Six of the Best Books of the Year
Whether you’re a fan of books or just like to read about them, you can bet that you’ve heard of the best books of the year. But have you ever stopped to think about what exactly made these titles so great? Here are six books that stood out amongst the rest of the year.
Less is Lost by Greer
Less is an extraordinary novel by Andrew Sean Greer. It is a story about a gay middle-aged man, Arthur Less, who travels the world in a quest to escape the impending wedding of his former lover.
The book tells a humorous, yet thoughtful exploration of love, aging, and friendship. It is a must read for anyone who loves to write.
Greer is an American author who grew up in Washington, DC suburbs. He studied writing at Brown University. He is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and a judge for the National Book Awards. His work has been awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship.
Andrew Sean Greer’s writing style is a mix of comedy and drama. His Twitter account enables readers to see how he works and his newest writing projects.
In his debut novel, Less, Greer follows Arthur Less as he explores themes of aging and friendship. He struggles with fear, loneliness, and the loss of a love.
While this is not a political novel, it does reflect anxieties about the state of the country. A character called Freddy Pelu, for example, is a young English teacher who left his new wife to return to Arthur Less.
He is a writer who is in love with a poet, Robert Brownburn. They first met on the beach in San Francisco when Less was twenty. Their relationship was fifteen years long.
To Paradise by Yanagihara
Hanya Yanagihara’s third novel, To Paradise, has sparked debate in the literary world. It has received mixed reviews, though.
In this densely written 700 page book, the author has created a dazzling array of mechanisms to baffle and amaze. Despite the many ways in which this novel is difficult, it is also a genuinely enjoyable read.
The main characters in To Paradise are attractive and creative. Jude is an accomplished classical singer with a master’s degree in pure math from MIT. He is also a top litigator in New York City. However, the novel’s climax is inevitable, as he commits suicide.
In this novel, Yanagihara explores the relationship between suffering and life. Her descriptions of pain are vivid and visceral. She also uses this story to argue that life can be a drag.
In the final section, the author explores the dangers of censorship. This is an important issue to consider in today’s age.
One of the novel’s most prominent features is its three-part structure. Each of the book’s sections is set in different times in New York. While the 1890s is the setting for Washington Square, the sequel takes place in 1993 in Greenwich Village.
Ed Yong’s bestselling nonfiction book
There are many books to choose from in the non-fiction genre, but one stands out above the rest. It’s no secret that Ed Yong has made a name for himself in the science and technology arena, with books like Braiding Sweetgrass, The Last Days of the Dinosaurs and most recently, An Immense World. He’s also a staff writer for The Atlantic, where he writes about science and technology, along with other topics of interest.
In An Immense World, he tries to do something a little different: he takes us on a tour of the animal kingdom, from pterosaurs to octopus to zebras. Using a combination of scientific research and a touch of fantasy, he provides readers with a glimpse of what the animals see and hear, and what we can expect from them in the years to come.
Along the way, he presents a number of eye-popping facts and figures. For instance, a pterosaur’s ride on warm thermals is more than just a cool trick. But what really makes the book stand out is a peek at how the animals see the world.
Similarly, the best part of this book is its ability to inspire us to take action. The book is packed with information, a great deal of it scientific, and the result is a newfound respect for the animal kingdom.
Jennifer Egan’s The Candy House
Jennifer Egan’s latest novel, The Candy House, is a fraternal twin to her debut novel, A Visit from the Goon Squad. While the two works are quite different, they share a similar aesthetic.
The Candy House is a kaleidoscopic novel. It follows a variety of interconnected characters. Each chapter is told from a different perspective. This makes the book seem like a collection of short stories.
Rather than a linear narrative, the chapters flow through time, from the 1960s to the 2030s. One of the most striking things about The Candy House is how the author uses the passage of time to explore new technology.
One of the main ideas of the book is the connection between social media and the music industry. Technology is saturating our culture, and the music industry is all about having a good time.
The Candy House has a lot to say about this. In addition to the music industry, the book also tackles the role of imagination in a digital age. Among the themes of the book are a young lovesick programmer’s attempts to communicate his feelings, and a former spy who worries that her thoughts aren’t her own.
T.F. Jennings’ novel
Anthony Buckeridge wrote 24 novels in the Jennings series. The first five were based on the school life of a teacher. They were republished in 1950, 1977, 1991 and 1994. Although these novels were rooted in the pre-war era, they reflect changing times.
An Island: A Novel of Mankind explores man’s isolation and lack of empathy. It is a character study with cross-cultural resiliency.
In the first episode, Jennings is a form three pupil. He is treated with condescendence by his classmates, who are less interested in him than he is in them. But he finds an unexpected link to Mr Wilkins. Old Wilkie helps save the day when Jennings threatens disaster at the end of term concert.
Darbishire is a mild-mannered man who is more cautious than Jennings. Together they set up a newspaper. However, their efforts are frustrated when they accidentally lock themselves in the boiler-room.
Jennings’ diary is filled with a variety of entries, including a diary record of his attempts to find a genuine Roman fake. It also records his attempts to set up a museum in Form Three.
He is also interested in a plume de satante, which he hopes to win at the school’s Sports Day. His resolution to be decent to old people, however, goes awry.
Nell Zink’s Avalon
Nell Zink’s Avalon is a clever novel. It has a wry critique of creative work in Southern California. The novel is also a romance. Unlike most romantic novels, the romance in Avalon is not trite and manipulative.
Avalon is the sixth novel by author Nell Zink. Her previous works include Doxology, Nicotine, and The Wallcreeper. She also founded the zine Animal Review.
Zink’s novels are often chaotic and whimsical. They are written from the perspective of characters who have different backgrounds and deal with themes such as fleeing and waiting. Often, these characters find themselves in trouble and hope that something will save them.
In Avalon, the character Bran Zink finds herself in the company of Peter, a young, East Coast aesthete. He encourages Bran to pursue writing, which she does. While she is at first reluctant, she begins to appreciate her own talents.
While the novel is not as well-written as some of Zink’s earlier works, it is a fun read. The narrator’s voice is charming and beguiling. There are a few lapses in her history and her ideas are not always coherent. But it is a worthwhile novel for fans of quirky fiction.
Marcellus
If you’re a book lover, you may have heard about Marcellus. It’s a best-selling novel. Read on to find out more about the book and its enthralling story.
The story is based on the relationship between a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus and a woman named Tova. They work at the Sowell Bay Aquarium in Washington state.
Marcellus and Tova are unlikely friends. But they form a bond that opens up Tova to life beyond her grief.
This is a novel about family, friendship, loyalty, and love. As the story unfolds, we learn about Tova’s life in a small town in Washington State. During her early adulthood, she and her husband Eric lost their son. Now, thirty years later, she is working at the aquarium as a night cleaner.
She lives in a house that her grandfather built on the Puget Sound. In addition to her job, Tova is working to settle her grief over the loss of her husband.
Her work at the aquarium allows her to relax and forget about her loss. However, a new mystery surrounds her son’s disappearance. When Marcellus joins her at the aquarium, he’s able to solve the puzzle.
