Hi Anne...That's a good list...I can suggest a couple of others to add to it; they're both in our catalogue: "My Stroke of Insight," by Jill Boldte Taylor, published this year, is a young neuroscientist's story of her own experiences with a stroke, its immediate impact on her health, and the ways in which it has influenced her life and work since then. The book is not long but is full of clearly-explained scientific information in addition to Jill's own story; it's quite accessible to educated readers, even those who have little background in medical information. I've only read portions of it but I've known Jill (and her extraordinary parents, especially her father) for a long time through NAMI; she's a vibrant, articulate, sensitive young woman (I think she's in her mid-40's now; she was about 36 when she had the stroke that nearly killed her) who is if anything more dedicated to helping people with brain disorders than she was. She's been instrumental in developing and publicizing the Harvard Brain Bank, to which people can pledge their brains for much-needed research. I'd suggest we invite her here to talk about the book and her life...and remember to ask her to bring her guitar and sing her "plug" for the Brain Bank, because she's sometimes referred to as "The Singin' Scientist"! "The Heretic's Daughter," also published this year, is Kathleen Kent's fictional account of the Salem witchcraft hysteria, and another book whose author I'd suggest we invite. The novel focuses on the family of Kent's ancestor Martha Carrier, who, ten generations ago, was among those tried, sentenced and executed for supposedly causing immense suffering among their neighbors and livestock by "bewitching" them (most of those executed were women and all the condemned but one, a man who was "pressed" to death with stones, were hanged). The novel doesn't answer the question of exactly what caused the symptoms of illness that were attributed to witchcraft, but instead focuses on the events, including the great difficulties the New Englanders faced every day of their lives, and especially the unshakeable courage and integrity of the men and women who refused to admit to being witches, even under torture and threat of death. I've just finished it and it's the proverbial good read; in addition, for those who are too young to remember the effects of the terror fanned by Joe McCarthy, it's a good introduction to the study of mass hysteria and the damage it can do.

A newly published book that I think deserves to be included on your list is "The Maze of Bones" by Rick Riordan. It's a fast pace treasure hunt aimed at captivating the minds of middle schol students. It's a good choice for a reluctant reader and had an online game that complements the book, which is the first of ten. Check out the game at www.the39clues.com and see if it doesn't hook you as well.

Black Flies by Shannon Burke is an amazing book, had me glued for ages, I highly recommend it. Dave - Philadelphia

Black Flies gets my vote, friends I gave it to hated it...ahh well ;) Chuck RYA Books

My favorite book of the year would be "Lock and Key" written by Sarah Dessen. It is aimed at a young and middle aged audience, with a very motivating theme... Richael - Fiji Islands

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski is a great book, the author David Wroblewski is a 48-year-old software developer and I can truly relate to his writing be a s/w developer myself. I highly recommend it !

Im a massive fan of Black Flies by Shannon Burke. great story line and i enjoyed every min of it.

All of those books rock, some of my all time favorites. John.

Amazon is AMAZING! It has turned the way we buy our books. Book store is not the only option now. The presence of Amazon make our life much easier by placing our orders online. In addition, their prices usually are cheaper than local store as well. So I fully support Amazon.

Black Flies by Shannon Burke is an excellent book. You should not miss this one.

I have read both: The Last Campaign by Thurston Clarke and In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. My favorite of the two is: The Last Campaign.

Great post.

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Thanks for sharing the list of the awesome books.. I am gonna look forward to have them... well being a u dealer most of the time I get tired because of traveling around the states..so this quick list will surely help me out to cheer up my mood. thanks again.

Thanks for sharing the list of the awesome books.. I am gonna look forward to have them... well being a dealer most of the time I get tired because of traveling around the states..so this quick list will surely help me out to cheer up my mood. thanks again.

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Thanks for sharing the list of the awesome books.. I am gonna look forward to have them... well being a dealer most of the time I get tired because of traveling around the states..so this quick list will surely help me out to cheer up my mood. thanks again.

hey ann i wanted to suggest a couple of books i read over the summer they are fiction but i have really liked thes two books they kept me very entertained i hope you will like them "snitch" by Allison Van Depen its about a girl who falls in love with a guy who at first just acts pretnds to like becuse he is trying to avenge his brothers death and he has to get through her to really avenge his brothers death and ends upfalling in love with her and avenges the second books wold be "vampire diaries" okay hope you like my choices bye

Amazon just keeps getting better and better. I buy more than books from them and love their free shipping. Can't beat their prices on books though. .

I have read about this blog so much before visiting this from lots of friends. Regards

I have to put in my recommendation for Black Fly, a very fun book.

I've used Amazon a lot to get those books I just couldn't find any where else. However, I don't particularly agree with all of their best picks. It seems to me that these picks are not based on over all user opinion but more so on "trending." Regardless I think it is important to read, regardless of the subject :) -John

Great list !! Maybe i've got to read them all now...:p

These aren't in any way the "best" books, only the most popular books on year's best lists. For the most part, all the books mentioned will likely be very good since they've attracted the most media "best" mentions.

Sometimes, I go to Amazon and just browse books, looking nothing specially.

The Black Flies is narrated from the first-person.

Aleks: I do the same thing. I especially like Amazon's "Recommended For You" feature which is based on the types of books you've purchased in the past as well as the books you've browsed recently. Sandy@

I have read both: The Last Campaign by Thurston Clarke and In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. My favorite of the two is: The Last Campaign.