Another Year, Another List

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Last year I had this crazy idea I'd read 50 books. That didn't happen. The only explanation is I didn't make it a priority. Whatever. This year, I didn't set any reading goals, focusing my energies and effort on music instead. That's not to say I didn't read any books. You might have watched my nightstand over there on the right (slowly) change about 20 times this year. For the most part, I didn't have much to say about the books that popped up over there. Some of the regular readers mentioned them from time to time, but for the most part they went without comment.

What I also didn't talk about was where those book choices came from. Really regular readers know that last year about this time, Jeff Bryant and I edited a list of "underrated" writers we published on his domain. We polled about 20+ litbloggers to get their recommendations for those writers they felt weren't getting the attention they deserved. The results became the 2005 Underrated Writers Project.

I don't know about the rest of the people who saw that list, but I found some great writers as a result. Jeff Ford, Jim Ruland, and J. Robert Lennon, just to name a few. So, even if it didn't benefit anyone else, it benefited me. I loved reading those guys' books. Great discoveries all. I still go back to that list when I'm looking for something to read.

So, what else is there to say? Jeff and I put another list together this year. Only a couple repeats, and only a couple overlaps. We definitely polled the right people to get a list way more unpredictable than what you'll find among a lot of over-hyping music blogs (this one among them).

Take a look. Pick a writer at random. Explore the links and get to know him or her. Then pick a book. I'll bet you're not disappointed.

We hope you'll enjoy the 2006 Underrated Writers Project.

Comments

[G Dazey]

Let's recap:

"That didn't happen"
"Whatever."
"for the most part they went without comment"
"even if it didn't benefit anyone else"
"over-hyping music blogs (this one among them)"
and
"Jesus, this story bums me out."

Christ, now you're bumming us all out. WTF?
You're making great contributions here, and we're the beneficiaries.
Chin up, buttercup.

[traca de broon]

Fantastic! Thanks for this. Grendel and I were just discussing Laird Hunt last night, actually, and his appearance on this list confirms that I want to read him. And how exciting (and deserving) to see our own Cristina Henríquez here!

[Trevor Jackson]

Thanks for the concern, G Dazey. I never meant to bum anyone out, just some of my typical self-deprecation, trying to head any charges of hypocrisy or arrogance off at the pass. Keep coming back, you'll see lots of it.

Hey, Traca! Yeah, I emailed Grendel last night about Cristina making the list, remembering the interview he'd done with her earlier this year.

I've got Hunt on my Xmas list b/c of the UW List. He's one of two writers to get TWO nominations this year.