Publishers Weekly's ten best books of 2009

Publishers Weekly named its top ten books of 2009. One title on the list:

Big Machine
Victor LaValle (Spiegel & Grau)

LaValle's brilliant second novel is unlike anything else out there: Ricky Rice, an ex-junkie African-American bus station porter, gets sucked into the bizarre machinations of a rural Vermont cult dedicated to studying “The Voice.” The narrator is blisteringly funny in chronicling his bizarre quest, providing both a blazing story and an astute commentary on race.

Read an excerpt from Big Machine and learn more about the book and author at Victor LaValle's website.

The Page 69 Test: Big Machine.

Read about another book on Publishers Weekly's list.

--Marshal Zeringue