When I was a Girl Scout, we used to sing a round, “Make new friends but keep the old/ One is silver the other’s gold.” That’s my sentiment about books, as well as people. But with the exception of continuing best sellers, commercial publishers are into selling this year’s books, in part in response to inventory depreciation rules established in Thor Power Tool Company v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 439 U.S. 522 (1979). And the mainstream media buys into this model, only reviewing recent titles.

Literary presses, in contrast, maintain a backlist and keep their authors’ works in print. And alternative media can, in books as well as other matters, inform their readers about matters other than the latest frenzy. Below, I’ve listed some of my favorites from years past, old friends I revisit again and again. All are still available from their presses.

You can buy directly: the well being of these publishers affects their authors. As Jonathan Greene of Gnomon Press explained to Meredith Sue Wilson for her Sept. 10, 2007 Books for Readers Newsletter, “Small Press Distribution and Consortium that distribute books for many small presses return even less to small presses than Amazon: they normally sell books to stores or chains at 40 percent to 55 percent then take half of the gross receipts of any payment and put the amount due the publisher in escrow for three months. And Consortium charges the publisher a re-stocking fee for any books stores or distributors return [sometimes in unsellable condition].”

And support your local independent bookseller: Chapters Book Shop in Galax and Easy Chair Bookstore in Blacksburg can special order any books that are not in stock. At Easy Chair, turnaround time is two to three days, and there is no charge for shipping. The store also offers free membership in a frequent buyer’s club. Customers earn a $10 coupon for every $100 they spend, including special order items.

The following books meet my gold standard:

Kettle Bottom: Diane Gilliam Fisher’s 2004 series of poems imagines first-person accounts of coal camp lives and deaths during the mines wars of 1920-1921.

One Good Hand: Dana Wildsmith’s 2005 poetry collection chronicles a year in the Georgia mountains and has the single best poem I’ve read addressed to the beloved late poet Jim Wayne Miller, who for years taught summers at Hindman Settlement School.

Coal, A Poetry Anthology: Disclosure: I was in this 2006 collection, but that’s not why I’m suggesting it. This book looks at life in coal country as told by poets such as Don West, Jim Wayne Miller, James Still, Grace Cavalieri, Jay Parini, Dick Hague, and Bob Henry Baber.

Shell Shaker: LeAnne Howe’s 2001 novel, both hilarious and heartbreaking, juxtaposes the murders of two Choctaws, one contemporary and one from the Trail of Tears era.

Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha: Blacksburg author Edward Falco’s graceful 2005 short story collection combines compelling plots with engrossing characters.

Insect Dreams, The Half Life of Gregor Samsa: Intellectually ambitious and funny, Mark Estrin’s 2005 novel imagines Franz Kafka’s Gregor Samsa rescued only to be sold to a freak show, which he leaves to wend his way through the first half of 20th century U.S. history, ending up as a risk management consultant for the Manhattan Project.

Rehearsing With the Gods: Ronald T. Simon’s black and white photographs and Marc Estrin’s text, published in 2004, give you the insiders’ look at Bread and Puppet Theater.

If You Return Home with Food: Shawsville writer Mary Crockett Hill’s award-winning 1998 poetry vivid and quirky collection speaks to hope and dread.

Divine Right’s Trip: Gurney Norman’s novel with Ed McClannahan, spins the tale of a hippie traveling home from California to rescue his Kentucky homestead from the effects of strip-mining. If you’re old enough, you’ll remember the novel as a series of installments on the pages of the Last Whole Earth Catalog. Kinfolks, Norman’s linked short stories, evoke loyalty to family and the close ties of community in the coming of age of Wilgus Collier and end in a stalemated correspondence between a sister who wants to return to Kentucky and her brother who wants to join her in Arizona because the mountains are now what they had been. (Both were reissued by Gnomon Press, 329 W. Broadway in Frankfort, 502.223.1858.)

The Lie that Tells the Truth: John Dufresne’s 2003 guide to writing fiction ranks as the most generous spirited and useful book on the writing craft since poet Bill Stafford’s Writing the Australian Crawl and You Must Revise Your Life. Also, check out any fiction by Dufresne. You won’t be disappointed.

For more recommendations for book picks from New River Voice contributors, see this web exclusive.

Beth Wellington is a poet and journalist living in Newport, Virginia.