Hi. How is everyone doing? Surviving the heat? It’s been busy here so I’ve been AWOL off the blog for a while. Summer will do that. July means gathering hay bales and we got eleven round bales this year on our property, which was better than last year’s smaller amount of four due to the big drought and record-setting temperatures in 2023. Usually our neighbor the baler pays us for the bales and takes them for his own horses or distributes them to other farms in the area, though this year there is a glut of bales around here so their value is much less. But they are pretty to see all over the countryside.
My reading is moving along steady but slowly lately. Did you happen to see the New York Times’ list of the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century according to authors and critics? It’s a bit interesting to look at. I thought they should’ve separated the nonfiction and fiction books … but they combined them onto one list.
You might be a bit surprised that Elena Ferrante’s novel My Brilliant Friend, which came out in 2012, is #1 of the Best Books, and #2 is Isabel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns from 2010. Though I know much about these books, I have yet to read them. I still plan to. One of my favorites in their Top 10 is Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go at #9 from 2005.
The New York Times has since put out a second list of Readers’ Picks of the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. I sort of think this list overall might be better, and it has Barbara Kingsolver’s novel Demon Copperhead as #1. Whether you agree with that or not, the readers’ list has a good mix of top reads over the past twenty plus years.
But looking over the lists it does make you wonder what does Best Book of the Century actually mean? Is it the most memorable book? Or the most literary or creative work? Or the most enjoyable? Or the one that makes the biggest impact on the world? Whatever it means exactly the lists are sort of interesting to look over and maybe to use to add to one’s To Be Read files.
I plan to add some books. What about you — do you place any value on these kinds of Best Of lists, or are they not relevant to your reading? I guess I sort of like such lists, but I don’t get to backlist books too frequently, since I’m often filling up on recently released stuff. Still I want to go back and read the good ones I’ve missed.
And now I’ll leave you with a couple reviews of what I finished lately.
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch /Atlantic Monthly / 320 pages / 2023
Wow 5 stars. This chilling Booker Prize-winning novel lives up to the hype. The story snuck up on me as I listened to it as an audiobook while doing yard work. I’m glad I went with the audio since the novel has hardly any paragraph breaks (or quotation marks), which makes it seem more dense than it really is. And the audio’s narration by Irish actor Gerry O’Brien is well done.
I found Lynch’s tale to be: powerful, scary, and timely … about a regular Irish family going about their daily lives when a new ruling party in Ireland takes over the government and the secret police come to interrogate the husband Larry Stack, a trade unionist. Eilish Stack, the wife and a mother of four, wants to cooperate with whatever it’s about … but they both don’t seem overly concerned until Larry disappears after participating in a teachers’ march.
Eilish, the main protagonist who works for a biotech company, is left trying to manage the house with an infant; a son Bailey, age 11; a daughter Molly; and a son Mark who’s nearly 18 … as well as to see to her aging father Simon whose mind is slipping from dementia. She has a lot on her platter. Then her son Mark is called up for military service and she tries to hide him in a neighbor’s outbuilding. As more disappear and the country begins to unravel … war breaks out between the regime’s forces and a rebel group. A bombardment begins with dire consequences that leaves the family scrambling for survival (no spoilers here). It’s a tale that feels all too real and harrowing … as a totalitarian state shutters a democracy.
The writing in it is very good, and Eilish Stack is a strong flawed heroine who makes some mistakes but faces very hard choices. She reminded me slightly of the character Mary Pat Fennessy in Dennis Lehane’s Small Mercies. She is not as tough as Mary Pat, but she is a character you won’t forget anytime soon.
Apparently when Paul Lynch started writing the book in 2018 he was reacting to the Syrian Civil War and the refugee crisis … and he was still writing it during the pandemic and a case of long covid. But he doesn’t really think of it as a dystopian tale since he says such scary things are going on in the world today. Read it and see.
