Some 2012 books I'm excited about

11:33 am - January 20, 2012: 24 notes

Some 2012 books I’m excited about

And surprise: they’re all by women.

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Threats: A Novel by Amelia Gray (FSG, February 2012)

I’d admired Gray’s experimental writing (AM/PM !!) for years, and her debut novel promises quite a lot: part mystery, part love story, part tragedy and all written in gripping, poetic prose.

When I Was A Child I Read Books by Marilynne Robinson (FSG, March 2012)

Another author whom I’ve admired for a long time, as much for her fiction as for her essays. Read “Night Thoughts of a Baffled Humanist” for a preview of this new collection and be bewildered by her insight.

Arcadia by Lauren Groff (Hyperion/Voice, March 2012)

Well-known for her frequently anthologized short stories, Groff has written a novel that promises both utopia and its aftermath; it’s already being praised as an “an unforgettable read.” BONUS: a fantastic psychedelic cover.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed (Knopf, March 2012)

I found out about this book on Twitter! I wish I remember from whom! Nonetheless, two bookish people exchanged glowing comments about it. While I often shy away from non-fiction, this memoir about loss, letting go, and reckless adventure sounds too good to overlook.

On the Spectrum of Possible Deaths by Lucia Perillo (Copper Canyon, April 2012)

Perillo writes some of the fiercest, most honest poetry today. Readers of contemporary poetry (and anyone who loves words) will not want to miss this new collection.

The Lola Quartet by Emily St. John Mandel (Unbridled Books, May 2012)

Okay, I’ve never read any of Mandel’s previous fiction, but I have been hearing about The Lola Quartet for at least a year. With a dash of literary noir, a touch of jazz, and the brilliant setting of Sebastian, FL (mere minutes from my hometown), this novel might just be a 2012 indie surprise.

NW by Zadie Smith (UK edition: Hamish Hamilton, September 2012)

I have no words. It’s been seven years since On Beauty, six since Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays. Count the days, and, in the meantime, reread the books & essays by one of our greatest living writers & thinkers.

Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures by Emma Straub (Riverhead Books, late 2012)

Does anyone not love Emma Straub? Sometimes I think she’s the most well-loved person on the Internet, with nary a negative word about her. I have no problem with this. Her short story collection, Other People We Married, was touching, thoughtful, and quietly funny. I expect the same from her first novel.