The Ninth Hour: A Novel

By Alice McDermott

The Ninth Hour: A Novel

A deceptively quiet story that illuminates the profundity of everyday life.

Manhattan Beach: A Novel

A young woman perseveres to become a diver at the Brooklyn Naval Yard during World War II.

Forest Dark: A Novel

By Nicole Krauss

Forest Dark: A Novel

This ambitious meditation on spiritual transcendence and self-reflection hits all the right notes.

Gravel Heart: A Novel

By Abdulrazak Gurnah

Gravel Heart: A Novel

This international family drama unsettles readers with themes of political strife, homelessness, and inner turmoil.

Autopsy of a Father: A Novel

By Pascale Kramer; translated by Robert Bononno

Autopsy of a Father: A Novel

This complex story of a troubled family becomes a metaphor for the racial and cultural tensions plaguing contemporary France.

Anything Is Possible: A Novel

Intricately linked stories tell of damage and redemption in a small Midwestern town.

The Idiot: A Novel

By Elif Batuman

The Idiot: A Novel

This coming-of-age story for the post-Internet era offers insights into the changing nature of modern intimacy — or lack thereof.

Judas: A Novel

By Amos Oz

Judas: A Novel

A thoughtful and grand meditation on Judaism, Jesus, and treachery set during a bleak winter in Jerusalem.