Political memoirs, detective stories, myths and, of course, Stephen King: the list of the most popular books of 2017 came out quite motley. How and why did many works become popular again, and what novelties turned into bestsellers in the past year? Let's try to figure it out.

Perhaps never before has a US presidential election been accompanied by such hype. Of the two evils, the best was chosen long and hard. The debate between Hillary Clinton and the enemy of the entire American intelligentsia, the walking meme of Donald Trump (who, ironically, was elected head of state) became the subject of endless jokes and numerous parodies. And, of course, after the insulting loss, Hillary publishes a book in which she explains on 512 pages (far from her first memoirs, by the way!) put her spokes in the wheel. Since its publication in September 2017, the book has immediately topped the bestseller lists on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

9. "Thirst", Yu Nesbe

The return of the best-selling author of detective stories in the world can be called triumphant. In the 11th novel of the series, detective Harry Hole, beloved by millions of readers, gets involved in another exciting and dangerous investigation, while simultaneously trying to deal with his dark past, which overtook him very inopportunely. Will Harry catch the “network” maniac who found victims on dating sites, and will this adventure be his last? With his characteristic black humor, the Norwegian answers these questions and asks new ones.

8. Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand

A dystopian novel that can turn the idea of ​​life upside down - this is how the main work of the American writer (and Russian emigrant) Ayn Rand is described. This piece of literary classic (50 years after the first publication) is consistently the best-selling book in the world and tops the bestseller list in the famous OZONE online store. After 2008, it "gained a second wind", since the economic crisis that shook the world almost a decade ago was described in frightening detail in the novel long before that. The book is required to read and comprehend (do not be afraid of the volume, it is justified).

7. Still Water by Paula Hawkins

In the wake of the popularity of the bestseller The Girls on the Train, which was successfully filmed in 2016, the English writer is releasing a new psychological thriller. A quiet provincial town plus a mystical secret is already half of the successful plot of any detective story. In addition, readers note the author's ability to create an atmosphere of "involvement", when a person feels like the hero of the book, and "simple and understandable" language. One of the top summer 2017 bestsellers

6. "Origin" by Dan Brown

The long-awaited continuation of the adventures of Professor Langdon was released in October and has already become one of the main books of the year. It's nice to see how fruitfully successful film adaptations influence the work of writers, inciting them to release a new work as soon as possible (Inferno was filmed in 2015). Dan Brown does not change himself: history, religion, science and art - everything is intertwined in the new novel. This is what fans love and what they have been waiting for.

5. Norse Gods, Neil Gaiman

If you have read Gaiman's famous American Gods (or watched the amazing series filmed in 2017 based on this series), are fond of myths, or simply love Marvel films about the god of thunder Thor, then this book, published in February 2017, will definitely not leave you indifferent .

Easily and with humor, Gaiman retells the myths of the great Scandinavian gods, mighty giants, cunning dwarfs, breathing new life into history and showing it in a completely new light. One of the most unusual books in the collection.

4. The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood

Another dystopia on our list, and another example of how film adaptation has positively impacted book sales. Atwood wrote this work back in 1985, but it gained real popularity only recently, after the release of the series based on this plot. In the wake of protests against the infringement of women's rights in the United States, caused by the sexist statements of the new President Trump, and the series, the female population of the country became interested in the literary origins of the film novel. Briefly about the plot: the heroines of Atwood have no rights in principle. They are forbidden to receive an education, own property, work, experience any emotions other than devotion to their master, from whom they are obliged to give birth to a healthy child. These women, these servants are no longer even people, but simply vessels with one “function”.

This is a scary, frank and surprisingly true story of the future that may come.

3. "A Man Called Uwe" by Frederic Backman

In 2017, This book spent more than 40 (!) weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, despite the fact that it first appeared in 2015. Interestingly, this book is the debut of Buckman, who previously wrote stories about old man Uwe on his blog. Thanks to the encouragement and support of readers, the writer decided on a printed publication, and a year later the film adaptation of the novel of the same name saw the light of day. There he is, an example of the fact that the first pancake is far from always lumpy.

Each chapter of the book is dedicated to a story about the life of a grouchy old Ove, who lives in a small town and hates the world. But as the story progresses, the reader realizes that Uwe is just a very lonely and unhappy person with a broken heart. Do not forget about the family, be kind to people, live one day - this is what this literary work teaches. A touching and life story.

2. The Dark Tower series, Stephen King

Well, here we come to the main writer of this year. Immediately two of his works were in this collection. As for The Dark Tower, fans of the cycle can hate the film adaptation with McConaughey and Elba as much as they like, but it was she who returned the books to their former popularity and attracted a new audience. Fantasy, thriller, western, science fiction - in these books everyone will find something of their own.

For 8 books (the last one was released in 2012), the last remaining gunslinger in the post-apocalyptic world, Roland, is looking for the Dark Tower, the center of all worlds, in order to restore order. He is opposed by the Man in Black (with a terrible past, like all antagonists) Randall Flagg, who aspires to become the lord of the Dark Tower.

