It can't really be said that Alan Furst is "under the radar," given the amount of exposure his latest book got in the New York Times and elsewhere, but he is so good I must put in a plug for him. The title I most recently finished is "Spies of the Balkans," but most of his ten or so novels share certain characteristics.  Think "Casablanca" crossed with John Le Carre.  The heroes are mostly ordinary men doing their best in extraordinary times (before, during and after WW II in Europe).   Like Rick in the movie, they are strong but silent types who struggle to lead meaningful professional, family and love lives while all hell is breaking loose around them.   Drawing on inner reservoirs of patriotism and morality, they choose somewhat against their inclination to join the fight against the evils of fascism.   As in Le Carre's novels, the details of everyday spycraft are meticulous and the plotting is tight.  Take one of these with you on your next vacation.

Submitted by Mary Rindfleisch, Assistant Director

Slates Magazine has offered a slightly different take on the best books of 2012.  View their list of "The Overlooked Books of 2012."

Here's a tip for mystery readers who like historical settings and unique scenarios-the Billy Boyle World War II series by James R. Benn.   Boyle is a Boston cop (Irish, naturally) who is distantly connected by marriage to General Eisenhower.   When he is called up during the Second World War, strings are pulled to get him assigned to Ike's staff. - but this in no way puts him out of harm's way.  The General employs Billy, along with a cast of intriguing recurring characters, to investigate murders and other crimes that impinge on the successful conduct of the war for the allies.  The result is a series of well-crafted detective stories that also introduce the reader to less-well known aspects of the war, from IRA sabotage of the British war effort to what was really on the mind of Vatican officials as Hitler and the Germans advanced on Rome.  The series has gotten rave reviews but still hovers just below the radar - give it a try!

Submitted by Mary Rindfleisch, Assistant Director

It's the time of year when publications pick there best books of the year.    Here are some of the ones that have weighed in on their choices for the best of 2012:

The New York Times 10 Best Books of 2012
The New York Times 100 Notable Books
The Washington Post Best Books of 2012
Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2012

The National Book Award Winners were announced last night.  Here are the winners:

Fiction: The Round House by Louise Erdrich
Non-Fiction: Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
Young Adult Literature: Goblin Secrets by William Alexander
Poetry: Bewilderment: New Poems and Translations by David Ferry

The  best books of the year lists are starting to come in.   Here are Publishers Weekly's choices for the Best Books of 2012.

David Mitchell has gotten a lot of attention recently because of the forthcoming star-studded film of his "Cloud Atlas."  While I enjoyed reading it for a book group earlier this year, this is a highly unusual book in every way, and the movie promises to be even more challenging.

But Mitchell has also written some more traditional novels that are simple yet stunning.   During the storm, I found the time to read (by candlelight) his 2006, "Black Swan Green," a coming-of-age novel set in a small village in England during the time of the Falklands War in the early 1980s.  Hero Jason Taylor will remind some people of Holden Caulfield, with hints of the boy from "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime."  Mitchell has done an incredible job of getting inside the head of this young man, and bringing the reader along.  To say more about the plot would spoil the joy of discovery, but give this one a try if you enjoy exceptional character development and a truly humane attitude by an author towards his creations.

Submitted by Mary Rindfleisch, Assistant Director