Fresh Waters for Flowers by Valerie Perrin / Europa / 304 pages / 2020
3.5 stars. I know so many readers on Goodreads loved this one, so I’m a bit in the minority about this bestselling French novel translated into English about a young poor orphan girl Violette who comes to marry a guy named Phillipe Toussaint and becomes a cemetery keeper in Burgundy … for sad reasons that become clear as the story unfolds.
Phillipe is a philanderer who later doesn’t return one day, so Violette carries on with her job and the likable staff at the cemetery. Then she meets detective Julien Seul who’s there to bury his mother next to a grave of a man she requested to be near. Various threads of the story ensue thereafter: of Violette and her failing marriage and the sad loss they suffer; her relations with Julien who wants to find out more about her; and Julien’s mother Irene and the secret affair she had. The story snowballs into an epic engagement of the various components.
I thought the tale has some nice storytelling parts and side characters to it, but the story wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. The saga of the various affairs and the great tragedy that comes to befall Violette and Phillipe seems a bit over-cooked … as they try to get to the bottom of how it happened and who was responsible. It just felt a bit overstuffed and maybe bit redundant in places … and like a saga that wasn’t in my wheelhouse for whatever reason. Was it the writing, or the meandering style, or just the story of intense trauma that I didn’t cling to? Still I liked it well enough to find out what happens and to make it to the drawn-out end.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read these and what did you think?
I love lists like the two that the New York Times put out this week. I didn’t realize until I saw your post that there was a Readers’ Choice list. I have read 45 on the list made by authors and 72 on the list made by readers. The readers’ list seems like it has more popular favorites while the authors’ list seems to focus on literary value a little more. I like both lists.
Thank you for your reviews of these two books. I now want to read Prophet Song and I feel a little less likely to read Fresh Water for Flowers. I appreciate it very much that you share your honest thoughts.
Hi Deb, it’s great you’ve read that many on both lists — that’s a lot! I agree with your assessments of both lists. I need to count how many I’ve read on them, and I want to see which ones I want to add. It is a helpful tool I think.
Just a little warning that Prophet Song gets sort of scary later in the book and has one particularly harsh happening. But the books feels quite eerily real, & is worth checking out. I found no paragraph breaks makes the print version tough to read … along with no quotation marks.
Fresh Water for Flowers — many on GR loved it, and I wanted to but it wasn’t for me. Still see what you think. Have a nice weekend.
Thank you for the warning, Susan. It helps me to know in advance that a book might have difficult parts. And the lack of paragraph breaks sounds like it might be challenging for me!
Yes. I think reading the print version would be challenging to me as well. I had it from the library and the no spacing made it seem too much … but the audio was quite gripping. The one particular scary thing caught me off guard and sort of surprised me. Warnings can be helpful, I like them too. I hope your town’s recovery from Beryl is coming along. It really wrecked havoc. Sorry to hear.
Hi Susan, I haven’t read the Prophet Song yet but great review of what was probably a difficult book to review because I know for me when a book is 5 stars it can be intimidating but your review explained the book so well and made me want to read it.
I have seen the Readers 100 Best Books of the 21st Century from the NYT and that’s the list I am going with. I say that because maybe 25 years ago the Modern Library came up with its 100 best books of the 20th century and books I read that were nothing special or were a struggle to get through made the list. And books I loved were nowhere to be found. So I am sticking with the Reader’s Choices this time.
Hi Kathy, I think you’d like the audio of Prophet Song best … as the print version has no paragraph breaks or quotation marks I’ve heard. But the audio of it is pretty gripping — and more scary as it goes along. I’m still sort of thinking about it … and I hope it won’t happen anywhere we know.
I pretty much agree with you about the two lists and the readers one having the better reads. I will jot the ones down I want to go back to … one being H Is for Hawk … on audio which you reviewed. It might be helpful after my mom’s passing. Have a great weekend.
