Best Books of the Year
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Washington Post Best Books of the Year 2009

Washington Post Best Books of the Year 2009 names 177 books across 3 categories. 44 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

10 Best Books

  1. A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Mooresource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Strange Eventful History: The Dramatic Lives of Ellen Terry, Henry Irving, and Their Remarkable Families by Michael Holroydsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. American Rust by Philipp Meyersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Family Properties: Race, Real Estate, and the Exploitation of Black Urban America by Beryl Sattersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunnsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong by Terry Teachoutsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Stitches: A Memoir by David Smallsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk, translated by Maureen Freelysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Stalin Epigram by Robert Littellsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantelsource (opens in a new tab)

Notable Fiction

  1. 31 Hours by Masha Hamiltonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Friend of the Family by Lauren Grodsteinsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolricksource (opens in a new tab)
  4. A Separate Country by Robert Hickssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. After You've Gone by Jeffrey Lentsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. All Other Nights by Dara Hornsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. American Fantastic Tales by Peter Straubsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. An Expensive Education by Nick McDonellsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Angels of Destruction by Keith Donohuesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Await Your Reply by Dan Chaonsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Bad Traffic by Simon Lewissource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Big Machine by Victor LaVallesource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Blame by Michelle Hunevensource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Blood's a Rover by James Ellroysource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Border Songs by Jim Lynchsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Darling Jim by Christian Moerksource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Day After Night by Anita Diamantsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Eclipse by Richard North Pattersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Far Bright Star by Robert Olmsteadsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Far North by Marcel Therouxsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Fatal Lies by Frank Tallissource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Finch by Jeff VanderMeersource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Ford County by John Grishamsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Four Freedoms by John Crowleysource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Generosity by Richard Powerssource (opens in a new tab)
  26. Girl in a Blue Dress: A Novel Inspired by the Life & Marriage of Charles Dickens by Gaynor Arnoldsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. Glover's Mistake by Nick Lairdsource (opens in a new tab)
  28. Handle with Care by Jodi Picoultsource (opens in a new tab)
  29. Hardball by Sara Paretskysource (opens in a new tab)
  30. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffeneggersource (opens in a new tab)
  31. Honolulu by Alan Brennertsource (opens in a new tab)
  32. How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve Helysource (opens in a new tab)
  33. How to Paint a Dead Man by Sarah Hallsource (opens in a new tab)
  34. I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubanisource (opens in a new tab)
  35. In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddinsource (opens in a new tab)
  36. Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchonsource (opens in a new tab)
  37. Invisible by Paul Austersource (opens in a new tab)
  38. Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornbysource (opens in a new tab)
  39. Lake Overturn by Vestal McIntyresource (opens in a new tab)
  40. Lark and Termite by Jayne Anne Phillipssource (opens in a new tab)
  41. Lima Nights by Marie Aranasource (opens in a new tab)
  42. Little Bee by Chris Cleavesource (opens in a new tab)
  43. Look Again by Lisa Scottolinesource (opens in a new tab)
  44. Love and Summer by William Trevorsource (opens in a new tab)
  45. Monster in the Box by Ruth Rendellsource (opens in a new tab)
  46. My Father's Tears by John Updikesource (opens in a new tab)
  47. New York by Edward Rutherfurdsource (opens in a new tab)
  48. Pariah by Dave Zeltsermansource (opens in a new tab)
  49. Road Dogs by Elmore Leonardsource (opens in a new tab)
  50. Sag Harbor by Colson Whiteheadsource (opens in a new tab)
  51. Sashenka by Simon Montefioresource (opens in a new tab)
  52. Shadows Still Remain by Peter de Jongesource (opens in a new tab)
  53. Spooner by Pete Dextersource (opens in a new tab)
  54. That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russosource (opens in a new tab)
  55. The Believers by Zoë Hellersource (opens in a new tab)
  56. The Brothers Boswell by Philip Baruthsource (opens in a new tab)
  57. The Calligrapher's Daughter by Eugenia Kimsource (opens in a new tab)
  58. The Children's Book by A.S. Byattsource (opens in a new tab)
  59. The Confessions of Edward Day by Valerie Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  60. The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stottsource (opens in a new tab)
  61. The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  62. The Financial Lives of Poets by Jess Waltersource (opens in a new tab)
  63. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson, translated by Reg Keelandsource (opens in a new tab)
  64. The Humbling by Philip Rothsource (opens in a new tab)
  65. The Little Stranger by Sarah Waterssource (opens in a new tab)
  66. The Long Division by Derek Nikitassource (opens in a new tab)
  67. The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Hustonsource (opens in a new tab)
  68. The Renegades by T. Jefferson Parkersource (opens in a new tab)
  69. The Rose of Sebastopol by Katharine McMahonsource (opens in a new tab)
  70. The Scarecrow by Michael Connellysource (opens in a new tab)
  71. The Scenic Route by Binnie Kirshenbaumsource (opens in a new tab)
  72. The Signal by Ron Carlsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  73. The Song Is You by Arthur Phillipssource (opens in a new tab)
  74. The Vagrants by Yiyun Lisource (opens in a new tab)
  75. The Way Home by George Pelecanossource (opens in a new tab)
  76. The Wet Nurse's Tale by Erica Eisdorfersource (opens in a new tab)
  77. The White Queen by Philippa Gregorysource (opens in a new tab)
  78. This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Troppersource (opens in a new tab)
  79. Tin Drum by Günter Grasssource (opens in a new tab)
  80. Under the Dome by Stephen Kingsource (opens in a new tab)
  81. Wanting by Richard Flanagansource (opens in a new tab)
  82. Woodsburner by John Pipkinsource (opens in a new tab)

