Time Magazine Top 10 Fiction Books 2013

[kennyc]

Selections seem a bit unusual to me but FYI:

10. The Encyclopedia of Early Earth, Isabel Greenberg

9. Lexicon, Max Barry

8. The Interestings, Meg Wolitzer

7. The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Neil Gaiman

6. NOS4A2, Joe Hill

5. The Signature of All Things, Elizabeth Gilbert

4. The Lowland, Jhumpa Lahiri

3. The Flamethrowers, Rachel Kushner

2. Tenth of December, George Saunders

1. Life After Life, Kate Atkinson

More here:
http://entertainment.time.com/2013/1...fiction-books/

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Selections seem a bit unusual to me but FYI:

More here:
http://entertainment.time.com/2013/1...fiction-books/

Wha...??? no Inferno?

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Wha...??? no Inferno?

See what I mean.

[astrangerhere]

I am sad to see Anthony Marra's Constellation of Vital Phenomenon missing from that last though.

But I suppose that's the fun of lists - arguing over them.

[Xanthe]

Lord, I am sure out of the loop of reading things That Must Be Read - lol.

[pdurrant]

I can agree that Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane is well worth reading. I haven't heard of, let alone read, any of the others.

[NickyWithNook]

I read 1, 5, and 7, and enjoyed all of them.

Joe Hill is the son of Stephen King. I've heard that NOS412 is a good book but I haven't read it.

[jersysman]

As usual, I have not read any of the books on this list. However, I keep checking just in case I somehow stumble upon and read a list-worthy book.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by jersysman

As usual, I have not read any of the books on this list. However, I keep checking just in case I somehow stumble upon and read a list-worthy book.

It could happen.

[HomeInMyShoes]

I read the The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman and enjoyed it. I actually read more books published in the current year than I normally do.

[mcrow]

Originally Posted by NickyWithNook

I read 1, 5, and 7, and enjoyed all of them.

Joe Hill is the son of Stephen King. I've heard that NOS412 is a good book but I haven't read it.

Yeah, Joe Hill is very good. I've liked everything of his I've read to this point.

[mcrow]

Originally Posted by Xanthe

Lord, I am sure out of the loop of reading things That Must Be Read - lol.

I have come to realize that I'm not highbrow enough or mainstream enough in my reading tastes to find much on any of these type of lists. I also find that many of these lists seem to favor more female friendly books. Not that men can't or don't read the books but I would guess that most of the guys I know that are readers wouldn't have many of these books in their TBR pile.

[Xanthe]

I think, for me, is that I'm not interested in exploring the human condition, which is what a lot of the books on those various lists seem to do. My job required that I interview people from all walks of life and backgrounds, day in and day out, hearing all their life stories in the course of those interviews. After decades of that, I have had enough of listening to problems and fears and heartache. I read for sheer escapism and entertainment.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Xanthe

I think, for me, is that I'm not interested in exploring the human condition, which is what a lot of the books on those various lists seem to do. My job required that I interview people from all walks of life and backgrounds, day in and day out, hearing all their life stories in the course of those interviews. After decades of that, I have had enough of listening to problems and fears and heartache. I read for sheer escapism and entertainment.

Wow! What an amazing source on which to draw for fiction should you write.....

[NickyWithNook]

Originally Posted by mcrow

I have come to realize that I'm not highbrow enough or mainstream enough in my reading tastes to find much on any of these type of lists. I also find that many of these lists seem to favor more female friendly books. Not that men can't or don't read the books but I would guess that most of the guys I know that are readers wouldn't have many of these books in their TBR pile.

Hmm 6 of the 10 are written by women. That's just over half, so slightly most. I assume the ones written by women are the "female friendly" books?

I've read that women read books by men much more than men read books by women. Even with kids, girls will read books by men and with boy main characters, but boys won't read books by women and with girl main characters.