#1: "Glory," by NoViolet Bulawayo
What I Say Now:
This powerful, brutal political satire and allegory depicts the impacts of tyranny and colonialism in Africa.
Passages to Remember:
"We'd be laughing one moment, then we'd recall the rigged elections when we'd dreamt of change, prayed for change, cried for change, voted for change, and where some had died for change, and weep. We'd be cheering one moment, and then we'd remember all those the regime had claimed -- the tortured, the jailed, the exiled, the disappeared, the dead, the dad, the dead, the dead -- and wail."
"The reality, Comrades, is that these animals gathered all around us aren't some weird creatures from some faraway planet. They're your very own. And you all know that your relatives are in that crowd. Your friends and neighbors are in that crowd. Your landlords. Your church members. Your children's teachers. Your nurses and doctors. All of them good, decent citizens. Every one of them knowing they can die today. All of them prepared to die today. Not directly by the Seat but by us, on its behalf. My question is, When will we learn disgust?"
"What happened next taught the children of the nation a lesson they very much regretted not learning any sooner. Which was that it is quite possible to spend a lifetime in the terror of a darkness that in actuality harbors nothing but flowers and grasshoppers and doves and toothless crocodiles."
#2: "The Orphan Master's Son," by Adam Johnson
What I Say Now:
Orphan navigates the horrors and anonymities of oppressive North Korea in a many-genred tale.
Passages to Remember:
"There was a look on her face that Ga recognized, and it was not a happy one. It expressed an understanding that everything would be different now, that the person you'd been and the life you'd been living were over. It was a tough knowledge to suddenly gain, but it got better with tomorrows."
"There was no such thing as abandonment, there were only people in impossible positions, people who had a best hope, or maybe only a sole hope. When the graver danger awaited, it wasn't abandoning, it was saving."
"For a while, she would have rules. But eventually, our genitals would intercourse in a way that was correct and satisfying."
#3: "A Gentleman in Moscow," by Amor Towles
What I Say Now:
Delightful, intricate depiction of an aristocratic Russian subversive turning house arrest into a beautiful gift.
Passages to Remember:
"That sense of loss is exactly what we must anticipate, prepare for, and cherish to the last of our days; for it is only our heartbreak that finally refutes all that is ephemeral in love."
"In the light, the Count could see that she had an almost severe beauty about her -- like one for whom there would be no half measures in matters of the heart."
"He had said that our lives are steered by uncertainties, many of which are disruptive or even daunting; but that if we persevere and remain generous of heart, we may be granted a moment of supreme lucidity -- a moment in which all that has happened to us suddenly comes into focus as a necessary course of events, even as we find ourselves on the threshold of a bold new life that we had been meant to lead all along."
#4: "Small Things Like These," by Claire Keegan
What I Say Now:
Exquisite writing reveals church-sanctioned cruelty -- and its concentric circles -- in harsh, insular, rural Ireland.
Passages to Remember:
"Crossing the river, his eyes again fell on the stout-black water flowing darkly along -- and a part of him envied the Barrow's knowledge of her course, how easily the water followed its incorrigible way, so freely to the open sea."
"The worst was yet to come, he knew. Already he could feel a world of trouble waiting for him behind the next door, but the worst that could have happened was already behind him; the thing not done, which could have been -- which he would have had to live with for the rest of his life."
#5: "Shuggie Bain," by Douglas Stuart
What I Say Now:
The slow descent of Agnes Bain in gritty 1980s Scotland is experienced by unforgettable Shuggie.
Passages to Remember:
"He let her cry, he let her talk, and he didn't contradict her when she made him promises he knew she would be unable to keep."
"The front door opened again, and Shuggie came out on to the top step. Without addressing the women he turned to his mother and put his hands on his hips; he thrust a foot forward and said as clear as Agnes had ever heard him speak, 'We need to talk. I really do not think I can live here. It smells like cabbages and batteries. It's simply unpossible.'"
"Shuggie eventually grew bored with the brutality."
