I have yet to read many 21st century works. I started with classic literature and have been working my way up through 20th century works that are enduring the test of time. But I have read 'Station Eleven' - it is very good, and will probably become a minor classic among its sub-genre. It has a Wyndham dystopian quality to it.
For fantasy, Susanna Clarke has been the powerhouse of the early 21st century, reviving literary fantasy. 'Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell', along with the short story collection 'The Ladies of Grace Adieu', really solidified a fantasy style combining literary style with traditional faery lore, and will be beloved among fantasy fans. But it is Clarke's most recent book, 'Piranesi', that is poised to reach the level of general literary classic - it has that timeless, multi-faceted character.
'Island of the World' (2007), by Michael D. O'Brien is also going to be a minor classic. Its genre is difficult to define - mystic realism? - but it has a slow-burning, painful beauty.
Daniel Nayeri's 'Everything Sad is Untrue' is YA classic material.
Within my own sub-culture, Karen Swallow Prior's 'The Evangelical Imagination' is moment defining.
John le Carre had a way of writing spy thrillers of their time, which made that time comprehensible to those reading them out of it: 'A Most Wanted Man' is no exception.
The epistolary 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' is in the rank of one-off books that are an unexpected delight.
Sea of Tranquility to me was probably the better SF and it had an amazing pay off. I do probably prefer Station Eleven but nice to see someone else read Sea of Tranquility! Have you read others other books? I haven’t and would be interested in any recommendations!
Too many good books written in the last 25 years to pick the best. However, the books I reread are Annihilation by Jeff Van Der Meer, Piranesi by Susanna Clark, Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa, and the non-fiction book Murderland by Patty Nieman. Ask me tomorrow, and I'll probably come up with a different list of books.
Rules of Civility or A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Hannah Coulter or Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
Maybe these are too basic...but some of my favorites! Also I would love to hear about why Station 11....I enjoyed it, but have not found Emily St. John Mandel as life changing as other literary people claim to.
The only book on your list I've read is Dominion, which I liked a lot. Andrew Klavan's The Great Good Thing is a nice memoir of his conversion from being a secular Jew to a Christian. I've given copies to several friends. His Cameron Winter mystery series is excellent fiction. Finally, I just started reading a book called The Idea Machine. It's too early to tell, but it looks promising! :)
The Road by Cormac McCarthy for sure. As the future gets more and more strange, it increasingly becomes a kind of guide on how to retain our humanity in a hellscape: “Keep a little fire burning; however small, however hidden.”
Two off the top of my head, one non-fiction, one fiction. Charles Murray is controversial in some circles, but his *Coming Apart* was very well done and may be the most important book written about American politics so far this century. As for fiction, Georgi Gospodinov's *Time Shelter*, which won the 2023 International Booker Prize, is a really good and thought-provoking book.
I also want to include 2 non-fiction picture books that are great for all ages:
“The Elements “ by Theodore Gray with photos by Theodore Gray and Nick Mann. This book is a great visual guide to the periodic table and all the elements that can be photographed.
“Saints Around the World “ by Meg Hunter-Kilmer with illustrations by Lindsey Sanders. This book tells the stories of more than 100 largely lesser known saints from more than 60 countries with great illustrations.
I agree with Gilead being a remarkable book. I love McEwan's Atonement. Han Kang's The Vegetarian, which I read recently, is an extremely well crafted and unsettling read. Marlon James's A Brief History of Seven Killings and Paul Beatty's The Sellout also impressed me.
I'm on record for saying two of the best novels from the 21st Century are The Road and Piranesi. I need to reread Gilead, which I also thought was very good and Laurus is on my TBR pile.
*Gregory Hayes translation of Marcus Aurelius’ meditations
Shafak’s How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division
History:
Black and British David Olusoga
Democracy by Paul Cartledge
Memoir:
Airhead by Emily Maitlis
Getting Better by Michael Rosen
For fiction :
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
Frankissstein by Jeanette Winterson
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
Just a few …
Screenwriting:
The entire series of Succession
Play:
Giant by Mark Rosenblatt about Roald Dahl and antisemitism (saw it performed and wrote about it on here)
I did read the Wolf Hall trilogies and the research was meticulous.
