https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/5nzahg/best_books_of_2016_results/
created by vincoug on 14/01/2017 at 19:40 UTC*
5300 upvotes, 92 top-level comments (showing 25)
After numerous nominations and votes here are the best books of 2016 as voted on by you!
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┌────────────────┬────────────────┬─────────────┬────────────────┬─────────────┐ │ Place │ Title │ Author │ Description │ Nominated │ ╞════════════════╪════════════════╪═════════════╪════════════════╪═════════════╡ │ │ │ │ The story of │ │ │ │ │ │ two half- │ │ │ │ │ │ sisters, │ │ │ │ │ │ separated by │ │ │ │ │ │ forces beyond │ │ │ │ │ │ their control: │ │ │ │ │ │ one sold into │ │ │ │ │ │ slavery, the │ │ │ │ │ │ other married │ │ │ │ │ │ to a British │ │ │ │ │ │ slaver. │ │ │ │ │ │ Written with │ │ │ │ │ │ tremendous │ │ │ │ │ │ sweep and │ │ │ │ │ │ power, │ │ │ │ │ │ Homegoing │ │ │ │ │ │ traces the │ │ │ **Winner** │ *Homegoing* │ Yaa Gyasi │ generations of │ /u/pearloz │ │ │ │ │ family who │ │ │ │ │ │ follow, as │ │ │ │ │ │ their │ │ │ │ │ │ destinies lead │ │ │ │ │ │ them through │ │ │ │ │ │ two continents │ │ │ │ │ │ and three │ │ │ │ │ │ hundred years │ │ │ │ │ │ of history, │ │ │ │ │ │ each life │ │ │ │ │ │ indeliably │ │ │ │ │ │ drawn, as the │ │ │ │ │ │ legacy of │ │ │ │ │ │ slavery is │ │ │ │ │ │ fully revealed │ ��� │ │ │ │ in light of │ │ │ │ │ │ the present │ │ │ │ │ │ day. │ │ ├────────────────┼────────────────┼─────────────┼────────────────┼─────────────┤ │ │ │ │ It’s 2011, and │ │ │ │ │ │ Samuel │ │ │ │ │ │ Andresen-Ander │ │ │ │ │ │ son—college │ │ │ │ │ │ professor, │ │ │ │ │ │ stalled │ │ │ │ │ │ writer—has a │ │ │ │ │ │ Nix of his │ │ │ │ │ │ own: his │ │ │ │ │ │ mother, Faye. │ │ │ │ │ │ He hasn’t seen │ │ │ │ │ │ her in │ │ │ │ │ │ decades, not │ │ │ │ │ │ since she │ │ │ │ │ │ abandoned the │ │ │ │ │ │ family when he │ │ │ │ │ │ was a boy. Now │ │ │ │ │ │ she’s re- │ │ │ │ │ │ appeared, │ │ │ │ │ │ having │ │ │ │ │ │ committed an │ │ │ │ │ │ absurd crime │ │ │ │ │ │ that │ │ │ │ │ │ electrifies │ │ │ │ │ │ the nightly │ │ │ │ │ │ news, beguiles │ │ │ **1st Runner- │ *The Nix* │ Nathan Hill │ the internet, │ /u/laurz │ │ up** │ │ │ and inflames a │ │ │ │ │ │ politically │ │ │ │ │ │ divided │ │ │ │ │ │ country. The │ │ │ │ │ │ media paint │ │ │ │ │ │ Faye as a │ │ │ │ │ │ radical hippie │ │ │ │ │ │ with a sordid │ │ │ │ │ │ past, but as │ │ │ │ │ │ far as Samuel │ │ │ │ │ │ knows, his │ │ │ │ │ │ mother was an │ │ │ │ │ │ ordinary girl │ │ │ │ │ │ who married │ │ │ │ │ │ her high- │ │ │ │ │ │ school │ │ │ │ │ │ sweetheart. │ │ │ │ │ │ Which version │ │ │ │ │ │ of his mother │ │ │ │ │ │ is true? Two │ │ │ │ │ │ facts are │ │ │ │ │ │ certain: she’s │ │ │ │ │ │ facing some │ │ │ │ │ │ serious │ │ │ │ │ │ charges, and │ │ │ │ │ │ she needs │ │ │ │ │ │ Samuel’s help. │ │ ├────────────────┼────────────────┼─────────────┼────────────────┼─────────────┤ │ │ │ │ Ferryman │ │ │ │ │ │ Charlie Dawson │ │ │ │ │ │ saves dead peo │ │ │ ��� │ │ ple—somebody │ │ │ │ │ │ has to │ │ │ │ │ │ convince them │ │ │ │ │ │ to move on to │ │ │ │ │ │ the afterlife, │ │ │ │ │ │ after all. │ │ │ │ │ │ Having never │ │ │ │ │ │ failed a │ │ │ │ │ │ single │ │ │ │ │ │ assignment, │ │ │ │ │ │ he's acquired │ │ │ │ │ │ a reputation │ │ │ │ │ │ for success │ │ │ │ │ │ that’s as │ │ │ │ │ │ legendary as │ │ │ │ │ │ it is │ │ │ │ │ │ unwanted. It │ │ │ │ │ │ turns out that │ │ │ │ │ │ serving as a │ │ │ │ │ │ Ferryman is │ │ │ │ │ │ causing │ │ │ │ │ │ Charlie to │ │ �� │ │ │ slowly lose │ │ │ │ │ │ his mind. │ │ │ │ │ │ Deemed too │ │ │ │ │ │ valuable by │ │ │ │ │ │ the Ferryman │ │ │ │ │ │ Institute to │ │ │ │ │ │ be let go and │ │ │ │ │ │ too stubborn │ │ │ │ │ │ to just give │ │ │ │ │ │ up in his own │ │ │ │ │ │ right, │ │ │ │ │ │ Charlie’s │ │ │ **2nd Runner- │ *The Ferryman │ Colin Gigli │ pretty much │ /u/HaxRyter │ │ up** │ Institute* │ │ abandoned all │ │ │ │ │ │ hope of │ │ │ │ │ │ escaping his │ │ │ │ │ │ grim │ │ │ │ │ │ existence. Or │ │ │ │ │ │ he had, │ │ │ │ │ │ anyway, until │ │ │ │ │ │ he saved Alice │ │ │ │ │ │ Spiegel. To be │ │ │ │ │ │ fair, Charlie │ │ │ │ │ │ never planned │ │ │ │ │ │ on stopping │ │ │ │ │ │ Alice from │ │ │ │ │ │ taking her own │ │ │ │ │ │ life—that sort │ │ │ │ │ │ of thing is │ │ │ │ │ │ strictly │ │ │ │ │ │ forbidden by │ │ │ │ │ │ the │ │ │ │ │ │ Institute—but │ │ │ │ │ │ he never │ │ │ │ │ │ planned on the │ │ │ │ │ │ President │ │ │ │ │ │ secretly │ │ │ │ │ │ giving him the │ │ │ │ │ │ choice to, │ │ │ │ │ │ either. │ │ │ │ │ │ Charlie’s not │ │ │ │ │ │ quite sure │ │ │ │ │ │ what to make │ │ │ │ │ │ of it, but │ │ │ │ │ │ Alice is │ │ │ │ │ │ alive, and │ │ │ │ │ │ it’s the first │ │ │ │ │ │ time he’s felt │ │ │ │ │ │ right in more │ │ │ │ │ │ than two │ │ │ │ │ │ hundred years. │ │ └────────────────┴────────────────┴─────────────┴────────────────┴─────────────┘
┌────────────��─────────────────┬─────────────────┬─────────────────┬───────────┐ │ Place │ Title │ Author │ Description │ Nominated │ ╞════════════╪═════════════════╪═════════════════╪═════════════════╪═══════════╡ │ │ │ │ Set in an │ │ │ │ │ │ alternate │ │ │ │ │ │ matriarchal │ │ │ │ │ │ 1900's Asia, in │ │ │ │ │ │ a richly │ │ │ │ │ │ imagined world │ │ │ │ │ │ of art deco- │ │ │ │ │ │ inflected steam │ │ │ │ │ │ punk, MONSTRESS │ │ │ │ │ │ tells the story │ │ │ │ │ │ of a teenage │ │ │ │ │ Marjorie M. Liu │ girl who is │ │ │ │ │ (Author), Sana │ struggling to │ │ │ │ *Monstress, │ Takeda │ survive the │ │ │ **Winner** │ Vol. 1: │ (Artist), Rus │ trauma of war, │ /u/leowr │ │ │ Awakening* │ Wooten │ and who shares │ │ │ │ │ (Letterer, │ a mysterious │ │ │ │ │ Designer) │ psychic link │ │ │ │ │ │ with a monster │ │ │ │ │ │ of tremendous │ │ │ │ │ │ power, a │ │ │ │ │ │ connection that │ │ │ │ │ │ will transform │ │ │ │ │ │ them both and │ │ │ │ │ │ make them the │ │ │ │ │ │ target of both │ │ │ │ │ │ human and │ │ │ │ │ │ otherworldly │ │ │ │ │ │ powers. │ │ └────────────┴─────────────────┴─────────────────┴─────────────────┴───────────┘
┌────────────┬─────────────────┬─────────────┬────────────────┬────────────────┐ │ Place │ Title │ Author │ Description │ Nominated │ ╞════════════╪═════════════════╪═════════════╪════════════════╪════════��═══════╡ │ │ │ │ Ocean Vuong's │ │ │ │ │ │ first full- │ │ │ │ │ │ length │ │ │ │ │ │ collection │ │ │ │ │ │ aims straight │ │ │ │ │ │ for the │ │ │ │ │ │ perennial │ │ │ │ │ │ "big"—and very │ │ │ │ │ │ human—subjects │ │ │ │ │ │ of romance, │ │ │ │ │ │ family, │ │ │ │ │ │ memory, grief, │ │ │ │ │ │ war, and │ │ │ │ │ │ melancholia. │ │ │ **Winner** │ *Night Sky with │ Ocean Vuong │ None of these │ /u/woodencactu │ │ │ Exit Wounds* │ │ he allows to │ s │ │ │ │ │ overwhelm his │ │ │ │ │ │ spirit or his │ │ │ │ │ │ poems, which │ │ │ │ │ │ demonstrate, │ │ │ │ │ │ through breath │ │ │ │ │ │ and cadence │ │ │ │ │ │ and │ │ │ │ │ │ unrepentant │ │ │ │ │ │ enthrallment, │ │ │ │ │ │ that a gentle │ │ │ │ │ │ palm on a │ │ │ │ │ │ chest can calm │ │ │ │ │ │ the fiercest │ │ │ │ │ │ hungers. │ │ └────────────┴─────────────────┴─────────────┴────────────────┴─────────────��──┘
┌────────────┬─────────────────┬────────────┬─────────────────┬────────────────┐ │ Place │ Title │ Author │ Description │ Nominated │ ╞════════════╪═════════════════╪════════════╪═════════════════╪════════════════╡ │ │ │ │ From the tense │ │ │ │ │ │ territory of a │ │ │ │ │ │ sagging, grand │ │ │ │ │ │ porch in Texas │ │ │ │ │ │ to a gated │ │ │ │ │ │ community in │ │ │ │ │ │ steamy Thailand │ │ │ │ │ │ to a lonely │ │ │ │ │ │ apartment in │ │ │ │ │ │ nondescript │ │ │ │ │ │ suburbia, these │ │ │ │ │ │ linked stories │ │ │ │ │ │ unwind the │ │ │ │ │ │ lives of three │ │ │ │ │ │ families as │ �� │ **Winner** │ *Beasts and │ Amy Parker │ they navigate │ /u/brownspecta │ │ │ Children* │ │ ever-shifting │ cledbear │ │ │ │ │ landscapes. Wry │ │ │ │ │ │ and sharp, dark │ │ │ │ │ │ and subversive, │ │ │ │ │ │ they keep watch │ │ │ │ │ │ as these │ │ │ │ │ │ characters make │ │ │ │ │ │ the choices │ │ │ │ │ │ that will │ │ │ │ │ │ change the │ │ │ │ │ │ course of their │ │ │ │ │ │ lives and run │ │ │ │ │ │ into each other │ │ │ │ │ │ in surprising, │ │ │ │ │ │ unforgettable │ │ │ │ │ │ ways. │ │ └────────────┴─────────────────┴────────────┴─────────────────┴────────────────┘
