Book offers a variety of the year’s best

Even though the New Year has begun, memories of 2009 are still fresh on the mind.

A way to reflect on the year passed would be to pick up the annual publication of "The Best American Nonrequired Reading" from "The Best American Series."

Since 2002, the collection of short stories, comics, essays and more has been edited by Dave Eggers, recently in the limelight for his nonfictional "Zeitoun," and his novel, "The Wild Things," inspired by the ever-popular, "Where the Wild Things Are."

In his editor's note, Eggers writes that the collection was dedicated to the late David Foster Wallace.

Also included in the collection is a piece by Jonathan Franzen that originally ran in the Sonora Review.

It was read at a New York City memorial service for Wallace, and Franzen grabs readers instantly with his earnest compassion, love and admiration for a lost friend.

The 2009 volume's introduction was written by graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi of "Persepolis" fame. Her short intro piece, "Why My Mother Refused to Buy Me Toys," gives readers a brief background of the artist for the unfamiliar reader.

Toward the conclusion, Satrapi divulged her personal passion and enthusiasm for reading and writing ending with an exceptionally beautiful quote: "The words in the books opened the whole world to me. With my words, I opened myself to the world."

Satrapi's introduction was the perfect way to set up readers for what was to follow in the newest edition of "Nonrequired Reading."

This series gives the opportunity to become familiar with different works and authors who one may never normally come across.

This year's "Nonrequired Reading" has various fun and highly entertaining sections, such as "Best American Craigslist Items and Offers to Barter," "Best American Lawsuits," "Best American College Annual Alumni Reports from 2008" and more.

Then there is the mixture of both fiction and nonfiction stories, essays and comics included within the book's pages. All are selected from various publications like Harper's Magazine, Esquire, Oxford American, The New Yorker, Portfolio and many more.

One story from The Paris Review, "Diary of A Fire Lookout" by Philip Connors, is a highlight of this year's volume, as well as Rebekah Frumkin's, "Monster."

Authors Rivka Galchen, Matthew Power, J. Malcolm Garcia, Susan Breen, Amelia Kaheny and others all appear in the work.

The 2009 edition of "The Best American Nonrequired Reading" is triumphant as was expected from this series. Eggers and his "Nonrequired Reading" committee who help with the selection did a superb job selecting the best of the best for 2009.

Grade: A