Now's the time of year when reviewers and critics everywhere are compiling their "best of" lists for whatever it was they spent the year cataloguing. Some, more daring then others perhaps, are even selecting the one item in their field they consider to be a cut above all the rest, the "year's best".
Last year I participated and selected a favoured book and five favourite music discs for my editors at Blogcritics and was honoured to be asked my opinion. Since I've spent so much of 2006 reviewing books and music I wasn't surprised to receive the first email asking me for my best of 2006.
First out of the gate this year was the book's editor, asking us to choose our favourite read of the past year. I marked it as unread and left it in the inbox as a reminder; I was going to be able to answer immediately. I figured my best bet was to plant the idea in my brain and see if anything took root.
The next day I found myself idly contemplating the books that I had read since last January, trying to pay specific attention to those published in 2006, and waiting for one to jump out and say "I'm the best, pick me". It didn't work.
Books are piled up on top of each other for want of shelf space and the thought of even making a list of the books I had read over the last year seemed overwhelming. Trying to pick one of them from amidst the ruins of two shelving units bordered on insanity, but I started to make the attempt. I had nothing to lose by trying
Once I had weeded out everything that wasn't published in 2006 I was still left with what I considered far too many books for my own good. I was left thinking how am I ever going to accomplish this? And what am I going to do if they ask me to do anything for the music section?
Leave that alone for now; I'll blow up that bridge when I come to it. Anyway I'm still trying to deal with the book thing and not coping very well. The editor asked for our picks by Friday that just passed (Dec. 22nd) and it's now Sunday at 3:00am and I'm no closer to choosing one book then I was last Tuesday when I received her email.
Article comments
1 - Scott Hughes
I think I saw this post on Marcus' blog. Anyway, it's a good list, I hope to read the books.
Thanks,
Scott Hughes
Books & Reading Forums
2 - James Carson
I love Christopher Brookmyre's work, and his latest is, in my opinion, his best. I loved your review of this book in August, and you get extra points for penetrating the darker recesses of the Glaswegian patois. Compliments of the season, and here's to a happy new year of reading.
3 - Richard Marcus
James
Thank you for your kind words, it probably didn't hurt that I've some family ties with that part of the world so the accent isn't too much out of my reach - at least to read and write.
I did interview Charlie Reid of the Proclaimers over the phone a while back and was surprised at how little problems I had, but he wasn't using any slang so it was nae ta ba'
Happy reading to you as well - hopefully the new Brookmyre will be around before August this year. There is already an excerpt up at his site, so we can hope.
cheers
Richard Marcus