┌───────────────┬───────────────┬──────────────┬───────────────┬───────────────┐ │ Place │ Title │ Author │ Description │ Nominated │ ╞═══════════════╪═══════════════╪══════════════╪═══════════════╪═══════════════╡ │ │ │ │ Darrow would │ │ │ │ │ │ have lived in │ │ │ │ │ │ peace, but │ │ │ │ │ │ his enemies │ │ │ │ │ │ brought him │ │ │ │ │ │ war. The Gold │ │ │ │ │ │ overlords │ │ │ │ │ │ demanded his │ │ │ │ │ │ obedience, │ │ │ │ │ │ hanged his │ │ │ │ │ │ wife, and │ │ │ │ │ │ enslaved his │ │ │ │ │ │ people. But │ │ │ │ │ │ Darrow is │ │ │ │ │ │ determined to │ │ │ │ │ │ fight back. │ │ │ │ │ │ Risking │ │ │ │ │ │ everything to │ │ │ │ │ │ transform │ │ │ │ │ │ himself and │ │ │ │ │ │ breach Gold │ │ │ │ *Morning │ │ society, │ /u/DeathFlowe │ │ **Winner** │ Star* │ Pierce Brown │ Darrow has │ rs │ │ │ │ │ battled to │ │ │ │ │ │ survive the │ │ │ │ │ │ cutthroat │ │ │ │ │ │ rivalries │ │ │ │ │ │ that breed │ │ │ │ │ │ Society’s │ │ │ │ │ │ mightiest │ │ │ │ │ │ warriors, │ │ │ │ │ │ climbed the │ │ │ │ │ │ ranks, and │ │ │ │ │ │ waited │ │ │ │ │ │ patiently to │ │ │ │ │ │ unleash the │ │ │ │ │ │ revolution │ │ │ │ │ │ that will │ │ │ │ │ │ tear the │ │ │ │ │ │ hierarchy │ │ │ │ │ │ apart from │ │ │ │ │ │ within. │ │ │ │ │ │ Finally, the │ │ │ │ │ │ time has │ │ │ │ │ │ come. │ │ ├───────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────┼───────────────┤ │ │ │ │ In this │ │ │ │ │ │ world he’s │ │ │ │ │ │ woken up to, │ │ │ │ │ │ Jason’s life │ │ │ │ │ │ is not the │ │ │ │ │ │ one he knows. │ │ │ │ │ │ His wife is │ │ │ │ │ │ not his wife. │ │ │ │ │ │ His son was │ │ │ │ │ │ never born. │ │ │ │ │ │ And Jason is │ │ │ │ │ │ not an │ │ │ │ │ │ ordinary │ │ │ │ │ �� college │ │ │ │ │ │ physics │ │ │ │ │ │ professor, │ │ │ │ │ │ but a │ │ │ │ │ │ celebrated │ │ │ │ │ │ genius who │ │ │ │ │ │ has achieved │ │ │ │ │ │ something │ │ │ │ │ │ remarkable. │ │ │ │ │ │ Something │ │ │ │ │ │ impossible. │ │ │ │ │ │ Is it this │ │ │ │ │ │ world or the │ │ │ │ │ │ other that’s │ │ │ **1st Runner- │ *Dark Matter* │ Blake Crouch │ the dream? │ /u/dubsbritt │ │ up** │ │ │ And even if │ │ │ │ │ │ the home he │ │ │ │ │ │ remembers is │ │ │ │ │ │ real, how can │ │ │ │ │ │ Jason │ │ │ │ │ │ possibly make │ │ │ │ │ │ it back to │ │ │ │ │ │ the family he │ │ │ │ │ │ loves? The │ │ │ │ │ │ answers lie │ │ │ │ │ │ in a journey │ │ │ │ │ │ more wondrous │ │ │ │ │ │ and │ │ │ │ │ │ horrifying │ │ │ │ │ │ than anything │ │ │ │ │ │ he could’ve │ │ │ │ │ │ imagined—one │ │ │ │ │ │ that will │ │ │ │ │ │ force him to │ │ │ │ │ │ confront the │ │ │ │ │ │ darkest parts │ │ │ │ │ │ of himself │ │ │ │ │ │ even as he │ │ │ │ │ │ battles a │ │ │ │ │ │ terrifying, │ │ │ │ │ │ seemingly │ │ │ │ │ │ unbeatable │ │ │ │ │ │ foe. │ │ ├───────────────┼───────────────┼─────���────────┼───────────────┼───────────────┤ │ │ │ │ The season of │ │ │ │ │ │ endings grows │ │ │ │ │ │ darker as │ │ │ │ │ │ civilization │ │ │ │ │ │ fades into │ │ │ │ │ │ the long cold │ │ │ │ │ │ night. │ │ │ │ │ │ Alabaster │ │ │ │ │ │ Tenring – │ │ │ │ │ │ madman, │ │ │ **2nd Runner- │ *The Obelisk │ N.K. Jemisin │ world- │ /u/Homidia │ │ up** │ Gate* │ │ crusher, │ │ │ │ │ │ savior – has │ │ │ │ │ │ returned with │ │ │ │ │ │ a mission: to │ │ │ │ │ │ train his │ │ │ │ │ │ successor, │ │ │ │ │ │ Essun, and │ │ │ │ │ │ thus seal the │ │ │ │ │ │ fate of the │ │ │ │ │ │ Stillness │ │ │ │ │ │ forever. │ │ └───────────────┴───────────────┴──────────────┴───────────────┴───────────────┘
