My Top Ten Books of the 21st Century.
The New York Times recently published the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century and it seems… like a slog. It’s a deeply serious list which isn’t really a surprise, but woof it’s a heavy list. I’ve read (and loved) a few of them, been meaning to read some of them, DNFed several, and hated a few of them for sure. Mostly I’m just eh about it all.
I read for pleasure and I want the books I read to be smart and well written. I don’t need them all to be serious and/or heavy Great Literature, just great reads. Basically, the NYT list is not really for the likes of me, so I was pleased to see that Becca from Bad on Paper Podcast polled for her own list. I’m a bit older than BOP’s usual listener but it still was fun to contribute. She posted the first ten on her Substack.
Now, here are my top ten1 best books of the 21st century in no particular order. A few of these made the official NYT list but most of them are just books I love and have recommended on repeat. They’re solidly good stories that I get something new from ever time I re-read them:
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
I’ve read this one several times and it’s really Kate Atkinson’s best book. If you never read any of her others, read this one. It’s is a WWII story told in a post-modern multiverse timeline.
In The Woods by Tana French
Dark, otherworldly, completely Irish. I never shut up about my love for this one but it’s truly my favorite book. I think I’ve read it four times and, um, I figured out the unsolved plot line. She tells you if you really pay attention.
The Nickel Boys Colson Whitehead
The story of two boys' unjust incarceration at a juvenile reformatory during the Jim Crow era. This book is straight devastating but Whitehead is such a good writer that you keep reading even though you know.
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
I loved all the books in this series, but especially this one. Dark and atmospheric with an unforgettable heroine. Even if you’ve seen the movie, read the book. Both are good, the book is better.
Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
This is a quiet (but powerful) story about a young Irish immigrant struggling to build a new life despite the pull of home and family obligations. Tóibín’s writing is beautifully spare and his characters feel like real people.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Part love story, part fantasy novel, and part mystery with several different narratives. This is a book for people who love books!
The Clergyman's Wife by Molly Greeley
One of the best “Austenverse” books. This is about Charlotte Lucas after she marries Mr. Collins. It’s so beautifully written that I remember forcing myself to put it down after each chapter to make it last longer.
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
A post-civil war novel about an elderly widow who's tasked with returning a young orphan to her family after she was "rescued" from the Indian tribe who kidnapped her. It's an adventure tale, suspenseful but also really moving.
11/22/63 by Stephen King
I’ve always been a Stephen King fan and this is the one I recommend to people who’ve avoided his books because they’re not into horror. This one is about a time traveler who tries to stop JFK’s assassination.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
This is a really satisfying for book lovers. It has everything! It's a gothic suspense novel with a story-within-a-story structure that takes place in Yorkshire. Well-written and really engrossing.
What are your personal top ten (or five or one) from the 21st century?
To be clear, I have only my shaky memory and old blog reviews to go on here, so if there’s a glaring omission I’m sure to wake up at 3am one morning next week and remember it.
I don't think I can name particular titles, but these are the authors that became instant Must Reads (and re-reads): Naomi Novik, Kate Atkinson, Ben Aaronovitch, Jennifer Egan, Jasper Fforde, Alison Bechdel, Jenny Colgan, Matt Ruff, John Scalzi, Elly Griffiths. I'm always looking for authors that amaze me AND go on to write lots of books! And thanks for the link to Bad On Paper; it looks like it will be a great resource for new authors.
Count me in as a third for the unsolved plot line!
Many of the books in your list are also in mine. I was bummed that News of the World was not on the NYT official list OR on their reader-submitted list because I love it so much. If you haven't looked at the reader submitted list, it is much more egalitarian.