A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
Dave Eggers
Eggers raising his little brother after both parents die, told with wild, self-aware energy. Funny and gutting.
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★ 5In Memoriam
Alice Winn
A devastating and gorgeous WWI story about two teenage boys who fall in love in the trenches. It will wreck you. If you finished Shuggie Bain, Demon Copperhead, and/or The Heart’s Invisible Furies, and wanted more, this one’s for you.
The Secret History
Donna Tartt
The Secret History by Donna Tartt is one of the books I’m jealous of other people for getting to read for the first time. In the opening sentence, you learn that a boy has been murdered, and the narrator, Richard, has helped murder him — the mystery, of course, is why. We go back in time, following Richard as he transfers to an elite New England college and becomes fascinated with a tight-knit, charismatic group of friends. The first time I read this book, I was completely carried away by the plot. The second (and third and fourth) times, I’ve been able to appreciate its exploration of beauty, morality, and the allure of belonging.
★ 5Demon Copperhead
Barbara Kingsolver
Kingsolver reworks David Copperfield into Appalachia and the opioid crisis, and it's devastating. That kid's voice will wreck you.