Booksellers recommend their best reads of 2001

By MARGIE THOMSON

Books are a good match whatever the weather, but they certainly come into their own at Christmas, whether you're buying for others or yourself.

If only you could remember the names of those books which have captured your interest over the past months!

We spoke to six booksellers to find out which titles are favourites this season, as well as the ones these book-loving individuals feel especially passionate about.

Some of the answers are obvious. We need hardly mention Harry, who continues to sell insanely, but also selling summer-hotly is that "Harry Potter for women", Diana Gabaldon's The Fiery Cross, which publisher Random House says is the biggest single release it has ever done, and which will make three-and-a-half times more in dollar value than the last John Grisham.

Billy Connolly's biography, Billy, by his wife Pamela Stephenson, proves that behind every clown there are tears. This tale of heartbreak and ha-ha is "walking out the door", but so is James Belich's Paradise Reforged, a serious, thoughtful read which nevertheless is in the must-have category, mentioned by several booksellers as the essential New Zealand history, following on from his Making Peoples which is also selling well in its new paperback form.

The cooking book that was mentioned by just about everybody is Donna Hay's Off the Shelf, although if you want to read about food or one man's bizarre odyssey around the planet in search of the perfect meal, Anthony (Kitchen Confidential) Bourdain's A Cook's Tour should keep you squeamishly riveted to your seat and safely out of the kitchen. "You'll never want to travel again," said one fan.

All of which goes to show that we're as varied and eclectic at the beach as we are at any other time. Light, frothy and fun is good, but sometimes we all need something more substantial to chew on.

Feed the mind!

Bennetts Booksellers, West City

Murray Gray:

There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar. "A smart, young teenage kids' book by the author of The Holes."

Five Boys by Mike Jackson. "Quirky contemporary British fiction. During the Second World War, five boys are evacuated from London to a village full of strange characters."

You Don't Know the Half of it by Aaron Slight. "The autobiography of a cult figure, the very successful superbike racer, back on the track after brain surgery."

The Book of Rock. "It's huge but it's only $50, is comprehensive and has beautiful layout."

Appetite by Nigel Slater. "The guy's just great. I love his attitude to food."

From Tamaki-Makau-Rau to Auckland by R.C.J. Stone. "My personal favourite. I read this history of Auckland as if it were a novel."

Borders Books and Music

Corrie Dark:

When I Loved Myself Enough by Kim McMillan. "It's like Don't Sweat The Small Stuff, but more nicey nice. It's cute, with a pep-talky, feel-good phrase on each page."

Girls' Night In edited by Jessica Adams. "A collection of short stories by 20 popular female writers including Marian Keyes."

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. "Brilliant."

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. "It's a brand new style of science fiction/fantasy but tied in to the classic literature."

The Worst Case Scenario handbooks by Joshua Piven. "As well as the original, which teaches how to escape from physical dangers such as sharks, the new editions address the perils of travel, and of dating and sex. Hilarious."

No Logo by Naomi Klein. "This analysis of global capitalism remains a constant seller - we're mentioned in it."

Dymocks

Gail Woodward:

The Sweetest Dream by Doris Lessing. "Such intelligent writing."

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. "The story of Mary and Anne Boleyn at the court of Henry VIII. Good on historical facts, but a great story as well."

A Spy's Life by Henry Porter. "A thriller nominated by the Economist as one of its books of the year."

The Viceroy's Daughter by Anne de Courcy. "The story of the Kurzon sisters: politics, society and scandal in London of the 1920s and 1930s."

The Day My Bum Went Psycho by Andy Griffiths. "Perfect for boys."

Jane Austen: Antipodean Views by Susannah Fullerton. "A wonderful number of New Zealand contributors that will appeal across all types of people. A great stocking filler."

Red Dog by Louis de Bernieres. "A lovely read. I cried at the end."

Unity Books

Carolyn Alexander:

Atonement by Ian McEwan. "One of the best books I've read this year. Powerful, shocking and moving."

The Secret History of Modernism by C. K. Stead. "As accessible, intelligent, elegantly written as Talking About O'Dwyer."

Food: A History by Felipe Fernandez Arnesto. "Huge, erudite and enjoyable history."

CEO of the Sofa by P.J. O'Rourke. "At home with the kids. Very, very funny."

Uncle Tungsten: Memoir of a chemical boyhood by Oliver Sacks. "Charts the growth of the mind with a history of science and chemistry."

The Extinction Club by Robert Twigger. "A delightful surprise of a book, a history of the Milu, the Chinese deer, but also with the author's story about writing the book."

Whitcoulls

Dorothy Vinicombe:

Dead Famous by Ben Elton. "Such a great spoof. It appeals to those who hate reality TV and those who love it."

Area 7 by Matthew Riley. "Techno thriller for teenagers. Renegade members of the military believe the country has sold out democracy and decide to take the president captive. Chilling. Good boy stuff."

One for my Baby by Tony Parsons. "Alfie swears off romance after his wife is mysteriously killed. Clever social satire. Nick Hornby-ish."

Jack by Jack Welch. "Corporate dynamo Welch led General Electric for 20 years. Inspiring."

Gladiator by Michael Laws. "The Norm Hewitt story. I wouldn't typically read a rugby biography but this is fascinating."

Tiger Woods: How I Play Golf. "The closest most of us will get to a master class."

The Kiwi Kids Fact Book by John Parker. "Who, what, when, where, why at a glance. Like a mini Guinness Book of Records."

Tribute edited by Paul Verdon. "The 100 best New Zealand rugby players, selected by a team of experts. Colin Meads is number 1. The men will spend all Christmas Day arguing about it."

Women's Bookshop

Carole Beu:

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. "Extraordinary. A bizarre assortment of international hostages demonstrates the ultimate humanity of us all."

The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville. "Winner of the 2001 Orange Prize for Fiction, features two ungainly and unlikely characters and is an absolute delight."

The Dark Room by Rachel Seiffert. "A powerful and affecting examination of the legacy of atrocity. Shortlisted for both the Booker Prize and the Guardian Prize for Best First Book."

Hotel World by Ali Smith. "The playful, inventive and mesmerising story of five women in one hotel. Shortlisted for both the Booker and the Orange Prizes."

Dogside Story by Patricia Grace. "Very East Coast New Zealand, with Maori dealing with Maori issues. Absolutely wonderful. Longlisted for the Booker; won the Kiriyama Pacific Rim Prize."

Breakwater by Kate Duignan. A lovely debut novel that gracefully explores the dilemmas of friendship and family.

My Uncle is a Hunkle Says Clarie Bean by Lauren Child. "For children aged 4 to 94. This is just one title from the highly original, wacky, award-winning series. Any one of them is a must this Christmas."

The Art of Tivaevae by Lynnsay Rongokea. "Traditional Cook Islands quilting."

Margaret Mead and Ruth Benedict: the Kinship of Women by Hilary Lapsley. "A fascinating exploration of the lives of these anthropologists."

Truly Wilde: The Unsettling Story of Dolly Wilde, Oscar's Unusual Niece by Joan Schenkar.