• Nicole Bruce
• Tom Donadio
• Mary Dubbs
• Marisa Emralino
• Joe Hartlaub
• Anna Jarzab
• Vicky Kariolic
• Alex Kassl
• Erin Quinn
• Eric Rhodes
• Wiley Saichek
• Anne Staszalek

Current Picks

• 2008 Reviewer Picks
• 2008 Staff Picks

Previous Picks

• 2007 Reviewer Picks
• 2007 Staff Picks
• 2006 Reviewer Picks
• 2006 Staff Picks
• 2005 Reviewer Picks
• 2004 Staff Picks
• New York Times Best Books of 2005

2008 STAFF PICKS

Before ringing in the new year, we at The Book Report Network reflect on some of our favorite books published in 2008. Though it was difficult to narrow down, each staff member chose up to five books that he or she enjoyed the most this year. Take a look and see if any of our selections match yours --- and which titles you may want to consider reading in the future.

Nicole Bruce, Marketing Assistant

• WHEN YOU ARE ENGULFED IN FLAMES by David Sedaris
• HURRY DOWN SUNSHINE by Michael Greenberg
• KNUCKLEHEADS written by Joan Holub and illustrated by Michael Slack
• I WAS TOLD THERE’D BE CAKE by Sloane Crosley
• APPETITE FOR DETENTION written by Sloane Tanen and photographed by Stefan Hagen

Tom Donadio, Editorial Director

• BEAUTIFUL BOY: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Meth Addiction, by David Sheff
• CLOTHING OPTIONAL: And Other Ways to Read These Stories, by Alan Zweibel
• DEWEY: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World, by Vicki Myron with Brett Witter
• LIVING ON THE BLACK: Two Pitchers, Two Teams, One Season to Remember, by John Feinstein
• THE OPTIMIST’S/PESSIMIST’S HANDBOOK: A Companion to Hope and Despair, by Niall Edworthy and Petra Cramsie

Mary Dubbs, Advertising/Promotion Associate

• LITTLE BROTHER by Cory Doctorow
• THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins
• THE ASTONISHING LIFE OF OCTAVIAN NOTHING, TRAITOR TO THE NATION, VOLUME II: THE KINGDOM ON THE WAVES by M. T. Anderson
• THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS by E. Lockhart
• THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY AND THE PERILOUS JOURNEY by Trenton Lee Stewart

Marisa Emralino, Editorial Coordinator

• THE LIKENESS by Tana French
• EAT, MEMORY: Great Writers at the Table, edited by Amanda Hesser
• UP AND DOWN THE SCRATCHY MOUNTAINS by Laurel Snyder
• COSMIC!: The Ultimate 3-D Guide to the Universe, by Giles Sparrow
• THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins

Joe Hartlaub, Senior Writer

• DEAD TIME by Stephen White
  Each of Stephen White's Alan Gregory novels is somewhat different. So to is DEAD TIME, wherein current events in psychologist Gregory's life reveal much about his past, and potentially his future, as he crosses the country at the mysterious request of his ex-wife. A complete work in and of itself, I nevertheless cannot wait for the next installment.
• BURN ZONE by James O. Born
  One of crime fiction's most underappreciated writers, James O. Born captures the essence of South Florida perfectly through the eyes of BATF agent Alex Duarte in this unforgettable work.
• WICKED CITY by Ace Atkins
  Ace Atkins’s historical thriller set in mid-20th century Phenix City, Alabama --- at one point considered the most corrupt city in America --- is picture- and pitch-perfect in every way.
• L.A. OUTLAWS by T. Jefferson
  T. Jefferson Parker somehow continues to top himself in this dark novel of obsession, crime and angst doled out in frequent if unequal measures, with characters who will stay with you long after you finish the story.
• THE SPY WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS by David Morrell
  David Morrell achieves the impossible with a seasonal story that can be read and enjoyed at any time of the year, over and over again.

