The Best Books of the Second Half of 2023
Vox's senior correspondent, Constance Grady, recommends the best books from the second half of 2023. From action-packed allegories to philosophical biographies, this list has something for everyone.
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Chain-Gang All-Stars is a debut novel by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah that takes place in a near-future US where prisoners fight to the death in televised gladiatorial games. The book explores the minds of people complicit and victimized by the prison system, while also drawing parallels to real-world atrocities.
Adjei-Brenyah's writing is both beautiful and thought-provoking, making Chain-Gang All-Stars a near-perfect book that combines social criticism and adrenaline-pumping action.
Loved and Missed by Susie Boyt
Loved and Missed is a deceptively simple novel by UK author Susie Boyt. The story follows Ruth, a grandmother, as she builds a life with her granddaughter. The book explores themes of love, loss, and the effort it takes to find warmth and happiness.
Boyt's writing is warm and engaging, never falling into sentimentality. Loved and Missed is a heartwarming read that will leave you reflecting on the power of human connection.
The Last Language by Jennifer duBois
The Last Language is a fictional story inspired by a real-life court case. Jennifer duBois delves into the complex relationship between a linguist named Angela and a nonverbal man named Sam. The novel explores themes of consent, love, and the limits of communication.
duBois' writing is both haunting and powerful, leaving readers questioning the nature of truth and love. The Last Language is a thought-provoking novel that will stay with you long after you've finished reading.
The Marriage Question: George Eliot's Double Life by Clare Carlisle
The Marriage Question is a compelling biography of George Eliot written by Clare Carlisle. The book centers around Eliot's scandalous relationship with George Henry Lewes, a man she called her husband despite not being legally married.
Carlisle explores the theme of marriage in Eliot's work, particularly in her novel Middlemarch. The biography offers insights into Eliot's life and her philosophical questioning of the institution of marriage. A must-read for fans of Eliot's work.
