By now, you all should have at least drafted your letters to Santa, and I have a few literary essentials that you definitely want stuffed in your stocking this year. Here's a collection of the top books of 2013 that are bound to please that special someone. I know at least half of these will be on my Christmas list (lookin' at you, Mom). I chose these based on bestseller lists from The New York Times, Publisher's Weekly and favorites from my own bookshelf.
Literary Fiction
1. "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt
2. "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
3. "The Luminaries" by Eleanor Catton
4. "Death of the Black-Haired Girl" by Robert Stone
5. "The Isle of Youth" by Laura van den Berg
6. "The People in the Trees" by HanyaYanagihara
Mystery Thrillers
1. "The Crimson Fog" by Paul Halter
2. "The Silent Wife" by A. S. A. Harrison
3. "The Other Child" by Charlotte Link
4. "Gods and Beasts" by Denise Mina
5. "Murder as a Fine Art" by David Morrell
6. "Enigma of China: An Inspector Chen Novel" by QiuXiaolong
Non-fiction
1. "Killing Jesus" by Bill O'Reilly
2. "Humans of New York" by Brandon Stanton
3. "Orange is the New Black" by Piper Kerman
4. "Lean In" by Sheryl Sandberg
5. "David and Goliath" by Malcolm Gladwell
6. "Let Me Off At The Top!" by Ron Burgundy
Contact Meghan Thomassen at mthomass@nd.edu
