While the nature of my job is to build a list of books by essentially choosing my favorite book manuscripts for any given year, nonetheless at the close of every year I feel compelled to hop on the bandwagon and pull together my favorite books, movies, music and other highlights of the previous year. The close of a decade seems as good a time to start the practice, even if I’m a couple days late. And after all, the favorite book manuscripts I’ve read in 2009 won’t be published until 2010 at the earliest.
If I were to look at the entire decade, I could simply draw my favorites from Copper Canyon Press’s list and leave it at that. It’s been a momentous decade for the Press, marked by two Pulitzer Prizes, a poet laureate, several National Book Awards and nearly 200 hundred poetry titles. It would be Sophie’s choice for me to choose my favorites from our list. So hear are a few of my personal highlights from 2009. I’d love to hear some of your favorites–especially if they include a Copper Canyon book!
Michael Wiegers, Executive Editor
Favorite Book(s) of the Year
My Happiness Bears No Relation to Happiness: A Poet’s Life in the Palestinian Century by Adina Hoffman.
Publishing Taha Muhammad Ali’s So What is one of the highlights of my publishing career. Reading this biography-cum-political-history was an equally transformational experience. Stay tuned for my longer review of the book in the near future. Or do yourself a favor and go out and buy it. You will not regret this one.
The Shadow of Sirius by W.S. Merwin.
I hope the rest of the authors on Copper Canyon’s list will forgive me, particularly since I first read this book in 2007. It makes my list not only because our office exploded when it won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize, but because I still remember the first time I read the manuscript of this book. After reading it, my first reaction was very simple: I was happy to be alive in a world that could provide us with such poetry, that could provide such a model of integrity, intentional living and right livelihood. It’s a gorgeous collection.
Favorite CD
Hometowns by Rural Alberta Advantage
Although this trio from Canada (why is all the good independent pop music coming from Canada these days?) released Hometowns in 2008, they didn’t find a label and wider US distribution until 2009. Upon first listening they sound somewhat like Neutral Milk Hotel, but they are entirely their own sound. In their live performances these folks are about as unassuming as it gets. Hometowns was in heavy rotation for me all year long.
I’m a music junkie, so dozens of albums could qualify as runners up, including Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, XX, Ran Blake, Bill Frisell, Ghana Select, Marvellous Boy, but currently I’d give a two-way tied for second place to:
Born on Flag Day by Deer Tick
AND
Know Better, Learn Faster by Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
Favorite Song
“Sleep All Summer” by The National & St. Vincent
Favorite Movie
Dare I admit that I laughed hysterically during Hangover?
Favorite Art Exhibit
Francis Bacon: A Centenary Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Runner Up: Alexander Calder at Seattle Art Museum.
Favorite Manuscripts of 2009 (eventually to be books from Copper Canyon Press):
Check back in the next day or two to see the highlights of 2010 and beyond!