Books
Looking for ratings? I rate most titles below a 4 or 5 on a 1-5 scale, where 5 is best (unrated books are noted. There are too many great books to waste time on those that are not. Books that grabbed me by the throat or heart and shook me are listed in red.
The following lists are from most recently read to least.
2026
The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides (2024) Historical Nonfiction: Book
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) Historical Fiction/Science Fiction: Novel
The Tower of the Antilles by Achy Obejas (2017) Literary Fiction/Lesbian Fiction: Short Stories
You and We: A Relational Rethinking of Work, Life, and Leadership by Jim Ferrell (2015) Nonfiction: Book
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Devil Three Times by Rickey Fayne (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Black Mountain (Nero Wolfe 24) by Rex Stout (1954) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Dark Dark by Samantha Hunt (2024) Literary Fiction: Short Stories
Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead (2009) Literary Fiction: Novel
Three Men Out (Nero Wolfe 23) by Rex Stout (1954) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman (2013) Literary Fiction: Novel
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli, translated by Simon Carnell and Erica Segre (2016) Nonfiction: Book
Devil is Fine by John Vercher (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (2010) Literary Fiction: Novel
A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore (2009) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Deal of a Lifetime by Frederick Backman (2017) Literary Fiction: Novella
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Briar Club by Kate Quinn (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Prisoner’s Base (Nero Wolfe 21) by Rex Stout (1952) Mystery Fiction
Yellowface by RF Kuang (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
Triple Jeopardy by Rex Stout (1952) (Nero Wolfe 20) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
2025
The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner (2013) Literary Fiction: Novel
Murder By the Book (Nero Wolfe 19) by Rex Stout (1951) Mystery Fiction
Does My Body Offend You? by Marya Cuevas and Marie Marquardt (2022) Young Adult Fiction: Novel
Absolution by Alice McDermott (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
Small Rain by Garth Greenwell (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
Curtains for Three (Nero Wolfe 18) by Rex Stout (1950) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe (2020) Literary Fiction: Novel
Call Me Zebra by Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi (2019) Literary Fiction: Novel
Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm by Laura Warrell (2022) Literary Fiction: Novel
We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin (2019) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li (2022) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Price of Salt aka Carol by Patricia Highsmith (1952/1994) Literary Fiction: Novel
See Now Then by Jamaica Kincaid (2013) Literary Fiction: Novel
Colored Tevelevision by Danzy Senna (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
Improvement by Joan Silber (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel
Miami Blues by Charles Willeford (1984) Thriller: Novel
Dark Side of the Moon by Sarah Wisseman (2025) Thriller: Novel
Caucasia by Danzy Senna (1998) Literary Fiction: Novel
Pick-Up by Charles Willeford (1955) Literary Fiction: Novel
In the Best of Families (Nero Wolfe 17) by Rex Stout (1950) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Three Doors to Death (Nero Wolfe 16) by Rex Stout (1950) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jimenez (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
Open Throat by Henry Hoke (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Guest by Emma Cline (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
Biography of X by Catherine Lacey (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner (2018) Literary Fiction: Novel
I Am Not Sidney Poitier by Percival Everett (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
Witness by Jamel Brinkley (2023) Literary Fiction: Twelve Short Stories
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz (2021) Literary Fiction: Novel
Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj (2024) Literary Fiction: Connected Short Stories
Wounded by Percival Everett (2005) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Second Confession (Nero Wolfe 15) by Rex Stout (1949) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
Gost Roots by Pemi Aguda (2024) Literary Fiction: Twelve Short Stories
Trouble in Triplicate (Nero Wolfe 14) by Rex Stout (1949) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
*How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell (2020) Nonfiction: Self-Help (Not rated. “I’m not in the target market.” —CS
And Be a Villain (Nero Wolfe 13) by Rex Stout (1948) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Grey Wolfe by Louise Penny (2024) Thriller: Novel in a Series
The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett (1930) Noir Thriller: Novel
New People by Danzy Senna (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel
Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel in a Series
Too Many Women (Nero Wolfe 12) by Rex Stout (1947) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Assumption by Percival Everett (2011) Literary Fiction: Novel
So Much Blue by Percival Everett (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel
Assumption by Percival Everett (2011) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Silent Speaker (Nero Wolfe 11) by Rex Stout (1946) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Not Quite Dead Enough (Nero Wolfe 10) by Rex Stout (1942) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Catcher In the Rye by JD Salanger (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel
Telephone (version C of A-C) by Percival Everett (2020) Literary Fiction: Novel
Black Orchids (Nero Wolfe 9) by Rex Stout (1942) Mystery Fiction: Two Novellas
Where There’s a Will (Nero Wolfe 8) by Rex Stout (1940) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Over My Dead Body (Nero Wolfe 7) by Rex Stout (1940) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Some Buried Ceaser (Nero Wolfe 6) by Rex Stout (1939) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Sea Wife by Amity Gaige (2020) Literary Fiction: Novel
Too Many Cooks (Nero Wolfe 5) by Rex Stout (1938) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Red Box (Nero Wolfe 4) by Rex Stout (1937) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Trees by Percival Everett (2021) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Ways of White Folks by Langston Hughes (1934) Literary Fiction: Short Stories
The Trial (1998 Translation) by Franz Kafka (1925) Literary Fiction: Novella
Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward (2008) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed (2021) Literary Fiction: Novel
North Woods by Daniel Mason (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
And Four to Go (Nero Wolfe 30) by Rex Stout (1958) Mystery Fiction: Four Short Stories: Novel
Metamorphosis (2023 Translation) by Franz Kafka (1928) Literary Fiction: Novella