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2021 has been a banner year for great fiction. Between the reading I do for MPR News and the reading I do just for fun, I’ve read between 75 and 85 novels

this year. And I wish I could’ve crammed in more. I keep thinking about 

writer Lauren Groff confiding at Talking Volumes

But if your reading life allows for a novel a month, then I’m here with three from 2021 that I don’t want you to miss.

The first is Richard Powers’ “Bewilderment.” Powers is a marvel. He’s a Pulitzer Prize winner and ought to be shortlisted for a Nobel. He is animated by some of the deepest scientific questions of our age and gifted with the capability of creating human stories around the answers to those questions. “Bewilderment “ tackles environmental destruction and the intricacy of brain chemistry and memory. 

, in which we talked about our mutual admiration for Robin Wall Kimmerer.

My second must-not-miss novel for 2021 is “The Sentence” by Louise Erdrich. I’ll just say this: What’s not to love? A bookstore, a ghost and Louise Erdrich. 

And don’t miss my interview with Louise on my podcast.

And finally, I don’t want you to miss Viet Thanh Nguyen’s “The Committed.” In fact, I don’t want you to miss anything that Viet Thanh Nguyen writes. He’s fantastic. Now, I’m going to level with you. This is a big burly book with political crosscurrents and complex themes. Take it in small bites over a few weeks.

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Louise Erdrich's 'The Sentence' explores ghosts and grief, joy and intimacy

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Arts and Culture

The Thread® - Books and Literary News

Kerri Miller

Host

If your reading life allows for a novel a month, then Kerri Miller is here with three from 2021 that she doesn’t want you to miss.

2022 must-reads from Kerri Miller: 3 novels you don't want to miss

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