What Are The "Must Read" Books This Year

[TotallyFloored]

I feel like last year had so many that everyone was reading (Strange Sally Diamond, Remarkably Bright Creatures, The Nightingale etc) but I feel a bit lost this year. Anyone got any ideas ?

Why do you feel the need to keep up with the 'must-reads'? You've got three thousand years of writing to choose from! I hardly ever read anything contemporary. When it comes to art, I agree with Harold Bloom – there is no progress. No one has ever written a war book as perfect and profound as Homer's Illiad, and no one has ever written an epic poem that comes close to Paradise Lost.

I read Mantel's Wolf Hall because people whose opinion I respect told me it was very good, and I read Orbital for the same reason. Other than that I stick to the classics.

You could try the winner of The Women's Prize when it is announced-or indeed the winner of any prize as these books will be pushed and will attract a lot of readers.

But alas you and Harold Bloom don't have the only worthy opinion in the world ever on art ever 🤦🏻‍♀️

I don’t think PP is saying that at all. Just that following trends in which books to read can also be a bit of a shallow approach and that older literature, whether a notable classic or not, can be exceptionally good. Often (though not always) it is the best works that have remained in print and remained known to us, and a lot of dross has fallen out of view. What is popular at a given time sometimes correlates with but certainly isn’t a reliable indicator of quality in many cases.

@Dappy777 I actually read quite a lot and have been trying to challenge myself to read lots of different things.

Last year I branched out and tried some non-fiction, sci-fi, classics, rom-coms, fantasy and big sweeping epic saga type ones as well as my usual thriller type books and those on the must read lists.

I get inspiration for what to read from many places, including some of the "must-read / talked about" books, but I haven't heard of many this year hence my request.

I am ok with choosing classics and other older books as I am more aware of what is out there and can pick what I fancy.

It’s an interesting topic. I remember years ago being on the tube and everybody reading Wild Swans, then Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and then Memories of a Geisha. Heck, I read them all too. 🤔

Don’t quote me in what order. Pre internet I think.

@Dappy777, I can’t help feeling that your Harold Bloom monomania comes from a deep reluctance to go off-piste and trust your own judgement. He’s dead, and was pretty problematic when alive. Surely you can let go of him enough to read contemporary writing inwardly deferring to his possible approval?

@AstonishedWaiting You know who else is dead? Shakespeare. Dickens. Jane Austen.

I think a lot of people are reading Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton this year.

It's just been shortlisted for The Women's Prize non-fiction and I think it's a shoe in to win. It's also been serialised on Radio 4.

Sometimes, it is nice to read a book that everyone is reading, as it means that you will have something up to date to talk about and I don't think even the esteemed Harold Bloom would object to that.

I'm reading Proof of my Innocence by Jonathan Coe. Judging by the number of people on the "reserve list" at the library this is one of the novels everyone wants to read atm.

I know what you mean - last year everyone seemed to be reading James. Before that, Demon Copperhead, Hamnet, etc.

There’s often a ‘book of the moment’ but I think it tends to emerge over the summer when people are choosing what to read on holiday.

Butter

Yep! I work in a library and this is the runaway success book currently.

Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Butter
James (I know it’s last years but I know lots ready it now the paperback is out)
Real Americans
Orbital
Never let me go
Flesh

thanks guys, I’ve actually got Butter already on my kindle.

I’m reading The Women by Kristen Hannah and if you enjoyed The Nightingale you’ll probably like it.