The 10 Best Books of 2012

The year’s best books, selected by the editors of The New York Times Book Review, have brought up varietis for our readers. Parramatta Library has some books for borrowing.

FICTION

Bring up the bodies by Hilary Mantel

This book takes up where “Wolf Hall” left off. It is a suspenseful and fascinating story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. This novel along with is predecessor was awarded the Man Booker Prize.

 Building Stories by Chris Ware

An innovative graphic novel packaged in a large box like a board game containing 14 differently sized, formatted, and bound pieces, that follow the residents of a Chicago triplex through their lives.

A hologram of the King by Dave Eggers

 A struggling American businessman travels to Saudi Arabia in the hope a landing a deal that will fix his economic and family woes. 

NW by Zadie Smith

Four main characters try to make adult lives outside Caldwell, the council estate of their childhood.

The Yellow birds by Kevin Powers

An unforgetable book about the fates of two young soldiers of the Iraq War, reflecting the choas of war and it’s psychological impact.

NON-FICTION

Behind the beautiful forevers by Katherine Boo

The story of families striving to make a better life in Annawadi, a makeshift settlement in the shadow of luxury hotels near Mumbai Airport.

Far from the tree: parents, children, and the search for identity by Andrew Solomon

Solomon studies the challenges and consequences of raising children with extreme personal differences to their parents, describing his own experiences as a gay child of straight parents.

 The passge of power: the years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert A. Caro

Studies Lyndon Johnson’s explosive relationships with John and Robert Kennedy, also describes JFK’s assassination from Johnson’s viewpoint, and explores his accomplishments as president.

The Patricarch: The remarkable life and turbulent times of Joseph P. Kennedy by David Nasaw

 Nasaw—the only biographer granted unrestricted access to the Joseph P. Kennedy papers, offers insight into his shrewd financial talents and the considerable ambition for his family.

Why does the world exist? by Jim Holt

 Holt searches for the origins of the universe exploring strange  possibilites inspired by theologians, mathematicians, physicists,  and even novelists.