Bella's Faves of the Year

I've been thinking of doing a list of the new books I most enjoyed this year. Then I belatedly saw A Year's Books Worth Curling Up With in today's New York Times, and was ignited into action. Great minds think alike: NYT critic William Grimes had two of the same faves (#1 & 2 below). Six of the books are by Brits and/or set in England*; apparently I'm an Anglophile. And six have Jewish themes*; apparently I'm Jewish.

The lucky 13, in random order:

1. TROUBLESOME YOUNG MEN by Lynne Olson*
2. THE INVISIBLE WALL by Harry Bernstein**
3. CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT by Laurie Viera Rigler*
4. KALOOKI NIGHTS by Howard Jacobson**
5. PARDONABLE LIES by Jacqueline Winspear*
6. MATRIMONY by Joshua Henkin*
7. LANDSMAN by Peter Charles Melman*
8. DIZZY CITY by Nicholas Griffiin*
9. LOOK ME IN THE EYE by John Elder Robison
10. NO PLACE SAFE by Kim Reid
11. LOVING FRANK by Nancy Horan
12. FORESKIN'S LAMENT by Shalom Auslander*
13. THE YEAR OF LIVING BIBLICALLY by AJ Jacobs*