I like those lists as they help me to organize my reading. I have read 15 from the Readers’ Choices and just 5 from the Authors/Critics Selections. The Critics’ Choices seem to focus on books that are stylistically different or avant-garde. The ones I have read I agree with. Great review of Prophet Song! You’ve piqued my interest with your notes and rating. I can’t wait to read it now! Fresh Water for Flowers doesn’t sound like my cup of tea but I’m glad you enjoyed it some. Happy reading, Susan! Enjoy the hay bales, the summer, and the excessive heat while it lasts.
Thanks Carmen. I know you’re busy & preoccupied these days, great to hear what you think. I will have to go back & count how many I’ve read from the lists and mark which ones I want to return to read. They’re good to use, right?
I think I first got Prophet Song in print from the library last winter but noticed no paragraph breaks or maybe even quotation marks … argh, so I ended up not getting to it but then I put it on my summer list and the audio was pretty gripping. See what you think. I just started Long Island on audio and almost done with Roxana Robinson’s Leaving in print. I need to fit in more backlist books right? It’s hard to juggle. Hope all is going well there.
All is well but I’ve been busy. I’m reading Daniel Silva’s latest but I’m still 15% after just a few hours of reading, yet I’m finding time to read which is surprising.
Thx for the update Carmen. Good to hear. Hope all works out for your relatives. And glad you are managing. And even are finding time for Gabriel Allon too … thumbs up.
I have to start by saying I LOVE the hay bale photos. When we go somewhere and I see fields of them I take photos and a row of hay bales is my wallpaper on the tablet. That’s my nerdy thing. haha
Have not checked that NYT list but I want to see if there are any I have read. My Brilliant Friend is one that kept getting put off and so I will try that later in the year. Especially as there are more books with those characters.
I liked Perrin’s book and also the next one titled Three. Not as much love for Forgotten on Sunday though.
Hi Tina, Isn’t it funny about the hay bales. We have affinity for these things, ha. I don’t know what it is about them … but seeing them in the countryside is like a bit of serenity … and photos of them are neat to look at. I’ll be a bit sad when they are taken away. Monet’s hay stacks are wonderful too.
I still have not read My Brilliant Friend either. Maybe we should do a buddy read of it late in the year. Early November? I’ve heard others haven’t liked the book — but we should see what we think.
I was sorry about the Perrin novel. It did have a lot of feeling behind it …. and is well beloved on Goodreads — so most agree with you. Likely just me. Too bad about Forgotten on Sunday — it seemed like it had an interesting premise.
Have a great weekend and stay cool there if possible.
I LOVE Monet’s hay bales and stacks. There is one of the bales with a line of pretty trees and lavender, I should get the poster framed as my spending money wouldn’t cover an actual Monet – ha!
If you would like to do a buddy read in November I am all in 🙂 Doesn’t matter ot me if it’s not a popular or well liked book as we all have our own tastes. That said, no worries on the Perrin book. If you planned to try her again maybe Three would be more appealing but I wouldn’t bother with the last one I read. She does meander with detail.
Closer to November we can pick a start time on the My Brilliant Friend.
Sounds good. It would be fun to read My Brilliant Friend together in November. My book club recently disbanded permanently … so this would be a nice alternative. And I have a copy of it on my shelves from long ago. We will polish it off … once and for all.
I think I saw the lovely Monet haystacks once … in 1984 there was a traveling exhibit that came to Los Angeles due to the Olympics and my family went. It was so good! Amazing art. I think you should buy a poster and can stare at it each day … After the hay stacks … his waterlilies are also spectacular.
I have “Prophet Song” on my reading list – the list that grows longer and longer every day. I would not disagree with the placement of the Ferrante book as number one on the “best books” list. It was a brilliant book and the television series based on it was not bad either. But then so was “Demon Copperhead.” Actually I think it is a pointless task to rate books against each other. Each book stands on its own and should be appreciated individually, not in a competition.