┌───────────────┬───────────────┬───────────────┬───────────────┬──────────────┐ │ Place │ Title │ Author │ Description │ Nominated │ ╞═══════════════╪═══════════════╪═══════════════╪═══════════════╪══════════════╡ │ �� │ │ The Bands of │ │ │ │ │ │ Mourning are │ │ │ │ │ │ the mythical │ │ │ │ │ │ metalminds │ │ │ │ │ │ owned by the │ │ │ │ │ │ Lord Ruler, │ │ │ │ │ │ said to grant │ │ │ │ │ │ anyone who │ │ │ │ │ │ wears them │ │ │ │ │ │ the powers │ │ │ │ │ │ that the Lord │ │ │ │ │ │ Ruler had at │ │ │ │ │ │ his command. │ │ │ │ │ │ Hardly anyone │ │ │ │ │ │ thinks they │ │ │ │ │ │ really exist. │ │ │ │ │ │ A kandra │ │ │ │ │ │ researcher │ │ │ │ │ │ has returned │ │ │ │ │ │ to Elendel │ │ │ │ │ │ with images │ │ │ │ │ │ that seem to │ │ │ │ │ │ depict the │ │ │ **Winner** │ *The Bands of │ Brandon │ Bands, as │ /u/Ft_Worth_ │ │ │ Mourning* │ Sanderson │ well as │ Swingers │ │ │ │ │ writings in a │ │ │ │ │ │ language that │ │ │ │ │ │ no one can │ │ │ │ │ │ read. │ │ │ │ │ │ Waxillium │ │ │ │ │ │ Ladrian is │ │ │ │ │ │ recruited to │ │ │ │ │ │ travel south │ │ │ │ │ │ to the city │ │ │ │ │ │ of New Seran │ │ │ │ │ │ to │ │ │ │ │ │ investigate. │ │ │ │ │ │ Along the way │ │ │ │ │ │ he discovers │ │ │ │ │ │ hints that │ │ │ │ │ │ point to the │ │ │ │ │ │ true goals of │ │ │ │ │ │ his uncle │ │ │ │ │ │ Edwarn and │ │ │ │ │ │ the shadowy │ │ │ │ │ │ organization │ │ │ │ │ │ known as The │ │ │ │ │ │ Set. │ │ ├───────────────┼───────────────┼───────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┤ │ │ │ │ In many ways, │ │ │ │ │ │ things have │ │ │ │ │ │ almost │ │ │ │ │ │ returned to │ │ │ │ │ │ normal, │ │ │ │ │ │ though Rhy is │ │ │ │ │ │ more sober, │ │ │ │ │ │ and Kell is │ │ │ │ │ │ now plagued │ │ │ │ │ │ by his guilt. │ │ │ │ │ │ Restless, and │ │ │ │ │ │ having given │ │ │ │ │ │ up smuggling, │ │ │ │ │ │ Kell is │ │ │ │ │ │ visited by │ │ │ │ │ │ dreams of │ │ │ │ │ │ ominous │ │ │ │ │ │ magical │ │ │ │ │ │ events, │ │ │ │ │ │ waking only │ │ │ │ │ │ to think of │ │ │ │ │ │ Lila, who │ │ │ │ │ │ disappeared │ │ │ │ │ │ from the │ │ │ │ │ │ docks like │ │ │ │ │ │ she always │ │ │ │ │ │ meant to do. │ │ │ │ │ │ As Red London │ │ │ │ │ │ finalizes │ │ │ │ │ │ preparations │ │ │ │ │ │ for the │ │ │ **1st Runner- │ *A Gathering │ │ Element │ │ │ up** │ of Shadows* │ V.E. Schwab │ Games-an │ /u/HaxRyter │ │ │ │ │ extravagant │ │ │ │ │ │ international │ │ │ │ │ │ competition │ │ │ │ │ │ of magic, │ │ │ │ │ │ meant to │ │ │ │ │ │ entertain and │ │ │ │ │ │ keep healthy │ │ │ │ │ │ the ties │ │ │ │ │ │ between │ │ │ │ │ │ neighboring │ │ │ │ │ │ countries-a │ │ │ │ │ │ certain │ │ │ │ │ │ pirate ship │ │ │ │ │ │ draws closer, │ │ │ │ │ │ carrying old │ �� │ │ │ │ friends back │ │ │ │ │ │ into port. │ │ │ │ │ │ But while Red │ │ │ │ │ │ London is │ │ │ │ │ │ caught up in │ │ │ │ │ │ the pageantry │ │ │ │ │ │ and thrills │ │ │ │ │ │ of the Games, │ │ │ │ │ │ another │ │ │ │ │ │ London is │ │ │ │ │ │ coming back │ │ │ │ │ │ to life, and │ │ │ │ │ │ those who │ │ │ │ │ │ were thought │ │ │ │ │ │ to be forever │ │ │ │ │ │ gone have │ │ │ │ │ │ returned │ │ ├───────────────┼───────────────┼───────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┤ │ │ │ │ When secret │ │ │ │ │ │ organizations │ │ │ │ │ │ are forced to │ │ │ │ │ │ merge after │ │ │ │ │ │ years of │ │ │ │ │ │ enmity and │ │ │ │ │ │ bloodshed, │ │ │ │ │ │ only one │ │ │ │ │ │ person has │ │ │ │ │ │ the fearsome │ │ │ │ │ │ powers—and │ │ │ │ │ │ the │ │ │ │ │ │ bureaucratic │ │ │ │ │ │ finesse—to │ │ │ │ │ │ get the job │ │ │ │ │ │ done. Facing │ │ │ │ │ │ her greatest │ │ │ │ │ │ challenge │ │ │ │ │ │ yet, Rook │ │ │ **2nd Runner- │ *Stiletto* │ Daniel │ Myfanwy │ /u/Dommeiste │ │ up** │ │ O'Malley │ Thomas must │ r │ │ │ │ │ broker a deal │ │ │ │ │ │ between two │ │ │ │ │ │ bitter │ │ │ │ │ │ adversaries: │ │ │ │ │ │ the │ │ │ │ │ │ Checquy—the │ │ │ │ │ │ centuries-old │ │ │ │ │ │ covert │ │ │ │ │ │ British │ │ │ │ │ │ organization │ │ │ │ │ │ that protects │ │ │ │ │ │ society from │ │ │ │ │ │ supernatural │ │ │ │ │ │ threats, and │ ��� │ │ │ │ the │ │ │ │ │ │ Grafters—a │ │ │ │ │ │ centuries-old │ │ │ │ │ │ supernatural │ │ │ │ │ │ threat. │ │ └───────────────┴───────────────┴───────────────┴───────────────┴──────────────┘
