Gilbert Cruz

However, I sit next to you and I know that particularly when it comes to nonfiction, although you're one of the most well-read people I know, the sort of the range that you possess is absolutely insane.

What are the type of things that you go to, you know, when you don't have to read a ton for work?

Oh, do not say that to Jumana, by the way.

She loves a book about a mom.

Yeah.

I don't know why.

All right.

Well, I think that is a great transition into what we're here to talk about, which is some of the best books of the year.

We, as a group, over the course of a year, read hundreds and hundreds of hundreds of books.

And at the New York Times Book Review, somehow we distill that down to 100 books, which we call our 100 notable books.

The two of you, in addition to many of our other editors, are involved in this process.

You are reading a lot of these books.

Before we get into...

incredibly specific category recommendations, which we're going to do in the second part of this conversation.

I would love for the two of you to reflect on the things that you loved from this year most, because we read so many.

So that's The Colony by Annika Norlin.

And that's one of the books on our hundred best books of the year list.

And we're going to put all of these titles in the show notes so you can take a look later.

Jumana, you mentioned that you love translated literature.

Why?