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Contemporary must-reads that everyone should read
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I'm trying to build a list of contemporary must-reads from the last 5-10 years. I want books that are not just popular but actually important, books that say something meaningful about our current world.
I'm particularly interested in literary fiction but I'm open to any genre as long as it's well-written and thought-provoking. What are the contemporary must-reads that have stayed with you long after you finished them?
The Overstory by Richard Powers is absolutely a contemporary must-read. It won the Pulitzer for a reason. The way it weaves together multiple stories about trees and our relationship with nature is breathtaking. It's one of those books that changes how you see the world. Definitely qualifies as contemporary must-reads that are both important and beautifully written.
Normal People by Sally Rooney is definitely a contemporary must-read. It captures modern relationships and communication in a way that feels painfully real. The character work is exceptional. It's one of those books that stays with you because it feels so true to contemporary life. For contemporary must-reads about human connection, this is essential.
There There by Tommy Orange is one of the most important contemporary must-reads of recent years. It gives voice to urban Native American communities in a way that's both powerful and necessary. The multiple perspectives create this incredible tapestry of modern Indigenous experience. It's challenging but absolutely worth it.
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead is a contemporary must-read that everyone should experience. It's based on true events and handles difficult subject matter with incredible grace and power. The writing is stunning and the story is devastatingly important. It won the Pulitzer and absolutely deserves it.
Circe by Madeline Miller might be a retelling of Greek myth, but it feels incredibly contemporary in its themes of power, agency, and identity. The prose is gorgeous and the character development is masterful. It's become one of those contemporary must-reads that people keep recommending for good reason.
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