The Reading List: Current Titles
2008Established in 2007 by the CODES section of RUSA, The Reading List Council seeks to highlight outstanding genre fiction that merits special attention by general adult readers and the librarians who work with them.
The Council, which consists of ten librarians who are experts in readers’ advisory and collection development, select books in eight different categories: adrenaline titles which include suspense, thrillers, and action adventure; Fantasy; Historical Fiction; Horror; Mystery; Romance; Science Fiction; and Women’s Fiction. This inaugural juried list features established voices and debut novelists and suggests titles that will thrill avid fans and entice new readers.
AdrenalineThe Second Objective by Mark Frost
Hyperion, 2007. 978-1401302221
This evocative World War II espionage thriller deftly mixes a well-realized cast and an expertly crafted plot that hurdles toward a white-knuckled climax. With defeat near, the Nazis send a secret brigade to infiltrate the advancing Allied Forces. Among them is an elite unit, led by a charismatic, ruthless SS officer with a top-secret second objective.
Readers may also enjoy Ken Follett’s The Eye of the Needle, December 6 by Martin Cruz Smith, and Jeffery Deaver’s Garden of Beasts.
FantasyThe Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Daw Books, 2007. 978-0756404079
This engrossing debut fantasy, the first in a projected trilogy, introduces readers to Kvothe – a hero in his own time. Living incognito as an inn keeper, he is tracked down by a chronicler who convinces him to narrate his own story – and what a story it is. Magic, music, revenge, and a drug-addled dragon fuel this saga for the ages.
Readers may also enjoy Mercedes Lackey’s Bardic Voices series, George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series, and David Eddings’s The Belgariad.
Historical FictionThe Religion by Tim Willocks
Farrar Straus and Giroux, 2007. 978-0374248659
Kidnapped as a boy, and reared as a Muslim warrior, Mattias Tannhauser, now a smuggler, is seduced by the lure of women and war in this action-filled romp that blends horrific violence, madcap adventure, and great storytelling. Willocks delivers a strong narrative punch and solid, addictive writing in an intricately detailed and historically rich novel set against the backdrop of the 1565 Siege of Malta.
Readers may also enjoy Dorothy Dunnett’s Lymond Chronicles, Ironfire by David Ball, and The Abyssinian by Jean-Christophe Rufin.
HorrorThe Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
William Morrow, 2007. 978-0061147937
Retired heavy-metal superstar Judas Coyne collects obscure, macabre objects, but the ghost he buys over the Internet turns out to be very real, very mad, and out for revenge. A menacing atmosphere and sinister characters produce a fabulous mix of creepy thrills and look-behind-you, leave-the-light-on-chills. Hill turns a simple ghost story into a cinematic, nightmare ride that blends gothic references with a razor-sharp sensibility.
Readers may also enjoy Stephen King’s “The Mist,” Peter Straub’s Mr. X, and Dan Simmons’s Summer of Night.
MysteryMistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2007. 978-0399154140
This smartly-paced mystery skillfully blends historical details, entertaining characters, and horrific murders. With a serial killer loose in 12th Century Cambridge, King Henry II decides he must summon a Master of the Art of Death –and gets a Mistress instead. This grabbing debut combines forensic detail, religious fervor, and a great sense of place with just a touch of romance.
Readers may also enjoy Ellis Peters's Brother Cadfael series, Caroline Roe’s Chronicles of Isaac of Girona, Peter Tremayne’s Sister Fidelma mysteries.
RomanceNatural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
William Morrow, 2007. 978-0060734572
A swaggering football star and a sassy itinerant artist spar with each other and discover how to forge a family in this sweetly charming novel filled with humor, snappy dialog, and fabulous scenes. Phillips’s pitch-perfect story embodies the contemporary romance genre and offers a superb cast of characters, a richly detailed world, and a story line that will please long time romance readers and new fans alike.
