The OF Blog: Top 50 releases of 2014: #31-40

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Top 50 releases of 2014: #31-40

#41-50

Here's the second grouping of ten for the Top 50 releases of 2014 that I read.  It's getting to be a bit harder to rank these, as these are some high-quality works.

40.  Siri Hustvedt, The Blazing World

Booker Prize-longlisted story of art and sexism in the industry.

39.  Michel Faber, The Book of Strange New Things

A story of faith under strain as well as (too briefly) one of understanding an alien society.

38.  Helen Oyeyemi, Boy, Snow, Bird 

A retelling of Snow White referencing race relations.

37.  Lydia Davis, Can't and Won't 

Another excellent collection from a renowned master of the short story form.

36.  Claudie Hunzinger, La langue des oiseaux

Finalist for the 2014 Prix Médicis.

35.  Porochista Khakpour, The Last Illusion 

Excellent second novel that mixes Persian legend with early 21st century American realities.  The blurred lines between magic and reality suit this story perfectly.

34.  Jacqueline Woodson, Brown Girl Dreaming

2014 National Book Award winner for Young People's Literature.  Moving series of poems on Woodson's experiences growing up in Ohio and South Carolina during the 1960s.

33.  Keith Donohue, The Boy Who Drew Monsters

The drawn monsters aren't the most horrific part of this gripping tale...

32.   Cixin Liu, The Three-Body Problem (translated from Chinese by Ken Liu)

One of the best "first contact" stories I've read in quite some time.  Also involves a narrative of rebuilding/destroyed civilizations.  And much, much more.  Opener to a SF trilogy.


31.  Louise Glück, Faithful and Virtuous Night 


2014 National Book Award for Poetry winner.  Outstanding poetry collection.



2 comments:

Mij said...

I am lovin' your "best of" lists! I especially like reading the 1-2 sentence summaries! So helpful.

Larry Nolen said...

Thanks! :D

 
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