Best Books of 2006 - Bev Russell, Library Director
(This column appeared in the April 1, 2007, Star-Herald)
Every year editors at "Library Journal" list what they believe were the best books for the previous year. It is fun for me to compare my book selection skills against what they consider the best. Frequently, the books on the list are ones that I considered purchasing, but for one reason or another, I thought they would not find many readers in our community. Librarians always try to purchase well-written books, but sometimes the subject matter is such that the book would not be read by library patrons. With a limited book budget a librarian must consider how much a book might circulate when considering a purchase. The "Library Journal" list gives me a second chance to analyze well-written books and decide if they might find a readership in our library.
The "Best Books" are listed by category. The first is a general category, which includes both fiction and non-fiction. Another category lists best "how-to" books. It is the genre fiction category; however, where my judgment and that of the judges matched fairly well this year. Of the twenty-five books listed, the Scottsbluff Public Library has sixteen. (Either I’m getting smarter, or "Library Journal" is getting smarter. I hope it’s me!) After looking at this list and re-reading reviews, I will probably purchase another four of the books. I will discuss the remaining five books with my staff for their informed opinions.
What follows is a list of the books from the "Best Genre Fiction 2006" that the Scottsbluff Library currently owns.
MYSTERY:
Benjamin, Carol Lea. "The Hard Way: A Rachel Alexander Mystery." Reviewers call this one of the best mystery series around. In this book a sleuth goes underground as a homeless person to investigate a subway murder.
Box, C. J. "In Plain Sight: A Joe Pickett Novel." I reviewed this book earlier this year. Joe Pickett is a Wyoming Game Warden. C. J. Box lives in Cheyenne.
Haines, Carolyn. "Penumbra." Set in 1950s Mississippi, this is a story of racial tension and murder.
Spencer-Fleming, Julia. "All Mortal Flesh: A Clare Fergussion/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery." The wife of police chief Russ Van Alstyne is murdered after he confesses his love of Episcopal priest Clare Fergunson.
SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY:
Butcher, Jim. "Proven Guilty: A Novel of the Dresden Files." Jim Butcher is another author, who I reviewed previously. His Dresden Files series is a dark urban fantasy and now is the basis for a television series.
Heinlein, Robert A. & Spider Robinson. "Variable Star." Begun in 1955 by the late science fiction master Heinlein, this is a story of love and loss on a journey to the stars.
McDevitt, Jack. "Odyssey." A journalist discovers a catastrophic secret when he joins a space mission.
ROMANCE:
Balough, Mary. "Simply Love." An unwed teacher finds love with a
wounded war veteran.
Putney, Mary Jo. "The Marriage Spell." In a world where magic is acceptable
and common, an aristocrat and a wizard fall in love but face prejudice, fear,
and danger.
CHRISTIAN FICTION:
Alexander, Tamera. "Rekindled." Alexander’s debut novel is set in the 19th Century American West.
Lewis, Beverly. "The Brethren." The last book in Lewis’ "Annie’s People" trilogy is about an Amish girl’s struggles between her traditional life and her forbidden artistic talents and romance with an outsider.
Tatlock, Ann. "Things We Once Held Dear." Neil Sadler, an artist, tries to reconnect the pieces of his past and understand the path he has chosen.
THRILLERS:
Baldacci, David. "The Collectors." Best-selling author Baldacci sets this page-turner in the Library of Congress rare books room. Reviewers call this Baldacci’s best book in years
Coben, Harlan. "Promise Me." A promise to two young girls comes back to haunt reluctant sleuth Myron Bolitar as he tries to solve a disappearance.
Meltzer, Brad. "The Book of Fate." An aide’s life is changed when he survives an attack on the President of the United States.
Preston, Douglas & Lincoln Child. "Book of the Dead." A new museum exhibit revives an ancient curse. This is the last book in the Pendergast trilogy.
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