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Well-read

Forget McEwan and Roth, 2007 was the year of youthful breakthrough and innovation. Add these books to your holiday wish list:

Love Is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time, Rob Sheffield In this passionate, funny and deeply touching memoir, rock critic Sheffield traces his relationship with punk-rock girl Renee through old mix tapes. Read it in a weekend with a box of Kleenex.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz This hilarious yet painful tale of overweight, Dominican-American comic-book geek Oscar is one of the most inventive and addictive books of the year.

Mississippi Sissy, Kevin Sessums Sessums’ lyrical coming-out memoir takes us deep into his Southern past to reveal the passions that led to his career writing for Vanity Fair.

The Great Man, Kate Christensen In this wise, tart look at the New York art world, the wife, mistress and lesbian sister of a deceased artist reflect on his fascinating life.

Committed: A Rabble-Rouser's Memoir, Dan Matthews PETA chief Matthews has written an energetic insider’s look at one of the most controversial advocacy groups in the world, rife with celebrity friendships and delicious barbs.

Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography, David Michaelis The evolution of an artist is mined in this thoroughly researched look at the lifelong passions and depressions of the Peanuts creator.

Shortcomings, Adrian Tomine No one does disenchanted Asian-American hipster like Tomine. With sharp dialogue and graceful, dark illustrations, Shortcomings sets a new standard for graphic storytelling.

These Things Ain't Gonna Smoke Themselves: A Love / Hate / Love / Hate / Love Letter to a Very Bad Habit, Emily Flake Cult comic book superstar Flake (Lulu Eightball) serves up the best parts of her worst vice – smoking – in this graphic novel in which the delicate illustrations balance beautifully with her wry voice.

Then We Came to the End, Josh Ferris National Book Award nominee Ferris has made an aggressively experimental but entirely accessible debut novel. Anyone who has spent/lost time in corporate America will connect with it.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie and Ellen Forney The National Book Award winner for Young People’s Literature, Part-Time Indian is also perfect for an adult audience. Alexie’s narrative about a bright young Native American’s life on a reservation is punctuated by Forney’s brilliant artwork.