I'm truly looking forward to a trip in a couple of weeks because my calendar has been a bit full and my reading of dystopian books has slowed down significantly. However, 2024 has still been a strong reading year so far. I have jumped around in genres (to give myself a break from the totalitarian states, chosen one protagonists and bleak settings) but these are the four best dystopian books I've read so far this year.
Mainly because they all packed a serious emotional punch.
The best dystopian books
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
I was recommended Butler's work through a lovely connection on BookTok (the book side of TikTok for those not yet on the hype), and I couldn't be more glad.
The Parable of the Sower follows the story of Lauren, a young woman and her family struggling to survive in a squandered Los Angeles suburb, and outside its walls is a barren land. After suffering through traumatic events, Lauren ventures out into the wilderness, meeting friends and lovers along the way. She also has a rare ability to feel other people's pain, a detail which Butler crafts so brilliantly through her storytelling. We follow her development as she begins to form a vision of a better future and what that means for her own sense of power.
The sequel, The Parable of the Talents, is on my list and I'll endeavour to do an article about them both together. This one also has a great dystopian book cover.
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
I think my mouth is locked permanently open whenever I think about this book. Winner of the Booker Prize in 2023, Prophet Song was a slow start for me. Written in a different style to what I'm used to, it took me a while to get used to the flow of the story but once I was there, I was off.
This dystopian story is different because we follow a woman and her family as Ireland becomes a totalitarian state. So rather than landing into a world of governmental oppression that has long been established like in many dystopian books, Prophet Song shows us the pain of that process beginning. There were so many 'gasp' moments in this book, and the writing was so powerfully harrowing yet beautiful that I understand its accolades. Seriously though, not for the fainthearted. Watch this space for a deep dive article.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
This 1993 novel has been considered the first young adult dystopian novel and the catalyst for the dystopian boom in the late 2000s.
To sum it up, The Giver is set in a skewed version of the future where citizens are given Assignments at the age of twelve and bikes at the age of nine. These are just a couple of examples of how everyone is forced into a 'Sameness' in their lifestyles. We follow Jonas who is given a special Assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve - he will be the next Receiver of Memory. As a result, he meets his predecessor, The Giver (woah, that's the name of the book!) who gifts him with memories from a previous time in history (probably the life we're living now).
It's easy to read, emotionally captivating and began a new wave of literature concentrating on self-expression.
We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
Well, what a corker to finish this list of best dystopian books on. I don't, to be honest, even know where to start with We. My husband and I listened to this on Audible during one of our long road trips, and there were times, I will admit, where SparkNotes came in handy.
Said to be the inspiration for Orwell's dystopian classic, 1984, We follows the life of D-503 (note, the lack of names) who is a spacecraft engineer living in the One State - a city made entirely of glass. Very much like Orwell, Zamyatin crafts a society where desire is repressed, everything is monitored (including the days in which you can be intimate with someone - that someone being your assigned partner) and everything is scientifically managed through logic. Of course, we see D-503 become tempted through his love for a woman and that sets off a whole load of chaos until we get to the ending. Ugh, the ending. I still think about it now. But it's such a powerful statement for Zamyatin to have made at the time of writing and a bravery that's so inspiring.
If you're someone who struggles with classic literature, you might find We a slog but it's worth it if you love dystopian worlds, thought-provoking ideas and well drawn-out characters.
So, there we have it, the four best dystopian books I've read so far this year. Go on, your turn -- Which books have you loved this year? Could my own Sun of Endless Days be your next dystopian read? I know, cheeky me, hehe.
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