Every year before the holidays arrive, around the world editors and experts pick their best, or notable, books of 2008. I always approach these lists with caution. I've read some truly fantastic books that have appeared on these lists in the past. There have also been books that appeared on these lists which I've been sorely tempted to throw agains the wall rather than read. Yet every year I find myself drawn to these lists and this year is no different.

Publisher's Weekly best of 2008 list is more interesting to me, possibly because it is broken down into sections. I'm not a huge mystery fan (I'm too impatient for whodunit's) but I'm always on the look out for good ones for a friend of mine. Carolyn Hart's Ghost At Work sounds like a lot of fun, so much fun that I might even have to try it. This is what Pop Syndicate's Angela Wilson had to say about it.

While Ghost At Work is not my usual fare, I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. It’s like author Carolyn Hart sat down each day to figure what insanely impossible situation she could drop Bailey Ruth into - and somehow help her out of it. Bailey Ruth was a great character, but almost too much for me at some points. The whodunit was not easily found, but hints throughout will make the killer a suspect in everyone’s mind before the novel’s fiery end.

You can also read her interview with author Carolyn Hart.

The Washington's Post best books of 2008 is huge. I like huge best of lists. I was pleased to see Miriam Toews' The Flying Troutmans on the list. I just simply love that name. Deborah Hodge at West Coast Writer says that the novel has some of the best dialogue between siblings she's ever read and that it's "authentic, painfully sad and comical, all at the same time."

I'm unsurprised to see Hannah Tinti's The Good Thief on New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2008 list list since every I know that's read it has raved out it. It cured Moonlight Ambulette's reading slump.

In the end it's deeply satisfying, and most of all I feel thankful towards this book for being the first thing I could really sink my teeth into and read all the way through in months. It is a sad state, for the ambulette, to not be reading, and it feels good to be back!

I'm surprised that I have read a single one of the books on the NYT's list. I've rarely read more than two or three on the list but this year? None! Even more suprising I haven't read any of the Young Adult books that appear on the Notable Kids Books list either! Although I am waiting to get my hands on a copy of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games. Like The Picnic Basket I've also been warned to set aside a block of time so that I can read it all at once. Stephenie Meyer, the author of the Twilight series said that she had to hide it under the table at dinner because she couldn't stop reading it.

I always enjoy The Economist's Best Books list. I've rarely ever read any of their non-fiction choices but where else is one likely to find a "best of" list that includes a title like Rose George's The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters?

Have you read any of the books on these "best of" lists? Did your favourite 2008 publications make the lists?

Contributing Editor Sassymonkey blogs at Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.