"When Madeline Was Young" by Jane Hamilton, author of previous good reads - "Disobedience", "The Book of Ruth". Of course, if this book had been set below the Mason/Dixon line, it would have been labeled Southern Gothic!

"Special Topics in Calamity Physics", also a good read. Judging from the slams some people have taken I think Ms. Pessl gets the Donna Tartt award this year.