The Novels shelf is relatively heterogeneous. I have books in French and in English, recent and quite old (i.e. the author died two centuries ago), covering different kind of fictions, from science to history. By the way I’m not sure if poetry would fit into this shelf, as some books of poems read like a novel, with a special poetic style. I have some favorite writers, from whom I read several books, and some classics that I read at school but still like to see on the shelf.
One of my favorite novels is Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts. Maybe because it’s at the border between fiction and reality, maybe because it takes place in the vibrant city of Mumbai.
In 2020 I’ve read Lake Success, by Gary Shteyngart. It’s a well-narrated story mixing a personal relationship (couple getting divorced), raising an autistic kid, the social and racial mix if the US, the absurdity of capitalism, and the rise of Trump. I like this kind of book where you’re still wondering after you’ve finished it, you’d like to read a bit longer, and you feel like you’ve experienced and learnt something.
Some books are really good at disclosing a specific environment. For example 99 francs by Frédéric Beigbeder tells the story of advertising agencies and their clients in a way that reminds me of my own experience. Stealing people’s attention became an art and a science with advertising.
One of my favorite writers is Jean-Christophe Ruffin. He’s a doctor (Médecin sans Frontières), a diplomat, and a historian among other things. I’ve read several of his books: L’Abyssin, Sauver Ispahan, Asmara et les causes perdues, Rouge Brésil, Globalia and Katiba. His books are page-turners that make me travel in space and time without moving.
Some novels and writers explore the links between my shelf, for example Angels and demons by Dan Brown, which featured antimatter and the CERN, and relates to the Universe shelf.