1. It, Stephen King

And someone doubted?

Released this summer, the film adaptation of this novel is considered the best horror film of the last decade. The hype around this painting and the new image of Pennywise (brilliantly portrayed by Bill Skarsgård) is reminiscent of the situation with Harley Quinn in 2016. Not surprisingly, the most popular image of the past Halloween was the killer clown.

The book has a sequel, the main characters are grown (and survived) children from the first part. Of course, fans are looking forward to the second part of the film. Bravo, Mr. King! If there is anything stable in the world, it is the demand for your creativity.

Interesting? Save it on your wall!

The last winter month is a great time to spend it wrapped in a blanket, with a cup of hot tea and an interesting book in your hands. True, it is quite difficult to choose exactly the work that you will definitely like from all the variety offered by publishers. ELLE will help you narrow down your search to the critically acclaimed and best-selling books of 2016 and pick something you like from a list of the best.

The detective novel by Paula Hawkins has been at the top of the bestseller list for several years, so it is not surprising that in the fall of 2016, a film of the same name starring Emily Blunt was released on it. True, the presence of a film adaptation is unlikely to reduce interest in the original text, because the book itself is really written in an extremely exciting language and is read in one breath, it is not in vain that it is compared with Gillian Flynn's sensational novel Gone Girl, which, by the way, is also filmed.

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Sara Gio "Moon Trail", "Morning Glow"

Last year, two books by Sara Gio "Moon Trail" and "Morning Glory" hit the bestseller list of 2016. And this is not surprising, because the author, like no other, knows how to describe feelings and tell romantic stories that you want to believe.

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"Sinbad"

The translation of the first novel from the Neapolitan Quartet series has become almost the most anticipated in the past year. In addition to the exciting storyline that follows the coming-of-age of two friends Elena and Lilu, another intriguing storyline unfolds outside the pages of the book. The thing is that it is still not known for certain who is actually hiding under the pseudonym of Elena Ferrante. But this did not stop her from entering the list of the 100 most influential people in the world according to Time weekly in 2016.

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Listing the best-selling books of last year, one cannot fail to mention Jonathan Franzen's novel "Sinlessness". It tells the story of a girl who is in search of herself. The plot is quite textbook, but it may seem so only at first glance. The author touches upon the global problems of our time, such as the influence of Internet technologies on our lives and how the past can affect our present. By the way, many readers added another plus to the rating of this book for the excellent translation.

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Often we attach too much importance to things that are not really worth not only our nerves, but also, in principle, attention. To appreciate what is really important, the book of the practicing neurosurgeon Henry Marshall teaches.

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Despite its impressive volume and rather late release (the novel came out in the fall of 2016), A Little Life has become one of the most read books of the past year. A story about growing up, finding oneself, reassessing values ​​and everything that fills our everyday life. It is worth noting that this novel has extremely mixed reviews: some consider it the book of the decade, while others could not move beyond the 50th page. Why not form your own opinion?

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AST, Edited by Elena Shubina

Speaking about the best bestsellers of 2016, one cannot fail to mention the book by the Russian writer Evgeny Vodolazkin "The Aviator". In the center of the story is the story of a man who, waking up in a hospital, cannot remember who he is, but describes in detail the revolutionary events of 1917. The intrigue lies in the fact that in fact the main character is our contemporary. By the way, Vodolazkin's previous novel "Laurel" won the Big Book award, so it is not surprising that the writer's new work was so awaited. A pleasant addition to the publication was the cover, which was painted by a living classic, artist Mikhail Shemyakin.

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"Alpina Publisher"

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Haruki Murakami "Men Without Women"

It is difficult to imagine how many best-selling books Haruki Murakami has published. And the last book of the author "Men without women" was no exception. It includes the stories of a Japanese writer, the heroes of which are men who, for one reason or another, were abandoned by their lovers.

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In 2017, a lot of wonderful books appeared on store shelves. We decided to select 25 literary works that received a lot of positive reviews. Read and enjoy fascinating detective stories, psychological novels and biographies of great people.

1 Origin by Dan Brown

The phenomenal popularity of Dan Brown does not subside. In 2017, another novel about the misadventures of the intellectual Langdon was released.

The talented Edmond Kirsch believes that he has found facts that reveal the secret of the origin of mankind. In his opinion, this information can radically change our perception of the world and destroy religious foundations. Kirsch is about to tell the world about his discoveries, but dies at the hands of a killer, and Langdon is forced to flee in the company of a scientist and the bride of the King of Spain. The hero intends to finish Kirsch's case and tell everyone about his discovery. However, this will require hacking into Edmond's personal computer.

2. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by JK Rowling

This is the script for the film, written by Rowling herself. Frankly, the scripts are not very exciting to read - their structure resembles detailed written plays. And yet, when it comes to famous writers, fans of their talent are happy to buy this kind of literature. The script differs somewhat from the movie of the same name, as it does not contain any deleted or extended scenes.

