2018: Once Upon A River- I loved this book, which was consciously meta about the power of storytelling but without losing the magic.
2017: The Bear and the Nightingale- By far, my favorite series of the past decade. Each one of the books is fantastic, and the first one especially so...I got completely immersed in the world of Russian folklore it creates!
2016: The Queen of the Night- This book is completely bonkers. Sweeping, epic, entertaining, and with the most delightfully crazy plot twists.
2015: Dead Wake- I knew like nothing about the Lusitania (besides that it had sunk) and precious little about World War 1 and got SO into this.
2014: Station Eleven- This book isn't just about a world-decimating flu and its immediate aftermath, but how humanity continues to survive even more than a decade later and even if you don't think you like post-apocalyptic fiction, you should read this.
2013: Americanah- If someone hasn't recommended that you read this book about an African couple whose immigration journeys take very different paths by now, let me be that person. If you just haven't read it yet, let me encourage you to get to it. It's amazing.
2012: Devil in the Grove- It's one thing to read about Jim Crow and police brutality during that era in the abstract, but this account of young black men in Florida falsely accused of rape in the 1950s is searing and fascinating and eye-opening.
2011: The Song of Achilles- This retelling of the story of mighty Greek warrior Achilles, in which his loyal servant Patroclus is actually his partner, has a power that lingers long after reading.
2010: The Man Without A Face- Masha Gessen's nonfiction look at Russia and its leader is relevant and completely enthralling.
2009: Wolf Hall- There are so many Tudor stories out there, it's hard to think of a fresh angle on the drama of Henry VIII's reign. But Hilary Mantel's look at it from the perspective of Thomas Cromwell manages to do just that masterfully.
Great list! The Song of Achilles made my list this week, too. Wolf Hall, The Bear and the Nightingale, Station Eleven and Americanah are all on my TBR.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
DeleteI've heard Americanah is amazing. Really need to read it myself one of these days.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT.
It's really incredible! I didn't read it until pretty recently and loved it!
DeleteStation Eleven and The Bear and the Nightingale were definite considerations for me, and I loved Americanah. I can tell I would like some of your other picks as well. My TTT is at https://wp.me/pVH00-3wl.
ReplyDeleteThere have been so many great books in the last ten years!
DeleteOnce Upon a River was such a good book! Haven't seen that on a list yet. I still need to read The Bear and the Nightingale and Song of Achilles. They both sound so good! Great picks.
ReplyDeleteHere's my TTT post.
I'm not usually big into series, but The Bear and the Nightingale kicks off one of the best ones I've read in years!
DeleteThe Song of Achilles, Station Eleven, Americanah, and The Bear and the Nightingale is on my Kindle upon your recommendation, I believe. Good choices.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy them!
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