Every year, Top 10 lists start coming out in early December and I feel a. indignant that there’s still a whole month of the year left, how can these declarations be made now?!* and b. resigned to the fact that I actually don’t have the time right now to read all of the things I would need to if I wanted to write a Top 10 Books of the year that I felt supremely confident about, and so I have devised this sort of fun anticipatory consolation for myself, which is to make a list of the top 10 books that are appearing on Top 10 lists (or that I think really ought to be, ahem) that I almost certainly won’t actually read before I make my own list on the 31st, and therefore am eagerly anticipating reading in 2024.
The Long Form, Kate Briggs
My Work, Olga Ravn
The Bee Sting, Paul Murray
The Iliad, Homer, tr. Emily Wilson
Family Meal, Bryan Washington
Blackouts, Justin Torres
Biography of X, Catherine Lacey
Vengeance is Mine, Marie NDiaye
Whale, Cheong Myeon-Kwan
The Happy Couple, Naoise Dolan
*I understand now that the people entrusted with writing such lists get books way before us mere mortals do. I have written enough book reviews that even I get some books early now, and it feels very thrilling every time. Still though, December 1st seems way too early for end-of-year lists. I guess the idea is to give people plenty of time for holiday shopping?
Kasia Reads 