Newt Scamander - a talented, but a little absent-minded magician (as well as the future author of the textbook, which Harry Potter himself will one day own) arrives on business in New York. When the hero mistakenly takes someone else's luggage, a series of dangerous and magical adventures begins. The fact is that there were magical creatures in Newt's suitcase. These creatures are capable of doing a lot of trouble if they are released into the wild.

3. Hungry House, David Mitchell

David Mitchell's mystical novel was marketed admirably well. However, fans of his work (fascinated by Cloud Atlas) were somewhat disappointed when they purchased a copy of the book, because the work itself begins after a dozen pages of rave reviews from eminent writers. This played a cruel joke on the book. First, the lengthy intro is annoying and makes it look like you bought a promotional booklet, not a novel. Secondly, all these odes (in the spirit of “Read a book, you will gasp, you have never read anything better in your life, it will blow your mind!”) Set you in a certain way. You subconsciously expect that you will blow your mind. But no, this is an ordinary gothic horror film, although fascinating, but not mind-blowing. In order not to spoil the impression, just skip the opening praise.

In an inconspicuous alley in London, there is a small door, through which you immediately find yourself in a luxurious garden, where (on a small hill) a rich mansion rises. Once every 7 years, completely different people cross the threshold of the house and they are no longer destined to leave its walls. What kind of evil lurks there - in the depths of the mysterious house? Where do the rare guests of his hosts go? Read the novel to the end and find out everything.

4. "Eve", William Paul Young

U.P. Young is a well-known modern writer, whose work "The Cabin" doomed him not only to success, but also to persecution. The fact is that Young loves to weave religious references into his books, which causes anger among fanatically believing people who see in Young not so much a writer as a heretic. Although he simply takes biblical stories and interprets them in his own way, without pretending to be a mission. This is fiction, not treatises of Lucifer. In the novel "Eve" (as you can easily guess from the title), the author again uses his favorite technique, intertwining the plot of the book with parables about the first woman.

Waves carry a container with a terrible cargo onto the seashore. Inside are the bodies of 11 dead women, and the twelfth - barely alive from the hardships endured - unable to remember what happened. A miraculous salvation may not be a blessing at all, but an even greater nightmare.

5. “Put a Pair!” by Terry Pratchett

Terry Pratchett is a brilliant writer who has created his own literary universe. "Give me a couple!" became the fortieth book in the Discworld cycle and one of Terry's last creations, published in the original in 2013 (two years before the author's death). It took Russian-language publishers four whole years to translate and release the work that Pratchett's fans were looking forward to. Among the main characters was the roguish Moist von Lipwig (familiar to fans from the books Postal Service and Make Money).

The people of Ankh-Morpork are shocked by Dick Simnel's cutting-edge invention. Although Dick is only self-taught, this amateur engineer has managed to create an amazing vehicle that boggles the imagination. Dick invented... the steam locomotive! This innovation immediately became interested in Harry the King - one of the richest businessmen of Ankh-Morpork.

6. Still Water by Paula Hawkins

In small towns, crime rarely occurs, and even more so, serial murders occur less frequently. In such places, people know each other as flaky, and therefore it is not easy for a killer to hide under the mask of an exemplary citizen. Paula Hawkins (like many writers before her) decided to show what dark secrets can be hidden by nice-looking neighbors.

Jules is horrified to learn that her sister (Nel) has taken her own life. The woman returns to her native disgusting city, in which the tragedy occurred. However, over time, a tangle of monstrous secrets begins to unravel in front of her, and Jules realizes that Nel was not going to commit suicide. The sister was killed by drowning in the infamous backwater. The perpetrator, it seems, is not the first time takes the lives of women. Why did the unfortunate victims not please him and how to find the bastard?

7. "Dear Mr. M.", Herman Koch

Hermann Koch is excellent at writing all sorts of intrigues. Evidence of this was his previous novel "Dinner", based on which the film of the same name was released not so long ago. In his last book (“Dear Mr. M.”), Koch again captivates the reader with intricate secrets and complex relationships between the characters.

The action-packed novel tells about the writer - Mr. M. A few years ago he published a book that became a bestseller. It described the story of a teacher who went missing after an affair with a student. Years later, almost everyone forgot about the writer, except for his strange neighbor. The man keeps his eyes on Mr. M. and seems to be plotting evil. How does his behavior relate to the popular book? And what really happened to the missing teacher?

8. Ideal, Cecilia Ahern

Cecilia Ahern's "Stigma", which marked the beginning of the cycle of the same name, became a bestseller with lightning speed, charming teenagers from different countries. "Ideal" is a continuation of a story already familiar to us, in which the main character will face new hardships.

