The "best books of the year" list is a time-honored tradition among media outlets and publishers, with selections rolling in just after Thanksgiving.

“年度最佳读物”是各媒体渠道和出版商历史悠久的传统，感恩节后便有候选书本蜂拥而来。

A range of novels were selected last week. Among them were Kazuo Ishiguro's strange fable-like fantasy, Alexandra Kleeman's satire, and, apparently, Barack Obama's favorite book of the year: Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff.

It's a deeply personal story of marriage and secrets.

At first, the book seems an unconventional choice for the president. It's not political, and there's not a word in it about foreign relations.

In fact, Groff's National Book Award-nominated story is deeply personal -- it's the story of a marriage from the secretive perspectives of both partners.

But, Obama's been exploring literary territory even more than usual lately.

Earlier this year, he interviewed another National Book Award nominee, Marilynne Robinson, about community, violence and othering in America.