2009 Recap: Lists

It's rear-view mirror time again. Here are the titles which gave me the most satisfaction in 2009 ranked in various categories. As usual most of my favorites weren't actually released last year. This is the first in a series of year-end lists I plan to post on B between now and January. The others will be more photo-oriented.

Books

1. The Tennis Partner, Abraham Verghese (1998)
2. The Legend of Colton H. Bryant, Alexandra Fuller (2008)
3. Uncertainty, David Lindley (2007)
4. Everything That Rises, Lawrence Weschler (2006)
5. Strength in What Remains, Tracy Kidder (2009)
6. The Lost City of Z, David Grann (2009)
7. Zeitoun, Dave Eggers (2009)
8. Things the Grandchildren Should Know, Mark Oliver Everett (2008)
9. Limelight, Helen Gee (1997)
10. The Sixteenth Minute, Jeff Guinn and Douglas Perry (2005)

Photography Books

1. Nothing Special, Martin Kollar (2007)
2. Unknown Weegee, ICP (2006)
3. Looking In, Sarah Greenough (2009)
4. The Sadness of Men, Philip Perkis (2008)
5. Photographs 1989-2006, Tom Sandberg (2007)
6. The Diana Show, David Featherstone, Ed. (1980)
7. Boystown, Carter, Hickey, Pacheco, & Witliff (2000)
8. United States 1970-1975, Jacob Holdt (2007)
9. The World From My Front Porch, Larry Towell (2009)
10. The Neugents, David M. Spear (1998)

Films

1. Harlan County USA, Barbara Kopple (1976)
2. Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party, Robert Brinkman (2005)
3. The TV Set, Jake Kasdan (2006)
4. Synocdoche, New York, Charlie Kaufman (2008)
5. Salesman, The Maysles Brothers (1968)
6. 4 Months, 3 Weeks, & 2 Days, Cristian Mungiu (2007)
7. Lars and the Real Girl, Craig Gillespie (2007)
8. Rachel Getting Married, Jonathan Demme (2008)
9. Ponyo, Hiyao Miyazaki (2009)
10. Anvil, Sacha Gervasi (2009)

Music

1. The Tanzania Sound, Various (1987)
2. Singer/Songwriter, Kris Kristofferson (1991)
3. Heart of the Congos, Congos (1977)
4. Noble Beast, Andrew Bird (2009)
5. Sweetheart of the Rodeo, The Byrds (1968)
6. Bonnie Raitt, Bonnie Raitt (1971)
7. Arthur..., The Kinks (1969)
8. Vaselines, The Way of the Vaselines (1992)
9. Gilles Peterson in Africa (2005)
10. Offend Maggie, Deerhoof (2008)
11. Brutal Out Deh, The Itals (1981)
12. Honeycomb, Frank Black (2005)
13. The Natch'l Blues, Taj Mahal (1968)
14. Hold On, I'm Comin', Sam and Dave (1966)
15. Church Mouth, Portugal. The Man (2007)