┌───────────────┬───────────────┬───────────────┬───────────────┬──────────────┐ │ Place │ Title │ Author │ Description │ Nominated │ ╞═══════════════╪═══════════════╪═══════════════╪═══════════════╪══════════════╡ │ │ │ │ It’s 2011, │ │ │ │ │ │ and Samuel │ │ │ │ │ │ Andresen-Ande │ │ │ │ │ │ rson—college │ │ │ │ │ │ professor, │ │ │ │ │ │ stalled │ │ │ │ │ │ writer—has a │ │ │ │ │ │ Nix of his │ │ │ │ │ │ own: his │ │ │ │ │ │ mother, Faye. │ │ │ │ │ │ He hasn’t │ │ │ │ │ │ seen her in │ │ │ │ │ │ decades, not │ │ │ │ │ │ since she │ │ │ │ │ │ abandoned the │ │ │ │ │ │ family when │ │ │ │ │ │ he was a boy. │ │ │ │ │ │ Now she’s re- │ │ │ │ │ │ appeared, │ │ │ │ │ │ having │ │ │ │ │ │ committed an │ │ │ │ │ │ absurd crime │ │ │ │ │ │ that │ │ │ │ │ │ electrifies │ │ │ │ │ │ the nightly │ │ │ │ │ │ news, │ │ │ │ │ │ beguiles the │ │ │ │ │ │ internet, and │ /u/Absurdist │ │ **Winner** │ *The Nix* │ Nathan Hill │ inflames a │ and │ │ │ │ │ politically │ │ │ │ │ │ divided │ │ │ │ │ │ country. The │ │ │ │ │ │ media paint │ │ │ │ │ │ Faye as a │ │ │ │ │ │ radical │ │ │ │ │ │ hippie with a │ │ │ │ │ │ sordid past, │ │ │ │ │ │ but as far as │ │ │ │ │ │ Samuel knows, │ │ │ │ │ │ his mother │ │ │ │ │ │ was an │ │ │ │ │ │ ordinary girl │ │ │ │ │ │ who married │ │ │ │ │ │ her high- │ │ │ │ │ │ school │ │ │ │ │ │ sweetheart. │ │ │ │ │ │ Which version │ │ │ │ │ │ of his mother │ │ │ │ │ │ is true? Two │ │ │ │ │ │ facts are │ │ │ │ │ │ certain: │ │ │ │ │ │ she’s facing │ │ │ │ │ │ some serious │ │ │ │ │ │ charges, and │ │ │ │ │ │ she needs │ │ │ │ │ │ Samuel’s │ │ │ │ │ │ help. │ │ ├───────────────┼───────────────┼───────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┤ │ │ │ │ Death is │ │ │ │ │ │ exquisitely │ │ │ │ │ │ controlled │ │ │ │ │ │ and bodies │ │ │ │ │ │ are preserved │ │ │ │ │ │ until a │ │ │ │ │ │ future time │ │ │ │ │ │ when │ │ │ │ │ │ biomedical │ │ │ │ │ │ advances and │ │ │ │ │ │ new │ │ │ │ │ │ technologies │ │ │ │ │ │ can return │ │ │ │ │ │ them to a │ │ │ │ │ │ life of │ │ │ │ │ │ transcendent │ │ │ │ │ │ promise. Jeff │ │ │ │ │ │ joins Ross │ │ │ │ │ │ and Artis at │ │ │ │ │ │ the compound │ │ │ │ │ │ to say “an │ │ │ │ │ │ uncertain │ │ │ │ │ │ farewell” to │ │ │ │ │ │ her as she │ │ │ │ │ │ surrenders │ │ │ │ │ │ her body. “We │ │ │ │ │ │ are born │ │ │ │ │ │ without │ │ │ │ │ │ choosing to │ │ │ │ │ │ be. Should we │ │ │ │ │ │ have to die │ │ │ │ │ │ in the same │ │ │ │ │ │ manner? Isn’t │ │ │ │ │ │ it a human │ │ │ **1st Runner- │ *Zero K* │ Don DeLillo │ glory to │ /u/HaxRyter │ │ up Tie** │ │ │ refuse to │ │ │ │ │ │ accept a │ │ │ │ │ │ certain │ │ │ │ │ │ fate?” These │ │ │ │ │ │ are the │ │ │ │ │ │ questions │ │ │ │ │ │ that haunt │ │ │ │ │ │ the novel and │ │ │ │ │ │ its memorable │ │ │ │ │ │ characters, │ │ │ │ │ │ and it is │ │ �� │ │ │ Ross │ │ │ │ │ │ Lockhart, │ │ │ │ │ │ most │ │ │ │ │ │ particularly, │ │ │ │ │ │ who feels a │ │ │ │ │ │ deep need to │ │ │ │ │ │ enter another │ │ │ │ │ │ dimension and │ │ │ │ │ │ awake to a │ │ │ │ │ │ new world. │ │ │ │ │ │ For his son, │ │ │ │ │ │ this is │ │ │ │ │ │ indefensible. │ │ │ │ │ │ Jeff, the │ │ │ │ │ │ book’s │ │ │ │ │ │ narrator, is │ │ │ │ │ │ committed to │ │ │ │ │ │ living, to │ │ │ │ │ │ experiencing │ │ │ │ │ │ “the mingled │ │ │ │ │ │ astonishments │ │ │ │ │ │ of our time, │ │ │ │ │ │ here, on │ │ │ │ │ │ earth.” │ │ ├───────────────┼───────────────┼───────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┤ │ │ │ │ Northern │ │ │ │ │ │ California, │ │ │ │ │ │ during the │ │ │ │ │ │ violent end │ │ │ │ │ │ of the 1960s. │ │ │ │ │ │ At the start │ │ │ │ │ │ of summer, a │ │ │ │ │ │ lonely and │ │ │ │ │ │ thoughtful │ │ │ │ │ │ teenager, │ │ │ │ │ │ Evie Boyd, │ │ │ │ │ │ sees a group │ │ │ │ │ │ of girls in │ │ │ │ │ │ the park, and │ │ │ │ │ │ is │ │ │ │ │ │ immediately │ │ │ │ │ │ caught by │ │ │ │ │ │ their │ │ │ │ │ │ freedom, │ │ │ │ │ │ their │ │ │ │ │ │ careless │ │ │ │ │ │ dress, their │ │ │ │ │ │ dangerous │ │ │ │ │ │ aura of │ │ │ │ │ │ abandon. │ │ │ │ │ │ Soon, Evie is │ │ │ │ │ │ in thrall to │ │ │ │ │ │ Suzanne, a │ │ ��� │ │ │ mesmerizing │ │ │ │ │ │ older girl, │ │ │ │ │ │ and is drawn │ │ │ │ │ │ into the │ │ │ │ │ │ circle of a │ │ │ │ │ │ soon-to-be │ │ │ │ │ │ infamous cult │ │ │ │ │ │ and the man │ │ │ │ │ │ who is its │ │ │ │ │ │ charismatic │ │ │ **2nd Runner- │ *The Girls* │ Emma Cline │ leader. │ /u/MamaduCoo │ │ up Tie** │ │ │ Hidden in the │ kie │ │ │ │ │ hills, their │ │ │ │ │ │ sprawling │ │ │ │ │ │ ranch is │ │ │ │ │ │ eerie and run │ │ │ │ │ │ down, but to │ │ │ │ │ │ Evie, it is │ │ │ │ │ │ exotic, │ │ │ │ │ │ thrilling, │ │ │ │ │ │ charged—a │ │ │ │ │ │ place where │ │ │ │ │ │ she feels │ │ │ │ │ │ desperate to │ │ │ │ │ │ be accepted. │ │ │ │ │ │ As she spends │ │ │ │ │ │ more time │ │ │ │ │ │ away from her │ │ │ │ │ │ mother and │ │ │ │ │ │ the rhythms │ │ │ │ │ │ of her daily │ │ │ │ │ │ life, and as │ │ │ │ │ │ her obsession │ │ │ │ │ │ with Suzanne │ │ │ │ │ │ intensifies, │ │ │ │ │ │ Evie does not │ │ │ │ │ │ realize she │ │ │ │ │ │ is coming │ │ │ │ │ │ closer and │ │ │ │ │ │ closer to │ │ │ │ │ │ unthinkable │ │ │ │ │ │ violence, and │ │ │ │ │ │ to that │ │ │ │ │ │ moment in a │ │ │ │ │ │ girl’s life │ │ │ │ │ │ when │ │ │ │ │ │ everything │ │ │ │ │ │ can go │ │ │ │ │ │ horribly │ │ │ │ │ │ wrong. │ │ ├───────────────┼───────────────┼───────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┤ │ │ │ │ Moonglow │ │ │ │ │ │ unfolds as │ │ �� │ │ │ the deathbed │ │ │ │ │ │ confession, │ │ │ │ │ │ made to his │ │ │ │ │ │ grandson, of │ │ │ │ │ │ a man the │ │ │ │ │ │ narrator │ │ │ │ │ │ refers to │ │ │ │ │ │ only as “my │ │ │ │ │ │ grandfather.” │ │ │ │ │ │ It is a tale │ │ │ │ │ │ of madness, │ │ │ │ │ │ of war and │ │ │ │ │ │ adventure, of │ │ │ │ │ │ sex and │ │ │ │ │ │ desire and │ │ │ │ │ │ ordinary │ │ │ │ │ │ love, of │ │ │ │ │ │ existential │ │ │ **2nd Runner- │ *Moonglow* │ Michael │ doubt and │ /u/enfieldst │ │ up Tie** │ │ Chabon │ model │ udios │ │ │ │ │ rocketry, of │ │ │ │ │ │ the shining │ │ │ │ │ │ aspirations │ │ │ │ │ │ and demonic │ │ │ │ │ │ underpinnings │ │ │ │ │ │ of American │ │ │ │ │ │ technological │ │ │ │ │ │ accomplishmen │ │ │ │ │ │ t at mid- │ │ │ │ │ │ century and, │ │ │ │ │ │ above all, of │ │ │ │ │ │ the │ │ │ │ │ │ destructive │ │ │ │ │ │ impact—and │ │ │ │ │ │ the creative │ │ │ │ │ │ power—of the │ │ │ │ │ │ keeping of │ │ │ │ │ │ secrets and │ │ │ │ │ │ the telling │ │ │ │ │ │ of lies. │ │ ├───────────────┼───────────────┼───────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┤ │ │ │ │ Behold the │ │ │ │ │ │ man: │ │ │ │ │ │ stinking, │ │ │ │ │ │ drunk, and │ │ │ │ │ │ brutal. Henry │ │ │ │ │ │ Drax is a │ │ │ │ │ │ harpooner on │ │ │ │ │ │ the │ │ │ │ │ │ Volunteer, a │ │ │ │ │ │ Yorkshire │ │ │ │ │ │ whaler bound │ │ │ │ │ │ for the rich │ │ │ │ │ │ hunting │ │ │ │ │ │ waters of the │ │ │ │ │ │ arctic │ │ │ │ │ │ circle. Also │ │ │ **2nd Runner- │ *The North │ │ aboard for │ /u/WeDoNotSo │ │ up Tie** │ Water* │ Ian McGuire │ the first │ w │ │ │ │ │ time is │ │ │ │ │ │ Patrick │ │ │ │ │ │ Sumner, an │ │ │ │ │ │ ex-army │ │ │ │ │ │ surgeon with │ │ │ │ │ │ a shattered │ │ │ │ │ │ reputation, │ │ │ │ │ │ no money, and │ │ │ │ │ │ no better │ │ │ │ │ │ option than │ │ │ │ │ │ to sail as │ │ │ │ │ │ the ship's │ │ │ │ │ │ medic on this │ │ │ │ │ │ violent, │ │ │ │ │ │ filthy, and │ │ │ │ │ │ ill-fated │ │ │ │ │ │ voyage. │ │ └───────────────┴───────────────┴───────────────┴───────────────┴──────────────┘
