It’s that time of year when newspapers and magazines the world over publish their best of lists. So the Scoop Review of Books has decided to end the year with a best of the best of books list for 2009.

Criminal - from the NY Times best graphic novels list.

The New York Times isn’t satisfied with just one best books list, it has: the 10 best books of 2009;100 notable books;, Best illustrated children’s books; Best graphic novels, and a host of other categories.

For those with plenty of time on their hands or planning out their retirement reading the Guardian helpfully compiled a list of the 1000 Best Novels. And equally ambitious is its Books that Defined the Noughties. And then there’s the best food books of the decade.

Stablemate the Observer asked an impressive line-up of novelists (Peter Carey, Hari Kanzru, Colm Toibon), film directors (Sam Mendes), historians (Eric Hobsbawm), politicians (Roy Hattersley), and many, many more to nominate their favourite books of the year.

South Africa’s Guardian and Mail selected a particularly international bunch in its 10 Best.

New Scientist’s list is dominated by books on evolution but there’s a good sprinkling of other books covering the other sciences.

Meanwhile, The American Scientist has a fascinating review of Brian Boyd’s latest book On the Origin of Stories. And here’s an equally fascinating interview with Boyd on his book.

The Washington Post has extensive best of for both fiction and non-fiction, and four top 10 lists – including the top 10 audio books. All of the nominations are linked to in-depth reviews of the books. Well worth a look.

Harold Larwood and Eric Cantona top the Daily Telegraph’s list of Best Sports Books.

Spanish readers will enjoy looking at the recommendations of some leading Spanish authors on the El Pais site.

Closer to home the Sunday Star Times compiled this list and the Listener chose its hundred best (which won’t be available on-line until Boxing Day.