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Make sure you hit your yearly reading goal
Whether you set out to read 10, 50, or 100 books this year, these compulsively bingeable novels, short stories, memoirs, and more will help ensure you reach your goal.
Published on November 17, 2023
Convenience Store Woman: A Novel
Sayaka MurataA delightfully odd book, this slim, 130-page Japanese novel follows a woman who feels out of place everywhere, except when behind the counter of her convenience store. (Convenience stores in Japan are truly magical places, unlike their American counterparts.) A surprisingly sweet read about someone who may or may not be a sociopath.
Foster
Claire KeeganNamed one of the “50 great Irish novels of the 21st century” by the Sunday Times — and clocking in under 100 pages — “Foster” is a great way to add a literary fiction pick to your list for the year without having to spend months reading your way through dense text. When her mother is about to have yet another baby, a young girl’s parents pack her off to stay indefinitely with distant relatives. NPR’s Heller McAlpin writes, “More than most books four times its size, ‘Foster’ does several of the things we ask of great literature: It expands our world, diverting our attention outward, and it opens up our hearts and minds.”
Five Tuesdays in Winter
Lily KingPeople can’t stop raving about this enthralling short story collection from the author of “Writers & Lovers.” Esquire gushes, “Each masterful story reminds us that King is one of our finest cartographers of the human heart.” Vogue applauds it as “stories of outsiders finding their people.” Ann Patchett says it “moved me, inspired me, thrilled me. It filled up every chamber of my heart.” Need we say more?
Love in the Big City
Sang Young ParkIf you find yourself struggling to manage the ups and downs of adulthood, you’ll find a kindred spirit in Park Young, a queer man living it up in the heart of Seoul. Through four equally heartwarming and heartbreaking vignettes, readers follow along as Park navigates everything from the carefree youth of his college days to the uncertainty and loneliness of his 30s.
Homesickness
Colin BarrettAfter a 10-year hiatus following the viral success of his literary debut “Young Skins,” Barrett, one of Ireland’s most acclaimed writers, delivers yet another brilliant collection of short stories. Barrett tells of a woman attending an acquaintance’s funeral; an ex-professional football player pondering his next steps; the local pub patrons looking on in astonishment at the entrance of a stranger brandishing a sword; and more. In prose that’s both sparse and scintillating, he captures the hilarity and sorrow found in the mundanity of everyday life.
Don't Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is The Beginning & End Of Suffering
Don't Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is The Beginning & End Of Suffering
Joseph NguyenIt’s no secret that many people abandon their New Year’s resolutions. But why is that? Before diving into your goals for 2024, take a moment to learn about the obstacles you may face — and how to overcome them. Nguyen shares the advice needed to conquer what he identifies as the root cause of all suffering: overthinking. This is a quick and informative guide to overcoming negative emotions so you can build the life of your dreams.
Open Throat
Henry HokeTo say that Hoke’s latest is unique is an understatement. To say that it's unforgettable only scratches the surface. “Open Throat” unfolds from the perspective of a queer mountain lion living under L.A.’s Hollywood sign. The unnamed creature’s interpretations of people are endearing, and his reflections on loneliness are as melancholy as they are relatable. In just one hour, this poetic story runs the gamut of human emotion.
I'm Glad My Mom Died
Jennette McCurdyMcCurdy, an actress best known for playing Sam on the Nickelodeon sitcom “iCarly,” pens an honest account of child stardom under the control of an abusive mother. This darkly funny coming-of-age story offers hope for those struggling to overcome trauma and has helped usher in new conversations about the treatment and exploitation of child celebrities.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel
Neil GaimanIf you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a child, Gaiman can help. After this novel’s protagonist returns to his childhood home, he unleashes long-forgotten memories that intrigue and horrify him, including befriending a young girl (who may or may not be as old as time itself) who protects him from terrifying monsters. Like other works of literature from Gaiman, “The Ocean at the End of the Lane” deals with the blurred lines between dreams and reality and the wisdom of children that’s lost to adulthood. This quick and intriguing read may leave you pondering your own childhood memories.
Sweetlust: Stories
Asja BakićBakic’s second translated collection of Balkan short stories delves into the taboo and mysterious side of sex. Provocative and insightful, the stories range from unhinged (a man suffers from a serious case of Oedipus complex) to quirky (a foursome seeks another companion for their polyamorous marriage) and draw readers into an offbeat, dark mirror of our world.