BUT
For character and general emotional pulling of my heart strings - I preferred the less well known but fascinating two novel series about Theodora by Stella Duffy - fascinating stuff.
For fiction, Roberto Bolano’s 2666 tops my list, followed by The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Your Face Tomorrow by Javier Maria’s (a trilogy—first volume—Fever and Spear), Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, John Henry Days by Colson Whitehead, Snow by Orhan Pamuk, and Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner.
Also added to my list as chosen by Joel and others: Gilead, Atonement and both Station 11 and Sea of Tranquillity. I am anxious to check out Paranesi.
I have yet to read many 21st century works. I started with classic literature and have been working my way up through 20th century works that are enduring the test of time. But I have read 'Station Eleven' - it is very good, and will probably become a minor classic among its sub-genre. It has a Wyndham dystopian quality to it.
For fantasy, Susanna Clarke has been the powerhouse of the early 21st century, reviving literary fantasy. 'Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell', along with the short story collection 'The Ladies of Grace Adieu', really solidified a fantasy style combining literary style with traditional faery lore, and will be beloved among fantasy fans. But it is Clarke's most recent book, 'Piranesi', that is poised to reach the level of general literary classic - it has that timeless, multi-faceted character.
'Island of the World' (2007), by Michael D. O'Brien is also going to be a minor classic. Its genre is difficult to define - mystic realism? - but it has a slow-burning, painful beauty.
Enjoyed JS & Mr N but agree that Piranesi is for the ages.
Adding my vote for Island of the World!
Thinking further:
Daniel Nayeri's 'Everything Sad is Untrue' is YA classic material.
Within my own sub-culture, Karen Swallow Prior's 'The Evangelical Imagination' is moment defining.
John le Carre had a way of writing spy thrillers of their time, which made that time comprehensible to those reading them out of it: 'A Most Wanted Man' is no exception.
The epistolary 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' is in the rank of one-off books that are an unexpected delight.
A big yes to "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"!
Yes to Piranesi. Near-immediate classic.
I agee 100%, Piranesi will be a classic surviving time.
Wolf Hall, yes.
For me, with Mandel, Sea of Tranquility is better than Station Eleven.
Also: Case Histories (2004) by Kate Atkinson;
The Bone Clocks (2014) by David Mitchell
Sea of Tranquility to me was probably the better SF and it had an amazing pay off. I do probably prefer Station Eleven but nice to see someone else read Sea of Tranquility! Have you read others other books? I haven’t and would be interested in any recommendations!
Oh yes to Bone Clocks!
I'm also a huge Sea of Tranquility and Bone Clocks fan! (And Slade House by Mitchell for that matter).
I liked Sea of Tranquility more than SE as well.
Too many good books written in the last 25 years to pick the best. However, the books I reread are Annihilation by Jeff Van Der Meer, Piranesi by Susanna Clark, Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa, and the non-fiction book Murderland by Patty Nieman. Ask me tomorrow, and I'll probably come up with a different list of books.
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Rules of Civility or A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Hannah Coulter or Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
Maybe these are too basic...but some of my favorites! Also I would love to hear about why Station 11....I enjoyed it, but have not found Emily St. John Mandel as life changing as other literary people claim to.
I was just going to say Peace Like a River, so I'll add my vote for that.
Oh yes, Peace Like a River! Wholeheartedly agree. And Hannah Coulter is so classic I forget it was written in the 21st century.
The only book on your list I've read is Dominion, which I liked a lot. Andrew Klavan's The Great Good Thing is a nice memoir of his conversion from being a secular Jew to a Christian. I've given copies to several friends. His Cameron Winter mystery series is excellent fiction. Finally, I just started reading a book called The Idea Machine. It's too early to tell, but it looks promising! :)
Thanks for the rec. I started The Great Good Thing today on audio. It might convince me to read his fiction too!
