This is the moment book readers have been waiting for all year, darlings! What does The New York Times consider to be the five best works of fiction for the year? While I do not cover non-fiction, as I hardly read any, I can assure you that "My Name Is Barbra" made neither the Notable or Ten Best Lists. She must be really pissed.
So am I, when I consider some of these choices. Let us start with The New York Times.
1.
"The Bee Sting," by Paul Murray--The only one The Times and I agree on. As stated in my previous post, this is the story of a struggling working-class Irish family that has an ending
no one sees coming. Even if one reads just the last page, it will not make any sense without having read the entire novel. And the novel is so engrossing, it is hard to put down. Don't miss it. The Times did right with this one!
2. 
"Chain-Gang All-Stars," by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah--As right as The Times got it with "The Bee Sting," they really messed up here. I listened to Gilbert Perez last night on a Times video defending this book; how it was groundbreaking, he couldn't put it down, etc. Hons, I could not get past page 60. What is meant to be a criticism of the American penal system comes off as misogynistic gladiatorial fighting between women prisoners, battling for freedom, while audiences watch. It is like "The Hunger Games" revved up to the level of Rikers. And it is crap. I don't need to read short, static sentences in street jargon I have no way of understanding. There were better books for this spot--Colson Whitehead, James McBride--than this garbage, which is exactly where this selection belongs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. 
"Eastbound," by Maylis De Kerangal--No, darlings, I have not read it yet, but I intend to. This sounds like an interesting exploration of two people trying to find meaning in life. And in these times, who isn't? Unlike the previous selection, I think this one has promise.
4. 
"The Fraud," by Zadie Smith--I have read it, and while I do not object to its placement here, I would not have chosen it. Unlike the 'Chain-Gang' author, Miss Smith can write. But what she has written is an in-joke for Dickensians, where she narrates a renowned trial in 1790 London, as a series of sketches, like "The Pickwick Papers." Those who don't get it may find it confusing. The book is a bit overlong, but the idea is promising, and the writing is good. She does not succeed as well with this as with "On Beauty" (2005), but this is worth a read.
5.
"North Woods," by Daniel Mason--I am rather happy this made the list, as it has the cutest cover--just LOVE that kitty!--and the blue background......ah! But it is also the family saga of a Massachusetts family over several generations, and that is my kind of read. One might think this is a western, judging by the book's cover, but far from it. Perhaps this book will make up for The Times choosing that awful book placed at number two!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, girls, those are the picks of The New York Times. Having read two of them, I can say overall not disappointing, except for that misogynistic junk that overly politicizes a narrative, destroying the flow, and then masqueading it as literature!
I don't masquerade, dears. I stand by my selections, which are all well written and made me so happy by reading them. Here are my picks for 2023
1. 
"Wellness," by Nathan Hill--When I discovered this was written by the author of "The Nix," which was my Book Of The Year for 2016, I knew I had to read this one. Well, Nathan Hill has done it again! In probing the marital malaise of Jack, a photographer, and Elizabeth, an art history adjunct professor, he also gets down to what is wrong with our society--socially, culturally, economically, examining how we interact both socially and through media, social and otherwise. This is a novel about EVERYTHING, and I knew before I was halfway through I had found my Book Of The Year. Do not miss it, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. 
"The Covenant Of Water," by Abraham Verghese--The author of "Cutting For Stone" has done it again with this epic novel, over several generations, but at its heart being the story of two brothers who go into medicine--differently. The book is clinical in its medical details which readers may find difficult to understand, but Verghese's sense of narrative is so strong and disciplined that at over 700 pages, it felt like half, because it just moves so fast, and the reader--this one at least-- was spellbound and could hardly tear myself away from it. Clear some time for yourselves, girls, and have the kind of reading experience one so seldom gets anymore.
3. 
"The Bee Sting," by Paul Murray--This much lauded novel deserves every bit of praise it has garnered. Using the kind of lyricism the Irish excel at, Murray tells a harrowing and heartbreaking story of a struggling family, present day, with an ending that will grab you by the throat and stay with you long after you have finished the book. Another one not to be missed.
4. 
"Yellowface," by R. F. Kuang--This was the novel that gave me hope; it was almost halfway through 2023, and I thought I would never find any contenders. But then along came "Yellowface." Both a literary novel and a thriller, it concerns two women vying to be successful writers. The more successful of the two dies, and that is all I am going to say, because what follows is a roller coaster ride into the literary world, and those desperate enough to want to be a part of it. Well written, highly readable, and hard to put down.
5. 
"Pet," by Catherine Chidgey--Remember that boy or girl in elementary school everyone hated for being "Teacher's Pet?" Ever think about what dynamics might be behind it? Well, this novel examines them all, turning what might have been a pedagogic exploration into --I am telling, you, girls!!!!!!!!--The Thriller Of The Year. Sure, there are some familiar tropes, but it is packaged in a way that the unexpected is delivered. I look forward to this author's next work, but this one has got to be read!!!!!!!!!!!!! No reader will ever enter a classroom again thinking the thoughts they once did.
OK, girls, take your pick. Hey, if you prefer The New York Times, it is not a problem. But I stand by mine. And would someone who enjoyed "Chain-Gang All-Stars" please tell me why.? Anyway, 2023 did not turn out to be the greatest year for Fiction, but some goodies did come our way. Enjoy them, and I look forward to more book discussions--which I am going to try and implement--in 2024!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Reading, Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Bee Sting, and Wellness.
ReplyDeleteLONG but worth it.
and Bee Sting with some of that Joyce stream of consciousness style.
Took some getting used to
Victoria,
ReplyDeleteMaybe I am a bit more Joycean, because I liked Murray's stream of consciousness. Very lyrical, in an Irish sort of way. And how about that ending?
Wellness just blew me away. Yes, it was long, but sometimes long can be good. Too often though, not so.