May’s Best Reviewed Fiction
Featuring Ocean Vuong, Daniel Kehlmann, Allison Bechdel, and More
Ocean Vuong’s The Emperor of Gladness, Daniel Kehlmann’s The Director, and Allison Bechdel’s Spent all feature among May’s best reviewed books.
Brought to you by Book Marks, Lit Hub’s home for book reviews.
*
1. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
(Penguin)
13 Rave • 1 Positive • 1 Mixed • 1 Pan
“Magnificent and melancholy … Its opening pages are as melodic as a symphony … This is a novel that percolates and simmers, provoking questions about the reader’s privilege while prompting awe at the writer’s singular empathy—and his subjects’ humility.”
–Leigh Haber (The Los Angeles Times)
2. The Names by Florence Knapp
(Pamela Dorman Books)
12 Rave • 1 Positive
“The sort of novel that’s bound to create discussion about the events happening, what they mean and how they relate to one another. It has an ending that’s definitive but also leaves plenty of room for interpretation. And it is guaranteed to make readers reflect about their own lives … Knapp [has a] gift for insightful, homespun metaphors … A simple, seemingly unadorned style but insights…pop up frequently. Her choices reassure us that she understands people, which helps The Names transcend a premise that could come off as gimmicky.”
–Chris Hewitt (The Star Tribune)
3. The South by Tash Aw
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
9 Rave • 4 Positive
“Gorgeous … The sensuality of the prose is just one of the pleasures of Aw’s writing. With The South, he has crafted a story of yearning for autonomy, escape, financial independence and excitement that is suffused with sexual longing and the ache of nostalgia … While I’m not convinced that The South needs a sequel, I’ll stay tuned. But for now, this shimmering, psychologically rich tale of first love and a family at a crossroads stands taller than those ill-fated tamarind trees.”
–Heller McAlpin (The New York Times Book Review)
4. The Director by Daniel Kehlmann
(Summit Books)
9 Rave • 3 Positive
“Taut, unflinching … Sharply observed … Arresting … Kehlmann’s mystery forcefully animates the cost—artistic and moral—of collaboration.”
–Lauren LeBlanc (The Boston Globe)
5. Spent: A Comic Novel by Alison Bechdel
(Mariner)
8 Rave • 2 Positive
Check out Alison Bechdel’s annotated nightstand here
“A sharp, hilarious and humane look at social and cultural politics … Bechdel’s signature wry humor, keen observational skills and masterful storytelling take center stage in Spent. The narrative is driven by richly drawn, down-to-earth characters each with their own hurdles.”
–Maya Fleischmann (BookPage)
