Compiling “best of” lists is a bit tricky. I don’t know that books really should be compared to each other. Most fiction works that are traditionally published have reached a baseline of quality, either commercial or artistic, and that in itself is an accomplishment. Beyond that, it really is nothing more than a matter of opinion. Someone who reads a lot is in a better position to judge simply because they have a broader sample. Generally, though, there is no accounting for taste.
All of that said, we are midway through 2020 and I have read a lot of good books. Some have stuck with me more than others. Here is a list of the five most memorable books of the year (so far).
5.
I like to sample a few queer works each year. I spotted this at Green Apple recently and was drawn in by the beauty of the production. If ever there were a case against e-books, it is this beautiful edition with cover art and thick end paper. The novel is a gorgeously written story about a young woman, recently matriculated at a school that bears a resemblance to Barnard, spending the Christmas break in her dorm. She is in a transitional frame of mind, moving on from high school to what is next. I found myself taken back to that time in my life with all its abrupt change. Her experiences are so poignant that I really rooted for her.
4.
If this book sounds familiar, it may be because a juror at the Harvey Weinstein criminal trial was nearly kicked off when it was discovered that she had posted an online review for it. I’m not surprised it aroused concern as it’s not only a #metoo novel but also one with some shades of grey. The protagonist is a high school student who is seduced by her English teacher. For much of the novel she doesn’t think they are doing anything wrong, which creates a debate for the reader about what consent actually is. It also provides some insight into the “defend the abuser” mentality. I thought it was both engrossing and skillfully nuanced.
3.
The whole notion of passing – gaining social status by hiding racial origins or other features – is one I hadn’t thought about deeply until I read this. Stella, the protagonist, is able to pass for white and disappears for years to gain access to a better life. Her twin, Desiree, is darker and destined to suffer the slings and arrows of colorism and racism. She spends most of her life in their Louisiana hometown, where lighter and darker shades bring their own social standing. Stella represents the casual lure of privilege. Her choices are chilling.
2.
This is the most original and transporting novel I have read this year. The author has reimagined the suspense genre. Instead of reading to discover a culprit, we are instead introduced to the killer in the title. The plot is about the social conditions that produce sociopathy. Essentially the entire story is an illustration of motive. By creating a likeable narrator, the macabre elements are balanced out with some insightful social commentary.
I opened this book unsure of what to expect and soon fell down a rabbit hole into a world that felt so real I still can’t quite grasp that these events didn’t happen. Daisy Jones is a female singer-songwriter who joins a band, has a tempestuous dynamic with a bandmate, and achieves great heights before fading out. The parallels to Stevie Knicks and Fleetwood Mac are only part of the fun. Of these five books, it was the one that gripped and altered me the most and so I will give it the top spot.
Books Smitten 