Readers may also enjoy Jennifer Crusie’s Bet Me, Jane Ann Krentz’s Trust Me, and Nora Robert’s Born in Fire.
Science FictionIn War Times by Kathleen Ann Goonan
Tor, 2007. 978-0765313553
In this captivating alternative history tale a young army engineer is given a mysterious device by a gypsy physicist on the eve of Pearl Harbor. If used successfully this device could end mankind’s penchant for war and violence. To preserve a peaceful time stream, he must alter an epochal event of the 20th Century. Goonan flavors her multiverse with rich details of jazz, quantum physics, and history.
Readers may also enjoy Rudy Rucker’s Mathematicians in Love, Stephen Baxter’s The Time Ships, and Joe Haldeman’s The Accidental Time Machine.
Women’s FictionGarden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
Bantam, 2007. 978-0553805482
Claire Waverly’s world is turned upside down when her wayward sister returns home with a young daughter in tow and a sexy college professor moves in next door. Adding to the spot-on rendering of sibling rivalry and small town dynamics are the stories of first loves and second chances, loveable quirky characters, culinary alchemy, and the magic of place. An enchanting debut.
Readers may also enjoy Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic, Joanne Harris’s Chocolat, and Rebecca Wells’s Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.
The Reading List Council 2007-2008Katie Dunneback, Southeastern Library Services
Arlene Griffin, LSSI Library North Jackson Madison County Library, TN
Mirja Johanson, Perrot Memorial Library, CT
Lucy Lockley, St. Charles City-County Library District, MO
Robert Renwick, Brooklyn Public Library
Joyce Saricks
Jacqueline Sasaki, Ann Arbor District Library
Tapley Trudell, San Antonio Public Library
Neal Wyatt, Chair
Alan Ziebarth, Chicago Public Library
Other Titles ConsideredThe following is a list of the other titles nominated in each of the genre categories.
AdrenalineCain, Chelsea. HeartSick. St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2007. 978-0312368463
Carrell, Jennifer Lee. Interred with their Bones. Dutton, 2007. 978-0525949701
Causey, Toni McGee. Bobbie Faye's Very (very, very, very) Bad Day. St. Martin's Giffin, 2007. 978-0312354480
Child, Lee. Bad Luck and Trouble. Delacorte, 2007. 978-0385340557
Hansen, Matthew Scott. The Shadowkiller. Simon & Schuster, 2007. 978-0743294737
Kalla, Daniel. Blood Lies. Forge, 2007. 978-0765318329
Lindsay, Jeff. Dexter in the Dark. Doubleday, 2007. 978-0385518338
Marshall, Michael. The Intruders. William Morrow, 2007. 978-0061235023
Parker, T. Jefferson. Storm Runners. William Morrow, 2007. 978-0060854232
Pearson, Ridley, Killer Weekend. Putnam, 2007. 978-0399154072
Preston, Douglas J. and Lincoln Child. The Wheel of Darkness. Grand Central, 2007. 978-0446580281
Reasoner, James. Dust Devil. Pointblank, 2007. 978-0809572458.
