November 10th, 2009 / 12:30 pm
Snippets

In the interest of a year of interesting book but blank systems, please comment with one title of a book released in 2009 that you really enjoyed for whatever reason. This will in some way form not a ‘best of’ list, but a reference tablet for enjoyable new text.

170 Comments

  1. Mel Bosworth

      Nobody Trusts a Black Magician by xTx

  2. Mel Bosworth

      Nobody Trusts a Black Magician by xTx

  3. Elisa

      Bluets by Maggie Nelson (Wave)

  4. mark leidner

      ‘full catastrophe living’ by zach savich

  5. davidpeak

      midnight picnic

  6. Elisa

      Bluets by Maggie Nelson (Wave)

  7. mark leidner

      ‘full catastrophe living’ by zach savich

  8. davidpeak

      midnight picnic

  9. Travis Kurowski

      The Year of the Flood, by Margaret Atwood

  10. Travis Kurowski

      The Year of the Flood, by Margaret Atwood

  11. Colin Herd

      advanced elvis course ca conrad

  12. Shya

      Fly-over State, by Emma Straub (flatmancrooked)

  13. Colin Herd

      advanced elvis course ca conrad

  14. Shya

      Fly-over State, by Emma Straub (flatmancrooked)

  15. BAC

      Plants Don’t Drink Coffee by Unai Elorriaga (Archipelago)

  16. BAC

      Plants Don’t Drink Coffee by Unai Elorriaga (Archipelago)

  17. Tom Beshear

      Generosity: An Enhancement by Richard Powers

  18. Tom Beshear

      Generosity: An Enhancement by Richard Powers

  19. Nathan Tyree

      Lovesick by Howie Good

  20. Nathan Tyree

      Lovesick by Howie Good

  21. David

      Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon

  22. David

      Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon

  23. joe

      Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon

  24. joe

      Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon

  25. Shane Jones

      The Way Through Doors by Jesse Ball

  26. Jonny Mess

      The Cradle, by Patrick Somerville

  27. Shane Jones

      The Way Through Doors by Jesse Ball

  28. Jonny Mess

      The Cradle, by Patrick Somerville

  29. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      In the Devil’s Territory, Kyle Minor

  30. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      In the Devil’s Territory, Kyle Minor

  31. Tobias

      Jan Elizabeth Watson’s “Asta in the Wings” (Tin House).

  32. Tobias

      Jan Elizabeth Watson’s “Asta in the Wings” (Tin House).

  33. zan

      Vilnius Poker

  34. Matt Cozart

      Of the 12 books I’ve read this year, only one was published in 2009. My favorite book this year was Jakob von Gunten, which was published in 1909. Close enough.

  35. zan

      Vilnius Poker

  36. Matt Cozart

      Of the 12 books I’ve read this year, only one was published in 2009. My favorite book this year was Jakob von Gunten, which was published in 1909. Close enough.

  37. Clapper

      Elephants in Our Bedroom by Michael Czyzniejewski

  38. DJ Berndt

      The Drunk Sonnets by Daniel Bailey

  39. Clapper

      Elephants in Our Bedroom by Michael Czyzniejewski

  40. DJ Berndt

      The Drunk Sonnets by Daniel Bailey

  41. mike

      Fences, Ben Brooks

  42. mike

      Fences, Ben Brooks

  43. Schulyer Prinz

      Rose Alley, Jeremy Davies (counterpath)

  44. Schulyer Prinz

      Rose Alley, Jeremy Davies (counterpath)

  45. sarah m.g.

      One D.O.A., One on the Way by Mary Robison

  46. sarah m.g.

      One D.O.A., One on the Way by Mary Robison

  47. larry l.

      Ablutions by Patrick DeWitt

  48. larry l.

      Ablutions by Patrick DeWitt

  49. Amy McDaniel

      The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker

  50. Amy McDaniel

      The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker

  51. Charles Dodd White

      When to Go Into the Water by Lawrence Sutin

  52. Charles Dodd White

      When to Go Into the Water by Lawrence Sutin

  53. Clara

      Straw Dogs (John Gray)

  54. Clara

      Straw Dogs (John Gray)

  55. Bill

      Tunneling to the center of the earth by Kevin Wilson

  56. Bill

      Tunneling to the center of the earth by Kevin Wilson

  57. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      Big World, Mary Miller (will I get in trouble, doing more than one?)

  58. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      Big World, Mary Miller (will I get in trouble, doing more than one?)

  59. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      Ugly Man, Dennis Cooper

  60. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      Ugly Man, Dennis Cooper

  61. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      Light Boxes, Shane Jones

  62. J. A. Tyler

      Scary, No Scary by Zachary Schomburg

  63. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      Light Boxes, Shane Jones

  64. J. A. Tyler

      Scary, No Scary by Zachary Schomburg

  65. Matthew Simmons

      Fever Chart by Bill Cotter.

