I read a lot of books this year (80 and counting). Here are my top picks, in no particular order.
“Demon Copperhead,” Barbara Kingsolver
“Demon Copperhead” is my top book of the year. I cannot recommend it enough. Born to a single mother struggling with addiction in Appalachian Virginia, Damon Fields is christened “Demon Copperhead” in this modern retelling of Dickens’ “David Copperfield.” The novel explores systemic poverty and the opioid crisis as Demon is thrown into one predicament after another. He performs forced labor in his first foster home, faces his mother’s death and struggles with a severe football injury along with drug addiction. He also finds kinship with a neighboring family, discovers a passion for art from his teacher and falls in love, all while longing his whole life to see the ocean. If you like the hero’s journey, social commentary and crying, this book is the one for you.
“Shark Heart,” Emily Habeck
“Shark Heart” is utterly unique. The novel follows Lewis, a theater teacher who has been given a rare diagnosis: Over the course of a year, he will transform into a great white shark while retaining his mind and memories. Flashbacks also tell the story of Lewis’ wife, Wren, her experience with her mother Angela’s reptilian transformation and Angela’s own childhood and teen pregnancy. The novel’s prose is poetic and almost lyrical, vividly depicting the magical realism of the world that Wren and Lewis inhabit. Habeck’s characters are complex, emotional and real. Her rich descriptions of their lives build immense empathy with readers, who will cry alongside Wren, grow up with Angela and maybe even swim along with Lewis. If you enjoy animals, poetry and getting emotional, you should put “Shark Heart” on your list.
“Patricia Wants to Cuddle,” Samantha Allen
“Patricia Wants to Cuddle” is pure camp. An in-universe “The Bachelor” films on a remote island in the Pacific Northwest, and its catty, ditzy, Instagram-obsessed cast gets picked off one by one by a mysterious, hairy, sasquatchian figure. The novel jumps between multiple perspectives, but its sarcastic and pragmatic main character, Renee, grounds the narration with snide comments to her co-stars and questions about her life’s trajectory. If you like terrible reality TV, cryptids and laughing out loud, this book is for you.
“A Visit from the Goon Squad,” Jennifer Egan
A tapestry of short stories and interconnected characters, “A Visit from the Goon Squad” is incredible. The first story begins with Sasha, a kleptomaniac who works as an assistant to music executive Bennie Salazar. The 12 stories that follow feature characters who are all connected in some way to Sasha or Bennie, from Bennie’s former bandmate and ex-friend to Sasha’s daughter speaking from 15 years in the future. No character is perfect, but their mistakes make their stories feel real and human. If you like the music industry, short story collections and human connection, “A Visit from the Goon Squad” should be on your list.
“Jane and Dan at the End of the World,” Colleen Oakley
Funny and intelligent, “Jane and Dan at the End of the World” is Colleen Oakley’s best book yet. Jane goes into her anniversary dinner with her husband, Dan, planning on asking him for a divorce. However, their date is interrupted by an eco-terrorist group taking the restaurant hostage, and the terrorists’ every move strangely mirrors the plot of Jane’s (failed) debut novel. It is relevant, hilarious and exciting. If you enjoy heists, making fun of absurd fine dining and questioning if things can possibly be too woke, “Jane and Dan at the End of the World” is the book for you.
“James,” Percival Everett
This book is a masterpiece. “James” is a retelling of Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” told from the perspective of Jim, an enslaved man who accompanies Huck on his travels. Twain’s Jim is a simple, foolish sidekick, while Everett’s James is intelligent, cunning and driven. When James hears that his enslaver plans to sell him, separating him from his wife and daughter, he runs away with Huck Finn and plans to free his family. The novel is gripping and intense, detailing the horrors of slavery as well as James’ strong internal compass and quest for freedom. If you like thinking critically about classic novels, historical fiction and justice, you should read “James.”
“The Glass Castle,” Jeanette Walls
Jeanette Walls and her siblings spent their childhoods bouncing around between Nevada, California and Arizona before eventually settling in rural West Virginia. As Walls ages, her idealized view of her parents’ adventurous spirits morphs into a realistic understanding of their irresponsibility and neglect. Walls ruminates on the hardships of her childhood while also looking back fondly on its magic. Her memoir is complex, heartwrenching and captivating. If you like nonfiction, coming-of-age stories and positive sibling relationships, “The Glass Castle” is waiting for you.
“Swamplandia!”, Karen Russell
“Swamplandia!” is about the alligator-wrestling Bigtree family and their theme park (Swamplandia!) deep in the Florida Everglades. The novel’s main narrator is 13-year-old Ava Bigtree, struggling to find her place in her family. Ava’s mother is dead, her brother has run away to the mainland, her father is failing to keep the business afloat and her sister is talking to ghosts. Russell’s prose depicts a world so unique it almost does not feel real, but her tender, authentic characters bring the story to life. Readers feel as though they are trudging along with Ava as she moves through her swamp, entertaining tourists, fighting through sawgrass and all the while coming into her identity as a proud Bigtree—another warrior in a long line of alligator wrestlers. If you like dysfunctional families, ghost stories and alligators, this book is for you.
“Annie Bot,” Sierra Greer
Annie is the perfect girlfriend—just like she was programmed to be. Annie is a robot designed to fulfill every emotional and physical need of her human companion, Doug. As Annie’s intelligence evolves and she becomes more and more human, she begins to question her purpose and whether she wants more out of life than just Doug. “Annie Bot” is a smart, funny commentary on independence, toxic masculinity and control. If you hate Reddit incels and love female autonomy and sci-fi, this book is the one for you.
“Martyr!”, Kaveh Akbar
Cyrus Shams is a depressed Iranian-American poet living in Indiana, fascinated by martyrdom. Cyrus’ exploration of martyrs and his mother’s death decades ago takes him to a performance art exhibit in Brooklyn, where his world changes forever. “Martyr!” is a deep meditation on the meaning of life, happiness and martyrdom for Cyrus, as well as those close to him. If you like hearing both sides of the story, making art and deep introspection, “Martyr!” should be on your list, but really, “Martyr!” should be on everyone’s list because it is a really good book.
Honorable Mentions
This year, I read too many good books to fit into one article. Some other books I really enjoyed are:
“Nothing to See Here,” Kevin Wilson
“The Power,” Naomi Alderman
“Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One,” Kristen Arnett
“Great Circle,” Maggie Shipstead
“The Underground Railroad,” Colson Whitehead
“Greta & Valdin,” Rebecca K Reilly
“Penance,” Eliza Clark
“Bunny,” Mona Awad
“Blood Test,” Charles Baxter
“Atmosphere,” Taylor Jenkins Reid
“Cleopatra and Frankenstein,” Coco Mellors