Hi Dorothy, I hope you like Prophet Song … it is a bit scary. I knew you had liked the Ferrante books and I still hope to try them out. Interesting to hear about the TV series … once I get to the books I should check that out too.
You make a good point about rating books … even individually it’s a bit hard for me to rate books like on Goodreads. It often seems not too fair. Though I’m not sure I see books competing. I guess it’s just a tool … on how to view books often months or years later … but I agree assigning value can be tricky.
My brother-in-law is an artist and he loves to paint those big round hay bales in his landscapes. 😀 And I’m so tired of the heat. We’ve been at 100 or 100+ for two weeks, and we’ve got another week of it ahead of us. Makes me very grateful for my AC. And for good books to read while I’m staying indoors. Have a great weekend! I’m off to look at those lists of Best 100 Books…see if I’ve read any of the books on them.
Hi Lark, good to know about your brother’s paintings, wow. You should put one of his hay bales on your blog. Have you posted one of his paintings? I’d like to see how he does it. Something about them makes the bales seem picturesque.
I hear you about the heat! It’s so hard now. We have like a week ahead of above 90+ degrees. Even we have shut the windows here for AC … which is unusual.
I hope you get out of your heat wave. Ugh. Enjoy the books lists … & don’t go out.
I never knew what went into making hay bales and what plants go into hay. I looked it up and it was fascinating. How could I be so old before I understood that?
I enjoy the 100 Best lists but just for the fun of being reminded of the books … It is also amazing that there are so many books out and I will probably read so few of them. I did not know about the Readers top 100 picks, so thanks for that. I went through that list. I had read 11 from the Reader’s list and 10 from the Book Review’s list. However there were more on the Reader’s list that I have on my shelves unread or do not own but have serious intentions of reading than on the Book Review’s list.
Prophet Song sounds like it is a very good book that I probably won’t ever read. A positive is that it is short; the negative is the structure with very long paragraphs and no quotation marks. (I read a few paragraphs from the sample at Amazon.) I have never read a book via audio. Maybe some day.
Hi Tracy, luckily the audio of Prophet Song made it come alive … whereas the print copy seems like it made the tale seem so uninviting …. with no breaks on the pages, or quotation marks, which might have been hard for me to stick with.
I didn’t know much about hay bales either until I moved out here just a year & a half ago. I guess our bales are just a mixture of grasses and alfalfa plants. It looks like weeds in the back field … but it gets rolled into these lovely things for horses and livestock. And there’s a whole process of baling too.
Interesting to hear about the lists for you … I need to count the ones I’ve read. I agree that the Readers’ list is more favorable. Enjoy your week & books ahead.
I was surprised how few books I had read from that NYT 100 Best Books list, maybe 14. But there were also about 6-10 I had started and disliked so much I stopped reading. I agree they should have separated fiction and nonfiction and maybe limited to one book per author. I did not like that Elena Ferrante book and I certainly wouldn’t have picked two from that series.
My book group is reading Demon Copperfield this month. I had better start or my book will be due before I’m done.
I also enjoyed hearing about the bales!
Hi Constance. thanks. the bales are sort of a fun time of year … though now excessive heat has hit the area so we can’t stay out much during the middle of the day. 90+ for 7 days. yikes. Canadians melt … lol.
Interesting to hear about your reads on the lists. I’ll have to count which ones I’ve read. But I agree some I probably disliked too. So is the Elena Ferrante book not likable? Perhaps I heard others did not like it either. But maybe I should try it. Hmm. You better start the Kingsolver book asap. I think it took me 3 weeks to read it last year … but I was moving slowly. See what you think. Sort of a dark journey for Demon. I think it’ll spawn some discussion though. Happy reading and have a great week ahead.
Love the bale! I’m surprised Anne Tyler didn’t make the reader’s top 100. I got caught up in the whole Ferrante fever but now I thinks it’s too early to call them modern classics. I would have thought My Name is Lucy Barton would be there, too.
