Good books take readers on journeys in their minds. The announcement of this year’s US National Book Awards finalists has highlighted a number of modern literary gems.
一本好的书能带领读者徜徉心灵的海洋。今年美国国家图书奖的入围书目无疑是现代文学的瑰宝。
The books tackle a range of topics, from science to friendship to culture. Here are some standouts to add to your reading list.
图书涵盖了各种主题，从科学、友谊到文化。下面为各位推荐其中几本好书。
Between the World and Me
《世界和我之间》
by Ta-Nehisi Coates
作者：塔那西斯科茨
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau
出版商：兰登书屋
Ta-Nehisi Coates, a correspondent for The Atlantic, explains what it means to be an African-American in the US in his latest book Between the World and Me.
塔那西斯科茨是《大西洋月刊》的记者，他在新作《世界和我之间》中探讨了在美国当一名非洲裔美国人意味着什么。
Drawing from the style of James Baldwin’s 1963 book The Fire Next Time, Coates addresses the rampant racism in the US. Interestingly, the book is written in the form of an open letter to Coates’ 14-year-old son Samori. Through its pages, Coates hopes to prepare Samori for the challenges that young African-Americans face on the street and even in school.
从詹姆斯贠德温1963年的著作《下一次将是烈火》中寻得灵感，科茨提出了美国肆虐的种族主义问题。有趣的是，这本书作者是以给他14岁儿子萨莫里的公开信的形式写成。通过该书，科茨希望萨莫里做好准备，迎接一个非洲裔美国人在马路上甚至学校里将会面临的挑战。
Coates shares his tough childhood in West Baltimore and his inspiring college life at Howard University. He also depicts prominent incidents of social injustice in the US.
科茨分享了他在西巴尔的摩的艰苦童年，以及他在霍华德大学度过的鼓舞人心的大学生活。他还描绘了反应美国社会不公平的典型事件。
What makes this book stand out is Coates’ great writing. “The language of Between the World and Me, like Coates’ journey, is visceral, eloquent, and beautifully redemptive,” US Nobel Prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison commented.
这本书最出彩的地方还是科茨卓越的写作技巧。美国诺贝尔文学奖得主托妮莫里森评价说：“《世界和我之间》的语言读起来就像是在看科茨的个人历险，它感人至深，生动形象，完美地引人反思。”