  66. Matthew Simmons

      Fever Chart by Bill Cotter.

  67. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      Fugue State, Brian Evenson

  68. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      Fugue State, Brian Evenson

  69. Blake Butler

      i’d like to stop you, but you’re doing good

  70. Blake Butler

      i’d like to stop you, but you’re doing good

  71. Walser and Company

      Michelle Taransky’s Barn Burned, Then

  72. Walser and Company

      Michelle Taransky’s Barn Burned, Then

  73. Nate

      The Difficult Farm by Heather Christle

  74. Nate

      The Difficult Farm by Heather Christle

  75. Adam Robinson

      Amelia Gray, AM/PM

  76. Adam Robinson

      Amelia Gray, AM/PM

  77. drew kalbach

      poemland by chelsey minnis

  78. drew kalbach

      poemland by chelsey minnis

  79. drew kalbach

      seconded

  80. drew kalbach

      seconded

  81. Lincoln

      Last Days – Brian Evenson

  82. Lincoln

      Last Days – Brian Evenson

  83. KevinS

      Yes! DeWitt!
      There’s also Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower.
      And Everything Was Fine Until Whatever by Chelsea Martin.

  84. KevinS

      Yes! DeWitt!
      There’s also Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower.
      And Everything Was Fine Until Whatever by Chelsea Martin.

  85. +!O0o(o)o0O!+

      Blatant cronyism — the Iowa Writers’ Workshop is totally corrupt!

  86. +!O0o(o)o0O!+

      Blatant cronyism — the Iowa Writers’ Workshop is totally corrupt!

  87. Lincoln

      How to Sell – Clancy Martin

  88. Lincoln

      How to Sell – Clancy Martin

  89. +!O0o(o)o0O!+

      Conquest of the Useless — Werner Herzog

  90. +!O0o(o)o0O!+

      Conquest of the Useless — Werner Herzog

  91. Blake Butler

      yes

  92. Blake Butler

      yes

  93. josh

      floodmarkers by nic brown

  94. josh

      floodmarkers by nic brown

  95. Rawbbie

      would it be lame if i said Scorch Atlas?

      yeah it probably would, so scratch that…

  96. Rawbbie

      would it be lame if i said Scorch Atlas?

      yeah it probably would, so scratch that…

  97. Amber

      The City & The City by China Mieville

  98. Amber

      The City & The City by China Mieville

  99. Blake Butler

      i think i can let that slide Rawbbie. ty :)

  100. Blake Butler

      i think i can let that slide Rawbbie. ty :)

  101. Beniamino

      Declan Kiberd, Ulysses & Us

  102. Beniamino

      Declan Kiberd, Ulysses & Us

  103. mike

      did Maximum Gaga come out this year?

  104. mike

      + the dennis book of course, even though it consists of formerly published “things”

  105. mike

      did Maximum Gaga come out this year?

  106. mike

      + the dennis book of course, even though it consists of formerly published “things”

  107. Nathan Tyree

      I second this

  108. Nathan Tyree

      I second this

  109. Nathan Tyree

      The Essential Numbers by Gordon Massman as well

  110. Nathan Tyree

      Definitely. I should have said that one

  111. Nathan Tyree

      The Essential Numbers by Gordon Massman as well

  112. Nathan Tyree

      Definitely. I should have said that one

  113. Trey

      Boris by the Sea by Matvei Yakelevich

  114. Trey

      Boris by the Sea by Matvei Yakelevich

  115. Janey Smith

      Totally xTx yes!

  116. Janey Smith

      Love CA Conrad!

  117. Janey Smith

      I read this one too. Chelsea Martin is bomb.

  118. Janey Smith

      Totally xTx yes!

  119. Janey Smith

      Love CA Conrad!

  120. Janey Smith

      I read this one too. Chelsea Martin is bomb.

  121. Janey Smith

      Heather Christie and her book are so cool!

  122. Janey Smith

      Heather Christie and her book are so cool!

  123. Janey Smith

      I liked it, too! Yay for Amelia Gray!

  124. Janey Smith

      I liked it, too! Yay for Amelia Gray!

  125. daniel bailey

      a jello horse by matthew simmons

  126. daniel bailey

      a jello horse by matthew simmons

  127. Janey Smith

      I wish Werner Herzog was my boyfriend.

  128. Janey Smith

      I wish Werner Herzog was my boyfriend.

  129. james kaelan

      i think emma and this kid named shya scanlon are two of the most exciting emerging writers in the country.

  130. james kaelan

      i think emma and this kid named shya scanlon are two of the most exciting emerging writers in the country.

  131. Matthew Simmons

      thanks, daniel!

  132. Matthew Simmons

      thanks, daniel!