Hi Nicola, thanks for your thoughts on the lists. It is surprising some of the titles that are missing from these. Which is your favorite Anne Tyler? I remember being gutted by The Accidental Tourist, but she has a lot of good ones. And I too like Elizabeth Strout … each one of hers I fall into. Lucy Barton was a strong one, sad. I need to look over the lists again more carefully to see what I think … and what I’d put. I hope you’re having a good summer … stay cool & happy reading.
I pretty much ignore lists like the NYT ones, just because I learn about so many books from fellow bloggers that I don’t have time to pick ones off of lists, too!
The Warmth of Other Suns felt important, to me, because it explained a part of history that I was never taught. The current reality of the United States makes no sense without learning that history, so it gave me missing context about who we are and why we live where we do and what impacts that has on people’s lives.
Hi Joy, thanks. This is good info about Warmth of Other Suns. I do want to read it and it sounds important. I agree: the whole migration is a fascinating part of history that we should know about. The author sounds like she did a wonderful job.
I know there’s a lot of books …. and my TBR list has exploded due to everything I want and need to read. These lists only confirm that. So I hear what you’re saying. Enjoy your weekend.
Like many of the commenters I always enjoy seeing the baled hay in the fields in the summer.
About the lists: I think the NYT book staff is in a way out of touch with their own audience, in the sense that the very pretentious choices aren’t what even real NYT book review readers actually like. Quite a few of my loved choices are on only the readers’ list.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Hi Mae, thanks, glad you like the bales.
I agree the readers’ list is more appealing than the other NYT list. I think that list is not from the NYT book section but from authors & critics who gave them their choices. So perhaps those choices were more esoteric or whatnot. Thx for your input. I hope you have great week ahead.
I was rather surprised by the NYT list of 100 for the 21 Century. I found it very “focused on diversity” rather than focused on excellence. But, I was pleased to see Septology by Jon Fosse on it. His three books, which make up the collection, are quite possibly the best I’ve read this decade. Thanks for telling me there was a Reader’s Choice; I’ll go study that. Have a happy week!
Hi Bellezza, thanks for your input. I don’t know about Jon Fosse so I’ll have to look at his books. I think I read 22 on the list and pretty much liked those though there were a few others I started and didn’t finish. See what you think of the readers’ list. Have a great week.
I looked at both NY Times lists. I had read 19 on the “real” list and 41 on the Reader list. I’ve said that I find these lists interesting even though I disagree with them in principle.
Lovely photos of your hay bales! I am going to a ranch in Montana in August and am looking forward to being in the countryside for a little bit.
Hi Helen, thanks, the hay bales are fun to look at around here. The whole area is filled with them right now. And that’s good news about your trip to a ranch in August … should be nice & peaceful.
You’ve read quite a few on both lists. The lists have certainly spawned some discussion. Have a great week ahead.
Those hay bales are so beautiful! It’s been hot here, but I have so many things coming from the garden and the roses are doing well so there’s some good things about summer. I’m not a fan of the heat, though. I haven’t checked out that list, but I wonder how they go about ranking the books. I don’t usually pay attention to those lists. Hope you have a wonderful week!
Hi Rachel, thanks, I like looking at the hay bales. There’s many in the countryside here right now. We are having a heatwave too this week, so it’s not great being outside when it’s near 100. We are watering early. Look forward to more pics of your garden and roses. You have some of the best roses ever.
Rating & ranking books can be contentious. Reading is wherever you find enjoyment. Have a great week ahead.
That’s a lot of hay! The hay bales around here are covered in a white plastic, probably to keep them dry. They look like giant marshmallows! 🙂 Rod helped a friend “put up hay” once when we lived in Nebraska. Definitely a tough, hot, buggy job! Good that your neighbor takes care of all of that.
