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Why it matters
This selection preserves a named editorial recommendation alongside jury-selected books, making agreements and differences between institutions visible.
2021 selection · Poetry
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life by George Saunders appears in NPR’s 2021 Books We Love guide. NPR’s editors categorized the recommendation around nonfiction, short stories, essays & poetry, seriously great writing, placing it within the year’s broader reading conversation.
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You want an NPR-recommended nonfiction, short stories, essays & poetry, seriously great writing title from 2021.
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From the same conversation
A Thousand Times You Lose Your Treasure
- NPR Books We Love
A Thousand Times You Lose Your Treasure by Hoa Nguyen appears in NPR’s 2021 Books We Love guide. NPR’s editors categorized the recommendation around short stories, essays & poetry, staff picks, family matters, placing it within the year’s broader reading conversation.
Having And Being Had
- NPR Books We Love
Having And Being Had by Eula Biss appears in NPR’s 2020 Books We Love guide. NPR’s editors categorized the recommendation around staff picks, nonfiction, short stories, essays & poetry, placing it within the year’s broader reading conversation.
We're Alone: Essays
- NPR Books We Love
We're Alone: Essays by Edwidge Danticat appears in NPR’s 2024 Books We Love guide. NPR’s editors categorized the recommendation around nonfiction, short stories, essays & poetry, staff picks, placing it within the year’s broader reading conversation.