Narrow Misses (in 15 words or less):
"The Quiet American," by Graham Greene: Stunning first-person work documents Vietnam War and love triangle from the ground in Saigon. "Let Us Descend," by Jesmyn Ward: Hope, prescience lift up a heartbreaking and challenging tale of the cruel loneliness of slavery. "The Refugees," by Viet Thanh Nguyen: Themes of identity, displacement, and legacy dominate powerful short stories of post-Vietnam refugee experience. "Train Dreams," by Denis Johnson: Sparse prose ascribes poignancy to a tale of grief and hope in relentless American West. "Babel," by R.F. Kuang: Magical realism, alternate history mesh in sprawling tale of colonialism and speaking truth to power. "Night Wherever We Go," by Tracey Rose Peyton: A brutal, searing depiction of Texas plantation life in the 1850s that honors its victims. "The Deluge," by Stephen Markley: Stunning, near-overwhelming climate fiction explores impact of extreme weather on the globe and society. "A Heart That Works," by Rob Delaney: Devastatingly emotional and vulnerable tribute to a lost son brings tears, insights, laughs, and introspection. "The Trees," by Percival Everett: Satirical horror marks frantic pace that exposes unresolved questions about race and who we are. "Biography of X," by Catherine Lacey: Marked by sprawing ambition, this omnigenre work is a stunning journey into consideration of perspective. "Old God's Time," by Sebastian Barry: Unreliable narration dominates tale of retired detective battling tragic demons on the harsh Irish coast. "Juno Loves Legs," by Karl Geary: Devastating tale of Dublin backstreets features pervasive bleakness punched through by moments of sublime beauty. "A Fan's Notes," by Frederick Exley: A sardonic look at coping with alcoholism and mental illness through writing, institutionalization, and football. "How to Be an Antiracist," by Ibram X. Kendi: Meticulously researched book blends author's personal journey with dissection of language and history of racism. "Antarctica," by Claire Keegan: Loss, terror, melancholy, and draw of the illicit mark stunning collection of Irish short stories.
Honorable Mention (in 10 words or less):
"Small Mercies," by Dennis Lehane: Gritty underbelly of fractured city revealed in tale of racism. "Winesburg, Ohio," by Sherwood Anderson: Sleepy Midwestern town in early 20th century features hidden lives. "Snow Crash," by Neil Stephenson: Prescient depiction of anarcho-capitalism undermined by problematic plot, stereotyping. "Cat's Cradle," by Kurt Vonnegut: Slapstick-ish tale of world-bending invention, contrived religion, island culture. "Bullshit Jobs," by David Graeber: Explores unhealthy dynamic between what we do, who we are. "The Night Watchman," by Louise Erdrich: Close-knit tribe tackles exploitation in mid-1950s North Dakota. "The Chill," by Scott Carson: Dramatic tension, pacing propel supernatural exploration of water, local memory. "Holly," by Stephen King: Holly Gibney returns for more investigation of Midwest Covid freakiness. "Crook Manifesto," by Colson Whitehead: Vignettes, colorful characters collide in noir depiction of 1970s Harlem. "The Ghost Writer," by Philip Roth: Identity, possibility collide in cautionary tale of meeting your heroes. "Walk the Blue Fields," by Claire Keegan: Sublime stories document isolation, regret, fleeting hope in harsh Ireland.
Notable (in 7 words or less):
"The Searcher," by Tana French: Chicago ex-cop tackles pastoral Irish vagaries. "The Revivalists," by Christopher M. Hood: Epidemiological apocalypse marks book with identity confusion. "How to Write Short," by Roy Peter Clark: Accessible, actionable writing resource uses digestible format. "Boys and Oil," by Taylor Brorby: Identity, family struggles in unforgiving North Dakota. "Untangled," Lisa Damour, PhD: Resources for navigating minefield of raising daughters. "The Interestings," by Meg Wolitzer: Art-camp friends learn about adult emotions.
The Rest (in 5 words or less):
"Bad Mormon," by Heather Gay: Vacuous depiction of faith abandonment. "Scrum," by Jeff and J.J. Sutherland: Simplistic arguments undermine agile resources.
