In Danielle Trussoni’s rousing novel, a young nun is drawn into an ancient struggle against the Nephilim, hybrid offspring of humans and heavenly beings.

Christopher de Bellaigue investigates the bewildering historical entanglements in which Turkey is ensnared.

This darkly humorous satiric novel, a witty paean to white-collar loserdom, stars a deeply cynical academic fund-raiser fighting for his job.

Gina Ochsner’s first novel links the grim anomie of post-Soviet Russia to the delirium of magic realism.

An exploration of the world of libraries and librarians, via a tour of eccentric characters and unlikely locations.

In John Banville’s novel, a crew of Greek deities attends a mathematician’s deathbed.

A philosopher and psychoanalyst documents the stories of veterans and brings a dual perspective to the experience of war.

The life and hard times of the country singer Tammy Wynette.

Modern profiles and historical sketches animate a moonshine enthusiast’s study of homemade liquor.

Helen Simonson mischievously unleashes stock village-novel characters into a new England.

Elena Gorokhova, the author of “A Mountain of Crumbs,” responds to a letter about a review of her memoir.

Visual books about maps, the design firm Unimark International and African and Central Asian “war rugs.”

Top 5 at a Glance
1. FANTASY IN DEATH, by J. D. Robb
2. THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett
3. BLACK MAGIC SANCTION, by Kim Harrison
4. SPLIT IMAGE, by Robert B. Parker
5. BIG GIRL, by Danielle Steel

Top 5 at a Glance
1. GAME CHANGE, by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin
2. THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS, by Rebecca Skloot
3. I AM OZZY, by Ozzy Osbourne with Chris Ayres
4. THE POLITICIAN, by Andrew Young
5. HAVE A LITTLE FAITH, by Mitch Albom

Top 5 at a Glance
1. LITTLE BEE, by Chris Cleave
2. THE LAST SONG, by Nicholas Sparks
3. A RELIABLE WIFE, by Robert Goolrick
4. THE 8TH CONFESSION, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
5. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, by Stieg Larsson

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE LAST SONG, by Nicholas Sparks
2. DEAR JOHN, by Nicholas Sparks
3. FIRST FAMILY, by David Baldacci
4. SHUTTER ISLAND, by Dennis Lehane
5. THE SUMMER HIDEAWAY, by Susan Wiggs

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE LOST CITY OF Z, by David Grann
2. THE BLIND SIDE, by Michael Lewis
3. THREE CUPS OF TEA, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
4. THE SURVIVORS CLUB, by Ben Sherwood
5. ARE YOU THERE, VODKA? IT'S ME, CHELSEA, by Chelsea Handler

Top 5 at a Glance
1. SWITCH, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
2. THE KIND DIET, by Alicia Silverstone
3. THE HAPPINESS PROJECT, by Gretchen Rubin
4. SO LONG, INSECURITY, by Beth Moore
5. ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A MAN, by Steve Harvey with Denene Millner

Top 5 at a Glance
1. FOOD RULES, by Michael Pollan
2. THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES, by Gary Chapman
3. THE BELLY FAT CURE, by Jorge Cruise
4. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING, by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
5. COOK THIS, NOT THAT!, by David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE BOOK OF GENESIS: ILLUSTRATED, by R. Crumb
2. HALO: HELLJUMPER, by Peter David and Eric Nguyen
3. STARMAN OMNIBUS, VOL. 4, by James Robinson and others
4. DARK TOWER: THE FALL OF GILEAD, by Robin Furth and Peter David
5. WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN, by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven

Top 5 at a Glance
1. THE EASTER EGG, written and illustrated by Jan Brett
2. THE LION AND THE MOUSE, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
3. DISNEY’S ALICE IN WONDERLAND: THE VISUAL GUIDE, written by Jo Casey and Laura Gilbert
4. LISTEN TO THE WIND, by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth
5. CAT THE CAT, WHO IS THAT?, written and illustrated by Mo Willems

St. Clair McKelway helped solidify the classic New Yorker style but is nearly forgotten today.

Joseph O’Neill is probably best known for “Netherland,” which the Book Review selected as one of its 10 Best Books of 2008.

Robert B. Parker’s posthumous “Split Image,” new at No. 4, probably won’t be his last appearance on the list.

Recently reviewed books of particular interest.

Paperback books of particular interest.