Sarah Bagby:

After by Francine Prose is a powerful fable about how fear of violence can
affect daily life written for a "young adult" audience.  After there is a fatal
act of violence at a nearby school, subtle actions by the administration of
neighboring schools in the interest of safety escalate out of control;
reminiscent of 1984.  De Kooning by Annalyn Swann and Mark Stevens.  An
engaging biography of the 20th Century Artist.  I enjoyed all 700 pages.
Preservationist by David Maine.  I love it when a tale is told from a new and
provocative point of view.  In this practical telling of the tale of Noah’s Ark,
Maine has created an entertaining story that explores family, grief, hope, doubt and not least, faith.  The Darling by Russell Banks.  Still can’t get it out
of my head. Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan and Tijuana Straights by Kem Nunn.  Both provide all the necessary tension and despair for jolting
psychological suspense.  For a pleasant pick-me-up following these two, read
Any Place I Hang My Hat by Susan Isaacs or The Perfect Play by Louise Wener.
 

Bruce Jacobs:
I have read so many books, I can't keep them all straight, and certainly can't
remember much further back than a couple of months ago. Off the top of my head, I liked Chang-Rae Lee's Aloft, Maine's Preservationist, Banks's The Darling, Pelecano's Hard Revolution, and Bob Dylan's Chronicles and would nominate any or all of them for the NBA this year.
 

Todd Robins:
"For every life we lead, how many pass unlived?  For every future foreseen, how many unimagined?  For every turn intended, how many taken wrong, overlooked, stumbled past by accident amid the trumpets and shadows of circumstantial traffic?"  These are the opening lines from Campbell McGrath's prose poem, "Amsterdam," my favorite read of the year.  I go back to it again and again, and it keeps on yielding.  The piece is collected in Road Atlas: Prose & Other Poems. In addition, people kept telling me to read Charles Portis this year. For once, I listened, and I'm glad I did.  I had a lot of fun with Norwood and The Dog Of The South.
 

Paul Erickson:
I liked Captured by Scott Zesch; The Holy Longing by Ronald Rolheiser,
What's the Matter with Kansas? by Thomas Frank; and Breaking Blue by Timothy Egan.  By golly, by gum.
 

Mark Bradshaw:
My favorite novel of the year was The Known World by Edward P. Jones; I've
been pushing it on all my friends. The runner-up, which actually wins in terms
of a gripping plot, was The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Number three was
Susannah Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Dr. Norrell, which I call "the book
that ate early October" because I just could not put it down.

The best non-fiction title I read was Inside the Mirage by Thomas W. Lippman; it's a history of U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia. It read like a novel and gave a wealth of insight into current affairs. Also, Jessica Stern's Terror in the
Name of God, a book about religious terrorists, was truly fascinating and
thought provoking, and Stephen Greenblatt's Shakespeare biography Will in the
World was outstanding.

In the realms of poetry and drama, I really loved If Not, Winter, Anne
Carson's translations of Sappho, and Seamus Heaney's new version of Antigone, titled The Burial at Thebes. It's been a good year for translations of ancient Greek works.
 

Lisa Johnson:
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.  Quirky, well-written love
story that's hard to explain and even harder to put down.  The Shadow of the
Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Books. Mystery. Love. Betrayal. History. Just read it. The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin. This is the second book I've read by Justin Cronin, and he has moved to the list of authors I will always pick up. He writes quiet books about ordinary characters that you think about for days after you finish reading it. Work of Wolves by Kent Meyer. Modern western set in South Dakota.  Meyer brings several characters from varying backgrounds together to save a group of horses that results in changes for all
of them.
 

Rebekah Rine and Austin Harper have collaborated on their picks, which they enjoy, having read each book several times, and, having reread them, felt the need to reread them again: Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans - McSweeny's. This is the greatest book ever. McSweeny's latest collection of humorous essays, short stories, and hilarious lists has something everyone will love. Magical Thinking by Augusten Burrough. Burrough's newest book is Rebekah's favorite of the year. If you love David Sedaris, Sarah Vowell, and the entire sardonic essay writing bunch, then you will hop on this one fast. 

Hepcat by William Bramhall. Second greatest book ever -- next to McSweeny's.  Get 'em both.  This children's book follows one cool cat on a  musical journey as familiar artists, like the Beatles, give him the courage to perform. 

Duck for President by Doreen Cronin and Besty Lewin (illustrator.)  Austin's favorite kid's book. This book, from the author and illustrator or Click, Clack, Moo and Giggle, Giggle, Quack, follows the story of a duck on his campaign trail from the farm to governor to president.
 

Beth Golay:
I have a three-way tie between The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Wicked by Gregory Maguire, and Life at These Speeds by Jeremy Jackson.  All are completely different from each other, but all beautifully penned.
 

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