Owl in the Oak Tree: A Novel
Penny Walker VeraarWalker Veraar’s spectacular debut novel hits on the issues that affect so many of us — drug abuse, gun violence, grief, and marital strife — via Reagan Ramsey, a devoted mother and teacher facing the harsh reality of moving on after her husband’s death and raising two children alone. A simple plot belies the complicated moral dilemmas Reagan faces when she witnesses a drive-by shooting.
Shoot the Horses First
Leah AngstmanNot quite ready to ring in another year? Take a trip back in time with Angstman’s short stories about America’s past. Combining meticulous research with gorgeous lyrical writing, the acclaimed historian crafts gripping tales of trailblazing women, traumatized Civil War veterans, and kidnapped orphans. As its title implies, Angstman weaves plenty of tragedy and sorrow into her folkloric tales, but optimism and hope also persist, making this a joy to read.
Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility
Rebecca SolnitWhen we say “Not Too Late,” we’re talking about more than hitting your yearly reading goal. As hopeless as it feels to witness climate change unfold before our eyes, Solnit delivers a solid dose of inspiration, with the help of a global cast of climate scientists, poets, authors, and activists. These advocates urge you to remember that it’s never too late to make a change and continue the fight for the earth’s future.
My Dear Comrades
Sunu P. ChandyTimely and elegiac, “My Dear Comrades” serves as an inclusive and uniting force for readers suffering from and fighting against the injustices of sexism, racism, and homophobia. A rallying call for compassion and kindness for both ourselves and fellow community members.
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader
Anne FadimanWho better to cheer you on to the finish line of your yearly reading list than fellow bibliophile and award-winning essayist Fadiman? These delightfully bookish essays showcase Fadiman’s love (some might call it an addiction) for all things written and, if needed, will surely help renew your passion for reading.
The Lover's Dictionary: A Novel
David LevithanLevithan’s short but sweet book is full of soulful, sentimental dictionary-style entries describing the highs and lows of being in love. In lyrical and vastly quotable prose, “The Lover’s Dictionary” sharply clarifies many universal feelings despite being a story full of individual quirks.
Killing the Guys Who Killed the Guy Who Killed Lincoln: A Nutty Story About Edwin Booth and Boston Corbett
Killing the Guys Who Killed the Guy Who Killed Lincoln: A Nutty Story About Edwin Booth and Boston Corbett
Jesse JoyceYou know of John Wilkes Booth and the guy he killed, President Abraham Lincoln. Now prepare to learn the far more outlandish stories of Booth’s killers — Boston Corbett, a literal mad hatter who castrated himself, and John Wilkes’ brother, Edwin Booth, a renowned but troubled actor. This wry, rollicking history from stand-up comedian Joyce provides an eye-opening account of America’s colorful past.
Good Girls Don't
Mara WilsonGood girls don’t talk back. Good girls don’t disobey their parents. Good girls don’t disappoint their fans. Writer and former child actor Wilson (“Matilda,” “Mrs. Doubtfire”) opens up about her struggle with the pressure to please other people while growing up in the spotlight on set and dealing with the turmoil of her mother’s death. This memoir is candid, humble, and above all, painfully relatable.
Out of the Wreckage
Kirk YeagerWe’ve all seen wreckage from bombings: The skeletons of exploded cars, the rubble of broken buildings. Out of that utter chaos, Yeager, the FBI’s chief explosives scientist, assesses how this terrorism occurred and works intricately to unravel incidents step-by-step. In this enthralling one-hour Scribd Original, Yeager lifts the caution tape to walk us through two high-profile crime scenes.
Radiolab: Mixtape: How The Cassette Changed The World
RadiolabThe original Walkman didn’t walk just so the iPhone could run. The invention of the cassette tape let us, for the first time, create our own private, portable realities. This audiobook compilation from the podcast “Radiolab” tells the history of cassettes, with rich soundscapes and fascinating findings.
March Comes in Like a Lion, Volume 1
Chica UminoThis is the start of a tragic, multifaceted manga with moments of joy sprinkled in. Rei, orphaned and alone, would be totally adrift if it weren’t for his love of shōgi (Japanese chess). As he rises up the ranks and reaches national competition level, Rei’s armor of solitude is shattered with the connection of a kind stranger and her two sisters.