As 2017 draws to a close, we take this time to reflect on some of the best books of the year. Social media, migration, gender inequality, love and loss were all hallmarks of 2017 and these issues are all reflected in this year’s literature. Dive on in to some of the best works of 2017 from new and familiar authors.
Borne by Jeff VanderMeer
One of the most anticipated books of 2017, Borne follows the life of a young girl who ekes out an existence by scavenging for whatever she can find in a post-apocalyptic landscape.
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
The National Book Award winner, this novel examines the life of a 13-year-old boy who is dealing with an inconsistent mother and a father who is incarcerated. It is a story about family and hope.
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Using a story of historical truth, Saunders weaves a hilarious and haunting story of father and son starring none other than President Lincoln and his recently deceased son, Willie. Named one of the best books of 2017 by The Washington Post, Lincoln in the Bardo is a story of love and loss.
Dinner at the Center of the Earth by Nathan Englander
A Pulitzer Prize finalist, Dinner at the Center of the Earth is a poignant tale that illuminates the violent and tense relationship between Israeli and Palestine.
A Legacy of Spies by John le Carre
At 85 years old, John le Carre shows that he still has what it takes to write a thrilling and captivating spy novel. A Legacy of Spies is a story of a retired spy whose past has dragged him into the modern world where his actions during the Cold War have no merit.
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
Two young lovers engage in a furtive affair shaped by the events of a civil war that sets them in motion to abandon their lives and home. A poignant tale of migration and civil unrest.
So Much Blue by Percival Everett
A painter haunted by the past begins work on a painting inspired by those events. He refuses to show the work to any one including his wife and his closest friends.
Ill Will by Dan Chaon
Psychologist Dustin Tillman’s testimony 30 years ago sent his foster brother to prison for the murder of his family. However, recent DNA testing has overturned the conviction and Dustin awaits the fallout from his testimony which led to his brother’s incarceration.
The Power by Naomi Alderman
In Alderman’s inventive world, girls and women possess a mysterious electrical power that can maim and kill men.
Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta
The story follows a mother and son as they navigate love and life in the new world marked by computers and social media.
