Books in 140's Favorite Reads of 2008

Stunning debut. Pitch-perfect quarterlife crisis of six friends/lovers. Canadian and twenty something? This is your life if you were cooler. (140 characters)

The most uncomfortable, screwed up, brilliantly honest stories I've ever read. July is crazy. And a genius. Not an easy read, but worth it. (139 characters)

Satrapi's early life comes alive in this beautiful graphic novel, exploring growing up in Iran — its culture, politics, war, gender and more. (140 characters)

A delightful imagining of the Queen as a reader. Short & sweet. Evokes thoughts on reading, readership, royalty, loyalty and one's purpose. (139 characters)

Imaginative Jewish alternate history, look at identity politics & detective thriller combined! It's complex, funny and worth the hype. (Only 134 characters!)

A great, mature YA novel, filled with originality, fantasy, romance, mystery, battles. Very on-trend w/ strong female lead and strong plot. (139 characters)

A beautifully bleak and haunting story of a crime affecting a small community in 1800s, told from different views. Unique & compelling. (Again, 134 characters! Such waste!)

Mid-life crisis at it's best (worst?) as Clary learns about selflessness, sharing, family and love by guiltily taking in homeless family. (137 characters)

An insightful, well-researched, uncannily timely look at debt Explores debt through history, culture, literature. A current must-read. (134 characters)

An honest examination of a father/son relationship and parenting, more so than a cinematic education. The emotions are raw and powerful. (135 characters)