  133. mark leidner

      but we’re at umass now?

      meanwhile fcl’s still challenging, charming, and resonant

  134. mark leidner

      but we’re at umass now?

      meanwhile fcl’s still challenging, charming, and resonant

  135. Matt Briggs

      Towards Another Summer by Janet Frame

  136. Matt Briggs

      Towards Another Summer by Janet Frame

  137. Matt Briggs

      I wish I could drink coffee with Werner Herzog after work on Wednesdays and I could listen to him complain about work. I would say, “Yes. It is always like that.” And then he would continue to talk, and I would blow on the surface of my coffee to cool it off while I listened to him talk. If he was your boyfriend, you would interrupt us and make him take you home so he could fix you dinner. And then when you arrived the next Wednesday, I would say, “Hey,” but I would not look at you.

  138. Matt Briggs

      I wish I could drink coffee with Werner Herzog after work on Wednesdays and I could listen to him complain about work. I would say, “Yes. It is always like that.” And then he would continue to talk, and I would blow on the surface of my coffee to cool it off while I listened to him talk. If he was your boyfriend, you would interrupt us and make him take you home so he could fix you dinner. And then when you arrived the next Wednesday, I would say, “Hey,” but I would not look at you.

  139. Matt Briggs

      Mr. Butler should put stars next to the ones he likes and blot out the ones he doesn’t like or something. A more rigorous exercise in value is suggested by this 2:15 p.m. comment. My favorite story by Rick Moody is the list of influences or things at the end of his first collection of stories. I read Lester Bangs and reread Angela Carter because of that list, and so I kind of feel like Rick Moody vouched for Lester Bangs, and in turn he is vouching for Rick Moody who maybe needs someone to cover for him sometimes.

  140. Matt Briggs

      Mr. Butler should put stars next to the ones he likes and blot out the ones he doesn’t like or something. A more rigorous exercise in value is suggested by this 2:15 p.m. comment. My favorite story by Rick Moody is the list of influences or things at the end of his first collection of stories. I read Lester Bangs and reread Angela Carter because of that list, and so I kind of feel like Rick Moody vouched for Lester Bangs, and in turn he is vouching for Rick Moody who maybe needs someone to cover for him sometimes.

  141. Matt Briggs

      I almost put The Cradle, too. It was really good.

  142. Matt Briggs

      I almost put The Cradle, too. It was really good.

  143. jesusangelgarcia

      Yes. Generosity. Richard Powers.

  144. jesusangelgarcia

      Yes. Generosity. Richard Powers.

  145. jesusangelgarcia

      Wetlands by Charlotte Roche

  146. jesusangelgarcia

      Wetlands by Charlotte Roche

  147. Emma Straub

      Another vote for Dan Chaon’s Await Your Reply.

  148. Emma Straub

      Another vote for Dan Chaon’s Await Your Reply.

  149. Kathleen Rooney

      Claudia Smith’s Put Your Head in My Lap!

  150. Kathleen Rooney

      Claudia Smith’s Put Your Head in My Lap!

  151. Jesse Hudson

      DC’s ‘Ugly Man’ and, even though I don’t think it comes out until next year, ‘Babyfucker’ (Urs Allemann) were both genius.

  152. Jesse Hudson

      DC’s ‘Ugly Man’ and, even though I don’t think it comes out until next year, ‘Babyfucker’ (Urs Allemann) were both genius.

  153. Jesse Hudson

      and, even though someone already mentioned it, Blake’s Scorch Atlas was a magnificent book.

  154. Jesse Hudson

      and, even though someone already mentioned it, Blake’s Scorch Atlas was a magnificent book.

  155. Elisa

      yay +1

  156. Elisa

      yay +1

  157. barry

      loved that

      misfits and other heroes – suzanne burns

      everything dzanc put out this year.

  158. barry

      loved that

      misfits and other heroes – suzanne burns

      everything dzanc put out this year.

  159. james yeh

      the skating rink, roberto bolano.

  160. james yeh

      the skating rink, roberto bolano.

  161. reynard

      Slanted and Enchanted: The Evolution of Indie Culture, by Kaya Oakes (warning: nonfiction!)

      read a lot of good this year, but this is a truly important read

  162. reynard

      Slanted and Enchanted: The Evolution of Indie Culture, by Kaya Oakes (warning: nonfiction!)

      read a lot of good this year, but this is a truly important read

  163. Josh B

      without a doubt:

      Natalie Lyalin: Pink and Hot Pink Habitat

      word!

  164. Josh B

      without a doubt:

      Natalie Lyalin: Pink and Hot Pink Habitat

      word!

  165. PHM

      Yes. And of course, Light Boxes.

  166. PHM

      Yes. And of course, Light Boxes.

  167. bryan

      Everything Was Fine Until Whatever – Chelsea Martin

  168. bryan

      Everything Was Fine Until Whatever – Chelsea Martin

  169. bryan

      Oh, and the muh fuckin’ Drunk Sonnets by Daniel Bailey.

  170. bryan

      Oh, and the muh fuckin’ Drunk Sonnets by Daniel Bailey.