Colson Whitehead's "Underground Railroad" stands tall for me over the past 10 years. I'm currently reading Higginbotham's "Challenger" and I think it is shaping up to be an absolute classic (although my recollection of the explosion may be personal bias).
Broadening the 10 year window a little bit adds "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy and "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak as ones I think will be classics.
The intersection of politics and art and human nature was spellbinding to me. It was a terrible movie though, I think because film is a harder medium in which to meld tones and genres.
I think I'd disagree with that, actually. Wide Sargasso Sea, which is a fictional backstory of Jane Eyre, is usually regarded as a classic. A Thousand Acres is a re-telling of King Lear. It's rare, but definitely exists.
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. Has been oddly left out of the "best of" discussions recently, which I don't understand, because it's one of the strongest pieces of writing I've read from any time period, never mind the last decade.
Demon Copperhead immediately leapt to mind when I saw the subject line on the email! I don't know if these are withing the last 10 years but Tell the Wolves I'm Home, The Storied Life of AJ Fikry, Say Nothing and the Elegance of the Hedgehog.
I've been thinking about this a lot b/c of the NYT List. Agree w/ you on Midnight in Chernobyl. Would add Gone Girl and Liz Moore's Long Bright River, which I think will go down as THE opioid novel.
Girl, Woman, Other (2020), was really great. Last years top books for me were Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, Goodnight Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea and Hula by Jamine Iolani Hakes.
Colson Whitehead’s entire body of work. The End of August, an incredible Korean family saga by the Japanese writer (of Korean descent) Yu Miri. I also hope Compass by Mathias Enard - which was a beautiful, if dense, book - will stand the test of time.
A Gentleman in Moscow
Ah yes, Rules of Civility too!
Yes! They'll still be reading this book in 100 years.
Agree.
Co sign
Colson Whitehead's "Underground Railroad" stands tall for me over the past 10 years. I'm currently reading Higginbotham's "Challenger" and I think it is shaping up to be an absolute classic (although my recollection of the explosion may be personal bias).
Broadening the 10 year window a little bit adds "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy and "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak as ones I think will be classics.
I had the same thought about Challenger too! And I totally agree about Colson Whitehead — especially Underground Railroad and Nickel Boys.
The road is my fav book
At almost 20 years old, I think that one is nearly into "classic" territory already! It's often cited among the top works of the century.
Seconded on Underground Railroad. Possibly Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See.
The Warmth of other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
Ah, totally! What a fantastic book.
Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. Really, anything he has written will likely become a classic down the road.
Agreed! His writing is incredible.
I hope that Station Eleven will make it to classic status, it is my book of the century thus far!
Ah yes, Sea of Tranquility too!
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride, Fairy Tale by Stephen King, The Overstory by Richard Powers.
Looove James McBride — great one.
The Dutch House.
Yes, great choice. Patchett is amazing. I would add Bel Canto to this list.
Run is my favorite of Ann Patchett’s books, but it rarely gets mentioned!
I don't remember it, thanks fir reminding me about it. I love rereading Patchett. Have reread Bel Canto a couple of times. Tom Lake is a fave too.
The reason I love Run is because it takes place on the street where I once lived.
Good to know, haven't read that one!
Love Run!!
The intersection of politics and art and human nature was spellbinding to me. It was a terrible movie though, I think because film is a harder medium in which to meld tones and genres.
Bel Canto is one of my least favorite books EVER. It took me years to read her again and have loved all the other books, especially Run.
Maybe Harry Potter. Very little else though.
Definitely HP! That series is coming up on its 30 year anniversary though (at least for book one), so I think it's already a classic!
Counterpoint: Novels that are reimaginings of earlier classic works won’t be remembered outside of the cultural context that gave rise to them.
I think I'd disagree with that, actually. Wide Sargasso Sea, which is a fictional backstory of Jane Eyre, is usually regarded as a classic. A Thousand Acres is a re-telling of King Lear. It's rare, but definitely exists.
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. Has been oddly left out of the "best of" discussions recently, which I don't understand, because it's one of the strongest pieces of writing I've read from any time period, never mind the last decade.
Wow, high praise!
Demon Copperhead immediately leapt to mind when I saw the subject line on the email! I don't know if these are withing the last 10 years but Tell the Wolves I'm Home, The Storied Life of AJ Fikry, Say Nothing and the Elegance of the Hedgehog.
I've been thinking about this a lot b/c of the NYT List. Agree w/ you on Midnight in Chernobyl. Would add Gone Girl and Liz Moore's Long Bright River, which I think will go down as THE opioid novel.
I have Long Bright River waiting for me on kindle; I'll have to prioritize it.
For the fantasy fans out there: what series will be the lord of the rings/wheel of time for the last ten years?
Stormlight Archive is in the conversation
Yeah I'm sure Sanderson will stick around for a long time! Also Fonda Lee's "Green Bone Saga."
Loved that series! I hope it remains beloved over the years
Girl, Woman, Other (2020), was really great. Last years top books for me were Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, Goodnight Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea and Hula by Jamine Iolani Hakes.
Curious if you think it’s significant that two of the books you mention are reworkings of already established classics?
Colson Whitehead’s entire body of work. The End of August, an incredible Korean family saga by the Japanese writer (of Korean descent) Yu Miri. I also hope Compass by Mathias Enard - which was a beautiful, if dense, book - will stand the test of time.
Yes, all of Colson Whitehead for sure!