Have You Read These Books?
As a lifelong book lover, I read newsletters and articles by literary critics on what they think is important to read. So in January, I usually check the various “Best” book lists for the past year.
I’ve long been skeptical of how the books are chosen. When a thriller I helped write earned a spot on The New York Times “Notables” list, it was disappointing to learn why—after five printings in both hardback and paperback and translated into two foreign language editions—it didn’t quite become a NYT “bestseller.” It had more to do with a bookselling logarithm and a publisher’s reluctance to support it than it did with the quality of the book itself.
But to learn what’s happening in the popular culture, I still read the lists. The NYT says the five best novels of 2023 are The Bee Sting, Chain-Gang All-Stars, Eastbound, North Woods, and The Fraud (written by Zadie Smith, an author I’ve read and enjoyed).
The Wall Street Journal chose an entirely different five: The Lost Wife, The Sun Walks Down, Good Girls, Red Memory, and A Dictator Calls (winner of a Man Booker prize).
Reader’s Digest doesn’t stop at mere books of the year. It also publishes “The 100 Best Books of All Time.” What they do when new books are published is a mystery. They could easily drop Hamlet from the current list. It’s a remarkable piece of literature, but it isn’t a book. But what about the other 99?
In a sign of the times, there’s also a Top 50 Banned Books list. I enjoyed many of those as a child and in high school English class. I’m sure you have, too. Now I’m curious about the rest of them, especially one called Captain Underpants.
When I choose a new book, I often rely on recommendations from friends. I love being introduced to books I wouldn’t necessarily pick up on my own.
So, have you read any good books lately? Tell us about it in the comments below.
And speaking of books, I’m giving away free copies of The Body Business ebook for 24 hours beginning at midnight tonight through midnight tomorrow (Jan. 10th) on Amazon. Tell your friends!
Gay Yellen is the author of the award-winning SamanthaNewman Mysteries include The Body Business, The Body Next Door, and The Body in the News!
Contact her at GayYellen.com
Gay, the Gatekeepers are and will be around for some time. Word of mouth and trust in authors we have enjoyed and trust in their storytelling will always be my lode stone. Important blog, thank you.
Wise words, Donnell.
I’m an extremely critical reader. Many books that have landed on bestseller lists often have me scratching my head as to why they were even published. That said, though, I’ve read some really good books over the holidays. I usually don’t care for thrillers because I don’t like fiction that keeps me checking the locks on the doors, but I recently read a thriller that was fabulous–Hanging the Devil by Tim Maleeny. I also enjoyed The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis and The Woman in the Library by Sulani Gentill.
Thanks for the recommendations, Lois. I’ll check them out!
I don’t trust many of the “official” lists. Either I don’t have the same tastes as critics or they are picking books for various reasons that have nothing to do with how enjoyable something is. Or both.
I’ve recently enjoyed MUSHROOM CAPPED by Cathy Wiley and THE KILL OF IT ALL by Diane Vallere.
I agree, Mark. Thanks for your book suggestions!
Lately, I’ve been reading books that probably won’t make a bestseller list (although I really enjoyed Ann Patchett’s Tom Lake – which probably is NYT) I also read Barbra by Barbra Streisand. The latter was a bit long, but I bet like Spare, it is selling well…but will that make a list?
You’re an intrepid reader, Debra, sticking with all 700+ pages of Barbra’s book. But I’m sure it was juicy!
I loved Lessons in Chemistry. Thanks for making your book available to new readers. Hopefully The Body in the News will make a great end-of-year list in 2024.
Thanks, Saralyn. Lessons in Chemistry is on my TBR list!
Lessons in Chemistry is on my list too!
I have read a number of NYT best sellers that were boring, and I’ve read authors that will probably never make a best seller list and their books are fabulous. I take a peek at the lists and then usually ignore them unless a friend tells me how much they enjoyed a particular best-seller!
Same here, Kathryn. A recommendation coming from someone you know is usually a safe bet.
Holidays are for pleasure reads. For me, that’s anything by JD Robb, Kate Carlisle, Eva Gates, Miranda James.
Gianetta, thanks for sharing your favorites!
I read three books over the holidays in addition to a beta read and am doing one for my critique partner. Robert Crais, Racing the Light, Adam Plantinga, The Ascent, and Tess Gerritsen’s, The Spy Coast, The Martini Club).