Celestina Norton was absolutely happy. She studied well and met with a rich handsome man. Celestina had a wonderful family, except for the sweetheart younger sister, always striving to blurt out some kind of barb about the foundations of an ideal society. However, it can be understood, because a fairy-tale life is not always beautiful. In a world where you have to look like a needle and be successful, there are some terrible rules. And Norton broke one of them by becoming Branded. The life of the heroine has changed dramatically since the day when she extended a helping hand to an outcast and ended up on the court of the Tribunal. Despite all the horrors of the current situation, Celestina managed to find new friends and new love. But are we ready to be content with little, if there is a chance to return to our former carefree life? The girl will have a difficult choice - to remain true to her current honest friends, or to betray them and ask her enemies for mercy?

9. "Thirst", Yu Nesbe

Jo Nesbe is a Norwegian writer, best known for his cycle of works about the adventures of the detective Harry Hole. His hero is unusually smart (of course) and no less cynical. To be frank, nihilists have already become boring to many, causing longing for kind and sympathetic detectives (like Miss Marple knitting scarves for her nephews). However, the fashion for cynicism has not yet passed, and therefore Harry Hole is very popular among fans of detective stories. Thanks to the film adaptation of The Snowman (starring Michael Fassbender), interest in Nesbe's work has increased even more. "Thirst" became the eleventh book in the cycle and promises to be far from the last.

Harry returns to his duties in the police of the city of Oslo. His goal is to find a bloodthirsty maniac who hunted clients of dating sites. It seems that the monstrous crimes are mysteriously connected with the events of the tragic life of Hole himself.

10. "The Story of Loneliness" by John Boyne

John Boyne is well known to lovers of serious literature, thanks to the novel The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. In A History of Solitude, Boyne touches on a sensitive topic related to religion.

The main character of the book is Odran, a priest from Ireland. A man is forced to face the horrific truth revealed in the 2000s during an infamous sex scandal. At that time, it turned out that some Catholic priests had sexually abused little boys. These events dealt a blow to all representatives of the church, regardless of their involvement or non-participation in the vile deeds of perverted dignitaries. Odran will also have to face the consequences of a scandal that could break the faith of not only the flock, but also her shepherd.

11 Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Fantastic dystopia Mandel touches upon the eternal questions of mankind. Who are we? What is the essence of our existence? In the spirit of the Strugatsky brothers' novel The Predatory Things of the Century, Emily describes the importance of convenience in our lives. And although the plot of the two books is radically opposite, the conclusion is the same - we are too attached to comfort, too fixated on base instincts.

A completely new disease suddenly appears in the world, which overnight destroys most of the world's population. The survivors are forced to face unexpected hardships. The heroes, having lost their familiar modern world with all its charms, live as if at the dawn of time. With longing they remember the days when electricity, transport and the Internet were an integral part of existence. Now they need to adapt to new conditions, preserving the memory not only of the conveniences of the former world, but also of its cultural heritage.

12. "Here I am" by Jonathan Safran Foer

After the success of Outrageously Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Foer was destined for a brilliant career in the literary field. However, problems in his personal life forced the writer to postpone work on the next book. After a painful divorce from his wife, Feuer finally published the novel Here I am. This work, although not a memoir, became very personal for Foer, reflecting his experiences. “Here I am” is literature for adults, since only those who have experienced similar things can understand what is described.

13. Girls, Emma Kline

Emma's debut novel brought her a tidy sum long before it was published. As soon as Kline told the publishers exactly what she wanted to write the book about, they gave her a hefty advance. The fact is that the plot of the work is connected with the activities of the scandalous sect of Charles Manson. However, we hasten to disappoint those who are interested in the biographies of famous criminals - this is not a documentary work, but rather a book about teenagers and for teenagers. Although Kline's novel was advertised almost as a sensational disclosure of the secrets of the sect, in fact it is just a discussion about the problems of growing up.

Evie is only 14 years old and, like other teenagers, she is in a hurry to learn the forbidden charms of adulthood. By the will of fate, the girl ends up on a ranch, where the commune of Manson is located. There, Evie enjoys an unbridled perpetual holiday of permissiveness. However, her delight comes to an end when the sect leader gives his henchmen a frightening order. Evie begins to learn from bitter experience that the holidays do not last forever and that pleasures come at a high price.

14. The Everyday Logic of Happiness, Gabriel Zevin

There are moments in life when the whole world is against you - troubles follow one after another, not giving you the opportunity to rest. And then you want to run away from everyone, hide somewhere behind seven castles, looking for protection from the blows of fate. Familiar? If not, then you are the lucky ones. For those who can barely cope under the yoke of problems, The Everyday Logic of Happiness is recommended as a cure for sadness. This book teaches you to love life again and to notice in the world not only the bad, but also the pure, the good, the bright.

AJ Fikri had to endure a lot: first, his beloved wife died, then his bookshop began to decline. The last straw was the theft of a valuable edition of Poe. Fikri was going to sell an expensive book to make a living. This misfortune finally forced the poor fellow to become a recluse. So he would have lived unsociable, if one day he had not seen a little guest in his deserted store.