I hope you like it! He has a nice sense of humor, while diving into very deep things.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy for sure. As the future gets more and more strange, it increasingly becomes a kind of guide on how to retain our humanity in a hellscape: “Keep a little fire burning; however small, however hidden.”
https://amzn.to/44RYYNE
Mine are:
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
Loved Hamnet. So moving
Two off the top of my head, one non-fiction, one fiction. Charles Murray is controversial in some circles, but his *Coming Apart* was very well done and may be the most important book written about American politics so far this century. As for fiction, Georgi Gospodinov's *Time Shelter*, which won the 2023 International Booker Prize, is a really good and thought-provoking book.
Loved Station Eleven as well. I would include Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr.
Yes yes yes to Cloud Cuckoo Land
In no particular order, my favorite 21st century books include:
“Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke
“The Night Circus “ by Erin Morgenstern
“Gilead” by Marilynn Robinson
“The Dignity of Dependence “ by Leah Libresco Sargeant
“The Shallows” by Nicholas Carr
“The Golem And The Jinni” by Helene Wecker
The “Red Rising” trilogy by Pierce Brown
The “Jesus of Nazareth “ series by Pope Benedict XVI
“Laudato Si” by Pope Francis (yes, it’s technically an encyclical, but it’s published in book form, so it counts).
I also want to include 2 non-fiction picture books that are great for all ages:
“The Elements “ by Theodore Gray with photos by Theodore Gray and Nick Mann. This book is a great visual guide to the periodic table and all the elements that can be photographed.
“Saints Around the World “ by Meg Hunter-Kilmer with illustrations by Lindsey Sanders. This book tells the stories of more than 100 largely lesser known saints from more than 60 countries with great illustrations.
I agree with Gilead being a remarkable book. I love McEwan's Atonement. Han Kang's The Vegetarian, which I read recently, is an extremely well crafted and unsettling read. Marlon James's A Brief History of Seven Killings and Paul Beatty's The Sellout also impressed me.
I'm on record for saying two of the best novels from the 21st Century are The Road and Piranesi. I need to reread Gilead, which I also thought was very good and Laurus is on my TBR pile.
I second Piranesi
I think I might add these for NF:
Women & Power by Mary Beard
Knife Salman Rushdie
Aristotle’s Way Edith Hall
Eckhart Tolle A New Earth
The Comfort Book Book Matt Haig
*Gregory Hayes translation of Marcus Aurelius’ meditations
Shafak’s How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division
History:
Black and British David Olusoga
Democracy by Paul Cartledge
Memoir:
Airhead by Emily Maitlis
Getting Better by Michael Rosen
For fiction :
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
Frankissstein by Jeanette Winterson
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
Just a few …
Screenwriting:
The entire series of Succession
Play:
Giant by Mark Rosenblatt about Roald Dahl and antisemitism (saw it performed and wrote about it on here)
I did read the Wolf Hall trilogies and the research was meticulous.
BUT
For character and general emotional pulling of my heart strings - I preferred the less well known but fascinating two novel series about Theodora by Stella Duffy - fascinating stuff.
Overstory (2018) by Richard Powers
The Island of Missing Trees (2021) by Elif Shafak
For fiction, Roberto Bolano’s 2666 tops my list, followed by The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Your Face Tomorrow by Javier Maria’s (a trilogy—first volume—Fever and Spear), Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, John Henry Days by Colson Whitehead, Snow by Orhan Pamuk, and Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner.
Also added to my list as chosen by Joel and others: Gilead, Atonement and both Station 11 and Sea of Tranquillity. I am anxious to check out Paranesi.
I have Laurus teed up. I can't image that it is better than The Aviator.
I came here to mention The Aviator, which was as moving a read as I've had in a long time.