The "best books" lists are coming thick and fast now as we approach the end of the year. The New York Times has already published three different lists and other media outlets will soon be joining the pack.

The Post-Gazette book department is trying something different this year. We're asking readers for their suggestions of the best reads of 2008 to accompany my lists.

We want fiction, poetry, nonfiction and childrens titles and will publish the choices Dec. 14.

I'm also planning a separate category: Regional works that otherwise would get lost in the focus on national books.

It's been a great year for those kinds of books, and I think they deserve special mention.

If you've enjoyed a book or books published this year, send me your choices by Dec. 9 by e-mail, or mail to Bob Hoover, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Book Editor, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

As detailed last week, local poets will honor the Bill of Rights in readings at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Carnegie Mellon University.

It's a benefit for the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union in advance of Bill of Rights Day on Dec. 15. Tickets are $20, $10 for senior citizens and $5 for students at the door of the Adamson Wing of Baker Hall. Reservations are suggested by calling the ACLU at 412-681-7736 or e-mailing poetry@aclupgh.org.

Closson Press is a recently established print operation for self-published books in Apollo. For information on the book list: www.clossonpress.com.

Here are two of its latest titles with a Pittsburgh flavor:

"Steel City Jews: A History of Pittsburgh and Its Jewish Community 1840-1915" by Barbara S. Burstin, a scholar and instructor of Jewish history.

"The Incident That Could Have Killed Pittsburgh" by the late Robert H. Johns and put into published form by Robert E. Cole, described as "a friend of the publishers." Johns worked for years investigating the crash of a B-25 Air Force plane in the Monongahela River in 1956.

(For more discussion on this topic, see my blog, "Quick Reads," at www.post-gazette.com.)