Auraist: picking the best-written books

Auraist: picking the best-written books

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Booker Prize winner Samantha Harvey writes for Auraist on prose style: 'All writers walk around in a huff thinking their work deserves more…
Plus our final pick from the recent releases in nonfiction
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Picking the best-written books
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‘The real choice is between being interestingly musical and boringly musical’: Francis Spufford on prose style
Plus more of the best-written nonfiction of the month ^ And Parts 10 to 14 of The Demon Inside David Lynch
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Picking the best-written books
5
The Demon Inside David Lynch: TV Drama's Worst Fiasco
Phew 1 ^ Ella-Laura ^ Juegos Sexuales ^ All Ready for the Big Night ^ The Contempt-Filled History of Twin Peaks
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Sean McNulty
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Auraist's best-written books of the century to date
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The best-written science book of the century
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'Having a bad sentence in front of her makes her “ill”
 • Laura van den Berg
Speculative & literary fiction: October's best-written recent releases
 • Sean McNulty
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The best-written imaginative novel of the year
 • Sean McNulty
5
October's best-written recent releases in literary fiction II
 • Sean McNulty
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Join 40K+ Substackers for our picks of the most beautifully written books from US and UK prize shortlists and major reviews, and masterclasses by their authors on prose style.

The Demon Inside David Lynch

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The Demon Inside David Lynch: TV Drama's Worst Fiasco
Phew 1 ^ Ella-Laura ^ Juegos Sexuales ^ All Ready for the Big Night ^ The Contempt-Filled History of Twin Peaks
 • 
Sean McNulty
The Demon Inside David Lynch: TV Drama's Worst Fiasco 2
Something of an Anti-Climax ^ The Absolute Rock Bottom ^ The Descent into Hell
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Picking the best-written books
The Demon Inside David Lynch: TV Drama's Worst Fiasco 3
Comic-Turn Green Glove Versus Pantomime-Pinballing-Blob BOB ^ The One ^ The Erasures ^ The Prank
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Picking the best-written books
The Demon Inside David Lynch: TV Drama's Worst Fiasco 4
Abasement and Contempt ^ Research Chemicals ^ Rampant Cheesiness ^ A Festival of Fetishes ^ Unyoung Nathan Barleys ^ Mike Pences with Greying Waxed…
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Picking the best-written books
The Demon Inside David Lynch: TV Drama's Worst Fiasco 5
Phew 2 ^ The Manage Mother’s Poison Explanation ^ + Stretched Finnegans Wake Allusions + Stretched Kalki Allusion + Stretched I Ching Allusion and the…
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Picking the best-written books

Prizelists

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June's literary prizes: the best-written books on the shortlists
Three new picks. Plus authors tell us why prose style matters.
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Picking the best-written books
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Picking the best-written books
The Women's Prize for Fiction 2025: The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji is the best-written book on the shortlist
Read the opening pages below
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Picking the best-written books
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Picking the best-written books
The Women's Prize for Nonfiction 2025: What the Wild Sea Can Be by Helen Scales is the best-written book on the shortlist
Read the opening pages below
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Picking the best-written books
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Picking the best-written books
The best-written historical novel of the year: The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry
BUTTE, MONTANA 1891
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Picking the best-written books
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Picking the best-written books
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Recent Releases

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The best-written recent literary fiction
Three new picks. Plus authors' stylistic pet peeves.
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Picking the best-written books
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Picking the best-written books
The best-written recent literary fiction: Open, Heaven by Seán Hewitt
Read the opening pages below
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Picking the best-written books
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Picking the best-written books
The best-written recent literary fiction: Sky Daddy by Kate Folk
Read the opening pages below
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Picking the best-written books
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Picking the best-written books
The best-written recent literary fiction: Parallel Lines by Edward St Aubyn
Read the opening pages below
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Picking the best-written books
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Picking the best-written books
The best-written recent literary fiction
Plus the latest pick from our subscribers' submissions
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Picking the best-written books
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Picking the best-written books
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