The best biographies and memoirs of 2014
From the U. K.’s The Guardian: “ this year’s roundup of life writing.”
The best poetry books of 2014
Also from the U. K.’s The Guardian
Best Books 2014: Slate Staff Picks
Slate’s columnists, editors, and bloggers pick their favorite books of the year.
Our Favorite Books of 2014: Newsweek Staff Picks
Though far from exhaustive (our apologies, Monsieur Piketty), this 20-book list is meant as a small glimpse at the books we read and loved in 2014. It’s an eclectic grouping, ranging from scholarly tomes about tax policy to National Book Award winner Phil Klay’s war vignettes to blog-to-book offerings from The Toast’s Mallory Ortberg and Pitchfork Reviews Reviews’ David Shapiro.
Books of the year 2014: Literary memoirs
From another U. K. publication, The Independent. This article includes a link to the publication’s other Best Books of 2014 lists.
Page turners
The Economist offers its list of the years best books in politics and current affairs; history; economics and business; science and technology; culture, society, and travel; and fiction.
Best books of 2014
Newsday’s books editor and regular reviewers highlight their 10 favorite books of 2014.
Ayelet Waldman Rages Against the New York Times Notable Books List. Here’s How the Sausage Gets Made.
Not everyone is happy about these “best books of 2014” lists:
The New York Times unveiled its annual roundup of “100 Notable Books” Tuesday, throwing a flattering light on 2014’s top fiction and nonfiction offerings. But one author did not come off in a flattering light: Ayelet Waldman stormed Twitter to complain that her novel Love and Treasure wasn’t on the list, despite a favorable review from the Times back in May. (For what it’s worth, Waldman’s skin seems to have unique, flattering-light-repellant properties. She’s a provocateur who has detailed the trials of perhaps not loving her children enough and of being the only mother in her social circle to enjoy a passionate, consuming sex life.)
Waldman’s opening shot:
”I am really not dealing well with having failed to make the @nytimes notable book list. Love & Treasure is a fucking great novel IISSM.”
According to this article, Waldman has deleted her tweets, but there’s a link to a site that displays them.
Why shouldn’t Ayelet Waldman complain?
Ron Charles of the Washington Post offers his take on the Waldman affair.