15. Where Happiness Lives by Jojo Moyes

Without the works of Jojo Moyes, in recent years, not a single bestseller list can do. And although Where Happiness Lives did not sell the same fabulous circulation as Moyes's previous works, it found a lot of fans.

Susanna worries about her difficult relationship with her father, stepmother, and boyfriend. Driven to the limit by endless squabbles, the woman leaves for another city. In a new place, she manages to open a cozy shop where she treats visitors to excellent coffee. The move gave Susanna not only the coveted opportunity to be in silence and be herself, but also wonderful friends. Adapting to a new life, the heroine gradually discovers the secrets of her origin.

Published worldwide annually. And 2017 was also incredibly rich in book novelties. It’s just that it’s unlikely that they will be able to devote time to all of them. We have studied the top sellers of Belarusian online bookstores and compiled a list for you “ most popular books.

Paula Hawkins "In Still Water"

This is the second novel Pauly Hawkins in a row, which becomes a world bestseller. Her The Girl on the Train became a worldwide phenomenon, spending 20 weeks at number one in the UK's best-selling book rankings.

The author characterizes his new novel as psychological thriller about "difficult" women. The main character Jules arrives in the provincial town of Bedford to pick up her niece, orphaned after her mother's suicide. And the more Jules tries to understand the circumstances of her sister's death, the less he believes in her suicide. Indeed, in this story, the mystical Deadly Pool appears, in the waters of which many women died. The price can be found.

Viktor Pelevin “iPhuck 10”

The action of the new novel by one of the most famous Russian writers of our time takes place at the end of the 21st century. The main character is a literary-police algorithm Porfiry Petrovich. He investigates crimes and writes detective novels about them in his spare time. The usual way of his existence changes when Porfiry Petrovich is rented out to the art historian Marukh Cho.

iPhuck 10- rather non-fiction: a collection of essays united by the main characters. Pelevin talks about the difference between artificial and natural intelligence, about gender and sexuality, about contemporary art. And his philosophical fabrications do not go unnoticed: critics have already called "iPhuck 10" the author's best text in recent years.

Elchin Safarli “When I return, be at home”

The new book of the famous oriental writer Elfin Safarli is a reflection on love and death, on the simple joys of life and the severity of losses. These are letters that an elderly single father writes to his lost daughter in the hope that someday they will certainly get to her. In letters, he tells her stories from his past, comfortably describes his daily life, gives important advice, shares parental wisdom and even the smell of the ocean. You can buy the book.

Marta Chernova and Maria Cheryakova “Brave girl”

A new book from the creators of the Belarusian project “Geta, zetka”. In 2015, the girls have already released one bestseller - a book of the same name, about how foreigners see Belarus.

"Brave Dzyachynka" is a children's fairy tale with original illustrations. Its plot is based on the Belarusian folk tale « Not strength, but courage», redesigned to be close to modern children. Like the first book of girls, the story " Dare dzyachynki" is told in two languages: Belarusian and English.

Lee Bardugo "Six of Crows"

Six of Crows was written in 2015, but only received an official translation this year. And of course, the loudest novelty in the young adult segment could not help but become a bestseller.

AT Catterdam- the main secret international black market - young criminal genius Kaz assembles a team of six people who are completely different from each other. Together they will have to carry out the kidnapping of the century, which will make the heroes rich if successful. Of course, if they finish the job before they kill each other. The book is on sale.

Yael Adler “What hides the skin. 2 square meters that dictate how we live"

The main popular science book of this year is devoted to the largest part of the human body - the skin. If you are looking for cosmetic recipes, then pass by, if you want to understand what skin consists of and what skin is for, then you are here. The book was written by a dermatologist.

Katherine Banner "House at the End of the Night"

At the very beginning of the 20th century, the island Castellamar off the coast of Italy, where residents know each other by name, a doctor arrives Amadeo Esposito. He buys an abandoned bar called The House at the End of the Night and reopens it. The reader will spend almost a century in this place, living through all the dramas, trials, love vicissitudes and life stories of four generations of the Esposito family. “The House at the End of the Night” is a wonderful family saga that combines the facts of the history of the 20th century with the legends of the island, which will delight all fans of atmospheric stories. How much does a book cost?

Max Frei "Give me my heart"

The sixth book in the Dreaming Echo series tells of new adventures Sir Max who got into the world of his dreams, dreams, magic and decided to stay there forever. And the new story begins very simply: caring friends lock the protagonist in prison so that he can finally get enough sleep. And while Sir Max is resting, a wizard appears in his world who knows a special spell that can be performed only by giving someone his heart. The hero of the book is ready to introduce the reader to this spell, as well as give instructions on how to deal with other people's hearts. Price.

Mark Manson “The Subtle Art of Giving a Fuck. A paradoxical way to live happily”

No bestseller list is complete without a self-development book, and ours has one. Popular blogger Mark Manson opposed the ubiquitous cult of success and positive. The author's recipe for a happy life is healthy indifference, and the way to achieve it is an analysis of one's own and others' life failures. This book, in a witty manner, will tell you how to master the art of not giving a fuck, why you need to be a little less confident in yourself and why “Do something” is an example of the right motivation.

