If you also ran out of time to read during the year, we can fix the critical situation during the holidays. We are publishing a list of the best read and rated works in 2013. So, the 10 best books of 2013, as chosen by critics.
To choose the best books last year was a challenging task. There are as many different people as there are different flavors and various "best" books. In addition, the perception of a book depends on the emotional state and period of life in which a certain book comes across. Anyway, we're posting those ten, which were rated as the best literary works in 2013 by critics The New York Times Book Review.
Among the works of fiction, they chose the following five:
Americana, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The story of how a Nigerian immigrant follows race relations in America is a comedy and a tragedy in one.
The Flamethrowers, Rachel Kushner
It takes place in the 1970s and talks about radical politics, artistic avant-garde and motor racing. All this through the story of a young woman who moves to New York to become an artist.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
There isn't a list of the top books of 2013 that doesn't have Donna Tartt firmly at the top with The Goldfinch. A terrorist bombing takes Theo Decker's mother, but at the same time gives him a painting by a Dutch painter. In the background, as the critics wrote, there is an unshakable faith in art, which can save a person and raise him above himself.
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
The author shows post-war Britain and the intertwining of fate and family life through the story of Ursula Todd. The heroine often rises from the dead, the story starts several times, the author always adds something, takes something away.
Tenth of December, George Saunders
Saunders' stories revolve around prisoners who are forced to take drugs that have a profound effect on their moods. Saunders writes with empathy and opens up issues of class, power and justice.
Among the non-fiction works, the critics chose:
After the Music Stopped, Alan S. Blinder
According to the author, the financial collapse of 2008 occurs because of a "perfect storm", when a bunch of unfortunate events appear at once. In the book, the author criticizes both the Bush and Obama administrations, but at the same time asks that the leaders ensure that the country does not fall into a deeper depression.
Days of Fire, Peter Baker
Achievements, mistakes and happenings in the Bush administration are described by Peter Baker from a special point of view, as the central correspondent of The New York Times from the White House.
Five Days at Memorial, Sheri Fink
At the heart of the story is Hurricane Katrina, and watching what happens in the hospital during and after the hurricane is at times reminiscent of a thriller, both in the story and the way it is told.
The Sleepwalkers, Christopher Clark
The author describes what happened to lead to the First World War and skillfully avoids finding the culprit.
Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala
With fury and nothing sentimental, the author describes the wave, the "Christmas" tsunami, which took away her husband, parents and sons.
Check the gallery - TOP 10 books of 2013
