An early Christmas treat came in the mail earlier this week, when I learned that the New Yorker selected The Magician's Book as one of it's favorite titles of 2009. (Technically, it was a 2008 book, but it came out in December and as a result missed the cut-off.) You can see the whole list here.

While I'm at it, if you'd like to hear me (plus David Ulin of the Los Angeles Times and Carol Besse, co-owner of Carmichael's Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky) talking about the best books of 2009 on the public radio call-in show, "On Point," you'll want to follow this link.