My Favorite Books On the New York Times Best Books of the 21st Century

The New York Times recently releases its list of the best books of 21^st century. That is a tall task and the list has gotten a lot of attention because this is the New York Times after all. That is why we decided to take a look at the list and see which picks stood out to us!

Station Eleven

The first novel that stood out to me was Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. If you haven’t read this novel, then I wholeheartedly recommend it. Mandel is a talented writer and this novel made me a fan of her work. Seeing this novel make the New York Times list is a good sign of what’s to come.

The Goldfinch

I did not expect to see The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt on this list. It is a well written book and nobody can tell a story quite like Tartt can. There are moments that feel unnecessary but that is Tartt’s style. And while I think The Secret History is Tartt’s best novel, The Goldfinch is a good second novel by her.

The Fifth Season

One of my new favorite fantasy novel and trilogy is The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin. The fantasy world that Jemisin builds is breathtaking and haunting at the same time. In its simpliest form, this novel is about a mother trying to get her daughter back. But the world they inhabit is cruel and racism is rampant in this world. Novels like these are why I enjoy reading and I can’t wait to read other novels by Jemisin.

Americanah

If you haven’t read any books by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, then you are missing out one of this century’s most talented writers. And Americanah is a novel that will transport you to two different countries and cultures with amazing writing. Few authors can do what Adichie does effortlessly.

Pachinko

A novel that has stuck with me ever since I read it is Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. The success of the novel has led to a TV show and has led to many people discovering the amazing novel. I am glad that the New York Times has included this novel and I recommend this novel to everyonethat enjoys a good book.

Notable Mentions

Some other novels that are also on the list that I agree with are The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. You can see the full list here.

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