top books

not all of the winners were published in the listed year, because the committee reserves the right to disregard the linear nature of time. they're also listed alphabetically by title, because ranking things is not my thing.

	Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence by R.F. Kuang	this book creates a world that is both lush and brutal, and it broke my heart. it also offers a fantastic look into the way language and colonialism shape our world.
this book captures the feel of early Stephen King novels in the best possible way.	A Child Alone with Strangers by Philip Fracassi
	The Facemaker by Lindsey Fitzharris	a fascinating deep dive into a period of history that i wasn't familiar with.
this is a great text to start learning about the history of the labor movement in the United States.	Fight Like Hell by Kim Kelly
	Missing From the Village by Justin Ling	unwinds the case of a serial killer that everyone with power ignored.
beautiful and sad. it also reinforced my deep mistrust of the ocean.	Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
	Red X by David Demchuk	a truly scary book that pairs well with the Missing From the Village.
a book that is equal parts infuriating and heartbreaking. also, Alex Jones and all his apologists can eat shit.	Sandy Hook by Elizabeth Williamson
	Scoundrel by Sarah Weinman	another exemplary piece of crime writing from Weinman.
one of the most gorgeously fucked up books i've ever read.	Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca