“Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout” by Lauren Redniss is almost a graphic biography. Redniss shows their love affair with each other and with the elements they discovered. Ironically, their discoveries proved to be their doom. Paris looks dreamy; the Curies resemble figures drawn by Modigliani. I’ve read several biographies of this pair; this one by far is the most haunting.

“Steve Jobs” biography by Walter Isaacson is an elegy of sorts, coming out so soon after Jobs’ early death from pancreatic cancer.Additional information can be found at http://kotakuwisataku.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/12/. Isaacson conducted dozens of interviews with Jobs, his family and coworkers. It’s a riveting story, one you’re sure to enjoy.

For best autobiography, it’s hard to beat “Bossypants” by Tina Fey. Before she was a star, Tina Fey was a nerd, a nerd who dreamed when under stress that she was chased through the airport by her gym teacher. We now know that nerds rule. But did we ever know that in order to be known as someone, we first have to be known as bossy? Now we do.

I loved “Seabiscuit.” I recommend another horse tale, “The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse That Inspired a Nation.” Elizabeth Lett’s captured the true story of Snowman and the Dutchman Harry de Leyer who took this former plow horse on to sport-jumping victory at Madison Square Garden in 1958.

David McCullough is one of the best history writers these days. “The Greater Journey: Americans In Paris” is an hitherto-untold tale of Americans living in the City of Light between 1830 and 1900. The composer Louis Moreau Gottschalk, the medical student Oliver Wendell Holmes and the inventor Samuel F. B. Morse spent formative time in paris. How their time shaped their later lives is a theme Mcullough develops throughout the book.

1. Before I go to Sleep by S.J Watson– A story about Christine; who loses her memory each night while she is sleeping, her journal is her only source of memory, which tells her that her husband can’t be trusted.

2. Dreams of Joy by Lisa See– This is a continuation of Shanghai Girls. The story of sisters Pearl and May. (if you have read Shanghai girls, you’ll want to pick this one up.)

3. The Pale King by David Foster Wallace– This novel was unfinished upon Wallace’s death, but a remarkable must read about a handful of employees of an IRS building in Illinois.

4. The Paris Wife by Paul McLain– This is a story based on Ernest Hemingway, from the point of view of his first wife.

5. Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones– This is a tale of the meeting of a man’s two families. A public one and a private shamed one.

These are all well written and getting raved reviews. Must reads of the year.More info here: Tayari Jones appears on The Diane Rehm Show

1. Working Stiff: A Revivalist Novel – This novel is written by Rachel Caine, and it is gaining more and more popularity among fantasy book readers because it has been written very well by the author. Furthermore, while reading the book, you will definitely feel as if you are in the same situation or scenarios that Bryn Davies, the main character, is in. It was released last August 2, 2011.

2. Always A Witch – This is the second book in the Witch series written by Carolyn McCullough released last August 1, 2011. “Once a Witch” is the title of the first book in the series. In the second book. Tamsin, the lead character, is haunted by the prediction that her grandmother made.

3. Blood Bound – It was written by Rachel Vincent, and it is the first book in the Unbound series. The main character in this novel, Liv Warren, has the ability to know the whereabouts of a missing person by following the scent of his or her blood.Want to know more? Go ahead: Review: Working Stiff Revivalists 1 by Rachel Caine

First on the list is “Heaven’s Shadow” by David Goyer. If the name strikes you as familiar it is because David Goyer is the screen writer for the hit films: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and the Blade trilogy. David has established his pedigree.I found some more information here. This story, however, is about two rival teams of astronauts trying to claim an unknown object falling from space. What they find is no asteroid but instead an alien spacecraft with unknown intentions towards the human race.

“Soft Apocalypse” by Will McIntosh is the full fleshing out of his short story that, in 2005, made it to the finals of the 2005 British Sci Fi awards. This is his debut novel but his abilities are well documented. Set as a traditional apocalypse story, McIntosh integrates various styles of writing as he documents the remnants of the survivors of the prior apocalypse as they make their way in this new and dangerous world.

This year has seen some good releases on the Christian fiction front. Here are some of the best ones released recently.

“Lions of Babylon” by Davis Bunn is an action-thriller set in the Middle East featuring an ex-intelligence agent investigating the disappearance of four people in Iraq. Strong characterization and excellent place depiction give this one an extra boost.

“Dancing on Glass” by Pamela Binnings Ewen tells the story of a female lawyer who makes the unfortunate choice to marry someone who eventually becomes abusive. The story is suspenseful and has good character development, especially regarding the abusive husband.

“Belonging” by Robin Lee Hatcher is a wholesome romantic story with a strong female heroine. The story revolves an inexperienced schoolteacher who must prove herself to a new town. Hatcher is an award-winning author and this is no exception to her good eye for detail and characterizations.

“Thunder of Heaven” by Tim & Craig Parshall LaHaye is a suspenseful story taken right from the headlines. It’s the sequel to their previous book “Edge of Apocalypse” and features the protagonist going to Israel as the end of days looms. Fans of the “Left Behind” series will love this one.