7 Backlist Books You Should Read - Vol. 1
Because older books are cool, too
With all the "best of" lists coming out, I've been thinking a lot about 2023 book releases (as one does). I've read and enjoyed many 2023 titles, and I hope to finish several more by the end of the year. As much as I like keeping up with new stuff, I always have room in my literature-loving heart for backlist books. Since 2023 titles are getting enough attention right now, I want to highlight the books that have been out in the world for a while. I hope you find something that sparks your interest. Enjoy Volume 1 of this backlist series!
I loved Jamie Quatro's debut collection of stories, I Want to Show You More, so I read Fire Sermon, her first novel, the week it came out. One evening, I sat down with my copy and didn't get up until I'd finished the book. After reading the final sentence, I remember sitting in my reading chair and thinking, "Wow."
The book tells the story of an affair and the emotional, relational, and spiritual issues that arise for our protagonist, Maggie. She's a writer married to Thomas but finds herself drawn to a poet named James. What starts as a friendship turns into more, and it takes over Maggie's life. Quatro writes like a poet and explores themes of marriage and faith like a theologian. Lovers of concise yet intimate stories will adore this slim novel.
In this beautiful memoir, Roxane Gay discusses the sexual assault she experienced as a girl and how it's shaped her relationship with her body. She writes about food and self-image with vulnerability and courage, taking readers along on her journey to healing and self-acceptance. As with anything Gay writes, Hunger is full of insight and truth-telling. It's a difficult book to read, but it's an important story in which far too many women can see themselves reflected.
Thankfully, the inside of this debut novel is just as beautiful as its cover. The story follows Nadia, a teenager still reeling from the death of her mother. After hooking up with the pastor's son, she becomes pregnant. The pregnancy stays hidden, and the consequences follow Nadia into adulthood.
Brit Bennett is a gifted storyteller, and The Mothers is a powerful novel that wrestles with how the choices we make when we're young affect our lives in ways we never could have predicted.
One of my favorite 2023 releases is Wellness by Nathan Hill. It's been getting much well-deserved praise, and Oprah chose it for her book club (Oprah, if you're reading this, good job.) One of the reasons I couldn't wait to read Wellness is because I loved Hill's debut, The Nix, and wanted to give it a hug when I finished it.
The Nix is a long, sprawling epic story about a fractured mother and son relationship. The son is Samuel, a listless college teacher who hasn't seen his mother since childhood. One day, he spots her on television after she was filmed throwing rocks at a presidential candidate. Who is this woman, really? That's the question Sam seeks to answer as he reaches out to his mom. Hill covers different periods, characters, and locations, but all the threads combine to make a beautiful story. (Try this on audio. The narration is great.)
Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson was one of my 2022 favorites, so I was eager to pick up more of his work. I listened to Nothing to See Here and was surprised by how much I loved it.
The novel revolves around two friends, Lillian and Madison, who were roommates for a brief time at a boarding school. Lillian lives with her mom and has yet to accomplish much of anything, but Madison married a senator who's on the rise. When Madison needs a nanny for her two stepchildren, she calls on Lillian. Lillian will make a lot of money and have all of her needs met by Madison, but there's a catch: the twins catch on fire, news that can't get out without destroying their father's political career.
I laughed out loud as I enjoyed this audiobook, which I expected, but what shocked me was how touched I was by the relationships between Lillian and the kids. Read this if you like quirky, lighthearted books with depth that sneaks up on you.
I've enjoyed each book I've read from Leslie Jamison, but The Recovering is the one that's stuck with me the most. It's a memoir, but it's also a cultural and literary analysis of alcoholism. Jamison is unflinching when detailing her struggles with drinking, but she also delves into the substance abuse and addictions of several famous writers, including Raymond Carver and Elizabeth Bishop. Jamison crafts beautiful sentences and has such impressive control of language. Readers who appreciate beautiful prose and insightful social commentary will find much to love about The Recovering.
Shadow Tag is about Irene and Gil, a Native couple whose marriage is breaking apart. Gil betrays Irene by reading her diary, so Irene uses it as a tool to manipulate him. She has a separate diary where she writes her true thoughts, and readers see how deeply Irene struggles with her life.
I love stories about marriages at a breaking point, and Shadow Tag delivers. When I read this in 2017, I wrote, "This was intense and utterly devastating in all the right ways." I stand by those words. This book isn't one of Louise Erdrich's more famous novels, and I'm not sure why. Go read it and let me know what you think.
Have you read and enjoyed any of these? What backlist titles would you recommend to me? Share your thoughts in the comments.