Notable Nonfiction

  1. 1959 by Fred Kaplansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Brain Wider Than the Sky by Andrew Levysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. A Bright and Guilty Place by Richard Raynersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. A Dawn Like Thunder by Robert J. Mrazeksource (opens in a new tab)
  5. A Fiery Peace in a Cold War by Neil Sheehansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. A Jury of Her Peers by Elaine Showaltersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnitsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. A. Lincoln by Ronald C. White Jr.source (opens in a new tab)
  9. Alger Hiss and the Battle for History by Susan Jacobysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Annie's Ghosts by Steve Luxenbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Armenian Golgotha by Grigoris Balakiansource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Born Round by Frank Brunisource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Born to Run by Christopher McDougallsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Boy Alone by Karl Taro Greenfeldsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Bright Young People by D.J. Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Charles Dickens by Michael Slatersource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Cheerful Money by Tad Friendsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Fool's Gold by Gillian Tettsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure by Matthew Algeosource (opens in a new tab)
  20. How Rome Fell by Adrian Goldsworthysource (opens in a new tab)
  21. In Cheap We Trust by Lauren Webersource (opens in a new tab)
  22. In Fed We Trust by David Wesselsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Is God a Mathematician? by Mario Liviosource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Just Like Us by Helen Thorpesource (opens in a new tab)
  25. K Blows Top by Peter Carlsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. Lit by Mary Karrsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. Logicomix by Apostolos Doxiadissource (opens in a new tab)
  28. Misadventures of the Most Favored Nations by Paul Blusteinsource (opens in a new tab)
  29. Mr. America by Mark Adamssource (opens in a new tab)
  30. My Two Polish Grandfathers by Witold Rybczynskisource (opens in a new tab)
  31. Nothing Was the Same by Kay Redfield Jamisonsource (opens in a new tab)
  32. On Hallowed Ground by Robert M. Poolesource (opens in a new tab)
  33. On Monsters by Stephen T. Asmasource (opens in a new tab)
  34. Open by Andre Agassisource (opens in a new tab)
  35. Passing Strange by Martha A. Sandweisssource (opens in a new tab)
  36. Perfect by Lew Papersource (opens in a new tab)
  37. Pink Brain, Blue Brain by Lise Eliotsource (opens in a new tab)
  38. Raymond Carver by Carol Sklenickasource (opens in a new tab)
  39. Reading in the Brain by Stanislas Dehaenesource (opens in a new tab)
  40. Shake the Devil Off by Ethan Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  41. So Damn Much Money by Robert G. Kaisersource (opens in a new tab)
  42. Somewhere Towards the End by Diana Athillsource (opens in a new tab)
  43. Soul of the Age by Jonathan Batesource (opens in a new tab)
  44. Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kiddersource (opens in a new tab)
  45. Sweet Thunder by Wil Haygoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  46. Tchaikovsky by Roland John Wileysource (opens in a new tab)
  47. The Age of Wonder by Richard Holmessource (opens in a new tab)
  48. The Anti-Communist Manifestos by John V. Flemingsource (opens in a new tab)
  49. The Art of Making Money by Jason Kerstensource (opens in a new tab)
