In my last post, I had mentioned that I would share a few recommendations and best ofs from my list in case you were looking for a few good reads. I'm highlighting a few books that left an impression on me.
Book of the Year
If you've had any book related discussion with me this last year, chances are that I've tried to foist 'All Systems Red' by Martha Wells on you. This is the perfect book. It's short, it's funny and it's about an introverted AI security bot/ construct that just wants to be left alone to consume media. There are a total of 8 novelas and novels in this series but the first is the best in my opinion. If you like audiobooks this is one I would definitely recommend in audio- the narration is epic!
Best Thriller
This book is a fictional account of the disappearance of the expedition led by Sir John Franklin in 1845 to the arctic to discover the Northwest passage. The book is over 900 pages long but it grips you like a vice. It is a fictional account so expect the unexpected.
For Short Stories
Ted Chiang's Exhalations is an exquisite collection of short stories (speculative fiction) that span multiple themes and ideas. I read it very early on in the year but still remember the first story called 'The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate' which is about time travel set in the Baghdad of Middle Ages.
Best Historical Fiction
Robert Harris knows how to write. In this meticulously researched book, Harris describes the manhunt for two of the men who signed the execution warrant of King Charles I. I particularly liked to read about what the Northeastern coast of now USA looked like back in the late 17th Century.
Best sequel in a saga
Pierce Brown's 'Red Rising' series is a massive investment in time and effort. The first book is 380+ pages and the books only get longer and heavier from there. The cast of characters is so massive that it is impossible for anyone to keep up. Light Bringer is the 6th book in the series and I had to consult Wikipedia to read the plot outlines of all the previous books (I'd read them back in 2018/19 and there was no way I was going to read them again). But it was great! The entire series has ups and downs but if you need to sink your teeth into a long sci-fi drama, this is it.
Best dystopian world depiction
This is an underrated book. In fact I have not seen it pop up in any mainstream book list (I discovered it in a podcast for sci-fi/ fantasy book). It is a gripping thriller depicting a world impacted by a virus. Like Station 11 but far more grittier and focused on the immediate survival. I read this in one day.
Sad Books
I read a lot of sad books this year. It was not intentional and at times I despaired as I just finished one book to plunge into something even sadder. Some noteworthy sad books included Min Jin Lee's 'Pachinko'- a multi-generational story of Korean immigrants in Japan (20th Century) and Kazuo Ishiguro's 'Never Let Me Go' which is an alternate reality book.
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