Stephenie Meyer "The Chemist"

The official translation of the detective novel "Chemist" from the author of the famous vampire saga became the bestseller as soon as it reached the warehouses of online stores. The main character, nicknamed the Chemist, is working on a scientific project for the American intelligence agencies. At one point, the employers realize that the Chemist knows too much and decide to eliminate her, but the girl is not ready to give up so easily. You can buy the book.

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The first month of the new year is marked by new releases, so if you're looking for something special, take a look at our list of books to read. From 2016 bestsellers to high-profile books that have shaped a wide range of perspectives, you'll find here. So, we plunge into the world of reading - mysterious, fantastic and life-affirming.

Last year you could already see on the site " Educational Tourism". Many works received a lot of responses and took a certain place in the life of each of us. But if you haven't paid attention to novelties of literature in 2016, you have the opportunity to get acquainted with them today.

Movie Night by Marisha Pessl

An ambiguous novel by Marisha Pessl, which caused a flurry of various emotions. The plot revolves around the murder of a young pianist whose father is a famous director. He has not appeared in public for many years, and his films are shown only at private screenings. The police unanimously insist that the pianist committed suicide, but the journalist McGrath is sure that all deaths in the Cordoba dynasty are not accidental. The journalist literally loses everything, the only thing left is his mind, which he can also lose. The book is originally designed and equipped with inserts with an investigation, a dossier on the main character, and newspaper clippings. And if you're still wondering what to read in 2017, this book is sure to be on your list of the best.

From January 2018 to the end of February 50% discount on books on LitRes.

Lake House Kate Morton

The novel describes the events of 1933, when a small child goes missing under mysterious circumstances. The book is a mixture of genres: there is a family saga and a novel that describes the life of three generations of the Edeweyn family. Loennet Manor, located in the forest next to the lake, is the perfect place for the origin of mysterious events. Many years later, Detective Sadie Sparrow, who spends her holidays in Cornwall, takes on the investigation of the missing child. How does the novel end, is the secret of the missing child revealed and how does the aged Alice, the sister of the missing brother, feel about this, as well as about love, betrayal, friendship and betrayal, you will learn from this book. If you want to find the most read books of 2016, then this novel will be one of them.

"Ove's Second Life" Fredrik Buckman

If you did not have time to get acquainted with the most popular books of 2016, this novel will certainly fall into the novelties of literature in 2017.

The book is about a man with an unbearable character who is trying to teach everyone to live fairly. It seems that he constantly grumbles and hates everyone around, but in reality he turns out to be a person who is ready to help. There is absolutely no sweetness and words about high matters in the book, morality is not discussed, but the novel only benefits from this. The book is worth reading for those who have faced problems, lost themselves, whose life has come to a standstill, who are successful and vice versa, are just looking for their niche. A story about an old man and a cat that makes you feel and empathize.

« Interlinear. The life of Lilianna Lungina, told by her in the film by Oleg Dorman "Oleg Dorman

The book is about the famous master of literary translation Liliana Lungina, thanks to whom we got to know The Kid and Carlson, as well as the novels by Strindberg and Simenon. The life of a woman was full of wanderings, and at the age of thirteen she returned to the USSR. Reading a book, we willy-nilly become a witness to a private conversation and interlocutor. First of all, readers will learn Liliana's personal opinion about life in the Soviet Union, the fate of people of several generations, the fears and horrors of their own fate, as well as friends. A book-monologue, a book-confession filled with one's own perception of what is happening.

If you point to the novelties of 2016-2017 books that you need to read, then this novel will definitely take its rightful place.

The book tells about a British guy whose life was divided into before and after a meteorite hit him. After the boy is miraculously pumped out of the hospital, we get to know his life, which is full of events: building relationships with classmates, meeting his mother, who reads tarot cards, with an eccentric girlfriend who thinks Alex Woods is crazy and, of course, with an old man, in the house to which Alex gets completely by chance. The grouchy old man enjoys reading books by Kurt Vonnegut, smoking marijuana grown for himself, and periodically writing letters to wrongly accused prisoners. It is the acquaintance with the old man that becomes the starting point of the story, as a result of which Alex was detained by the police in the port of Dover. But what exactly happened to the hero, and how the story ended, you can learn from this book.

Patti Smith is an American rock singer and poet, girlfriend and favorite model of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. In the book, she paints an accurate and deeply personal portrait of the era of the 60s. A book about the life, love, creativity and adventures of a hungry New York demigod. A book about the life of creative people, thanks to whom you want to live, create and express yourself. Despite poverty and difficult living conditions, these people did not elevate themselves to a cult, but lived in order to be happy.

