Twelve Books for Christmas

Dismal sales expectations for all retail including books got me thinking that all of us in publishing and bookselling should be encouraged to support the business in any way we can. My simple suggestion is an echo of the 12 days of Christmas theme whereby we visit our bookstore(s) of choice and buy twelve new books. Naturally, buying more is also an option.

Here is my selection of twelve titles I have put off buying during the year (mainly because I have been working down my considerable back-log). I bought ten of these books in the last couple of days.

1. Dexter Filkins: The Forever War
   The NYTimes journalist's Iraq war memoir: From Manhattan to Falluja (Review)
   
2. Denis Johnson: Tree of Smoke
   VietNam allegory and pre-quell (Review)
   
3. Piers Brendon: Decline and Fall of the British Empire 1781-1997
   The accidental empire given up painfully. (Review)
   
4. P.D. James: The Private Patient
   (For Mrs PND) Isn't Dalglish getting on? (Review)
   
5. John Le Carre: A Most Wanted Man
   A stew of terrorism, spies and duplicity. (Review)
   
6. Jon Meacham: American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House
   The everyman President from outside the Beltway. (Review)
   
7. Peter Mattiessen: Shadow Country
   Winner of this year's National Book Awards. (Review)
   
8. Denis Lehane: The Given Day
   The Bard of Irish Boston (Review)
   
9. Kate Atkinson: When Will There Be Good News
   (For Mrs PND) Jackson Brodie Solves his third murder case (Review)
   
10. Tim Winton: Breath
    One of Australia's new crop of renowned authors. (Review)
    
11. Stieg Larsson: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
    Financial fraud, murder, family violence. It's the first of a trilogy. (Review)
    
12. Don Winslow: The Dawn Patrol
    Ex-PI and stand-up comedian Winslow crafts another mystery. (Review)
    
13. (Bonus) George Pelecanos: The Turnaround.
    GP is one of my favorite authors. Again another urban parable. (Review)

Although I don't suggest you buy these at Amazon. com I have created a list in my storefront. If nothing else you can read more about the titles and then buy at your local store of choice. Happy reading!

Feel free to add your own list/recommendations in the comments.