Rose, M. J. The Reincarnationist. Mira, 2007. 978-0778324201
Rosenfeld, David. Play Dead. Grand Central, 2007. 978-0446582414
Silva, Daniel. The Secret Servant. Putnam, 2007. 978-0399154225
Smith, Wilbur. The Quest. St. Martins, 2007. 978-0312318420
Vance, Lee. Restitution. Knopf, 2007. 978-0307266323
FantasyBull, Emma. Territory. Tor, 2007. 978-0312857356
Butcher, Jim. White Night. ROC/Penguin, 2007. 978-0451461407
Carey, Jacqueline. Kushiel’s Justice. Warner, 2007. 978-0446500036
Carey, Mike. The Devil You Know. Warner, 2007. 978-0446580304
Durham, David. Acacia. Doubleday, 2007. 978-038550609
Ferrari, Mark. Book of Joby. Tor, 2007. 978-0765316868
Fforde, Jasper. First Among Sequels. Viking, 2007. 978-0670038718
Kay, Guy Gavriel. Ysabel. ROC/Penguin, 2007. 978-0451461292
Kiernan, Caitlin. Daughter of Hounds. Roc, 2007. 978-0451461254
Lynch, Scott. Red Seas Under Red Skies. Bantam Spectra, 2007. 978-0553804683
Moers, Walter. City of Dreaming Books. Overlook, 2007. 978-1585678990
Monette, Sarah and Elizabeth Bear. A Companion to Wolves. Tor, 2007. 978-0765318169
Novik, Naomi. Empire of Ivory. Del Rey, 2007. 978-0345496874
Pratchett, Terry. Making Money. Harper, 2007. 978-006082217
Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Scholastic, 2007. 978-0545010221
Tolkien, J. R. R. Children of Hurin. Houghton Mifflin, 2007. 978-0618894642
Valente, Catherynne. In the Cities of Coin and Spice. Bantam Spectra, 2007. 978-0353384048
HistoricalBlixt, David. The Master of Verona. St. Martins, 2007. 978-0312361440
Chabon, Michael. Gentlemen of the Road. Del Rey, 2007. 978-0345501745
Cornwell, Bernard. Lords of the North. HarperCollins, 2007. 978-0060888626
Dallas, Sandra. Tallgrass. St. Martins, 2007. 978-0312360191
Delaney, Frank. Tipperary. Random, 2007. 978-1400065233
Gee, Sophie. The Scandal of the Season. Scribner, 2007. 978-1416540564
Iggulden, Conn. Genghis: Birth of an Empire. Delacorte, 2007. 978-0385339513
McCaig, Donald. Rhett Butler’s People. St. Martins, 2007. 9780312262518
Penney, Stef. The Tenderness of Wolves. Simon & Schuster, 2007. 978-1416540748
Swerling, Beverly. City of Glory. Simon & Schuster, 2007. 978-0743269209
Tipton, James. Annette Vallon. HarperCollins, 2007. 978-006082217
Weir, Alison. Innocent Traitor. Ballantine, 2007. 978-0345494856
Wood, Barbara. Daughter of the Sun. St. Martins, 2007. 978-0312363680
HorrorBarron. Laird. Imago Sequence. Nightshade Books, 2007. 978-1597800884
Haldeman, Philip. Shadow Coast. Hippocampus, 2007. 978-0977173471
Hill, Joe. 20th Century Ghosts. William Morrow, 2007. 978-0061147975
Langan, Sarah. The Missing. HarperCollins, 2007. 978-0060872915
Mignola, Mike and Christopher Golden. Baltimore, or the Steadfast Tin Solider. Spectra, 2007. 978-0553804713
Pinborough, Sarah. The Taken. Dorchester, 2007. 978-084395896
Simmons, Dan. The Terror. Little Brown, 2007. 978-0316017442
MysteryAndrews, Donna. The Penguin Who Knew Too Much. St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2007. 978-0312329426
Bory, Todd. Tahoe Silence. Thriller Press, 2007. 978-1931296151
Bowen, Rhys. Her Royal Spyness. Berkley Prime Crime, 2007. 978-0425215678
Burke, James Lee. The Tin Roof Blowdown. Simon and Schuster, 2007. 978-1416548485
Disher, Garry. Chain of Evidence. Soho, 2007. 978-1597226752
Downie, Ruth. Medicus. Bloomsbury USA, 2007. 978-1596912311
Dunn, Carola. The Bloody Tower. St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2007. 978-0312363062
Estleman, Loren D. American Detective. Forge, 2007. 978-0765312242