At the end of the 18th century, a young Dutchman, Jacob de Zoet, arrives in the Dutch colony in Japan. He wants to earn money in order to marry his beloved Anna, whose father does not agree to marry his daughter to a poor man. But the hero does not even realize that he will have to spend almost his entire life in Japan, where he will meet and lose his new love. The book is about the clash of East and West, the clash of sciences, religions and interests.

Peter Hoeg writes tenaciously and leaves few people indifferent. A lot of fans of his work tremble with stormy applause after the release of each book. This happened in the case of "The Woman and the Monkey". At the beginning of the book, each of us, most likely, recognizes herself - self-sufficient, well-groomed, loving herself and periodically falling into extremes. In place of the protagonist is none other than a monkey. How the story of the relationship between the heroine and the monkey develops, how nature and man are revealed, and why it is possible to change a luxurious life for existence - you will learn about all this and much more from this book.

The novel "Flowers in the Attic" tells the story of the Dollangenger family - a married couple who have four magnificent children. Suddenly, her father gets into a car accident, and the only thing left for the heroine to do is to take the children and return to her parents, who expelled her many years ago. In order to improve relations with her father, the heroine has to go to great lengths, but the biggest problem is the children, about which no one should know. Children are located on the top floor of a huge parental house and are waiting for when they can leave it. However, time stretches endlessly, and the decision comes by itself ...

This novel will certainly be included in the book novelties of 2017, if you have not read it before.

The most sincere book about unreal heroes, telling about love, betrayal and war. A beautiful love story that flows smoothly into a family drama. Diego, Gemma's husband, really wants children, but his wife cannot have them. On this basis, scandals flare up, and the problem turns the life of the heroine into a living hell. After a phone call, Gemma rushes to Sarajevo, where she will again feel the full weight of the past through which she went. The fates of the heroes are described in such detail that it seems as if we have known them for half a century. Loving Diego, having the warmest feelings for his wife in spite of all problems, and sometimes selfish Gemma, tormenting herself and those around her with her problem. A book about war and love - real, not nauseating, not invented, but the most realistic, touching to the core.

The famous novel was based on the story of the inhabitants of seven Armenian villages, who refused to obey the order of the Ottoman authorities to deport and held the defense against the police forces and the Turkish army on Mount Musa Dagh. The book is heavy, because with every dying Armenian you understand how the heart is torn apart from pain. And if this book becomes the first in which you read about the destruction of the Armenians by the Turks, then I will join your number. The book is written with amazing love for the ancient people, but is saturated with pain, fear, sympathy and pride.

An autobiographical novel by Jeannette Walls about the difficult life of children with parents, relationships and family values, as well as traumas that, like a ghost, haunt the already grown-up heroine. Father and mother give the impression of people with oddities, sometimes it seems that they do not like children at all, but the children, on the contrary, in spite of everything, remain kind and sympathetic. Numerous terrible situations that happen to children are proof that children are left to the mercy of fate and their task is to survive. The book became an instant hit and stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for 250 weeks.

"A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking

Fascinating and accessible, the famous English physicist Stephen Hawking tells us about the nature of space and time, the origin of the Universe and its possible fate.
The author is incredibly passionate about everything that happens around, which is why he explains how the world works and who people are. In general, this book is about physics, but in practice there is only one formula, which the author himself describes with humor. And if you want to know everything about the microworld and cosmology, then this book will be your greatest discovery. It is difficult to digest everything written in places, but the author allows, under his strict guidance, to know what a spaceship is and how the Universe works. No matter what, physics can be incredibly exciting.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Way Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

The events of the book unfold around the Threadgood family, as well as a small cafe "Way Stop". The plot tells the story of two women, one of whom tells about the founders of the cafe. There are quite a lot of acting characters in the book, but this book does not confuse the reader, but keeps him in suspense. The author touches on the topic of racial discrimination, racism, marital relations, same-sex love, disability. All this is richly seasoned with sadness, joy, hypocrisy, hatred, sincerity and love. The very same heroine, on whose behalf the story is going on, at 86 years old, remained an amazingly kind person, able to bestow light on everything around. There is only one conclusion: you can enjoy life here and now, do not wait for tomorrow or look back at yesterday, you can enjoy cooking, reading books, walking in the fresh air, but not making yourself a hostage to the situation.

Rumo, or Wonders in the Dark by Walter Moers

A book about the adventures of Rumo, who has to fight against many dangers - terrible cyclops and bloodmeats. Having lost his beloved, Rumo goes in search of her to the underworld, which is filled with mysticism. Will the hero find the silver thread, the smell of which he smelled with his eyes closed, and will he meet his beloved? What difficulties will he have to go through? You will learn about all this from the book. Be careful, it has a lot of bloody scenes.

