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The New York Times has published a list of the top 10 books – five fiction and five nonfiction – which, after much debate, according to New York Times staff, are the best for 2023.

Fiction

“The Bee Sting” by Paul Murray
This book demonstrates the incredible love and resilience of one family, even though the world around them is crumbling.

“Chain-Gang All-Stars” by Nana Kwame Ajay-Brenya
The story is similar to the plot of the Hunger Games series of books. In the big arena, dozens of people are fighting for their lives, but instead of terrified teenagers, they are hardened criminals. There is no concept of «what is good and what is bad» in their lives, they are ready to survive at any cost.

“Eastbound” by Meilis de Kerangal
The novel is about a journey through Russia of two completely different people trying to escape from completely different lives.

“The Fraud” by Zadie Smith
The book tells about the social contradictions of the XIX century, which are considered in the stories of several characters.

“North Woods” by Daniel Mason
Mason's novel takes readers through the threshold of a house in the wilds of western Massachusetts and leaves them there for 300 years and almost 400 pages.

Popular science literature

“The Best Minds” by Jonathan Rosen
A story about friendship, love and the price of self-deception. In his book, Rosen explores the ethical obligations of society, as well as the shaky line between brilliance and madness.

“Bottoms Up and the Devil Laughs” by Kerry Hawley
The book immerses readers in a world where everything is written down and nothing is sacred. The author asks important questions about the strangeness of modern life.

“Fire Weather” by John Vaillant
A book about the 2016 wildfires in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is both a real—life thriller and a step-by-step account of what happened – and why. And because the climate is changing and people are not, this will happen over and over again.

“Master Slave Husband Wife” by Ilona Wu In 1848, the couple Ellen and William Kraft made a daring escape to the north. Despite all the difficulties and obstacles on their way to freedom, they succeeded in their escape.

“Some People Need Killing” by Patricia Evangelista
The book offers revelations in the memoir and the broader context of Philippine history between 2016 and 2022. Evangelista also pays close attention to language. Language can be used for communication, for denial, for threats, for persuasion. It can spread lies, but it also allows you to tell the truth.

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Photo: nytimes.com