Last year at about this time I wrote about the books I had read and bestowed my personal honors on them.  I realize now that the reader had no idea what I was choosing among so this year I first offer my rather esoteric reading list:

2030 : the real story of what happens to America / Albert Brooks.

Bossypants / Tina Fey.

Electric Barracuda / Tim Dorsey.

Infinite jest : a novel / David Foster Wallace ; foreword by Dave Eggers.

It’s a long road to a tomato : tales of an organic farmer who quit the big city for the (not so) simple life / Keith Stewart ; with illustrations by Flavia Bacarella.

It’s my f—ing birthday : a novel / Merrill Markoe.

Merrill Markoe’s guide to Love / Merrill Markoe.

One of our Thursdays is missing : a novel / Jasper Fforde.

Sacred treasure–the Cairo genizah : the amazing discoveries of forgotten Jewish history in an Egyptian synagogue attic / Mark Glickman.

Simple times : crafts for poor people / Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello.

Squirrel seeks chipmunk : a modest bestiary / by David Sedaris ; illustrations by Ian Falconer.

The Griff : a graphic novel / Christopher Moore and Ian Corson with Jennyson Rosero.

Tomatoland : how modern industrial agriculture destroyed our most alluring fruit / Barry Estabrook.

When elves attack : a joyous Christmas greeting from the criminal nutbars of the sunshine state / Tim Dorsey.

Wordy shipmates / Sarah Vowell

That’s 15 books  although Infinite Jest should count as at least three given that it is over 900 pages.  So from among these my awards go to:

Funniest: a tie between Amy Sedaris and Merril Markoe.  Both authors make me want to laugh out loud (and I often do) as I read.  I am more embarrassed to be laughing at Amy Sedaris but she is way too funny.  You can’t be depressed after reading whatever they write.

Best continuation of a series:  Tim Dorsey.  I have read all the Serge Storms books and look forward to more.  Who knew there were so many entertaining ways to kill people?

Most disturbing must read: Tomatoland.  If I could, I would order everyone who eats to read this book.  You will want to eat only homegrown fruit and vegetables after you read this.

I just don’t get it but I wish I did: The Griff by Christopher Moore.  I like all of his previous books and look forward to moore but this graphic novel is pointless.  Sorry.

Best historical must read: Wordy Shipmates.  If you want to know what really happened in the early days of the colonies rather than the sanitized high school bits this is a great read.

Perhaps the best book I have ever read: Infinite Jest.  Most of us rarely read a 900+ page book and wish it were longer.  I’ll certainly be reading it again the next time a have a couple of months to spare as there is so much in this book that it can’t be absorbed in one reading.  The sense that the author has lived so much of the detail is clear and his ability to express the feelings of his characters as well as weave a captivating story is remarkable.  I have read reviews that aren’t as glowing as mine but I think that perhaps that is a problem with the perspective of the reader.  I have read reviews of Shakespeare that aren’t so flattering either.  READ THIS.

I am already on my way to reading for 2012.  I’d appreciate your thoughts and opinions.  Happy New Year!

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