Only the twenty-seventh publishing house agreed to publish the manuscript at the expense of the author in a small edition. However, a year later, the circulation was increased to 5 million. In the book, Paul Young sets out his own views on God and the story of his inner healing, which he experienced in his mature years. First of all, "The Hut" is a spectrum of deep thoughts, as well as a picture of the world order, in which God is the creator of everything that happens. The book is suitable for those who are looking for answers to life's questions and do not understand how the nature of things works. The family camping trip ended in tragedy: Mac's youngest daughter disappeared. Soon, in the Oregon wilderness, in an abandoned hut, evidence of her probable death at the hands of a maniac was found. Four years later, the father of the murdered daughter receives a letter, allegedly written by God, who advises him to visit that very shack. As a result, Mac decides to go on a journey, where he has to track down the killer.

Before us is a science fiction novel by the American writer Alfred Bester, written by the author in 1952. The action takes place in the distant future, at this time people have already colonized absolutely all the planets of the solar system, and many inhabitants of the planets have telepathic abilities and can read not only thoughts, but also get into the very soul. Ben Rich, the leader of a leading financial company, constantly sees a man without a face in his nightmares and associates this with the struggle of competitors. Rich decides to kill the opponent, finding no other way out of the situation. He carefully plans the assassination, seeking help from a charming girl and an esper who was kicked out of the union. The murder takes place on Earth, witnessed by Courtenay's daughter. Whether the killer is found, and how the fantasy novel ends, you will find out by reading the book.

Terry Goodkind's cycle about Richard Cypher - the seeker of truth. One of the greatest fantasy sagas in the history of the genre, which formed the basis of the TV series Legend of the Seeker. A book in which much seems fictional and much is similar to the real thing. The banal plot instantly twists and sends the reader into a world where he will have to go through bloody massacres, revenge and retribution together with the main character, meet murders and rage, defeat the villains. The book is original to the extreme, but perhaps this is exactly what many lack in modern literature.

Humanity has successfully colonized the solar system, while Luni and Mars, as well as the Asteroid Belt are already inhabited, but each star is fraught with a lot of dangers. While transporting ice from Saturn's rings to the Asteroid Belt stations, the heroes pick up a distress call from the Scopuli ship. Once in place, the crew does not find a single living soul, and the rescue operation takes place like a race to the bottom. As a result, the surviving crew members and Captain James Holden witness a deadly secret. At another station in the Asteroid Belt, the detective is looking for the missing village, as a result of which he comes to James Holden. Later, the disappearance of Julie Mao becomes the key to solving the crime, but the customers can safely start a war between Earth and Mars.

A book about freedom that may be fictional: being inside the same room all his life, a five-year-old boy draws information from books and TV, and his mother became a hostage of the man who forced her to live like that. The story is told from the perspective of a five-year-old child who, growing up, is trying to find a way out of the room and understand what is outside.

In the process of reading, a lot of surprising things await you: you will get to know the main characters of the book - rabbits, who, under the leadership of Orekh and Pyatik, left their hometown and went on an adventure. Little heroes constantly get into trouble, but they are saved by fast paws. The book will appeal to all age groups. The author shows the harsh life of animals in the forest, and readers step by step follow them literally on their heels. By the way, rabbits also have their own language called "lapin".

“Mind on fire. My Madness Month by Suzanne Cachalan

Suzanne Calahan knows her own illness better than anyone. She extracted from her memory all the memories of the disease, talked with the attending doctors, communicated with relatives and people close to her. She read the medical reports and watched all the video reports from her room to understand how she once went insane. The book will be useful not only for psychologists, but also for those who are faced with periodic mood swings and aggression. The author has recovered from the disease. It is surprising that even today we do not know all the secrets of how our own brain works.

This book is dedicated to the study of intelligence, based on the concept of the famous psychologist Carol Dweck, who conducted research for 20 years. The author gives examples of fixed and flexible consciousness, pointing out that in the first case, all the evidence comes down to asserting one's own talent, while in the second case, people effectively work on themselves, starting from the starting point. The book is suitable for parents and teachers, coaches, as well as all those whose work is aimed at developing personal growth.

This book is about stress and dealing with it. We all know what phobias or depression are, but little is known about how to find ways to deal with them. The author is looking for an answer to questions about how to deal with fears, insomnia and panic attacks, touches on the topic of the effectiveness and inefficiency of using antidepressants and tranquilizers. The book is based on the mistakes and achievements of neuroscience and biochemistry, psychiatry and psychotherapy, and the book itself presents a gripping story of man's struggle for himself.

The book is about unusual people who perceive everything differently than many of us. The book is of interest rather for a narrow circle of readers. The heroes of the work have lost something - judgment, time, or the feeling of their own body. They are patients with different diagnoses, suffering from aphasia and agnosia, Tourette's syndrome. The book is written in simple language about the complex, and deals with the variability and oddities of human perception.

And finally, interesting books of 2016 from which it is difficult to break away:

Modern literature is gradually moving to the Internet, as it is in electronic form that books are most popular today.

Olga, thank you for such a detailed review! But, I hope you still liked at least something from the list? Modern literature is very different, so it's quite difficult to please everyone. And why do it? If the book is catchy, people read it; if not, they look for the one they like.