The top literary gems of 2023, recommended by influential figures worldwide

Bookworms have had a bustling year in 2023. Literary heavyweights such as Bret Easton Ellis, Salman Rushdie, Margaret Attwood and Zadie Smith made their return to the scene and published new work, some for the first time in over a decade. Additionally, the summer saw the rise of Sad Girl literature, with authors like Eliza Clark, Pip Finkemeyer, and Rachel Connolly depicting the melancholic millennial female experience often characterized by trauma and dysfunction.

New voices also emerged, with storied writers receiving newfound recognition. Norwegian author Jon Fosse was awarded the Nobel Prize for the first time in October, lauded by judges for "giving voice to the unsayable." However, the industry also mourned the loss of legends Martin Amis, Cormac McCarthy, and Louise Glück, who passed away in the last 12 months.

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Mitski, musician and songwriter

But what should be at the top of your reading list? To guide you through the world of literature, we've consulted a select group of influential figures from the worlds of music, literature, fashion, photography, and culture to learn about their current reading choices. Whether it's director and screenwriter Ari Aster or Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacio, there's a recommendation for everyone from those who have made an impact on the year in some way.

Berkley

Chioma Nnadi, head of British Vogue

"The September House" was a spontaneous purchase for me, as I was unfamiliar with the author. With a penchant for haunted house tales, I was immediately drawn to the eerie house on the cover. To my surprise, it was Carissa Orlandos debut novel, offering a refreshing twist on the genre. The story begins with a delightful touch of humor, only to later unravel into unexpected and chilling events. Initially, I was eager to recommend it to everyone, but as the tension mounted, I realized it may not be suitable for all audiences."

Knopf

A friend expressed their desire to read the book, "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin again for the first time, expressing jealousy over the idea. This novel, recommended to me by several friends, weaves together love and coming-of-age themes so magnificently through the lives of two video game designers, Sadie and Sam.

Ari Aster, director and screenwriter

Despite not being a gaming enthusiast, I was completely captivated by their world. After finishing the book a few weeks later, it was difficult to say goodbye to the characters. I even recall expressing my envy to someone on the subway who was reading "Tomorrow".

Vintage

"Monica," by Dan Clowes, is a magnificent exploration of the theme of aloneness. This book stands out as the most dense, elegiac, and discomforting work by the great cartoonist. It captures the thrilling eclecticism of "Eightball," with its hyper-literate character pieces, literary homages, and black comedy. However, it also reveals a more restrained and melancholic side of Dan Clowes in the past couple of decades. Monica herself is portrayed as one of Clowes' richest characters, with a complexity and ambition that is unparalleled in his work. The character study and vast tapestry that Clowes creates with Monica is truly exceptional.

Alexa Chung, model, designer and presenter

And then there's the revolution of its genre-liberated and deceptively heartwarming final chapter and its ultimate gesture, which I won't spoil except to say that it feels like something that could have emerged in any of his earlier comics, but never with the emotional impact that he achieves here. This is Dan Clowes' magnum opus, and a work of genius.

Alexa Chung, model, designer and presenter

William Morrow and Company

R. F. Kuang, author

I came across it in Italy. The cover is pretty intense, so you have to be prepared to explain why you're reading a book titled "Yellowface." I received some curious looks. But I found joy in reading (this book) because of my Asian heritage. Plus, not long after, "The Summer I turned Pretty" aired on TV and all my friends watched it. It's great to see these mixed-race individuals being celebrated. That wasn't something we had when I was growing up.

Harper Collins

I found Jeffrey Eugenides "The Virgin Suicides" very off-putting when I read it in college. I felt I never got a good grasp on the girls. What was going on in their minds? Why did we never get closer to that final why? Then for chance and circumstanceI enjoyed a re-read of Eugenides "Middlesex," and then I enjoyed Sofia Coppolas "Priscilla," which had me flipping through a friends copy of Coppolas "Archive," which included exchanges between Coppola and Eugenides on "The Virgin Suicides." I read Eugenides foreword to the 30th anniversary special edition, and realized that the impossibility of knowing from the outside was always the point. How fortunate we are to get to come back to texts when were a little older, less judgmental, and ready to meet the author on his own terms.

Law Roach, stylist

Simon & Schuster

"Down the Drain" confirms to me that Julia Fox is a remarkable and uncompromising woman. A woman who does what she wants, unapologetically. The challenges she shares in her book provide insight into her character. Like a favorite piece of clothing, the best books evoke emotions, whether positive or negative. What matters is that they make you feel.

Julia's vulnerability is filled with heart and soul, evident to anyone reading her book. The way she tells her story is truly beautiful. Everyone has a past, but only someone like Julia Fox can turn hardships into a successful career moving forward.

Sheynnis Palacio, Miss Universe 2023

As Miss Universe, eyeliner is not just a makeup tool, but an essential part of our artistic expression. It gives us the ability to captivate a room, make a statement, and completely transform our appearance. Zahra Hankir's work highlights that this practice is not new or modern, but has been a tradition among powerful women for thousands of years.

Christiane Amanpour, CNN Chief International Anchor

Her captivating exploration of the origins of kohl, kajal, sormeh, and other traditional forms of black eyeliner delves into the similarities and distinctions in their usage and significance, tracing their evolution from Nefertiti in ancient Egypt to the Woman, Life, Freedom protest movement in Iran.

Bonnier Books

I chose this book for the same reason I wrote the foreword: the author is one of the most exceptional war and foreign affairs correspondents. Charles Wheeler not only participated in World War Two, but also reported on it and continued to cover conflicts throughout the 20th century. His remarkable story also serves as a model for aspiring journalists. He believed, as I do, that our role is to be the eyes and ears for people at home, and that there is an objective truth to be discovered through empirical evidence. His war reporting was extraordinary, and he also provided insightful, empathetic, and impassioned coverage of the American civil rights movement in the 1960s.

Es Devlin, artist and stage designer

Wheeler, much like myself, was a bit of a rebel, often taking a stand on moral grounds. He shared my belief that dissent does not equate to disloyalty, whether it be towards the country or the workplace.

Crown Publishing Group

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in exploring the potential impact of AI and quantum computing on our everyday experiences. One of the most poignant moments in the book is when Suleyman describes Move 37 in the historic 2016 match of the ancient Chinese game of Go between the Google Deepmind algorithm Alpha Go and the world's top Go master, Lee Sedol. This move, which had never before been seen in the 5,500 year history of the game, completely baffled the world's most skilled player and led to his shocking defeat at the hands of the machine. Suleyman, a member of the algorithm development team, compares this breakthrough in AI to the discovery of a new species or the first sight of a new world, conveying the immense emotional impact of the imminent wave of change.

Bettina Korek, CEO of the Serpentine gallery

One book that left a lasting impression on me this year was "The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything," the debut novel by Kara Gnodde. The story follows two siblings, Art and Mimi, whose contrasting perspectives on life, love, and logic delve into the age-old dilemma of reason versus emotion. Art prefers to rely on mathematical certainty and evidence, while Mimi embraces chance and romance. As Kara writes, "Art's sister believed in truth, Art believed in facts."

Marilyn Minter, photographer

The book is a riveting page-turner, and I appreciated the formal experimentation in the writing. Gnodde skillfully blends fiction and non-fiction in a way that reflects the conflicting worldviews of the main characters. In preparation for writing the book, the author delved into abstract mathematical concepts central to the enduring puzzles of computer science, further embracing a quantitative mindset as a writer.

Random House