Ali Smith

 

How to Be Both

This novel, which tells the loosely interconnected stories of a contemporary British teen and a Renaissance-era painter, investigates what it means to be “both” in so many ways. The most unique and gratifying thing about this book is that it was published in two formats: one with the teen’s story first and the other with the painter’s story first, so you’ll have a different reading experience depending on which version you pick up. Perhaps, depending on the version you read,  you’ll gain a unique understanding of “both.” In either case, both versions are well worth reading.

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Seasonal Quartet (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer)

Four experimental novels belong to this “quartet.” The four books, involving fragmented scenes from various characters’ lives, tell one main story about major issues of our time: climate change, human rights and migration, technology, and consumerism. Their tone is dreamy, and the narratives are wandering, yet the novels are sharp, philosophical, and linguistically playful, making pointed statements about contemporary society in the UK.