What are writers reading?

What new books does John Updike discuss with his circle? How about Jim Crace or Cynthia Ozick — what do they rave about with friends over coffee or another beverage of choice? The National Book Critics Circle has tapped about 500 of its members (including these fine names) for a new feature, Best Recommended, a list of new fiction and nonfiction picks appearing every month.

"Before the Internet, book recommendations traveled at the rate of sound," NBCC president John Freeman writes in a brief explanatory note. Blogging, he contends, gives people a chance to hear what others are talking about, if only at the level of an individual blogger’s tastes. Notice Freeman’s italics here: "But with all this connectivity, it felt like a moment had yet to be seized about finding out what a lot of people said was good." Hence, the group’s decision to enlist the opinions of its mighty membership.

What’s on its inaugural list? Some expected titles--Denis Johnson’s "Tree of Smoke," Michael Chabon’s "The Yiddish Policeman’s Union" and Tim Weiner’s "Legacy of Ashes"--as well as some unexpected recommendations, such as Per Petterson’s novel "Out Stealing Horses" and Rae Armantrout’s poetry collection, "Next Life."

It’s an interesting approach. And does this mean that old-fashioned bestsellers’ lists are going the way of the dinosaurs? Too soon to tell, of course, but measuring success by a poll rather than bookstore sales may just give attention to deserving titles that otherwise don’t stand a chance of making a noticeable blip on a bookstore’s sales report.

Nick Owchar