Best Heard/Read in 2010

So, EVERY music & book blog does a Year's Best list at the Nd of each yr? Mustn't mess w/ tradition, right?
Here's a list of the best stuff I heard or read during 2010. Note: This stuff isn't necessarily the best of the PAST YEAR, just the best stuff I stumbled over in the last 365 days. Summa these titles actually ARE fairly recent, which is practicly a 1st 4 me....
Best Rock-Related Novel: If by "the last year" I can B permitted 2 include the last few days of 2009, the best rock-related novel of the year is EZily Nick Hornby's JULIET NAKED (2009), which I'm currently re-reading. I think NE1 who posts their opinions about music on the Internet otta read this book -- it's warm & human & funny & complex, & Hornby has some good insights in2 the way men & women handle relationships & artistic pursuits & obsessions, + the attraction of mystery. I saw a bit of myself in this book -- & if U're reading this, U probly will C yrself 2. The best rock novel since Lewis Shiner's GLIMPSES.
Best Best-Of: Can's ANTHOLOGY (2007). A real ear-opener. Keep in mind I haven't gotten thru Caravan's THE WORLD IS YOURS or Camel's RAINBOW'S END best-of's yet (both 2010). But I already know them, so I don't Xpect NE real major suprises there. Can was completely new 2 me & ... wow....
Best Rock-Related Non-Fiction (tie): Bill Bruford's THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY (2009) is thotful & funny & a breeze 2 read, I wish it had been 2wice as long. Sid Smith's IN THE COURT OF KING CRIMSON (2001) is the best book on KC I ever Xpect 2 read until Robert Fripp writes his version of the story. Almost a complete up-2-date history, & it offers some diffrent perspectives on summa the same stories covered in Bruford's autobio.
Best General Non-Fiction: Paul Theroux's THE HAPPY ISLES OF OCEANIA (1992) ... even tho it took me 9 mo's 2 get thru it....
Best Non-Rock-Related Novel: Ian McDonald's CHAGA (1995, published in America as EVOLUTION'S SHORE). Disappointing Nding, but up til then very vivid & involving as a form of alien plantlife "eats" the continent of Africa. Haven't gotten in2 the sequel yet, tho....
Most Disappointing New-2-Me Album: Group 87's A CAREER IN DADA PROCESSING (1984). MayB 2 trax coulda fit in on their classic 1st album from 1980. OK background music, but that's it....
Best New-2-Me Album of the Year: I guess it's Van der Graaf Generator's PAWN HEARTS (1971), but it's not like I play it every day 4 lite Ntertainment....
Best New-2-Me Song of the Year: Happy the Man's "On Time as a Helix of Precious Laughs" (1977). Nostalgic, moving, gorgeous, great dramatic guitar.
Most Popular Post: That long list of "mainstream" pop albums I posted here a coupla wks back, "Goin' Mainstream," has had 76 views as of this aft, according 2 Blogger's stats. Ghod Knows why. MayB cos music fans like 2 C what's in other people's record collections...?
"Posthumous," that semi-fictionalized long grump of complaints w/ the ultra-fast pace of the Modern World, has had 68 viewings since Blogger 1st started tracking this stuff back in June or whenever -- again, Ghod Knows why. Only Ghod could Xplain what people were looking 4 when they tripped over it & what they thot when they got thru it -- if they did. What kinda Google search would bring that up?: "Dissatisfaction with Modern Life"?
Happy New Ear....