Evanovich, Janet. Lean Mean Thirteen. St. Martin’s Press, 2007. 978-0312349493
Finch, Charles. A Beautiful Blue Death. St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2007. 978-0312359775
Fowler, Christopher. White Corridor. Bantam Books, 2007. 978-0553804508
Hart, John. Down River. St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2007. 978-0312359317
Huston, Charlie. No Dominion. Del Rey/Ballantine, 2006. 978-0345478252
Indridason, Arnaldur. Voices. Thomas Dunne, 2007. 978-0312358716
Kozak, Harley Jane. Dead Ex. Doubleday, 2007. 978-0385518024
Maleeny, Tim. Stealing the Dragon. Midnight Ink, 2007. 978-0738709970
Maron, Margaret. Hard Row. Warner Books, 2007. 978-0446582438
McCall Smith, Alexander. The Good Husband of Zebra Drive. Pantheon, 2007. 978-0375422737
Penny, Louise. A Fatal Grace. St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2007. 978-0312352561
Rankin, Ian. The Naming of the Dead. Little, Brown, 2007. 978-0316057578
Smith, Martin Cruz. Stalin’s Ghost. Simon and Schuster, 2007. 978-0743276726
Steinhauer, Olen. Victory Square. St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2007. 978-0312369712
RomanceAlexander, Victoria. Secrets of a Proper Lady. Avon, 2007. 978-0060882648
Balogh, Mary. Simply Magic. Delacorte, 2007. 978-0385338233
Crusie, Jennifer, Eileen Dreyer, Anne Stuart. The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes. St.Martin’s Paperbacks, 2007. 978-0312940980
D’Alessandro, Jacquie. Sleepless at Midnight. HarperCollins, 2007. 978-0061231384
Goodman, Jo. If His Kiss is Wicked. Zebra, 2007. 978-0821777770
Graham, Heather. The Séance. Mira, 2007. 978-0778324652
James, Eloisa. Desperate Duchesses. Avon, 2007. 978-0060781934
Kelly, Carla. Beau Crusoe. Harlequin, 2007. 978-0373294398
Metzger, Barbara. The Hour Glass. Signet, 2007. 978-0451220790
Morgan, Hunter. Are You Scared Yet?. Kensington, 2007. 978-0821779453
Putney, Mary Jo. A Distant Magic. Del Rey/Ballantine, 2007. 978-0345476913
Robb, J. D. Innocent in Death. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2007. 978-0399154010
Roberts, Nora. High Noon. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2007. 978-0399154348
Wilson, C. L. Lord of the Fading Lands. Leisure, 2007. 978-0843959772
Science FictionGibson, William. Spook Country. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2007. 978-0399154300
Kenyon, Kay. Bright of Sky. Pyr, 2007. 978-1591025412
Mackay, Scott. Phytosphere. New American Library, 2007. 978-0451461582
McDonald, Ian. Brasyl. Pyr, 2007. 978-1591025436
Morgan, Richard. Thirteen. Del Rey/Ballantine, 2007. 978-0345485250
Sawyer, Robert J. Rollback. Tor, 2007. 978-0765311085
Scalzi, John. The Last Colony. Tor, 2007. 978-0765316974
Van Name, Mark L. One Jump Ahead. Baen, 2007. 978-1416520856
Wilson, Robert Charles. Axis. Tor, 2007. 978-0765348265
Women's FictionBagshawe, Louise. Sparkles. Plume, 2007. 978-0452288140
Berg, Elizabeth. Dream When You’re Feeling Blue. Random House, 2007. 978-1400065103
Carter, Betsy. Swim to Me. Algonquin, 2007. 978-1565124929
Kline, Christina Baker. The Way Life Should Be. William Morrow, 2007. 978-0060798918
McInerney, Monica. The Faraday Girls. Ballantine, 2007. 978-0345490230
Porter, Jane. Odd Mom Out. 5-Spot, 2007. 978-0446699235
Radish, Kris. The Sunday List of Dreams. Bantam, 2007. 978-0553383980
Shafak, Elif. The Bastard of Istanbul. Viking, 2007. 978-0670038343
Singer, Judy Reene. Still Life with Elephant. Broadway, 2007. 978-0767926775
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