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If you read only one book this year, make it Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel.
It’s the best book I’ve read since Hamnet. A disquieting mystery, a love story, deeply compassionate and human, it’s too complex to categorize easily, but it will stay with me for a long time, I think.
Speaking of Hamnet, Maggie O’Farrell’s follow up novel, The Marriage Portrait, is based on the true story of a young girl living in Renaissance Florence who, following the sudden death of her sister, is suddenly forced into marriage to a very dangerous man. Suspenseful, richly detailed and compelling, the ending will surprise.
Other great reads worth your time:
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng – another story that seems pulled out of today’s headlines. As author Stephen King says, “It’s impossible not to be moved.”
Amy & Lan: A Novel by Sadie Jones. It’s a quick read about friendship and love and the ways children always pay for the mistakes made by their parents. “I think about the boiling frogs. The little kids’ lives are changing, like mine and Amy’s, but they haven’t realised yet. They’ll catch on when the water boils.”
Tomorrow, And Tomorrow, And Tomorrow: A Novel by Gabrielle Zevin. I had no idea what this book was about, but bought it when it was named one of the best books of the year by the New York Times. I know nothing about gaming; I don’t play video games and this book felt aimed at a younger reader than I am, but it ended up being a wonderful story of friendship and love. I think you’ll like it.
A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell. Another true story, it almost feels like fiction because of the truly incredible life it reveals. The courage and sacrifice it took to save France and all of western Europe from the Nazis is inspiring, and especially relevant today because of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and The Breaking of America by Maggie Haberman. First, she’s a fantastic writer, and second, her sourcing is impeccable. This is more a biography of Trump than just a tale of his years as President. If you only read one book about him, this is the one I would recommend.
The Music of Chance by Paul Auster. This book was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award when it was published 30 years ago. It’s not life-changing, but he knows how to tell a good story.
I love George Saunders, who has been called “the best short-story writer in English.” Liberation Day will not disappoint. Saunders’ deeply moral voice unmasks the hate and cynicism surrounding us today but he never leaves me feeling hopeless or bereft. That, alone, makes him amazing.
Another oldie, by publishing standards (2003), The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffengger is a love story unlike any other I’ve read. As with most love stories in life, it will leave you wishing it could’ve ended differently. Very moving.
How to help the desperate survivors of the massive earthquake in Turkey and Syria: click HERE, and thank you for giving.