The Best 21st Century Novels (I’ve read) in the 21st Century (so far).
Inspired (yet again) by Marianne over at Let’s Read and her post about future 21st century classics I thought I’d try to list my top 21st century novels I’ve reviewed here from 2006-2021, so the last 15 years. I’m afraid that I’ve no idea what I read before 2006 (or at least not enough to make a reliable list!) so I’m going to have to restrict myself to posted Blog reviews. So, here’s the list – in review date order rather than any kind of ranking.
Pattern Recognition by William Gibson (2002)
Surveillance by Jonathan Rabin (2006)
Far North by Marcel Theroux (2009)
The Painted Man by Peter V Brett (2008)
A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin (2009)
Surface Detail by Iain M Banks (2010)
The Invention of Everything Else by Samantha Hunt (2008)
Guernica by Dave Boling (2008)
Sunshine by Robin McKinley (2003)
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (2009)
Accelerando by Charles Stross (2005)
Echo City by Tim Lebbon (2010)
Company of Liars by Karen Maitland (2008)
Already Dead by Charlie Huston (2005)
If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor (2002)
Zero History by William Gibson (2010)
The Flame Throwers by Rachel Kushner (2013)
The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (2012)
The Good German by Joseph Kanon (2001)
Pure by Andrew Miller (2011)
The Good Father by Noah Hawley (2012)
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan (2001)
The Last by Hanna Jameson (2019)
The Outlander by Gil Adamson (2007)
Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel (2014)
The Secrets of Drearcliff Grange School by Kim Newman (2015)
The Death of the Fronsac by Neal Ascherson (2017)
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (2004)
Dominion by C J Sansom (2012)
All Involved by Ryan Gattis (2015)
Not a bad haul if I say so myself – 30 books over 15 years. It was really good going back and almost rediscovering some of the best books I’ve ever read. A few others just missed the list because I hesitated long enough for them not to make the grade. But I’m very pleased with that list.
9 comments:
I haven't read many of those, but I enjoyed Pure and Dominion. I'll have to investigate some of the others on your list!
Being the person that I am, a goodly number on the list are SF, Fantasy or Vampire related which might not appeal to you. But there's still quite a few that you might like. I hope that you find something new to explore and enjoy!
Thankyou so much for this, Kitten, I'm glad you follwed my example (well it was a TTT challenge, it's always great to see other posts.
Except for Dominion and The Time Traveler’s Wife, I haven't read any of them. I loved the former, despised the latter. But it might become a classic, we never know.
I've heard several people have very good things to say about 'Dominion'. I thought it was quite superb on lots of levels. I need to read more of his stuff. 'The Time Travellers Wife' I know has received VERY mixed reviews. It's a definite love it/hate it book.
A good chunk of the list is SF (which I know you don't like) with some Fantasy & Vampire books. But I can recommend a few for you:
The Flame Throwers by Rachel Kushner (late 70's New York & Italy)
The Outlander by Gil Adamson (turn of the century Canada)
Pure by Andrew Miller (pre-Revolutionary Paris)
Company of Liars by Karen Maitland (14th century England during the Plague)
The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (this is SF - kind of - but is mostly about how a teenage girl & her family cope with the fact that Earth's rotation is slowing and all of the effects that has as she grows into adulthood).
Thanks for that. I have read a few SF books that I didn't mind and in a way, "Dominion" also belongs to that category, and I really loved it.
I will look into the books you just recommend. Even "The Age of Miracles" sounds interesting. Thank you so much.
Always happy to give out reading ideas, Marianne. I hope that you find something you like.
And I am always happy to receive new ideas. Not that I need any. I am sure I won't be able to read all the books I already have on my TBR until the end of my life.
I know exactly what you mean about the TBR. I was chatting to a friend last night about my book shopping trip today (just got back, 14 books purchased) and he asked why I needed more books. First I didn't understand the word *need* and then I said I already have more books than I could probably read in a reasonable lifetime. Then I thought imagine being restricted to the books you already own - every time you read one the future reading choice *reduces*. Where's the fun in that!
Great point. I will have to use that whenever I get "accused" by people for buying more books.
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