And not just because they're easy to wrap
Kerri Miller's Must-Read
"News of the World"by Paulette Jiles
Buy this book
Capt. Jefferson Kyle Kidd is 200 miles into his quest to return a child to her family when he encounters some brigands in rural Texas. "Who you for?" they ask. "Who'd you vote for?"
Jiles' novel takes place in the aftermath of the Civil War, when America was deeply polarized. (Hard to miss the political relevance here.) Just the mention of Confederacy president Jefferson Davis's name in a saloon could earn you a beating or worse.
In the book, lawlessness and violence reign in parts of Texas and Oklahoma — territory that Kidd, an aging widower, must brave on his journey. He has accepted fifty dollars to return young Johanna to her relatives after she was taken by the Kiowa tribe, and he's committed to fulfilling his duty.
Along the way, he earns a bit of money reading dispatches from far-away places to isolated audiences. "Maybe life is just carrying news," Kidd muses one night on the trail. "Surviving to carry the news."
When "News of the World" ended up on a number of Best of 2016 lists, I wondered what all of the fuss was about. Now I know. This book mashes up the drama of "3:10 to Yuma" with a poetic quest that Homer would admire.
And best of all? Jiles has a deep backlist and a memoir. Guess what's going at the top of my reading list for 2017?
-K.M.
Why sci-fi and fantasy matter The genres often get slapped with labels like "dorky" or "juvenile" or "unliterary." But there's much more to them than dragons and spaceships.
More
Ask a bookseller: Print in Portland, Maine"They Can't Kill Us All" by Wesley Lowery
Buy this book
Josh Christie's recommendation of the moment is for "the first book that's a deep dive into the activists of the Black Lives Matter movement and the police on the other side of these conflicts."
More
Imagine Iraq in the year 2103"Iraq + 100," edited by Hassan Blasjim
Buy this book
This new anthology of science fiction and fantasy imagines Iraq 100 years after the invasion of 2003. Harrowing, necessary, and often beautiful, it resists comfort and catharsis.
More
How misunderstandings and good intentions fueled the opioid epidemic"Drug Dealer, MD" by Ann Lembke
Buy this book
From historical fiction to dystopic fantasies, these young adult novels make for thrilling reads.
More
A literary look at one of this year's most debated video gamesSome of the best, wildest, most moving storytelling right now isn't on TV or in movies — it's in video games. So we're taking a literary look at one of this year's hottest games, "No Man's Sky."
More
The best kid's books to give this year: Two experts pick their favorites Two children's book experts share their favorites reads for everyone from toddlers to young adults.
More
The Thread's 21 favorite novels of 2016 Family secrets and alternate histories come together on our impossible-to-narrow-down fiction list.
More
The Thread's top nonfiction picks of 2016Our favorite nonfiction books of the year will make you laugh, cry and learn a lot about microbes.
More
Reality is overrated: The Thread's top sci-fi and fantasy picksTime travel's the hot topic in 2016, but this list dives into other strange and wonderful places.
More
Young at heart: The Thread's top YA picksFrom historical fiction to dystopic fantasies, these young adult novels make for thrilling reads.
More
For the littlest readers: The Thread's children's and middle grade picksFrom magic watches to made-up languages to big sisters and bigger dreams, here's a look at The Thread's favorite books for young readers.
More
Poets' picks: The best poetry collections of 2016Poets from across the country name their favorite collections of the year.
More