  50. The Ascent of George Washington by John Ferlingsource (opens in a new tab)
  51. The Battle for America 2008 by Dan Balz and Haynes Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  52. The Big Burn by Timothy Egansource (opens in a new tab)
  53. The Fatal Strain by Alan Sipresssource (opens in a new tab)
  54. The First Tycoon by T.J. Stilessource (opens in a new tab)
  55. The Fourth Part of the World by Toby Lestersource (opens in a new tab)
  56. The Hawk and the Dove by Nicholas Thompsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  57. The Healing of America by T.R. Reidsource (opens in a new tab)
  58. The Hindus by Wendy Donigersource (opens in a new tab)
  59. The Last of His Mind by John Thorndikesource (opens in a new tab)
  60. The Least Worst Place by Karen J. Greenbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  61. The Lost City of Z by David Grannsource (opens in a new tab)
  62. The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday by Neil MacFarquharsource (opens in a new tab)
  63. The Natural History of Unicorns by Chris Laverssource (opens in a new tab)
  64. The Photographer by Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre and Frédéric Lemerciersource (opens in a new tab)
  65. The Poison King by Adrienne Mayorsource (opens in a new tab)
  66. The Queen of the Ring by Jeff Leensource (opens in a new tab)
  67. The Rebellion of Ronald Reagan by James Mannsource (opens in a new tab)
  68. The Simpsons by John Ortvedsource (opens in a new tab)
  69. The Sisters of Sinai by Janet Soskicesource (opens in a new tab)
  70. The Snakehead by Patrick Radden Keefesource (opens in a new tab)
  71. The Third Reich at War by Richard J. Evanssource (opens in a new tab)
  72. The Uncrowned King by Kenneth Whytesource (opens in a new tab)
  73. The Unforgiving Minute by Craig M. Mullaneysource (opens in a new tab)
  74. The Way of Herodotus by Justin Marozzisource (opens in a new tab)
  75. The Year That Changed the World by Michael Meyersource (opens in a new tab)
  76. There Is No Freedom Without Bread! by Constantine Pleshakovsource (opens in a new tab)
  77. Under the Big Sky by Jackson J. Bensonsource (opens in a new tab)
  78. Unlikely Allies by Joel Richard Paulsource (opens in a new tab)
  79. Vicksburg, 1863 by Winston Groomsource (opens in a new tab)
  80. Victor Fleming by Michael Sragowsource (opens in a new tab)
  81. War Child by Emmanuel Jal and Megan Lloyd Daviessource (opens in a new tab)
  82. When China Rules the World by Martin Jacquessource (opens in a new tab)
  83. When Everything Changed by Gail Collinssource (opens in a new tab)
  84. When a Heart Turns Rock Solid by Timothy Blacksource (opens in a new tab)
  85. When the Game Was Ours by Larry Bird, Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Jackie MacMullansource (opens in a new tab)

About the Washington Post Best Books of the Year

Three lists a year: 10 Best Books, Notable Fiction, and Notable Nonfiction. 2011-2025 notable lists are WaPo's 50 notable works of fiction and nonfiction. 2006-2010 notable lists are Book World's holiday Best Books of the year, whose genre subsections are folded into fiction and nonfiction; 2006 and 2011 top lists are top five fiction plus top five nonfiction. WaPo pages were read through the Wayback Machine because washingtonpost.com blocks direct fetches. Secondary sources where no WaPo copy was readable: the 2008 top 10 and nine of the 2010 top 10 come from Publishers Lunch; the 2025 lists are cut off by the paywall in every archived copy and come from yearendlists.com (item 1 on each WaPo page matches). WaPo's separate genre lists (thrillers, SF, poetry, graphic novels) and critics' personal picks are left out. No list is ranked.

Organization: The Washington Post. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2009