The List
recent fiction & literary haunts
Hi friends!
When someone asked about my favorite books from last year, I froze. How can I choose between the ones that I couldn’t put down until I finished, the ones that still live in my head, and the ones that changed how I see the world? I read over 100 books in 2024, and I couldn't bear to leave any of the good ones out. So, instead of my usual round-up, I'm trying something different: a complete, slightly chaotic collection of the books that left their mark.
I'm sharing part one (of at least six parts) of that list here today. These were the top of my fiction recommendations: recent favorites, books that haunt me, and some literary picks [for unsophisticated folk like me].
A note on links: All the links will take you to Bookshop, and if you purchase from there, I may get a small commission, but I recommend purchasing from your local bookstore (which you can also maybe do on Bookshop!), renting from your library, or even more accessible: using your library card to acquire from the Libby App!
In Case You Missed It
Recent favorites
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka is possibly my perfect book. A metaphysical fantasy with satirical humor, social problems, and a slice of Sri Lanka during a period of unrest.
The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector - This tiny book may be my favorite book to date. It’s the story of Macabéa told through the lens of a cosmopolitan who becomes enthralled by her sad life, her “rat of a boyfriend,” and her sheer inner freedom. Lispector was a genius, or as Parul Sehgal said in the NYT about Clarice: “Sphinx, sorceress, sacred monster. The revival of the hypnotic Clarice Lispector has been one of the true literary events of the twenty-first century.”
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff - Geeta’s terrible husband disappears, and the whole village believes she killed him. Everyone leaves her alone, and she is thrilled. That is, until other women come to her to help them kill their abusive husbands. This is the dark comedy (that is surprisingly very endearing) I will reread and reread.
If you want a page-turner (and to be slightly haunted)…
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman - I haven’t stopped thinking about this book since I read it. It’s a haunting dystopian tale that says a lot about humans and social conditioning.
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan - I recommended this to my aunt, and she called it “the handmaid’s tale for mothers.” I had to read it in 48 hours so I could find peace.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - Do I like horror? I don’t think so, but I liked this.
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi - Dark fairy tale that reads like a lyrical fever dream.
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl - A coming-of-age tale mixed with murder mystery from a teenage girl. The book is described as Nabokov meets Donna Tartt, and I was so much more here for the flawed, searching teenage girl protagonist than the characters in A Secret History.
If you want something literary…
The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty - Another teenage protagonist surrounded by other teenagers who all came from the foster-care system. It’s set in the post-industrial Midwest,which reminded me so much of the small Indiana town where I attended college. [National Book Award Winner]
Greek Lessons by Han Kang - I haven’t listened to her lecture yet, but Han Kang was just awarded the Novel Prize, and a friend shared this link. It’s on my list to watch.
Near to the Wild Heart by Clarice Lispector - I picked this up at a small bookstore when the staff called my other selection (which I can’t remember what it was) “commercial fiction” and said she reads only “literary fiction”— particularly this book. Naturally, I bought the book in shame because I am unsophisticated and know it. And JOKES ON HER because I loved every second of the weird, existential, flawed protagonist made by Lispector (who was a literary genius).
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo - Interconnected stories of Black British women. Evaristo was the first Black woman to win the Booker Prize in 2019 with this novel. [Booker Prize Winner]
Trust by Hernan Diaz - A period piece that reminded me quite a bit of Citizen Kane. Rich people and mysteries are at the heart of it. I don’t normally love historical fiction, but this one kept me reading (quickly) till the end. [Pulitzer Prize Winner]
That's it for now. Stay tuned for more next week!
Until next time.
P.S. If you're new here, I'm Lex. I write about life, loss, creativity, and trying to make sense of this whole being-human thing. You can join this little community by clicking the subscribe button below!
Much love to you all.