I tried My Brilliant Friend on audio and couldn’t get interested. I may still try the print edition, but I agree, I was surprised to see that it was #1 on that list! I don’t place a whole lot of value in these kind of lists (I agree with Mae’s comment on this!) but it’s fun to see what I’ve read and to remember what I want to read. If you and Tina do a buddy read, keep me posted. I may join you, too.
I’ll give Prophet Song a sample listen, but it does sound good, especially when I read that you compared Eilish to Mary Pat from Small Mercies (which I loved!). Great review!
I have a copy of Fresh Waters for Flowers in my stacks, but don’t know when I’ll get to it. I still have so many left to read on my Summer Reading challenge list! I’m currently reading The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard. It’s good, but over 400 pages and I’m only reading a little bit each night. We’ve been busy this past week and I’m too sleepy to read for very long.
Hi Lesley, yeah I can relate, things are busy here too, so reading is slow. I think you might like Prophet Song on audio – but try a sample first.
Tina & I were going to try My Brilliant Friend in November if you want to join in a buddy read. I’m a bit worried because a few have said they didn’t like it. But I should at least try the first one. I was surprised it was #1 on the list.
I have never made it to Nebraska or Kansas — but I imagine there being a lot of hay bales there. And I guess putting them as white marshmallows in Oregon makes sense. None of them are covered here but some have string around them.
Right now I’m in Red Deer, Alberta, which is 2 hours north of us — working a tennis tournament. It’s suppose to be 93 today. Ouch. Enjoy the Cove!
It was interesting to listen to the NYTBR podcast about these lists. They were surprised, too, and it sounds like it took a ton of work to put together. I think the rankings are less interesting (how do you rank Ta-Nehisi Coates #36 when it made such a big impact? etc) than that these books hit authors/critics’ top lists at all. Many older books made the top 20 — so these are books that have real staying power. I cadged a number for my TBR list — books I hadn’t heard of before: Random Family, Austerlitz, The Known World; and books that I have meant to read but haven’t gotten to: White Teeth, Kavalier & Clay, The Last Samurai.
I really liked Warmth of Other Suns (definitely deserves its place on the list) and I have wanted to read Caste as well.
I am not a big Ferrante fan. I read the first 2 in the series and didn’t love them enough to continue. I am mystified that My Brilliant Friend made it all the way to #1. I know a lot of other big fans. So, it must be me! I’ll be interested to hear what you think.
I’m reading Demon Copperhead now. Very Dickensian — and gutting to face how relevant his world might still be. The adults in the book are horrific and Demon himself is riveting. I’m not quite halfway finished yet and can’t imagine what other insurmountable challenges lie ahead for him.
I just finished Brotherless Night (listened to the audio) which you noted recently won the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Wow — one of my top reads, for sure. It is epic and has so many searing passages. I just bought the hard copy for a friend. Thanks for the rec!
Hi. All good to know. Great note about the list etc. I’d like to get to Brotherless Night. I agree there are some on the list I’ve never heard of that now interest me, such as the ones you’ve mentioned. The rankings are likely less interesting and more that the books are on the list in some vicinity. I think I’ve been saving Warmth of Other Suns for a long while now. I counted about 22 on the first NYT list I read … and a number I started but put down for whatever reason. Maybe I’ll talk of this in the next post. Others have said they didn’t like the Ferrante book … but I think a few of us here might try it in November. A little nervous if it’s not likable. I guess my book club disbanded. So maybe that’s a way to try occasional buddy reads. Much on the list for my TBR … thanks for your input. You’ve read a lot of them.
Love the hay bales! I had no idea you had such a big piece of property. I’m a fan of Clarkson’s Farm, so I love hearing anything about farming these days 🙂
I should do the mental exercise of picking my top 10 21st century books–my basic criteria will be, would I reread the book, if yes, then it goes on the to-be-considered list. I read for enjoyment, which is a hyra-type beast in and of itself.
