The Overlap of Literary Excellence: BookBrowse Meets NYT's Best Books of the 21st Century

Last week, The New York Times unveiled its ambitious list chronicling the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. This impressive compilation stirred the literary community, sparking discussions on the standout works that have shaped modern literature.

How Did BookBrowse Measure Up?

At BookBrowse, we couldn't resist seeing how our selections over the past 25 years compared. Not to brag, but our coverage is commendable! We've fully reviewed and recommended 40 of these top 100 books, and an additional 44 were covered in brief, bringing our total overlap to 84 out of 100. Even more impressive is the fact that we've covered 19 of the top 20 books!

“A good book is an event in your life.” — Stendhal

The Editorial Process at BookBrowse

While the NYT consulted over 500 'literary luminaries' to curate this list, our approach is more intimate yet equally diligent. Our dedicated team of editors and reviewers painstakingly selects the best reads for our audience. Typically, we brief roughly 1,400 books each year, but only about 220 make it to a full review and recommendation.

In revisiting our archives, we discovered that 16 books on the NYT's list had escaped our radar. To remedy this, we've since added brief pages for these works and noted where we lacked prior reviews or briefs. Our pursuit of excellence and recognition of quality literature remains relentless.

Highlights from the List

Let's dive into a few titles from the overlapping selection:

• Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson (2007) – An epic narrative delving into the chaos and moral ambiguity of the Vietnam War era. This work received a full review on BookBrowse.
• How to Be Both by Ali Smith (2014) – This inventive novel explores dualities of all sorts, blending historical and contemporary narratives. Also fully reviewed by BookBrowse.
• Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (2001) – A captivating tale of a hostage situation that transforms into an intricate study of human relationships and resilience. Briefed on BookBrowse.
• Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward (2013) – A gripping memoir reflecting on the loss of five young men, revealing systemic racial and social issues. This was also briefed.

Appreciating Literature's Diversity

Both the NYT list and our own curated reviews illustrate the rich diversity of themes and genres in contemporary literature. Whether it's exploring historical narratives, dystopian fiction, or intimate memoirs, these books collectively reflect societal shifts, personal struggles, and universal truths. It's this diversity that makes book exploration a continually enriching experience.

Supporting Authors and Their Creations

As a community of readers and reviewers, we're proud to have contributed in some small way to highlighting and elevating these exceptional works of literature. Through our reviews and briefs, we strive to offer insightful critiques that both inform and inspire our readership.

Our journey through the literary landscape has been made all the more rewarding by the alignment with such celebrated lists as the NYT's. If you'd like to delve deeper into any of the books mentioned, each title in our coverage links directly to its respective BookBrowse page.

Discover More with BookBrowse

To explore the full list of the top 100 books and compare our reviews, visit the official BookBrowse page. For even more book recommendations, be sure to check out our latest reviews and features.

Add a Touch of Literary Flair to Your Life

If you're looking to celebrate your love for these incredible books in more tangible ways, explore the range of bookish merchandise available at Liam and Lore. From bookmarks to tote bags and reading journals, there's something to charm every bibliophile.