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Weekly Words about Books December 30, 2012
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THE BEST OF 'THE BEST OF 2012'
| | That great year-end tradition - Best-of-the-Year lists - is upon us. Lots of slow news days, so the media needs fodder for its content, and Best-Of lists seem to know no limits, subject-wise. How else to explain the Top 10 Cell Phone Ringtones (a list that includes Mr. T and the Star Wars theme but puts "Vibrate" #1) or Best Top 10 Free Antivirus Software (sorry, I didn't bother looking), not to mention the Top 140 Twitter Feeds (OK, that's kinda funny).
As for Best Books, lists abound. So I conducted an unscientific but reasonably broad survey of a number of them to see which titles showed up multiple times. I wouldn't necessarily call these consensus picks, but the following 2012 books did appear on at least three of the dozen or so lists I looked at.
They are in no particular order, although the first one sold the most copies and was arguably the most talked-about book of 2012.
GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn - Hands down the year's top thriller, as well as one of the top-selling books of the year. A wife goes missing on the five-year  anniversary of her rocky marriage, and the leading suspect is her unhappy but concerned husband. As the causes of their unraveling relationship are revealed, it looks worse and worse for hubby, even as he proclaims his innocence. To say more would give away too much.
In addition to its inclusion on many lists, Gone Girl was also the most-reviewed book by Goodreads.com readers with a total of 22,383 reviews since the book was published in June.
BUILDING STORIES by Chris Ware - This tale about a nameless young woman living a lonely, unfulfilled life in Chicago is told by acclaimed graphic artist Ware in a series of printed materials, from newspaper and poster to magazine and pamphlet. The book - a package, really - comes in a box and is a unique piece of visual storytelling. Probably not for everyone, but a fascinating artistic achievement nevertheless.
THE ORCHARDIST by Amanda Coplin - Set at the turn of the 20th  century in a rural stretch of the Pacific Northwest, Coplin's novel tells the story of a reclusive orchardist, William Talmadge, who befriends and cares for two runaway pregnant teenage girls who appear on his land. When men from the girls' past show up, tragedy ensues, setting Talmadge on a course to save and protect.
YELLOW BIRDS by Kevin Powers - The author is a veteran of the war in Iraq and a first-time novelist who offers up a powerful account of friendship and loss. Set in war-torn Iraq, the harrowing story follows two young soldiers trying to stay alive as their platoon launches a bloody battle for the city. As the mission drags on, the pair do everything to protect each other from the forces that press in on every side: the insurgents, physical fatigue, and the mental stress that comes from constant danger. Powers paints a powerful portrait of modern war and what it can do to those fighting in it.
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green - Sixteen-year-old Hazel, a stage IV cancer patient, has accepted her terminal diagnosis until a chance meeting with  a boy at her cancer support group forces her to reexamine her perspective on love, loss, and life. Although this is aimed at the teen reading audience, this is a book that has been read and loved by adults as well. The noted children's book review journal, Horn Book Magazine, called Fault an "acerbic comedy, sexy romance, and a lightly played, extended meditation on the big questions about life and death. "
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NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK
GETS HIGH MARKS
(The Antlers Probably Help)
| | One of the surprise hits of the children's picture book world has been This Moose Belongs To Me by Oliver Jeffers. The book was expected to do well in certain areas of the country - think  Minnesota, Wyoming, Alaska and other cold places - but this charmingly silly story about a wandering moose with a penchant for apples has resonated with kids and parents everywhere.
Wilfred is a dorky, rule-bound little boy who yearns for a pet, so when a moose wanders by, Wilfred figures finders keepers and sets about teaching his new charge, whom he names Marcel, how to be a good pet. Trouble is, Marcel 1) isn't overly interested and 2) may be leading a double life.
Jeffers brings a sense of whimsy to the relationship - one that proves a challenge for Wilfred because his idea of order doesn't include a moose with a mind of its own. The illustrations complement the story nicely, and all's well that ends well. This is a fun book to read aloud; it's recommended for ages 3-7.
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Wilfred and Marcel
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A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME
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My name is Hut Landon. I'm a former bookstore owner who now runs the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA) in San Francisco.
My goal with this newsletter is to keep readers up to date about new books hitting the shelves, share what booksellers are recommending in their stores, and pass on occasional news about the book world.
I'm not into long, wordy reviews or literary criticism; I'd like HUT'S PLACE to be a quick, fun read for book buyers.If you have any friends who you think might like receiving this column each week, simply click on "Forward this email" below and enter their email address. There is also a box in which to add a short message.
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