What's your 'Book of the Decade'?

[toomuchsplother]

Someone has just asked me this! Such a hard one and obviously everyone is going to have a totally different idea.
I am going with 'Lincoln in the Bardo' by George Saunders, which I know is a 'marmite book' but blew me away when I read it.
I have reread it at least 3 times, gifted and recommended it lots too.
Watching with interest to see other people's choices..

@HRHPrincessMegan It's a few years now since I read it and I keep meaning to go back to it. Such an extraordinary story and so beautifully written. It helps that I love anything to do with art history!

I could not get on with milkman for love nor money - the only book I couldn't finish alongside the shipping news

I know it was published in 2009, but I have to say Wolf Hall. I am mesmerised by it, and re-read it regularly. It’s just perfect.

I have a soft spot for After the Fire, A Still Small Voice by Evie Wyled (2009) although it is a tough read.

Placemarking for more recommendations ☺ Thanks for all so far!

I'll have a think. I like all of these s one offs but I like to intertwine them with authors and series I really like.

It's interesting that books have such a polarising impact. I didn't like The Goldfinch but did like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.

I found my favourite author and it's Robert J Crane. I read anything he writes and he is prolific. I love Ian. M. Banks and Isaac Asimov too. I love Rivers of London and
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet series by Becky Chambers.

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie, Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, Sweet Caress by William Boyd and The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert.

I have loved so many of the books mentioned here but I really loved White Gardenia.

I'm an idiot. White Chrysanthemum, not Gardenia!

Oooh. Middlesex. Absolutely excellent.

I also loved Everything is Illuminated, but that's a bit of a Marmite book.

Too hard! My top 5 would be

The Signature of All Things - Elizabeth Gilbert

Life After Life - Kate Atkinson

The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt

The Power - Naomi Alderman

The Testaments - Margaret Atwood

I’ve read a few of these but haven’t got in with them

I need a new book so looking for more inspiration

I read such light books that are entertaining, but not quite greatest of decade

I enjoyed Belgravia by Julian Fellowes but probably older

I concur with lots of the choices mentioned so far, particularly the Kate Atkinsons, All the Light we Cannot See, the Henry Marsh and The Narrow Road to the Deep South (which unlike the others I can't bring myself to reread, but I but think about quite a lot).

I would also give an honourable mention you Ann Patchett's Commonwealth which I thought was fantastic.

Thanks to whoever recommended the Benjamin Myers, will give that a whirl, I read The Gallows Pole quite recently and really enjoyed it.

I’ve just downloaded The White Tiger re pp.

Too many to choose from but here's a few of my favourites that I haven't seen mentioned already...

Wool by Hugh Howey
The Martian by Andy Weir
The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin

‘ A Brief History of Seven Killings’ by Marlon James (first published 2014) is my nomination

Am just about to read ‘Lincoln in the Bardo’!