┌───────────────┬───────────────┬───────────────┬───────────────┬──────────────┐ │ Place │ Title │ Author │ Description │ Nominated │ ╞═══════════════╪═══════════════╪═══════════════╪═══════════════╪══════════════╡ │ │ │ │ From a former │ │ │ │ │ │ Marine and │ │ │ │ │ │ Yale Law │ │ │ │ │ │ School │ │ │ │ │ │ Graduate, a │ │ │ │ │ │ poignant │ │ │ │ │ │ account of │ │ │ │ │ │ growing up in │ │ │ │ │ │ a poor │ │ │ │ │ │ Appalachian │ │ │ │ │ │ town, that │ │ │ │ │ │ offers a │ │ │ │ │ │ broader, │ │ │ │ *Hillbilly │ │ probing look │ │ │ │ Elegy: A │ │ at the │ │ │ **Winner** │ Memoir of a │ J.D. Vance │ struggles of │ /u/leowr │ │ │ Family and │ │ America’s │ │ │ │ Culture in │ │ white working │ │ │ │ Crisis* │ │ class. Part │ │ │ │ │ │ memoir, part │ │ │ │ │ │ historical │ │ │ │ │ │ and social │ │ │ │ ��� │ analysis, J. │ │ │ │ │ │ D. Vance’s │ │ │ │ │ │ Hillbilly │ │ │ │ │ │ Elegy is a │ │ │ │ │ │ fascinating │ │ │ │ │ │ consideration │ │ │ │ │ │ of class, │ │ │ │ │ │ culture, and │ │ │ │ │ │ the American │ │ │ │ │ │ dream. │ │ ├───────────────┼───────────────┼───────��───────┼───────────────┼──────────────┤ │ │ │ │ At the age of │ │ │ │ │ │ thirty-six, │ │ │ │ │ │ on the verge │ │ │ │ │ │ of completing │ │ │ │ │ │ a decade’s │ │ │ │ │ │ worth of │ │ │ │ │ │ training as a │ │ │ │ │ │ neurosurgeon, │ │ │ │ │ │ Paul │ │ │ │ │ │ Kalanithi was │ │ │ │ │ │ diagnosed │ │ │ │ │ │ with stage IV │ │ │ │ │ │ lung cancer. │ │ │ │ │ │ One day he │ │ │ │ │ │ was a doctor │ │ │ │ │ │ making a │ │ │ │ │ │ living │ │ │ │ │ │ treating the │ │ │ │ │ │ dying, and │ │ │ │ │ │ the next he │ │ │ │ │ │ was a patient │ │ │ │ │ │ struggling to │ │ │ │ │ │ live. Just │ │ │ │ │ │ like that, │ │ │ │ │ │ the future he │ │ │ │ │ │ and his wife │ │ │ │ │ │ had imagined │ │ │ │ │ │ evaporated. │ │ │ │ │ │ When Breath │ │ │ │ │ │ Becomes Air, │ │ │ │ │ │ which │ │ │ │ │ │ features a │ │ │ │ │ │ Foreword by │ │ │ │ │ │ Dr. Abraham │ │ │ │ │ │ Verghese and │ │ │ │ │ Paul │ an Epilogue │ │ │ **1st Runner- │ *When Breath │ Kalanithi, │ by │ /u/hydrospac │ │ up** │ Becomes Air* │ Abraham │ Kalanithi’s │ eman15 │ │ │ │ Verghese │ wife, Lucy, │ │ │ │ │ │ chronicles │ │ │ │ │ │ Kalanithi’s t │ │ │ │ │ │ ransformation │ │ │ │ │ │ from a naïve │ │ │ │ │ │ medical │ │ │ │ │ │ student │ │ │ │ │ │ “possessed,” │ │ │ │ │ │ as he wrote, │ │ │ │ │ │ “by the │ │ │ │ │ │ question of │ │ │ │ │ │ what, given │ │ │ │ │ │ that all │ │ │ │ │ │ organisms │ │ │ │ │ │ die, makes a │ │ │ �� │ │ virtuous and │ │ │ │ │ │ meaningful │ │ │ │ │ │ life” into a │ │ │ │ │ │ young │ │ │ │ │ │ neurosurgeon │ │ │ │ │ │ at Stanford, │ │ │ │ │ │ guiding │ │ │ │ │ │ patients │ │ │ │ │ │ toward a │ │ │ │ │ │ deeper │ │ │ │ │ │ understanding │ │ │ │ │ │ of death and │ │ │ │ │ │ illness, and │ │ │ │ │ │ finally into │ │ │ │ │ │ a patient and │ │ │ │ │ │ a new father │ │ │ │ │ │ to a baby │ │ │ │ │ │ girl, │ │ │ │ │ │ confronting │ │ │ │ │ │ his own │ │ │ │ │ │ mortality. │ │ ├───────────────┼───────────────��───────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┤ │ │ │ │ Even in the │ │ │ │ │ │ most desolate │ │ │ │ │ │ areas of │ │ │ │ │ │ American │ │ │ │ │ │ cities, │ │ │ │ │ │ evictions │ │ │ │ │ │ used to be │ │ │ │ │ │ rare. But │ │ │ │ │ │ today, most │ │ │ │ ��� │ poor renting │ │ │ │ │ │ families are │ │ │ │ │ │ spending more │ │ │ │ │ │ than half of │ │ │ │ │ │ their income │ │ │ │ │ │ on housing, │ │ │ │ │ │ and eviction │ │ │ │ │ │ has become │ │ │ │ │ │ ordinary, │ │ │ │ │ │ especially │ │ │ │ │ │ for single │ │ │ │ │ │ mothers. In │ │ │ │ │ │ vivid, │ │ │ │ │ │ intimate │ │ │ │ │ │ prose, │ │ │ │ *Evicted: │ │ Desmond │ │ │ │ Poverty and │ │ provides a │ │ │ **2nd Runner- │ Profit in the │ Matthew │ ground-level │ /u/Insomnia_ │ │ up** │ American │ Desmond │ view of one │ Spider │ │ │ City* │ │ of the most │ │ │ │ │ │ urgent issues │ │ │ │ │ │ facing │ │ │ │ │ │ America │ │ │ │ │ │ today. As we │ │ │ │ │ │ see families │ │ │ │ │ │ forced into │ │ │ │ │ │ shelters, │ │ │ │ │ │ squalid │ │ │ │ │ │ apartments, │ │ │ │ │ │ or more │ │ │ │ │ │ dangerous nei │ │ │ │ │ │ ghborhoods, │ │ │ │ │ │ we bear │ │ │ │ │ │ witness to │ │ │ │ │ │ the human │ │ │ │ │ │ cost of │ │ │ │ │ │ America’s │ │ │ │ │ │ vast inequali │ │ │ │ │ │ ty—and to │ │ │ │ │ │ people’s │ │ │ │ │ │ determination │ │ │ │ │ │ and │ │ │ │ │ │ intelligence │ │ │ │ │ │ in the face │ │ │ │ │ │ of hardship. │ │ └───────────────┴───────────────┴───────────────┴───────────────┴──────────────┘
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Thank you to everyone who nominated and voted! Below, you can find links to the individual voting threads.
