NANCY RANDALL Abraham Verghese's first novel, Cutting for Stone ($26.95, available February 3) is even more phenomenal than his two works of nonfiction. The story of an Ethiopian twin, Marion Stone, shares archetypal themes with many other literary works, yet has a vibrancy and originality all its own. Each scene is poignantly rendered and each character is memorable. This is a must read for 2009.
Ammitav Ghosh is one of our unsung authors. His most recent novel, Sea of Poppies ($26) is not an easy
read but well worth the effort. It tells the story of the slave ship Ibis and its international cast of passengers
and crew members who sail from India to China.
 The man who wrote the definitive book on the Beatles now narrows his scope and chronicles the life of John Lennon. Beginning with his grandfather singing in a minstrel show in America and ending with his senseless murder, Philip Norman gives an insightful view of a very complex individual. John Lennon: The Life ($34.95) describes an artistic genius, as well as the men and women who helped him become the leader of the greatest musical group of the 20th century. | KATHY RILEY
 Fault Lines by Nancy Huston ($14 in paperback). Four generations tell their stories from the present in California to Europe during World War II. The ties that bond families can hide secrets, weave tales of loss, and connect in unexpected ways. Winner of the Prix Femina Prize, this is an outstanding read.
 The Longest Trip Home by John Grogan ($25.95). In this autobiography by the author of Marley & Me, Grogan remembers growing up in a strict Catholic family near Detroit. With this funny and poignant story of adolescent/parental conflict, the author captures us again.
Nine Lives: Death and Life in New Orleans by Dan Baum ($26, available in February). Covering over 40 years, Dan Baum follows the lives of nine residents of New Orleans including the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Through these true stories, we are convinced of how truly unique a city sits along the Mississippi in Louisiana.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford ($24, available in February). Tradition and conflict surround the young love of Chinese Henry and Japanese Keiko in Seattle during World War II. Forty years later Henry learns to understand his youthful decisions and to accept his own son’s adulthood.
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