1. Nicole Krauss, author of The History of Love: A Novel, writes in a poetic fashion for a fiction writer. She uses a down to earth humor to tell of deep pain and treats characters with compassion and grace. The History of Love, her follow up after Man Walks into a Room, tells the story of two people who are bound together in a myriad of ways that become both mysterious and enchanting. Spanning a period of over sixty years, the book addresses loneliness against the backdrops of Nazi occupied Eastern Europe, as well as modern day Brighton Beach.
For those who love to read about love, without getting bogged down by sentimentality or hype, Krauss’ skillful treatment of this topic will be a welcome surprise.

2. Kazuo Ishiguro, author of Never Let Me Go, is the author of five previously successful books, including The Remains of the Day and When We Were Orphans. His writing is such that everyday objects and situations take on an other worldly quality. His latest book is set in the 1990s in England. It is essentially an ethical horror story that illuminates an alternate universe. In this alternate existence, humans are cloned only for their functional organs, which are donated to the sick in order to slowly eradicate human disease.
The main character in the book is a young woman who acts as caregiver to other donors, waiting her time to donate and coming to terms with her role in society. As Ishiguro sheds light on a love triangle and the day to day happenings of this character’s life, he draws a subtle and yet powerful portrait of a world in which science has outrun ethics.

3. Mary Gaitskill, author of Veronica: A Novel, is a writer who creates intriguing heroines. The narrator of her latest book is Alison, an ex model who observes beauty in herself and others as something you have or don’t have, something that gets you in doors, or closes them. The book tells the story of Alison’s life in the fast lane of modeling and superficial fulfillment and later, her friendship with a less beautiful coworker named Veronica.
Themes of beauty, life and death, and even sexuality come up in Gaitskill’s understated and powerful tale. Her usual take on youthful confusion is replaced by a skilled look at adult relationships and disillusionment. The book is framed inside a fairy tale about a spoiled child, and Gaitskill, while painting eloquent portraits of her characters, maintains a distance from them as well. Her understanding of human emotion and motivation, without sentimentality, makes this author a real find.

4. E.L. Doctorow, author of The March: A Novel, goes deep inside the dramatic events of Sherman’s march through Georgia and the Carolinas during the American Civil War. This startling event in history resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and damaged vast lands. Doctorow, a gifted writer of historical fiction, sheds light on the strange figure of Sherman, whose moodiness and thirst for fame drove him to military excess.
Doctorow’s characters are always well formed and full of psychological motives. With a sense of irony and humor, the author lets the reader into the lives of people forever changed by Sherman’s actions. The brutality and personal nature of the war are clearly depicted in this book, and any fan of historical fiction would be moved by the telling.

5. Cormac McCarthy, author of No Country for Old Men, is also the author of the famed Border Trilogy. The last in the trilogy, Cities of the Plain was released seven years ago, and McCarthy is still writing mesmerizing prose. This author of modern day westerns sets his newest novel in southwest Texas. It follows a man on the run and sets up a tense, thriller type atmosphere.
For fans of plot driven novels, this one will not disappoint, and yet for those more interested in a character driven book, they will also find satisfaction. McCarthy has a stunning ability to draw intimate portraits of his characters, and in this book, he does so with first person passages that are intertwined between action scenes. The sensitivity of the characters and the fundamental theme of good versus evil make this a profound book, as well as a gripping tale.

6. Leah Stewart, author of The Myth of You and Me, follows up her first novel, Body of a Girl, with a moving book about friendship and all its complicated variety. Told in a form similar to mystery, the book tells the story of a young woman, Cameron, set on an adventure to find her long lost friend. A man seemingly unrelated to the two women has given Cameron a mysterious package to deliver to her friend.
As the reader learns of the intimate history between the two women, the author eventually reveals what caused their falling out so many years ago. As you read, your curiosity and caring for the characters deepens. Stewart’s sharp writing and clear characters full of conflicting needs and emotions make this book a joy to read.

7. Jonathan Lethem, author of The Disappointment Artist, presents his newest collection of essays with a dose of personal history and profound emotional awareness. Author of The Fortress of Solitude, Lethem tells the story of his obsession with pop culture and starts the book out with a fairly objective look at these interests. He then moves on to bare his soul in some ways, as he relates the history of his immediate family.
His parents were bohemians and Lethem relates the upbringing he received and how it affected him. His father was an artist, and Lethem also relates the effects his father’s artistic leanings had on him. The most profound influence though, is his mother’s death when Lethem was still young. His poignant and honest writing on this matter leave no doubt that these essays are powerful. His portrayal of himself as a child is genuine and moving, and the lessons he learns and reveals as the book goes on will stick with you after you are done reading.

8. Diana Gabaldon, author of A Breath of Snow and Ashes, waited nearly four years before releasing another book in her Outlander series. The last book, The Fiery Cross, was released in 2001, and fans of Gabaldon will not be disappointed with the newest book. But if you are new to her writing, this is a great place to begin.
The series tells the story of the Frasers. The husband is a heroic highlander and his wife, Clare, is a time traveler. The book is set in the three years prior to the American Revolution and juxtaposes great historical fiction with a compelling romance. The violence and passion that the author depicts in her newest book are perfect to display her talent for the epic as well as the intimate. Overall, the novel is an incredible journey and an experience into the motivation of the human heart.

9. Nick Hornby, author of A Long Way Down, is known for his modern take on the male experience. His wry humor and grim look at four desperate people make his fourth novel both and odd and moving. The novel opens on the four people who have all converged on a roof in London on New Year’s Eve. The one thing they all have in common, besides their location, is that they have come here to commit suicide.
The stories, revelations, humor, and heartbreak that ensue on that night as four strangers bonded by their misery get to know one another are marvelous. After that night, the group continues to interact in sort of familial way and each has their turn at narration. The humor in the book saves it from becoming too much of a downer and yet the sensitivity with which Hornby treats the subject matter is deft. His ability to tackle this difficult topic is a testament to his talent as a writer.

10. Michael Connelly, author of The Closers, continues his successful series of books centered around LAPD detective Harry Bosch. Connelly’s last book about Bosch, The Narrows, was a great success with readers. Now, the detective is back on the force after a two year retirement and is put on old unsolved cases, or cold cases. He gets his old partner back and sets out to solve some of the unsolvable cases.
The first case involves a killing seventeen years prior and hinges around new DNA evidence. But the telling of this story is not at all predictable, and Connelly does a wonderful job of keeping the reader on their toes. Violence or blood and gore are not the tools of Connelly’s trade. He relies on intrigue, procedure, and wit to make his points. His characters are well developed and keep you rooting for the right people, even when you are not sure who they are. And just when you think you might be getting standard crime novel fare, Connelly throws in some moral aspects that make you see cold case crime in a new way, as its effects on the family of the deceased make Bosch and his partner look anew at their own choices.