Best Short Story/Graphic Novel/Poetry of 2016
Comment by emkay99 at 14/01/2017 at 22:23 UTC
808 upvotes, 8 direct replies
There needs to be a category for mystery/crime/thriller. It's an even more broadly popular genre than SF or fantasy.
Comment by Bovvy at 14/01/2017 at 21:19 UTC
113 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Morning Star had to be one of my favourites. Pretty happy it won! 😁
Comment by [deleted] at 14/01/2017 at 22:48 UTC
72 upvotes, 8 direct replies
I'm confused. Death's End by Ciuxin Liu has more upvotes than Obelisk Gate in the scifi thread.
Comment by thebankdick at 14/01/2017 at 23:02 UTC
29 upvotes, 4 direct replies
Has anyone read Jerusalem by Alan Moore?
Comment by lowry4president at 14/01/2017 at 23:22 UTC
20 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Is there past threads anywhere for the best books of 20xx for r/books and if so where can i find them
Comment by AlphaSlays at 15/01/2017 at 00:12 UTC
19 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I'm so happy Morning Star got Sci-fi of the year. Really good book and heavily recommend the series overall.
Comment by everything_is_holy at 15/01/2017 at 00:55 UTC
22 upvotes, 5 direct replies
I was really disappointed with *The Girls*. Emma Cline is a good writer, but the story's characters had no depth, there was so much "telling" instead of "showing", and it felt like a YA coming-of-age novel with some cursing and a few graphic scenes.
Comment by superflippy at 15/01/2017 at 00:51 UTC
12 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Both surprised & pleased to see a poetry category here. Thanks.
Comment by Nezmins at 14/01/2017 at 20:57 UTC
64 upvotes, 2 direct replies
2016 had positive parts.
Comment by khutulan at 15/01/2017 at 01:04 UTC
11 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Yes!!! Monstress is the shit. Definitely my favorite graphic novel of the year.
Comment by mecha-robzilla at 14/01/2017 at 23:43 UTC
18 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I don't understand how Homegoing is 2016's best debut with The Nix in second, but The Nix is 2016's best literary fiction.
Comment by Gezimd at 14/01/2017 at 22:06 UTC
18 upvotes, 3 direct replies
So Morning Star is the third part of a trilogy?
Comment by AmericanMustache at 14/01/2017 at 23:27 UTC*
26 upvotes, 9 direct replies
I really can't believe *Dark Matter* is anywhere on this list.
Reading that book was like watching somebody look for a key in a shoe-box. Only, there is just one key and an almost infinite number of shoe-boxes they must search through. And you, as the observer, know that the key that they're looking for is in the very *last* box they're going to look in; *and* you find this torturous fact out the very moment the person starts looking in the very first box. So there you are, sitting there know you have to watch this person go through every single box. Also, you know there is *nothing* that will prevent them from looking into *every single* box before they get to the last one. On top of that, the person that is looking for the key suddenly starts playing around with each box for too long before deciding to try the next one. But then, they also start spending more and more time at each successive box, so that it not only appears to be taking longer each time, it actually is. This is what it was like for me to progress through the chapters of this book. I figured out very early on what was going to happen with the character (I'm pretty sure many people do) - and then I spent the rest of the book just wanting to get there - hoping I was somehow wrong, like there was some surprise that was going to throw me off course - but very slowly and tediously confirming that I knew exactly where the book was going the entire time.
Also, the writing sucked.
Comment by Relax_Redditors at 15/01/2017 at 02:16 UTC
10 upvotes, 3 direct replies
Thank you r/books for not choosing "the underground railroad" like all the critics out there. That book was god awful.
Comment by ProfessionalBust at 15/01/2017 at 08:35 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
What about horror/thriller ):
Comment by SomePplHaveRealProbs at 15/01/2017 at 01:21 UTC
21 upvotes, 8 direct replies
I wonder if people actually read Hillbilly Elegy. The topic is fascinating and seemed such a promising memoir from a unique perspective but it was just a rambly story about a guy who grew up with a family that wasn't that different from 80% of all working class families in America.
Comment by EpicCakes at 15/01/2017 at 01:05 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
When I saw the author for Homecoming was Yaa Gaasi at first I thought you were just really excited that it won.
Comment by chinsman31 at 15/01/2017 at 07:08 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
You spelled Yaa Gyasi's name wrong.
Comment by Sihnar at 15/01/2017 at 10:15 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Morning star winning is just proof that reddit is mostly made up of teenagers. It's a fun series, but it's more young adult than sci fi.
Comment by PsychicCat at 15/01/2017 at 17:10 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I'd love to see an LGBT category
Comment by Cocaiinee00 at 15/01/2017 at 08:10 UTC
7 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Does every book subreddit have a thing against romance/pnr/uf?
Comment by KappaccinoNation at 15/01/2017 at 02:21 UTC
19 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I'm a simple man. I see Sanderson getting more praise, I upvote.
Comment by Beecakeband at 14/01/2017 at 21:47 UTC
11 upvotes, 6 direct replies
I've been meaning to read Homegoing for ages this makes me even more excited to try it
Comment by [deleted] at 14/01/2017 at 22:29 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I loved The Nix, Homegoing, and Evicted! Really enjoyed Hillbilly Elegy as well. I wasn't a big fan of When Breath Becomes Air but can appreciate why it resonated with a lot of people.
Comment by [deleted] at 15/01/2017 at 00:25 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Glad to see evicted on here. Working in Milwaukee i thought it was a fantastic piece depicting the housing issues many people face.