
It's December, which means it's time for "best of" lists everywhere you look. Hurray!
Here are my top picks of 2016, in a variety of categories:
BEST BIOGRAPHY: a long-awaited profile of the underrated Shirley Jackson
BEST MEMOIR: an exuberant and joyful look at an unusual New York childhood
BEST FICTION: behold the zeitgeist
BEST SHORT STORIES: ruefully funny snapshots of 1970's Florida
BEST COOKBOOK: vintage and modern Appalachian recipes, with fascinating accompanying essays about the region
BEST DOCUMENTARY: the unexpectedly optimistic Michael Moore film