Anna Jarzab, Marketing Associate

• I WAS TOLD THERE’D BE CAKE by Sloane Crosley
• BREAKING DAWN by Stephenie Meyer
• PAPER TOWNS by John Green
• THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins
• THE LIKENESS by Tana French

Vicky Kariolic, Producer

• RUNEMARKS by Joanne Harris
• THE MAGICIAN: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, Book 2 by Michael Scott
• THE SOULSTEALER WAR, Book 1: The First Mother's Fire by W.L. Hoffman
  W.L. Hoffman gained my attention and lured me into his fantasy realm. Although the book starts out a little slow and academic, it turns into a harrowing adventure in a fantasy world with elves and other fantastic creatures that captured me and wouldn't let go until the last page. It left me impatient for the next in the series.
• THE MELANCHOLY OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA by Nagaru Tanigawa, artwork by Gaku Tsugano and Noizi Iro
  "I'm Haruhi Suzumiya, from East Junior High. First off, I'm not interested in ordinary people. But, if any of you are aliens, time-travelers, or ESPers, please come see me. That is all!" So says Harhui as she introduces herself in this wildly popular title, and thus Kyon is intrigued and is pulled into a world more fantastic than he thought could really exist. This manga follows along with Kyon as he discovers the world that Haruhi creates around herself. Whet your appetite for the fantastic and ridiculous with this manga, and watch for the translated Light Novel coming along in Spring 2009.
• BLACK SUN, SILVER MOON, Volume 7 by Tomo Maeda
  Taki lives in a small village in the mountains when he is indentured for his deceased father's bills to a priest who happens to be a demon slayer. Taki quickly becomes attached to his new mentor, Shikimi. When he finds out that Shiki may be turning into a demon himself, Taki vows to cure Shiki if he can and to kill him should he ever lose control. This final volume in the Black Sun, Silver Moon series answers many questions and ends on a neat end-point, leaving plenty of room for imagination.

Alex Kassl, Advertising/Promotion Associate

• DUMBFOUNDED: Big Money. Big Hair. Big Problems. Or Why Having It All Isn't for Sissies. by Matt Rothschild
• EARTH: The Sequel: The Race to Reinvent Energy and Stop Global Warming by Fred Krupp and Miriam Horn
• THE LIKENESS by Tana French
• OBEDIENCE by Will Lavender
• WHEN YOU ARE ENGULFED IN FLAMES by David Sedaris

Erin Quinn, Project Director

• THE FIRST 30 DAYS: Your Guide to Any Change (and Loving Your Life More), by Ariane de Bonvoisin
• STONE CREEK by Victoria Lustbader
• MEASURE OF THE HEART: A Father's Alzheimer's, A Daughter's Return, by Mary Ellen Geist
• THE ART OF KEEPING SECRETS by Patti Callahan Henry
• GARDENS OF WATER by Alan Drew

Eric Rhodes, Graphic Designer/Web Developer

• THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN by Garth Stein
• THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY AND THE PERILOUS JOURNEY by Trenton Lee Stewart
• THE GEOGRAPHY OF BLISS: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World, by Eric Weiner
• FIREFLY LANE by Kristin Hannah
• KILLING ROMMEL by Steven Pressfield

Wiley Saichek, Marketing Director

• THE MIDDLE PLACE by Kelly Corrigan
• SOMEWHERE IN HEAVEN: The Remarkable Love Story of Dana and Christopher Reeve, by Christopher Andersen
• BUFFALO GAL by Laura Pedersen
• GENERATION DEAD by Daniel Waters
• VAMPYRES OF HOLLYWOOD by Adrienne Barbeau and Michael Scott

Anne Staszalek, Marketing Coordinator

• CRY WOLF: An Alpha and Omega Novel, by Patricia Briggs
• THE FORTUNE COOKIE CHRONICLES: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food, by Jennifer 8. Lee
• THE OUTLAW DEMON WAILS by Kim Harrison
• ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE by Jeaniene Frost

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