The Best Books of the Year According to Vox: From the National Book Award Winner to a Dialogue with ChatGPT.

According to Vox: This year has proven to be successful for literature. I enthusiastically read for several months, enjoying new novels and reprints of forgotten classics that made me laugh, mourn, and cry. There were also philosophical books in which I left notes in the margins. Here’s my selection of the best works I read this year.

Best Books of the Second Half of the Year

After sharing my favorites from the first half of the year, I invite you to check out the collection for the second half. Here you will find books about love stories that take place both 50 years ago and in the future; works written in collaboration with ChatGPT and those that have a traditional analog style; funny, sad, and intelligent. I hope these stories will bring you joy.

The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rachiba Alameedina

This year the National Book Award was won by the novel The True True Story of Raja the Gullible, which is truly a magical work. It tells the story of Ranjha, a 63-year-old gay English teacher living in Beirut with his domineering 85-year-old mother in a small apartment. He wrote one book 25 years ago and now wonders why he is offered a writer's residency in America.

Throughout the novel, Ranjha reflects on memories, recounting his youth, his relationship with his mother, and the history of Beirut. Through the lens of his experiences, he addresses themes of civil war, the economic crisis of 2019, the pandemic years of Covid, and the port explosion in 2020.

Alameedina's prose is pleasant, filled with humor and sensitivity, revealing the hero's trauma. The main character is Ranjha's mother, whom he tries to push into the background, but she relentlessly refuses to do so.

Disinheritance: The Rediscovered Stories by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala is an author seldom read today. Her collection of stories in the new edition Disinheritance allows one to delve into a past rich with unusual charm.

Jhabvala always considered herself an exile. Her father, a Jew from Poland, fled to Germany during World War I, and Jhabvala herself was born in Germany and emigrated to England in 1933. She lived in India for 25 years, writing award-winning novels before moving to New York, where she spent the rest of her life until 2013.

Many of her stories focus on Indian characters and their struggles with family secrets, social classes, and betrayal. Jhabvala has no sympathy for the bourgeoisie but remains attentive to vulnerable young women who find themselves in difficult situations.

Heart the Lover by Lily King

Heart the Lover is a captivating novel that you read in one breath. It serves both as a prequel and a sequel to Writers and Lovers, but can be read independently. The first part is filled with youthful passion, while in the second we see the characters decades later in a hospital room.

King beautifully conveys the nuances of first love and human relationships in general. The main character introspectively shares her observations about love, inviting the reader into her story.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was first published in 1925 and has become a classic of American literature. It is the diary of Lorelei Lee, who travels across Europe at the expense of her numerous suitors, written in a cheerful and ironic style.

Lorelei portrays herself as a naive young woman, but her narrative gradually reveals how skillfully she manipulates the situation and uses her allure to her advantage. This book is filled with humor and lightness, making it an excellent read.

What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

The latest novel What We Can Know by McEwan resonates successfully with readers. The plot unfolds in the year 2120 and reflects a post-catastrophe world where the main character seeks lost poetry that was never recorded.

McEwan raises questions about the digital footprints we leave as keys to understanding our past and our relationship with privacy. The novel prompts contemplation about technological advancements and their impact on our lives.

Do Admit! The Mitford Sisters and Me by Mimi Pond

The new graphic novel Do Admit! by Mimi Pond offers a sparkling version of the story of the Mitford sisters, who became symbols of fashion in interwar England. The book intertwines facts and emotions, depicted with humor and witty illustrations.

With amusing drawings and the ease with which Pond describes their adventures, readers gain a unique insight into this iconic family of the 20th century.

The Forbidden Experiment: The Story of the Wild Boy of Aveyron by Roger Shattuck

In 1800, a wild boy appeared in a French village who lived among nature and could not speak. This story became the basis for a scientific experiment to study human nature.

Researchers attempted to use Victor to learn about social behaviors, but their experiment did not yield the expected results. Instead, it became evidence of the importance of social connections in forming human identity.

Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart

The new novel Vera, or Faith describes post-democratic America, where children face new realities through the lens of their own childhood and adaptation. The main character is Vera, who tries to understand her place in her family and the world.

Shteyngart, as always, combines irony with emotions, creating an inspiring and relevant work that calls for reflection on modern social challenges.

Minor Black Figures by Brandon Taylor

Minor Black Figures was the first novel by Taylor that I wanted to keep in my library. It unravels the story of a young artist trying to find new paths in his creativity and relationships.

This novel highlights issues of race and art against the backdrop of the modern world, focusing on the hero's experiences. Taylor impresses with a light and witty writing style, making his works extremely engaging.

Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age by Wauni Vari

Searches is an important book that analyzes the impact of technology on our lives. Vari draws attention to the conditions in which we exist in the era of digitalization.

This work explores how we use technologies that capture our memories and personal identities, raising important questions about privacy and changes in our relationships.