Anonymous wrote:NYT just published 100 best books from the NYT readers. I’m seeing the list on the NYT instagram account. Some terrible books made the cut.

Anonymous wrote:NYT just published 100 best books from the NYT readers. I’m seeing the list on the NYT instagram account. Some terrible books made the cut.

Anonymous wrote:I'd have had A gentleman in Moscow on the list for sure.

I'm surprised Ann Patchett's Bel Canto was her only one on the list, although that is my favorite. I'd maybe put Tom Lake - it's too recent, but I think it might be one of the great covid books. I liked very much her take on covid being good for family togetherness, which is a take I sometimes hear from mother friends (with older kids!). Maybe that's too recent for real judgement.

I do think these lists are better when at least fiction and non-fiction are separated.

Within fiction, I often think the genre books get overlooked. I think I might add 3-body problem. There's been such a resurgence in romance books - including books with characters with disabilities, or the growth of LGBTQ+ romance - it seems a shame they'll never be represented on a list like this. Plus there's a new focus on STEM-heroines that's been delightful. Or look at the rise of romantasy, sure much of which is kinda crap, but there are gems. It's rare for Horror, suspense, thrillers, or classic mysteries too, to be on lists like this.

JK Rowling? I think I'd have the Casual Vacancy on the list, though low, in the 80-100 range. Frankly given what it did for publishing I'd maybe put a Harry potter book on the list, too.

On the non fiction side, I'd have liked to see more science-focused, nature focused books. I've just started reading The Comfort of Crows which is phenomenal, but too recent to be on the list, I think. But staring into the face of climate changes, the books documenting those changes should be on the list. Maybe something by Diane Ackerman should be on the list. Or Sy Montgomery.

Anonymous wrote:Just ordered The Warmth of Other Suns from Amazon; it was a Prime Day deal for $11.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where's Murakami and Yoshimoto, and other non-American writers?

I only attempted Lincoln in the Bardo and tossed it very quickly aside. Totally unreadable.

The NYT list is not final. I'm sure these authors will appear at the top of the list.

When will they update it?

The final list is on the
page of this thread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where's Murakami and Yoshimoto, and other non-American writers?

I only attempted Lincoln in the Bardo and tossed it very quickly aside. Totally unreadable.

The NYT list is not final. I'm sure these authors will appear at the top of the list.

When will they update it?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm enjoying looking through this list as it's released each day. How many books have you read so far from the list? And are you planning to submit a list of your own? They have a place for reader submissions. It's really hard to narrow down to just ten, but here's my best effort.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
North Woods by Daniel Mason
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
The Children’s Book by A.S. Byatt
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
John Adams by David McCullough
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
Circe by Madeline Miller

Such a provincial, self-centered selection. Where are the great global books?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where's Murakami and Yoshimoto, and other non-American writers?

I only attempted Lincoln in the Bardo and tossed it very quickly aside. Totally unreadable.

The NYT list is not final. I'm sure these authors will appear at the top of the list.

Anonymous wrote:House in the cerulean sea is another that could’ve made the list but didn’t, I think.
That one is a really enjoyable read.