I read My Brilliant Friend shortly after it came out because I was really focused on reading Italy, but I wasn’t enamored with the characters or story and I think the sparkle of the writing might have gotten lost in translation. I have never bothered to read the rest of the series.
Your review is making me rethink whether I want to invest the time in Fresh Water for Flowers. It sounds like a downer of a book, and I don’t need that right now.
I trust you’ll be tuning in for the Olympics. I enjoyed watching Wimbledon and having been playing pickleball this summer, so I am all geared up for tennis as well as the usual summer Olympics events.
Hi Jane, good to hear from you. Yeah thanks, I’m always a bit excited to get the bales … we moved out of the city about year and a half ago … to the country and enjoy it a lot more. We have more space and quiet & gardens too. 🙂
You’re about the third or fourth person whose said they haven’t liked the Ferrante book so that doesn’t bode well … for my buddy read of it this November. But why is it #1? Hmm. Seems an inflated number for the book. As you say: lost in translation.
Glad to hear you play pickleball … seems like fun. I picked up golf this year but still play occasional tennis doubles. Love watching Wimbledon. And I’m sure I’ll be fixed on the Olympics. Hope it’s cooler there. Lately we’ve been frying … but there might be some relief in sight. Enjoy your garden & reading. Hope you update on the native garden as it grows.
I still haven’t taken the time to look at the NYT 100-best list, but I can see why My Brilliant Friend sits atop the list…I suppose. I found it to be a fascinating read, and it was cloaked up in the mystery of who the author really is, etc. for a long time, so I suppose that most readers recognize the title and pen name when they see them. It was good enough that I ended up reading the whole series in just a few months, but honestly, I enjoyed each book in the series a little less than the one that preceded it. Maybe I shouldn’t have read them so close together.
Prophet Song still haunts me – especially in the current political climate when just about anything seems plausible and possible.
Hi Sam, good to get your take on the Ferrante novels. I’m hoping to read the first one this fall. I’m like the last one on the planet to have read one. It seems you liked the first one best …. and the others a bit less so.
I agree about Prophet Song …. it is scary to even think about. But it seemed quite real. Hope you have a nice weekend & happy reading.
I think, you have persuaded me to read Prophet Song. I dismissed it originally, but since then a lot of bloggers have given it rave reviews.
As I already said (I think), I prefer the Reader’s list to the original NYT Top 100. But I guess it is difficult to create a list which makes everyone happy. Based on a democratic vote, it may be something like The Da Vinci Code being number one, at least (I think) it is the 21st century book, which has sold most copies (which of course doesn’t mean people enjoyed it).
Hi Stargazer, I think you might like the audio of Prophet Song. It gets a bit dramatic. See what you think.
Good point about the Readers’ list. You can’t make everyone happy. I think some people pick purely popular books and others pick more literary ones. And perhaps others pick books that seem to stay with them or that they remember. I think the Da Vinci Code came out in 2003 so it would qualify … and it did make a huge impact at the time and sell lots. I liked it, though I’m not sure I’d choose it for the 21st list … but I’d have to think about that.
Hope all is well there. Happy reading.
Hay bales are so fascinating to me! I’ve never really seen one in real life except after we moved to Calgary and I always wondered about them. I’m completely ignorant about them but there’s something beautiful about the way they look all baled up!
I’ve seen references to the NYT 100 Best Books, but I haven’t seen the list until now, thanks for linking it! There are a lot of books on that list I haven’t heard of and I’ve only read 8 books on that list! Definitely curious about the others!
Hi Haze, yeah the bales fascinate me too. I love to see them now that we moved out of the city in 2023. They pop up in July and they’re all over the countryside now. Mostly filled with grass and alfalfa shoots. But they are pretty to look at.
You probably read more of the books from the NYT’s Readers’ list. Those seem to be more popular ones. I’m going to put a few on my TBR list for later.
Hope all is well with you. Happy reading.