English translation), The Thief Lord, was followed by Inkheart and even a children's picture book, Princess Knight — each story very different but equally very good. One reason: Cornelia Funke never talks down to her target audience, using agile language and a breadth of vocabulary (a success partly due to her excellent translator). Dragon Rider is no exception to the rule — it's a fast and exceptionally fun read, and comes highly recommended by both my son and me.
Dave1. A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews Sharp and often howlingly funny — but insistently generous — A Complicated Kindness introduces sixteen-year-old Nomi Nickel, straining under the pressure of family, boys, and authority, common enough conflicts drawn here in extravagant, heartrending detail.
David H.1. Hash by Torgny Lindgren One of Sweden's most revered authors, Torgny Lindgren takes you places you would never have expected to go. Startling black humor abounds in this novel about two men's countryside search for the perfect serving of hash. Including characters such as a voyeur with an absolutely symmetrical physique and an amnesiac Nazi war criminal, Lindgren's imagination is its own universe. Book lovers should take note of his amazing (and underappreciated) talents.
Andrew1. Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook by Anthony Bourdain This book is all about demystifying classic bistro cooking — with the right direction, you can do as well as any newbie-professional cook working in Tony's kitchen for the first time. If you've ever had reservations about cooking foie gras aux pruneaux or wanted a fun lesson in preparing escargots aux noix, this is the book for you.
Bolton1. When the Nines Roll Over by David Benioff This was a close one. However, as hugely engrossing and wildly entertaining as Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell and Little Children were, the book that affected me most in 2004 was David Benioff's first-rate collection. I'm not generally inclined toward short stories, but Benioff's are beautifully, concisely written, and he manages to keep his characters alive and his emotions resonant. His stories have stayed with me months later. A must-read, especially for those who believe the short story form is dead and irrelevant.
Chris S.1. Full Spectrum Disorder by Stan Goff This is an amazing distillation of Retired Special Forces Officer Stan Goff's experiences and insights on foreign policy and revolution. He pulls no punches when exposing the fact that the American standard of living comes at the expense of exploited peoples around the globe. He is equally ruthless when declaring that the American Empire is nearing collapse.
Ann1. An Alchemy of Mind by Diane Ackerman Diane Ackerman writes with grace and wisdom. Her prose is lyrical, sensuous, and utterly charming. I've never been disappointed in a work by Ackerman, but Alchemy of Mind takes the cake. Here she covers neurochemistry and -physiology and the concept of mind spanning more than just gray matter. With her trademark personal style, one that is wrought with broad experience and knowledge, Ackerman writes about the very nature of our deepest selves and all of the daily realities that go along with "owning" a human brain.
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Because twenty Top 50 lists would be too much eye strain for even the most dedicated book lover, we've whittled our favorites down to five apiece*. Take a look at the year's top books and find some excellent recommendations for gifts or your own library. See also: Staff Top 5s from 2003 Mike H.1. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón When you start a novel with a 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 Zafón'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!
Robin1. Barefoot in Paris by Ina Garten I love all of Ina Garten's cookbooks but this one changed my holiday life this year. Hollandaise over asparagus is a family Thanksgiving must and for years I've made it just like my mother did — copper bottomed pan, wooden spoon, and what seemed like hours stirring, stirring, stirring, very cold butter into the pan to get just the right consistency of buttery-lemony goodness. Ina Garten's recipe for hollandaise takes minutes, throws my whole sense of how to make a good hollandaise on its head, and is divine (as are all the other recipes of hers I've ever tried)! Plus, there's something about her style that makes you wish she were one of your best friends — truly the sign of a great cookbook writer.
Georgie1. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson What makes Atkinson's award-winning debut and her subsequent writing so beguiling is her ability to delicately measure humor and pathos — always a tricky balance. Her language is so playful and inventive that when we are suddenly spun around to view a bloody death, or to peek at the despair of loneliness there is a jolt — a sudden intake of breath....You will never want this book to end, yet, like the best mystery novel, you'll stay up all night to find out exactly how it does.
Ashley1. This Is Not Civilization by Robert Rosenberg Feeding into my gnawing pondering of Istanbul and abounding with fun in Kyrgyzstan, the lively characters and engaging journeys inhabiting Robert Rosenberg's autobiographical debut novel make up the only "read-straight-though" fiction that I have come across this year.
Beth1. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson A story about faith, love, history, and growing old, this book is poignant and lovely. It is a long letter from a father who thinks he is soon to die to his seven-year-old son. Robinson's command of language, her deep understanding of humanity, and her own religious study come together in this outstanding novel. It was worth the twenty-year wait.
Amy A.1. Chris Ware by Daniel Raeburn Similar in sentiment to artist Joseph Cornell's three-dimensional work, Chris Ware's drawings and sculpture remind me of enchanting collections of objects lost and found. In this new monograph, Daniel Raeburn closely examine's Ware's work methods and innovations and discusses the connections between Ware's most well-known character, Jimmy Corrigan, and that of his creator. Check out The Acme Novelty Datebook for more personal insight into his talent and history.
Steven F.1. The Italian Boy by Sarah Wise The story of the"Italian boy" murder case was fodder for many of the lurid body-snatching tales that later emerged from the pens of Edgar Allen Poe, Mary Shelley, and Bram Stoker. This absorbing narrative evokes Fagin and Bill Sykes, the charred alleys, tottering hovels, droves of beggars, prostitutes, and low drinking dives of Oliver Twist or Bleak House. Snappy writing, excellent research, and vivid descriptions make this an extremely engrossing book.
Michal1. Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson Readers energized by the suspense and adventure of The Perfect Storm and Into Thin Air will be captivated by this remarkable account of wreck diving and discovery. Interweaving the excitement of locating a previously undiscovered WWII German submarine wreck off the coast of New Jersey, the dangers of deep-sea diving, and the sleuthing undertaken by two divers to discover the U-boat's identity, Kurson narrates a compelling story in which lives are lost and history is rewritten.
April1. The Confusion by Neal Stephenson The Confusion was my favorite tome of the Baroque Cycle. Who wouldn't love a 17th-century story that features powerful women, preeminent natural philosophers, Louis XIV, and of course, The King of the Vagabonds?
Kathi1. Nightingales by Gillian Gill An absolutely fascinating biography of a brilliant Victorian woman, her times, and her hugely interesting family. Florence struggled successfully against all the conventions of her time and Gill tells her story with nuance, skill, and empathy. This is one of the best biographies of 2004.
Mary Jo1. Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett Patchett's eloquent prose gives a vivid portrait of the friendship that she and Lucy Grealy shared. I applaud Patchett's honesty and her refusal to gloss over the difficulties of their friendship. When I found out that Lucy Grealy had died, I was stunned and saddened. She was so full of genius and passionate beauty. I am grateful Patchett chose to give the world this book.
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