1) The Devil All the Time: A Novel, by Donald Ray Pollock. For realism — and for straight-up kicking ass.
2) Beautiful Unbroken: A Memoir, by Mary Jane Nealon. For emotional truth.
3) The Barbarian Nurseries: A Novel, by Hector Tobar. For A devastating portrayal of class and cultural divisions in LA.
4) The Visible Man: A Novel, by Chuck Klosterman. For sustained narrative tension and for having — that rare thing — a perfect ending.
5) Lightning Rods: A Novel, by Helen Dewitt. For brilliant satire.
6) The Art of Fielding: A Novel, by Chad Harbach. For being a damned satisfying long novel.
7) The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making: A Novel, by Catherynne M. Valente. For A high level of originality and stylistic excellence.
8) American Gangbang: A Memoir, by Sam Benjamin. For honesty (and hilarity).
9) The Buddha in the Attic: A Novel, by Julie Otsuka. For economy.
10) Broken Irish: A Novel, by Edward J. DeLaney. For a broad range of convincing characters and for being very nearly unputdownable.
11) Widow: Stories, by Michelle Latiolais. For intelligence.
12) With Liberty and Justice for Some: How the Law Is Used to Destroy Equality and Protect the Powerful, by Glenn Greenwald. For clarity.
