Stefan Beck writes, “If you’re the type who likes to slink away from the holiday table with a tumbler of eggnog, hide in the attic among the Hummels and Good Housekeeping back issues, and bury your nose in a book, this list is a good place to start.” He is speaking of the NY Times Book Review list of 2008 books, asks where on the list Marilynne Robinson’s book is, and recommends Joseph O’Neill’s Netherland.
I notice there that Steven Millhauser has a new collection out. He wrote the short story that became The Illusionist, which was quite good.