Semicolon’s 12 Best Fiction Books I Read in 2009

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. A book about memory, mathematics, and friendship. Semicolon review here.

Home by Marilyn Robinson. Reading this sort-of-sequel to Gilead made me want to go back and re-read that book. And it made me pray some more for my own prodigal.

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. Semicolon review here.

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister. An extended exercise in using food and cooking as a metaphor and catalyst for life, The School is a beautifully written book. Semicolon review here.

Dooomsday Book by Connie WIllis. Kivrin, a history student at Oxford in 2048, is stranded in an English village in the early 1300’s, and all of her vaccinations and preparations for time-traveling won’t keep her from experiencing the most harrowing and nightmarish time of her young life. Semicolon review here.

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis. A delightful time travel romp in which the fate of the universe may or may not be at stake. Semicolon review here.

Passage by Connie Willis. I’m thinking I should add one of Ms. Willis’s books to my Best Fiction Ever list. I like her writing that much. This one is about NDE’s, or Near-Death Experiences.

The Chosen by Chaim Potok. An amazing book about fathers and sons and friendship and tradition and the pull of change. What really drew me into the story was the authentic detail about Jewish and Hassidic life and belief. I loved it so much that I had to find the sequel and read it next.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Volume 1, The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson. Not just for children. In fact, I would argue that it’s not really accessible to many children under the age of twelve or thirteen. However, it is a paradigm-shifting fictional look at the American Revolution through the eyes of a young black man. Semicolon review here.

Fieldwork by Mischa Berlinski. You really should read the book before you read my thoughts about the book because there are many, many things to discuss here. But you should come to the book without preconceived notions. So go thou hence to the bookstore or the library, and then come back, and we’ll talk. Semicolon review here.

Andersonville by MacKinlay Kantor. Pulitzer Prize-winning epic novel about the Civil War Confederate prison of Andersonville. Semicolon review here.

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork. I’d hate for adults to miss this one just because it’s marketed as Young Adult. So, I’ve put it on my young adult list and on this list. This story of a young man with Asperger’s who learns to met the Real World and still be very much himself is excellent reading for anyone above the age of thirteen. Marcelo is quite frank about sexual matters, in keeping with his literal nature and style of communication.

The Best Fiction Book I Read in 2009: The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. And the others provided some stiff competition. I recommend all twelve of the above.

7 thoughts on “Semicolon’s 12 Best Fiction Books I Read in 2009

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  2. Oh yes, I want to read Home. I bought it for my mom for Christmas (intending to sneak in a read before mailing it off!) but I didn’t get to read it for myself. It’s on my list though. I’d probably need to reread Gilead first to refresh my memory.

  3. The Sparrow is an awesome book. Glad you liked it so well. The sequel, Children of God, is just as good. Happy New Year! Thanks for the list. B.

  4. We need the link to your review of To Say Nothing of the Dog.

    I read Home too–other than that, your list is all new to me! Oh, except for The Chosen–I must read the sequel sometime.

    I remember when my mother read Andersonville–she couldn’t put it down.

    Great list!

  5. I recently bought Octavian Nothing because a friend recommended it. I’m glad to see you liked it, too. Looking forward to reading it!

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